tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post7803126913784162271..comments2024-03-12T14:13:49.622-04:00Comments on clairefy: Racism, the Goldfinch, & Literary CanonClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08103704290284308846noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-73167409512988813282024-02-27T14:08:16.670-05:002024-02-27T14:08:16.670-05:00I was just reading Goldfinch and was scratching my...I was just reading Goldfinch and was scratching my heard as to the NUMEROUS negative images of Asian tourists, cab drivers, social workers, and Asian people in general, and your excellent article just confirmed to me, I am not imagining the negativity. <br />Wow. <br />Just scary that the book is promoting the views that Asians are smelly, ruining the USA. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-2439738862211551802024-01-28T00:01:47.152-05:002024-01-28T00:01:47.152-05:00Hmm. Well-written opinion piece! Since most commen...Hmm. Well-written opinion piece! Since most commenters haven't read the book, and as a person of color who has read the book several times, I'd like to add my own two cents. I have to both agree and disagree with you. First of all, I definitely agree with how writing 'packaged in an eloquent and digestible manner' goes down well for readers. That's why so many people miss the satirical/critical nature of The Secret History. It's certainly something worth thinking about. However, I don't think Tartt is totally supporting the stereotypes either -- you have to separate the actual author from the implied author from the narrator. It's hard to know what Tartt's intentions are since she's such an enigmatic figure, but I don't believe she has an objective of intentionally perpetrating these stereotypes. At worst, she’s a product of her time and her isolated experiences at Bennington and in the white-dominated publishing world. Now, I don’t believe Boris should have gotten to use the n-word – it does rub me the wrong way. But for the most part, I think that these stereotypes in the book tell us important information about Theo. Theo's worldview is basically shaped by the people he surrounded himself with during his deeply fragmented childhood at private school – namely, Andy and Tom Cable, who both epitomize WASP privilege and carry the biases associated with that culture. That is spread to Theo, who begins to judge everyone from the doormen to his mother to himself (his bizarre obsession with Pippa, who reminds him of his mother, but mistrust of other women, his paranoia over not wanting to be seen as gay, his curious rejection of people in the lower economic strata despite himself being one of those people). It’s pretty interesting how so many of the things Theo really hates are aspects of his own identity (he’s part indigenous on his mom’s side, and there’s a pretty firm argument for him not being totally straight). Anyway, all of this is to say, that while I think there are moments in the book that do warrant criticism and that Theo’s kind of an asshole at times, there are judgments and cliches that pop up in the narration that further a central theme of the book – that privilege is enthralling, but also corrupting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-729536770652001752021-03-17T13:02:47.585-04:002021-03-17T13:02:47.585-04:00Glad I found this, I heard about the book on tumbl...Glad I found this, I heard about the book on tumblr, and people were saying nice things, but when I started to read it I noticed a lot of racism as well, and searched for articles that criticize itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-55786827094289021682020-12-28T15:20:38.282-05:002020-12-28T15:20:38.282-05:00This is such a fantastic post / review, Claire! I ...This is such a fantastic post / review, Claire! I loved and appreciated reading your thoughts so much. I haven't read anything by this author, but it's horrible that a novel that relies on racial stereotypes is so highly praised. Although I'm not particularly surprised after the novel that came out this year (or late last year? time has no meaning anymore) about immigration, I believe, that also used stereotypes and was criticized. Despite that, the publisher promoted it quite a bit and it received great feedback as well. :| I think racism in classics can be very damaging - I don't understand how we can expect Black students, for example, to read books with the n-word in them and to maybe hear others use it because in that context some teachers would allow it. Moreover, reading about racist characters normalizes racism, especially if there is no anti-racist discussion (which, I think, there usually isn't) in class. Again, great post! Veronika @ Wordy and Whimsicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06813427718618609226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-15336404422083118102020-12-21T03:09:00.366-05:002020-12-21T03:09:00.366-05:00This is a very thoughtful and insightful review, C...This is a very thoughtful and insightful review, Claire! I haven't read this book, but I do know it's very famous within book community as a whole. Yet I agree that the racism within the book was barely discussed or even talked about. I'm so glad I read this and it made me think of other classics as well and how they preserve racism as you said. <br /><br />Tasya // The Literary HuntressTasyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03406801926412663049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-64543708015830793922020-12-18T14:11:43.320-05:002020-12-18T14:11:43.320-05:00I love your deep insight. The sheer size of this b...I love your deep insight. The sheer size of this book kept me away, but I have a stronger reason to do it. Thanks!Gayathri Lakshminarayananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16729822845609574634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-8147546731328816552020-12-15T21:33:08.822-05:002020-12-15T21:33:08.822-05:00Amazing post. I wanted to read it but now... I am ...Amazing post. I wanted to read it but now... I am not very fond of the idea. As Latina, it kinda bothers me what you pointed out in this review. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-34015411136989326552020-12-15T07:02:45.992-05:002020-12-15T07:02:45.992-05:00Wow. Your review is so thought-provoking, and I...Wow. Your review is so thought-provoking, and I'm really glad I came across it as I'd not heard anything about this aspect of the book! I especially liked what you said about the need to continuously consider and interrogate the racism present in books today/what are considered classics etc., even if they're not banned in classrooms. (I don't know if banning books would really be that helpful anyway.) Really good point.Sabrina @ Notes From a Paper Plane Nomadhttps://paperplanenomad.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-56943182862792568282020-12-15T00:06:50.800-05:002020-12-15T00:06:50.800-05:00I've heard of The Goldfinch but never read it....I've heard of The Goldfinch but never read it. and to be honest I was not aware it was so acclaimed! I was also not aware how offensive it would be- reading some of those lines I'm shocked! Wow. And you make a great point that we shouldn't assume that those "sign of the times" elements are necessarily gone- apparently they ae still with us! <br /><br />Great post. :) Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515345156687765162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-60620553631928877372020-12-14T17:51:33.689-05:002020-12-14T17:51:33.689-05:00I've never read this book and after reading yo...I've never read this book and after reading your very well written review and seeing how revolting it can be, I don't ever want to read it!The Butterfly Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13218064101468042347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-87563300064086016062020-12-14T14:16:19.553-05:002020-12-14T14:16:19.553-05:00Your reviews are always so informative and well-wr...Your reviews are always so informative and well-written Claire! I've honestly always been intimidated by Tartt's works because of how massive they are, but I really enjoyed your analysis of how the BIPOC characters help to elevate the white protagonist - it definitely makes me want to go through some of my favorite classics and analyze on a deeper level.<br /><br /> riv @ <a href="http://smallstainedpages.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">small stained pages</a>Rivhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13108956474967882930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629514535093129269.post-16011952588288268992020-12-14T14:14:08.229-05:002020-12-14T14:14:08.229-05:00What a thoughtful and insightful post, Claire! I h...What a thoughtful and insightful post, Claire! I have never read The Goldfinch but I have only seen it praised so far. You are the first person I've seen who has drawn attention to the book's prejudices. Racism can really be sneakily put into writing. It's important that we draw out these microaggressions and look critically at them. Like you mention, this writing should not just be deemed "acceptable" to the public.paperbackprincesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446601964387517150noreply@blogger.com