I’m far from the first person to read Sally Rooney’s new novel (not even so new since a month is eternal by Interweb standards), Intermezzo. Hot takes abound. I won’t link to all the pieces so as not to overwhelm you and because Delia Cai has already done a lovely job of this
Love the post, your writing, and most of the points you’re making. However, I think your argument might oversimplify the evolving and important role of female fiction writers today. I’m not disputing the sexism among powerful men in the industry—nor should anyone—but things have progressed since the days of George Eliot, and I think we should acknowledge that. There are many remarkable female writers who are breaking new ground and, in many circles (including mine), are being taken just as seriously, if not more so, than their male counterparts.
Writers like:
• Celeste Ng
• Yiyun Li
• Ottessa Moshfegh
• Elif Shafak
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Zadie Smith
• Rachel Cusk
…and many others are pushing the boundaries of contemporary literature in profound ways.
Also, I think Rooney was interviewed for the NYT by a bonehead, and you are right to be upset with him. I am too. But I've read an interview with Anthony Doerr (he/him) when All the Light You Cannot See came out, and he was asked very similar questions by another journalist. Perhaps I'm missing your point and talking out of my ass. If that's the case, feel free to rip me a new one.
As for Barthe, I think you're too hard on him. First, he was one of the early proponents off gender-neutral language and argues in The Death of the Author that the author is a mere construct in the reader's mind. This view is consistent with his belief that women writers should be judged on the quality of their work, not on their gender. The pronoun "he" appears only a few sentences, if I remember correctly. Also, he was a mentor to many female writers and a big supporter of women's liberation movement.
I apologize in advance if my comment has inadvertently offended anyone; such disclaimers are standard in today’s academic landscape, and I conform accordingly. :)(:
Looking forward to more of your posts... and how about some photos too?
I appreciate your thoughtful reply to the piece. Here are my thoughts.
1) Far from wanting to underplay what women authors are capable of, I want to draw attention to it. The writers you mention are amazing, and there are so many others. My problem is not with the output of women writers but often with its reception.
Also, there are simple number issues, such as the fact that women authors still get paid less.
2) Yes, that interviewer may have asked less than wonderful questions to men writers as well , but I do notice that women writers tend to receive more of the comments that call their ability into question. I don't know if anyone has done this, but I think, for example, if you were to look over book reviews from the last ten years, I would think that more men's work would have been labeled as "masterpieces." I have noticed this, among other issues such as these.
3) Was I perhaps too hard on Barthes for the sake of a one-liner? Maybe. At the same time, though, later gender neutral work aside, he was still functioning in a sphere where the pronoun for an author was automatically masculine. That may not be his fault, but it's still there.
Good points. The one that stands out as truly alarming, though, is that women writers are still paid less than men. I’d thought this was behind us. If it isn’t, it’s shameful and deserves to be tackled with all the resources people of every gender have at their disposal.
Very perceptive. BTW, did anyone ever ask John Steinbeck if he had ever killed someone named Lennie Small (the character from Of Mice and Men)? Just wondering.
I want a “ Because, fiction.” T-shirt. Or maybe my first tattoo? I am reading the story Red, by Katie Knoll and it really taps into the scope of what is offered and imagined for girls snd women. Thanks for putting this in conversation with it!
Love the post, your writing, and most of the points you’re making. However, I think your argument might oversimplify the evolving and important role of female fiction writers today. I’m not disputing the sexism among powerful men in the industry—nor should anyone—but things have progressed since the days of George Eliot, and I think we should acknowledge that. There are many remarkable female writers who are breaking new ground and, in many circles (including mine), are being taken just as seriously, if not more so, than their male counterparts.
Writers like:
• Celeste Ng
• Yiyun Li
• Ottessa Moshfegh
• Elif Shafak
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Zadie Smith
• Rachel Cusk
…and many others are pushing the boundaries of contemporary literature in profound ways.
Also, I think Rooney was interviewed for the NYT by a bonehead, and you are right to be upset with him. I am too. But I've read an interview with Anthony Doerr (he/him) when All the Light You Cannot See came out, and he was asked very similar questions by another journalist. Perhaps I'm missing your point and talking out of my ass. If that's the case, feel free to rip me a new one.
As for Barthe, I think you're too hard on him. First, he was one of the early proponents off gender-neutral language and argues in The Death of the Author that the author is a mere construct in the reader's mind. This view is consistent with his belief that women writers should be judged on the quality of their work, not on their gender. The pronoun "he" appears only a few sentences, if I remember correctly. Also, he was a mentor to many female writers and a big supporter of women's liberation movement.
I apologize in advance if my comment has inadvertently offended anyone; such disclaimers are standard in today’s academic landscape, and I conform accordingly. :)(:
Looking forward to more of your posts... and how about some photos too?
I appreciate your thoughtful reply to the piece. Here are my thoughts.
1) Far from wanting to underplay what women authors are capable of, I want to draw attention to it. The writers you mention are amazing, and there are so many others. My problem is not with the output of women writers but often with its reception.
Also, there are simple number issues, such as the fact that women authors still get paid less.
2) Yes, that interviewer may have asked less than wonderful questions to men writers as well , but I do notice that women writers tend to receive more of the comments that call their ability into question. I don't know if anyone has done this, but I think, for example, if you were to look over book reviews from the last ten years, I would think that more men's work would have been labeled as "masterpieces." I have noticed this, among other issues such as these.
3) Was I perhaps too hard on Barthes for the sake of a one-liner? Maybe. At the same time, though, later gender neutral work aside, he was still functioning in a sphere where the pronoun for an author was automatically masculine. That may not be his fault, but it's still there.
Good points. The one that stands out as truly alarming, though, is that women writers are still paid less than men. I’d thought this was behind us. If it isn’t, it’s shameful and deserves to be tackled with all the resources people of every gender have at their disposal.
Very perceptive. BTW, did anyone ever ask John Steinbeck if he had ever killed someone named Lennie Small (the character from Of Mice and Men)? Just wondering.
Thank you! Ha, exactly!
Love this Caroline!
Thanks so much, Carley!
I want a “ Because, fiction.” T-shirt. Or maybe my first tattoo? I am reading the story Red, by Katie Knoll and it really taps into the scope of what is offered and imagined for girls snd women. Thanks for putting this in conversation with it!
Thanks so much! Let’s get those shirts. 😂
I'd like this t-shirt too!
Let’s get on that! 🔥📚