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The Book Woman's Daughter


A mesmerizing and beautifully rendered tale of strong women, bravery, and ...
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Honey faces criticism because she gives some of her female clients "dirty books." Why do you think their male relatives object? Has the character of which books are deemed unacceptable changed since Honey's time?

Created: 05/12/22

Replies: 8

Posted May. 12, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Honey faces criticism because she gives some of her female clients "dirty books." Why do you think their male relatives object? Has the character of which books are deemed unacceptable changed since Honey's time?

Honey faces criticism because she gives some of her female clients "dirty books." Why do you think their male relatives object? Books are still being banned today. Why do you believe this is so? Has the character of which books are deemed unacceptable changed since Honey's time?


Posted May. 12, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gretchenm

Join Date: 06/04/12

Posts: 26

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

I found it very interesting that she was wise enough to see that reading was beneficial no matter what was read. She was promoting literacy any way she could. I feel like she learned her open-mindedness from her mother even thought they were a generation apart. The fact that the men looked down in it was one more patriarchal theme in the book.


Posted May. 12, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ankev

Join Date: 03/07/21

Posts: 17

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

I think that when males are too insecure about themselves then they are afraid that women may find other words within the pages, and maybe new ideas about seeing it and/or not being necessarily super happy about settling down and being someone's maid. There is a reason why in places where groups want to impose their ideology on other, the first things that go are books!


Posted May. 16, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

I think many of the men in the book felt educating women would make them dissatisfied with their roles as mothers and wives.

I don't know that any books are banned for adults, are they? I think truly inaccurate books that are plagiarized or claim to be fact when they aren't may get pulled from Amazon, but mostly no one really cares anymore what men or women read.

Kids, though... that seems to be where book banning continues to be an issue. And it's one I just don't get. And it seems to be all about sex and race (heaven forbid children learn about either!).


Posted May. 18, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
babeh

Join Date: 06/13/18

Posts: 14

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

Although the men labeled the books as "dirty", even Honey recognize that the books were different. The men obviously felt threatened by any woman disrupting their wives by demonstrating independence whether by actions-such as riding the countryside alone to deliver books--or by bringing new ideas via reading material. Not mentioned in the book, but how many of the irate husbands could read?


Posted May. 18, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
djcminor

Join Date: 03/14/19

Posts: 208

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

Sadly, I do think we are going back in time currently. Too many people want to restrict other people's reading choices. Why not take care of one's own choices and leave others alone. I taught Freshman Comp among other English courses in college. A female student's husband once emailed me complaining about the choice of readings I had assigned; he did not think they were appropriate. He particularly objected to "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. I didn't deal with him because he was not my student. His wife never objected to any of the readings--at least not to me.


Posted May. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rco

Join Date: 11/04/18

Posts: 40

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

As a book store owner for 30 years I dealt with people who wanted to tell me what I should and should not have on my shelves. We seem to be at a high right now with the book banning. I have no problem with parents deciding what their child may read but that does not give them the right to decide what is on the book shelves in their public or school library that others choose to read. What parents need to realize is what they forbid only makes it more enticing to their child.


Posted Jun. 05, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
taking.mytime's Gravatar
taking.mytime

Join Date: 03/29/16

Posts: 364

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

People are shallow! Too often they push their own agenda feeling they know best. People should be able to dictate what they own child reads, but it ends there. Not even a spouse has the power to dictate what the other spouse reads - even tho many think they do.

I think the men were in fear of what their wives might learn - to maintain authority you must make others believe you know best - which is what men wanted. There are still 'racy' books being published. 'Racy' being the multifaceted word. There always will be.

Often back then the word 'damn' made a book unacceptable. Today the F-word plasters many books, but they become bestsellers. Times change - as does our opinions.


Posted Jun. 11, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
BuffaloGirl

Join Date: 01/13/18

Posts: 208

RE: Honey faces criticism because she ...

I believe it is a matter of control, be it control over a spouse, a group, a community, a State or a country. The increasing propensity for banning books sickens and scares me for the future. I recently picked up a board book at our local library for my 3 year old granddaughter and upon reading it felt that it was not appropriate for her age so we returned it to the library unread. BUT, I did not say anything to the library staff and I did not demand that it be removed from the shelves. It is not my right to tell others what they may or may not read and I certainly don't want someone else telling me what I am allowed to read. There was recently an attempt by an individual to remove a book from a small library not to far from where I live. Thankfully, the library board informed the individual demanding that the book be banned that she certainly had a right to her opinion, but that she did not have the right to extend that opinion to all of the other patrons' rights.


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