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A review by baldwinme40
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
3.0
3.5 stars
I guess I will join the conversation about feminism here - I don't think it's terrible to have a main character who doesn't want to get married or have children. I think it's kind of refreshing, that a lot of readers can identify with this, and I don't think the novel was necessarily an attack on marriage; it's just what Katsa feels in a world where divorce doesn't seem to exist and marriage carries connotations of slavery. I would have liked to see it explored more as she reconciled her commitment issues with what marriage is to her and what it could be with her and Po. But at the same time, it's not like love (or infatuation, whatever you'd call their relationship) has to last forever. A lot of people aren't the getting-married type and that's okay and they can see themselves in her. And maybe they change their minds and maybe not but it's sure as hell obnoxious when people tell them they will (like Giddon). Same with the short hair and boyish clothes. Female main characters don't have to be feminine and kickass all at once. I like it when they are, too, but I don't demand it from every book I read.
And y'all saying Katsa should have been more girly but then complaining when she showed emotions and cried sometimes, too - Uh huh. Got my eyes on ya.
She did start out hardly in control of her temper and her powers. She'd be a lot to handle in real life but I do think she is likable as a character, especially as she takes responsibility for Bitterblue.
That being said, it's not like Cashore did a great job of rounding out the other female characters or necessarily celebrating femininity. Bitterblue, Faun, and Katsa - all three of the active women in the story ended up in pants, and two of them with short hair. I would have liked to see more exploration of gender roles in this world to get a good picture of where they're coming from, but this book would have benefited from a female character who wore dresses and didn't fight and was still portrayed as strong and intelligent, not a victim.
I think what people take issue with is the singularity of viewpoints. I've been reading the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett, which focuses on witches in the Discworld. Most witches remain single out of practicality, some take lovers and never marry, and some (like Tiffany) do fall in love. These are all valid, and it's just whatever works best on an individual level. Those books are constantly challenging the stereotype (such as contrasting plain, practical Tiffany with the blond, beautiful princess who steals Tiffany's beau) and then acknowledging the validity of people who DO fit into that category (surprise! she's a witch, she's perfectly nice, and Tiffany has to reconcile with her and let go of her prejudice and envy).
But judging anything based off Terry Pratchett is hardly fair. I enjoyed this while I was reading it. I had some strong emotional reactions to Bitterblue's story. Could have done without the romance, but I say that about everything. I'll be reading the next two because this was a fun, fast read, I'm expecting more out of Cashore's second and third novels, and I am quite attached to the characters. I'm always here for lady assassins, basically.
I guess I will join the conversation about feminism here - I don't think it's terrible to have a main character who doesn't want to get married or have children. I think it's kind of refreshing, that a lot of readers can identify with this, and I don't think the novel was necessarily an attack on marriage; it's just what Katsa feels in a world where divorce doesn't seem to exist and marriage carries connotations of slavery. I would have liked to see it explored more as she reconciled her commitment issues with what marriage is to her and what it could be with her and Po. But at the same time, it's not like love (or infatuation, whatever you'd call their relationship) has to last forever. A lot of people aren't the getting-married type and that's okay and they can see themselves in her. And maybe they change their minds and maybe not but it's sure as hell obnoxious when people tell them they will (like Giddon). Same with the short hair and boyish clothes. Female main characters don't have to be feminine and kickass all at once. I like it when they are, too, but I don't demand it from every book I read.
And y'all saying Katsa should have been more girly but then complaining when she showed emotions and cried sometimes, too - Uh huh. Got my eyes on ya.
She did start out hardly in control of her temper and her powers. She'd be a lot to handle in real life but I do think she is likable as a character, especially as she takes responsibility for Bitterblue.
That being said, it's not like Cashore did a great job of rounding out the other female characters or necessarily celebrating femininity. Bitterblue, Faun, and Katsa - all three of the active women in the story ended up in pants, and two of them with short hair. I would have liked to see more exploration of gender roles in this world to get a good picture of where they're coming from, but this book would have benefited from a female character who wore dresses and didn't fight and was still portrayed as strong and intelligent, not a victim.
I think what people take issue with is the singularity of viewpoints. I've been reading the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett, which focuses on witches in the Discworld. Most witches remain single out of practicality, some take lovers and never marry, and some (like Tiffany) do fall in love. These are all valid, and it's just whatever works best on an individual level. Those books are constantly challenging the stereotype (such as contrasting plain, practical Tiffany with the blond, beautiful princess who steals Tiffany's beau) and then acknowledging the validity of people who DO fit into that category (surprise! she's a witch, she's perfectly nice, and Tiffany has to reconcile with her and let go of her prejudice and envy).
But judging anything based off Terry Pratchett is hardly fair. I enjoyed this while I was reading it. I had some strong emotional reactions to Bitterblue's story. Could have done without the romance, but I say that about everything. I'll be reading the next two because this was a fun, fast read, I'm expecting more out of Cashore's second and third novels, and I am quite attached to the characters. I'm always here for lady assassins, basically.