....And Then The Fandoms Came

So, I've read some more of this, and I do have some mixed feelings about it. Right now, my feelings toward it are overall positive. However, i do kind of wish that I didn't go in thinking every single thing would be like the movie. 

My other problem is the relationship between blackness and anti-blackness. I am glad that this discussion was brought up in the this book. And that racism was discussed like this or in this way instead of just the normal "store-clerk-or-random-person-giving-a-dirty-look-or-saying-a-racial-slur" type of outer surface stuff, not going or delving deeper. So, I love that.

However, and I see this mainly with/in Bernadine's story(or stuff in relation to her story), is that blackness is supposed to have a certain level, I guess. And I by, no means, am defending her (ex)-husband's actions (because he was terrible) but I think maybe to say he wasn't black(and was "white") for the way he spoke did kind of throw me. Don't get me wrong, he showed an extreme amount of anti-blackness and rejection of blackness, but to call him "white boy/man", doesn't necessarily lessen the effect of anti-blackness, but it also doesn't help the situation because, in my opinion, it's presenting that same idea that in order to be black you have to meet these certain standards and ideas and preconceived notions of blackness. If that makes sense. I think this is kind of further backed up with how it feels like there is more angst and anger toward Kathleen (the white woman who he left her for) rather than toward the husband/ex-husband, if that makes sense. And don't get me wrong, Kathleen isn't perfect or whatever, because she was with a married man. But to condemn her more than the husband/ex-husband seems a bit.....eh. And it's not that there considering him blameless or anything but there just seems to be a bit more there. I don't know. Maybe I'm looking too much into it. I really, really could be. But this was just something I'm thinking about.

I do like the statement on female sexuality, especially black female sexuality. Even if it's the sex is unsatisfying. We are presented with heroines who enjoy sex and admit they enjoy sex. Again, something I think is great.  

I do love that this cover relationships, both good and bad, and that is shows that the heroines aren't prefect and they have depth and emotion and all of this stuff. They can be hurt, they can love, they can be betrayed. It shows them feeling all of these things. They have fears and worries. So that's another positive thing I found about this book. I have laughed or smiled at some stuff and even shook at my head at how badly some of the characters treated the main heroines.

So, this is just how I feel so far. We'll see how the rest goes.