Comments on: Guest Blogger: Joshua Henkin

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:40:42 +0000

I agree that good fiction transcends the gender/background of the author. Every once in the while I’ll come across a cringe worthy example that reveals how hard it must be to get it right.

One example that comes to mind was in Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. I love Zadie’s writing. However, in the book she ha d aminor character that was from Kentucky (“The Deep South”). Every time that character opened his mouth it was with a ridiculous drawl and awful tin ear dialog. The rest of the book was excellent.

By: Baby Got Books » Guest Blogger: Joshua Henkin - Part 2

Baby Got Books » Guest Blogger: Joshua Henkin - Part 2 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:21:01 +0000

[...] Author Joshua Henkin is on a virtual book tour in support of his new book, Matrimony. The book found its way onto book shelves yesterday, and he still found the time to put together a nice post for us (read yesterday’s post here). [...]

By: Herman Glimscher

Herman Glimscher — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:58:16 +0000

Dr. J–

You know, I’ve never been able to use the white male persona to my advantage. (That was my third crack at that sentence. The other two were hampered by the use of the term “white male” in conjunction with the noun “thing.” One used the verb “swing,” as well.) Does being an ineffectual white male bring me any street cred?

By: Dr J

Dr J — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:35:06 +0000

Herman, only a white male would say that.
(I kid.)

By: Herman Glimscher

Herman Glimscher — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:01:57 +0000

I think that a myth has grown in the United States that men are women are essentially different species and not two aspects of the same phenomenon. There are fault lines in our society right now, and we are divided by gender and race in very basic, philosophic ways. I suspect that it is part of the process of women and minorities assuming a greater say in society, that a period of self-identification precedes assimilation.

Unfortunately, one of the side effects is that it is assumed that women can’t write men nor men women, whites, blacks, and so on and so on. It is currently forgotten that we all share the common attribute of being human and are far more alike than we are different.

By: Rae Rae

Rae Rae — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:24:12 +0000

It might be the subject matter. I doubt Hosseini is getting the same flack for
A Thousand Splendid Suns, yet he also tackles a 20 year old marriage, among other things. I haven’t read your book, but yours appears to be more direct and singular in subject matter. You’ve got to expect that some people are going to wonder if you got the “other half” right.