Negative/Positive Discrimination in Writing

Hubby (quite rightly) says that I over-analysis and counter-think about things. I've been doing it again and this time it's about my writing.

When developing characters for my long term work in progress, I automatically made them white and English. Today this gave me pause.

As the saying goes, 'write about what you know'. I know what it's like to be an educated white English woman. Therefore, my protagonist and by extension her family is white and English. The antagonist is a white South African. I can't explain that choice, just fits my mental image of him. Then I began to develop the character of the ex-boyfriend of the protagonist. True to type, I think of him as white English. So I am now faced with the thought, should I introduce some cultural diversity through the character of the ex-boyfriend and other supporting characters?

Should this be a consideration when writing?
Is it discriminatory to not represent the diversity of the UK, not through any prejudice but simply because it feels right for my story?
Is it right to include non-white/non-English people just because I feel I should?

I am genuinely puzzled by this so I welcome all comments.

Book Review - The Power of One

Following on from my previous post, here is a review of The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay which was recommended to me by a friend.

Amazon's synopsis states:
"No stranger to the injustice of racial hatred, five-year-old Peekay learns the hard way the first secret of survival and self-preservation - the power of one. An encounter with amateur boxer Hoppie Groenewald inspires in Peekay a fiery ambition - to be welterweight champion of the world."

The story is told by the young English boy called Peekay who is growing up in 1930s/40s South Africa. (I've subsequently learnt that the story is based loosely on the author's life.) The author sucessfully achieves a child-like voice which grows in sophistication as the character grows. This provides a unique look at the racism and segregation between Boers or Afrikaners, other Whites, Coloureds (i.e. Indian or mixed race) and Blacks of different tribes.

Peekay meets a number of traditional and non-traditional mentor figures whilst he is growing up. He faces bullies, prejudice, violence, loss and the usual teenage issues.

Peekay becomes interested in boxing at a young age and this is one of his main motivations throughout the story.

Being English, he is an outside observer in a way, although his English background causes him problems of his own. He sees hatred between the Boers and Black Africans and how it is accepted within society. But he does not emulate the behaviour and, through a series of events, develops a powerful and unusual relationship with Black South Africans.

Through one of his more traditional mentors, the reader is introduced to the beauty of South Africa, while other characters provide a glimpse of the mystery and magic.

On one level it is a very personal story but, almost without realising it, the reader is also receiving a history lesson and is experiencing the story of South Africa itself.

There is no plot in the traditional sense so very occassionally I found myself thinking ahead or questioning the purpose of a scene but each episode in Peekays life has a structure and depth so this does not detract from the enjoyment of the book.

Ordinarily, I would not have picked this book off the shelf but I'm very glad that I acted on the recommendation.

Themes: opression of the individual and of cultural groups; growth and development; friendship; self-determination; the power of belief.

Stars: 4/5

House-keeping

I've noticed that my blogging has been patchy of late. I've had gaps when I've hardly posted followed by a flurry of random ramblings. So, I've decided to [try to] introduce a bit of structure in my writing.

As well as my usual comments on current affairs and interesting miscellany, I will be giving little updates and thoughts on the process of writing a novel [at my pace that should keep me going for abuot five years] and also some book reviews.

Let me know what you think ...

Happy Journeys.

I feel like crying with impotent rage ...

Attenborough: Climate is changing

'Sir David ... is the latest high-profile figure to say the world is facing a climate crisis. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams; the government's chief scientist Sir David King, and former Royal Society president Sir Robert May have all expressed public concern on the issue.

"If we do care about our grandchildren then we have to do something, and we have to demand that our governments do something."'

They know it, we know it, the government knows it ... so why the bloody hell is no-one DOING anything? Many individuals try to do the right thing by recycling, informed choices, etc, but as this article suggests there is only so much impact individuals can have.

'His comments came as a UK parliamentary body, the All-Party Environment Group, issued a report labelling the government a "climate laggard" for its record on reducing emissions.'

We've had enough reports, commissions and statements. The argument over whether global warming will result in tropical climates and raised water levels or the next ice age is irrelevant. Some governments are concerned about the economic impact of sanctions, taxes, green fuels but how is that worse than the alternative? Now I can understand that developing countries could see environmental issues as secondary to feeding, housing and healing their people but there is no excuse for the so-called "developed" countries to not lead the way and shoulder some of the burden.

Look at all the money spent on guns and military hardware, look at all the bling that society is becoming obsessed with ... think of how that could be better employed in saving the planet.
(Oh dear, getting into a pacifist, quasi-communist, idealist rant now. Sorry about that.)

To anyone who still believes it's poppy-cock, let me ask you ...
Are you that sure?
Never mind your grandchildren, are you willing to bet your life on it?

Aaarrggghhhhh ...

Big Brother has started again.

I am boycotting terrestrial television and newsagents and ... argh, there's no escape!

Help!!

Are we living in the dark ages?

Dispite all the hoo-haa,'Millions' flock to Da Vinci Code

Having now seen it, I think the main characters provide argument and counter-argument during the story line to present different viewpoints and this was handled well. The movie was a good adaptation of the book and I enjoyed it but to be honest, I've seen better. I will probably get it on DVD as I would like to watch it again without being kicked in the back or overhearing a whispered explanation from a teenager to his little sister about what a prostitute is.

However, reading down the BBC article a bit more, I came across this:
'two Italian local councillors burned the book in the main square of the village of Ceccano'

Excuse me, I was under the mistaken impression that we were living in the twenty first century?

Is this book really so shocking, so dangerous to society, so disturbing that they felt the need to burn it?

Books are written to provoke reactions, be they emotional or intellectual. Censorship of the written word and art based upon it only serves to stunt societies growth and development.

This is one of the reasons why I prefer science over religion. Science welcomes debate and new ideas, accepts its mistakes and revises its theories in light of new discoveries. Religion, by its very nature, can never do that.

MeMe meeee ......

I'm baaaaaaack ... after Hubby endured countless stupid calls to a certain ISP's stupid "help"desk. I'll maybe post about it when I can think coherently.


Anyway ... I've been memed by Clare, via Birdy. So here goes ...

1. Briefly describe an aspect of your life for which "The Dying of Delight" would be an apt title.

I think the most relevant would be my love of nature and science and stuff.
Children are fascinated by stuff - they examine everyday objects with such great delight and ask really interesting questions. It's a sad fact that many adults loose or supress this trait.

So I try to prevent the dying of delight. I allow myself to feel the wonder of a rainbow, the beauty of a flower, the vastness of the blue sky above my head. On bad days I try to focus on the amazing stuff that is around me. Doesn't always work but I sincerely hope I always manage to retain my delight in the simple things in life.


2. Pick another book whose title has some resonance in your life, and write a little about it.

This is a toughie as my regular fare comprises fantasy, murder mysteries/crime procedurals and odds 'n ends, the titles of which are completely inappropriate to the question. Having spent a pleasant few minutes dipping in and out of my bookcases I have chosen "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman. The cover blurb reads, 'Richard Mayhew is a plain man with a good heart and an ordinary life that is changed forever on a day he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. From that moment forward he is propelled into a world he never dreamed existed - a dark subculture flourishing in abandoned subway stations and sewer tunnels below the city - a world far stranger and more dangerous than the only one he has ever known ...'
[sidewalk?! looks like I bought an American imprint]

It's a fantastic story about London Below. A London full of outsiders, mis-fits, etc. A London where there really is an Angel at Islington and the Earl holds Court on an underground carriage. For Richard, London Below becomes more real and exciting than his boring normal life in the fake-feeling London Above. As someone who now lives in London but grew up in another place entirely, the book really caught my imagination. London frequently feels like a Neverwhere to me. I often feel like I'm living on the surface of something called London but I'm never truly part of it.


3. Write one more short personal piece - one which matches the book title chosen (in part 2) by the person who tagged you.

Birdy wrote about Unless, which I've never heard of but I guess that's the appeal of book memes. Having read another book meme somewhere, I am now reading If On a Winters Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino. But I digress (again, I have a habit of doing that. Had you noticed?)

As you know, I'm interested in the idea of journeys, life being a road full of turnings, cross roads and dead ends. Some years back I had got myself into a dead end relationship and then I met my future Hubby. Very early on in our relationship he shared with me his ambition to move to London. That was an 'unless' moment for me - I woudn't know whether the relationship could work unless I gave it a chance and moved with him. Turns out, it was the right decision. :o)


4. Take your favourite little-known book and plug it to your readers. Authors need incomes and word of mouth is one of the best ways to sell books.

I must confess to not having read the Dying of Delight yet but will be buying a copy on payday (promise!).

I'm not sure whether you will have heard of this one yet, there's this guy called Dan Brown who's released this book called the Da Vinci- ... oh, you've heard of it? Oh good. ;o)

To digress for a moment (tee hee), isn't this the best line ever spoken by a director about his film?
"Given the controversial nature of this story there's no question the film is likely to be upsetting to some people. My advice is not to see the film if you think it will upset you ... This is supposed to be entertainment. It is not theology. It should not be misunderstood as such. It stimulates conversation but that's what good fiction does."
Classic!

Thinking about it, I don't know whether I know any little-known books. I guess my brand of fantasy is probably mainly read by genre fans so I would urge people who wouldn't ordinarily entertain a 'fantasy' book to consider reading people such as Pratchett and Gaiman as they have a much wider appeal than their pidgeon holing would suggest and are often very thought-provoking.


5. Sit back and marvel at the magnificence of this meme. It was brought to you by an out-of-breath author, reduced (on account of her publisher having expired) to trundling copies of her book across the internet on a rusty old trolley with one wheel missing, sweating and shouting "Buy me book, Gov?" Now visit www.thedyingofdelight.co.uk and see if you'd like a copy for yourself.

Nuff said.


6. Tag some peeps.

Hmm, not really sure who I can tag for this. If you are reading this and want to give it a go, feel free but please put a link in the coments. Thank you.


And now, time to curl up in bed with a good book!

Happy Journeys.

Connectively Challenged

I was tagged by Birdy for a spot of memeing (hmm?) but unfortunately the inter-webby is not quite making it to Rheasville at present. Hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly.

In the meantime, if you haven't already - go out and by The Independent today. It's red (no really, it is), half of sales revenues are going to fight Aids and there's lots of interesting stuff inside. It was guest edited by Bono (but if you don't like him, don't let that put you off as it's about the issues, not him).