Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt
[xrr rating=0/5]
Eden Newman must mate before her 18th birthday in six months or she’ll be left outside to die in a burning world. But who will pick up her mate-option when she’s cursed with white skin and a tragically low mate-rate of 15%? In a post-apocalyptic, totalitarian, underground world where class and beauty are defined by resistance to an overheated environment, Eden’s coloring brands her as a member of the lowest class, a weak and ugly Pearl. If only she can mate with a dark-skinned Coal from the ruling class, she’ll be safe. Just maybe one Coal sees the Real Eden and will be her salvation her co-worker Jamal has begun secretly dating her. But when Eden unwittingly compromises her father’s secret biological experiment, she finds herself in the eye of a storm and thrown into the last area of rainforest, a strange and dangerous land. Eden must fight to save her father, who may be humanity’s last hope, while standing up to a powerful beast-man she believes is her enemy, despite her overwhelming attraction. Eden must change to survive but only if she can redefine her ideas of beauty and of love, along with a little help from her “adopted aunt” Emily Dickinson.
“I believe that anyone who reads the novel will understand its strong stance against racism.”
-Victoria Fyot (Judging A Book By Its Cover Gives Birth To Racism)
Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you failed. Badly. To say Revealing Eden is offensive is such a massive understatement. I couldn’t even stomach more that a few pages at a time. It was like taking a spork to your eye, but then it breaks leaving you with only the handle to carry out your dark deed. Even with the obvious racism aside, the Revealing Eden is simply not good. From the dialogue to the characters to the plot, it was very badly written. A tragic mess.
There are a few things you should know before reading this review:
- I am an African-American.
- I went into this book knowing I would probably dislike it. Why?
- Because I’m obviously masochistic.
- Because I’m taking one for the team. You’re welcome.
- Because Foyt made a statement that not many African-Americans had read her book. Here I am and yes, we still exist.
- I will most likely address a few statements made by Foyt about her novel as it pertains to Revealing Eden.
- Oh, and this review is kinda long. Sorry about that. LOADS to cover. >.<
Apparently, according to Victoria Foyt the population of white people have plummeted due to an increase in sun radiation, leaving black people in charge. My first issue was with the lack of science in that premise. (And no. Throwing out random scientific names of insects, animals and plants does not signify that you’ve done your homework.) If the sun’s radiation was *that* bad, being black won’t do you that much good. What’s even more odd is that for majority of the novel, Eden is hanging out outside in the sun without her coating (more on that later). I kept waiting for her to complain about how hot it was or that her skin felt burnt, but it never happened. Her father is working in a lab attempting to genetically alter people so that they have animal traits and no one has created a better sunblock or, I don’t know, CURED CANCER?! Where is the logic in that?
Whites in this novel are considered a burden to society since they have such a low rate of survival. If one does not have a mate by age 18, they are to be sentenced to death. There seems to be an obvious solution to this hypothetical problem: breed out the weaker genetics. But instead white people are oppressed just for the sake of oppression. And even though Eden knows she has had two mating offers, she refuses to accept either one, choosing to wait for her “Dark Prince” in hopes that he will pick up her mating option. Her reasoning?
“Because I don’t want my child to be all Pearl. I’d rather be dead than mate with one of my kind.”
*sigh* I can’t believe I have to break this down, but if a black person and a white person have a baby, that doesn’t automatically guarantee a dark-skinned baby. In fact, some may have very fair complexion. Funny thing the way genetics works. But what did I expect? Almost all the dark-skinned people in Revealing Eden were black as night. The one person who is mentioned with brown skin is assumed to be mixed. *Shaking my head* It was then I should have realized that logic was not going to be Revealing Eden’s strong point.
In order for Eden to fit in, she walks around with a coating of “Midnight Luster” on her skin and hair. She talks about dying her hair black and I couldn’t figure out why she was doing that. Doesn’t Foyt know that black peoples’ hair is not actually black? Is that a common misconception even today? It’s weird because it’s something I’ve never thought of before. Sure, there are some whose hair is black, but it’s not very common at all. It was the little things like that were I noticed a trend beginning: Foyt did absolutely no research on African-Americans or any other race for that matter. It is very evident by her constant reliance on black stereotypes applied even to white characters.
*Warning: Many quote-inducing headdesking ahead.
Applying black stereotypes to a white female to generate sympathy for the main character:
“White people were lazy good-for-nothings with weak genetics.”
A black woman’s figure categorizing her status in society:
“Voluptuous, with raisin-colored skin, everything about Ashina screamed ruling class.”
*facepalm*:
“On the main stage a band of Coals performed in whiteface.”
Oh and I can’t forget about the constant theme running rampant that black people are out to get the white people. As if black people, that are now in charge, have nothing else better to do with their time than antagonize others. White women everywhere are doing the “White Woman’s Workout.” >_>
Every black person in the world is out to get white people:
“She suspected that each and every Coal passerby wanted to hurt her…”
It’s always black people:
“All of a sudden, she heard two men behind her. Coals, she figured by their careless, drunken laughter.”
Songs about black men raping a white girl:
Little Pearly whirly,
lost inside the mines;
tossed from Coal to Coal, in fear, she whines,
“I’m sorry, Mother,
he said he only wanted to see my white skin shine.”
Even more rape comparisons:
She felt more violated than if she’d been raped.
Go on and scream. Let it out.
And on and on it goes. But then it gets worse when because there doesn’t seem to be any indication that slavery or the Civil Rights Movement ever happened. How was she being oppressed? Well as far as I can tell, white people were well-fed, had their own places, had jobs etc. The biggest thing against them was the mating age, having to wear their “coating” (I’m not sure if that was a law or anything) and getting rude remarks from black people. On a few occasions Eden even wishes the world could go back to a time where white people were free to go outside with their white skin without being persecuted. She frequently says that a black person couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to be in her shoes. *slow blink*
“Someday, when you’re locked up in a cage, Bramford, maybe you’ll understand what it feels like to be an outcast.”
If only Bramford knew what it was like to be an outcast.
Maybe now he would know how it felt to be judged by your appearance.
What did Bramford know about disappointment?
Yeah, that’s not offensive at all. Not one bit. #sarcasm
And then there is the issue of the FFP A.K.A. the Federation of Free People, “a militant organization of Coals that vowed to rid the planet of Pearls.” Pause. *deep breaths* How am I supposed to take that? The Federation of FREE People? Get me off this planet. I’m just going to leave that alone before I start seeing blood-red. Too late, I just saw red. Excuse me.
Okay, sorry about that. That was a tad awkward.
I also want to address the titles given to the races.
White- Pearls
Asian- Ambers
Latino- Tiger Eyes
Black- Coals
Albino- Cottons
Are you kidding me? Coals? As in black as coals? Pearls? As in precious pieces of jewelry? Cotton? As in what my ancestors were forced to pick in the fields? Do I even need to explain how offensive that is? And Foyt’s response to the backlash of these titles?
“Why are whites called Pearls, while blacks are called Coals? Imagine a gritty, post-apocalyptic world where all that matters is survival. What good will a pearl do you when luxury items have no use? Coal has energy, fire, and real value. It is durable and strong, not easily crushed like a pearl. Pearl is a pejorative term here. Coals are admired. Coals oppress Pearls because they fear that those with light skin will add to a population unable to survive “The Heat,” and drain meager resources.”
No, no, no, no. NO! You do not give a title that has been used as a racial slur to a people who have been oppressed. You do not do that. And if you think any of that is okay, something is deeply wrong with you. By no stretch of the imagination can “Pearl” be considered a racial slur. Unless, along with common sense, this society has happened to lose every dictionary in existance. In which case, I shall provide the definition.
pearl1 [purl]
noun
- a smooth, rounded bead formed within the shells of certain mollusks and composed of the mineral aragonite or calcite in a matrix, deposited in concentric layers as a protective coating around an irritating foreign object: valued as a gem when lustrous and finely colored. Compare cultured pearl.
- something resembling this, as various synthetic substances for use in costume jewelry.
- something similar in form, luster, etc., as a dewdrop or a capsule of medicine.
- something precious or choice; the finest example of anything: pearls of wisdom.
- a very pale gray approaching white but commonly with a bluish tinge.
Yup, that is just the title I would give to a group that is being oppressed. Tell them they’re worthless while giving them a name that literally means precious. Moreover, if “Coal” supposed to be a positive title, highlighting their strengths, then why is “Cotton” considered derogatory? By definition cotton is a very useful resource. It’s strong, durable, able to withstand cold and hot temperatures. So what’s the deal here?
Only Cottons, the derogatory word for albinos, were lower, and they were extinct.
I don’t think for a second Fyot didn’t know what she was doing when she wrote that because in the beginning of the novel she calls “Coal” a racial slur herself.
Before she knew it, she blurted out an incendiary racial slur. “Gets your hands off of me, you damn Coal!”
First of all, I’m surprised she was still alive after saying that to someone of the elite class. Surely if Pearls are so worthless and oppressed, there would be severe consequences for an action like that? Second, Foyt is again baking her cake and trying to stuff her face with it too. Which one is it? It’s either a positive term or a racial slur. It cannot be both. I’ll tell you what I think. I think Foyt was just trying to smooth things over with her choice of words. And failed, I might add, because my bullshit meter is about to explode.
In the second half of the novel I had no idea what was going on half the time. The scenes were very jumbled with no clear direction of where the plot was headed. World building left way too many holes in the story. Because surely there are more races on Earth that just the ones listed in Revealing Eden. Character interactions were much of the same confusion. But I think that it mostly had to do with the fact that Eden was a fucking idiot. Her stupidity burned. For real.
From this day forward I can never say Bella Swan was the worst. Eden is the worst protagonist I have ever read. Not only does she completely miss the point over and over again, regardless of how many times it is spelled out, but she is extremely selfish and all around unlikable. There is a scene in the novel where Eden happens across an anaconda and I felt myself rooting for the snake. Sadly, he didn’t win. *weeps*
One thing that was clear was how Eden suddenly became attracted to Bramford after he became half beast. One minute she is talking about how sexy he is and the next she is calling him names, even after he saves her life several times. (Bold is mine.)
That dumb beast had been gone since yesterday afternoon.
And why had she thought the dress would please such an insensitive brute?
“Is this where you lock up your victims? You’re an animal, Bramford.”
The selfish beast simply dropped the subject and ignored her.
Also she likes to ride him like an animal:
She sunk her fingers into his long silky hair, like reins on a horse. As if she controlled the beast. Eden knew it wasn’t true, but she enjoyed the illusion just the same.
What. The. Hell. A black man is turned into an animal and you have your white protagonist daydreaming about riding him like a frickin’ pony? I just… can’t.
When I finally finished reading Revealing Eden I had to ask myself what kind of person would think any of this would be remotely okay? Foyt says:
“So yes, this book is meant to provoke the white community that has never experienced racism or been oppressed because they have been in the majority in this country.”
I take issue with the white community only able to be provoked by featuring a white girl who is oppressed by black people using the very same stereotypes we fight against everyday. So, yes. I taking extreme offense to that. If Foyt is indeed “color blind” as she claims then making readers connect with a black character shouldn’t be a problem for her. But instead she chose to “turn racism on its head” and say, “Black folk, I know you guys have dealt with some really rough shit in the past, but what if it happened to white people?” No, just no. The African-American community exists *because* of the oppression. It is our history, our roots. It is the one thing that must be left alone. You can’t just take that away from us and apply it yourselves and make us look like the bad guys in your novel! This is one of the few times where I had to sit back and wonder who could possibly enjoy this book.
“And if you ask if all these reviewers are white then consider that you have a racist point of view.”
Oh, really? Racist point of view? Racism isn’t dead. It’s something that many of us has to face everyday. As a people, it is ingrained in our society that our features are less desirable than that of whites. There are somethings some people will never understand. They have never had to walk in the shoes of another race and therefore they have limited understanding on what it means to be a Person of Color. When you get followed around in a clothing store because of your skin color, when you can’t go into the 7-11 with your hoodie on, when a job tells you your natural hair is “unprofessional,” when your 4-year-old daughter asks you why her hair doesn’t “go down like a princess” as if hers could never be considered as such, when you see celebrities of your race white washed in ad campaigns, when your male relatives are arrested for looking suspicious, when you see your grandparents cry after Obama was elected because they thought they would never live to see the day where a black man held office, when you know there are some parts of the country where you are just not welcome because of your skin color, or when you walk down the aisle of your local book store and all you see on the book covers are white people, with a small section devoted to African-Americans, you realize you are living in a white world. Racist point of view? Wherever would one have gotten that?
I think this goes without saying: NO STARS FOR YOU!
*SARCASM ALERT*
You didn’t think I’d just leave it on that unhappy note did you? Pfft, as if!
Ay yo, if black people truly ruled da world we damn sure wouldn’t be toting ’round some whack name like “Coals.” Naw, we’d go for something MUCH more gangsta like, Chocolate Thundas. Then we’d go n’ elect Snoop Dogg as our president and Dave Chappelle as our VP, ya feel meh? We’d give women back control of their bodies. We’d legalize MJ and the national anthem would be “Young, Wild and Free.” We’d move the capital to the ATL, where we like to “throw dem bones.” Grillz would be covered by dental insurance. Free health care too all citizens. Oppress white people? Naw, we ain’t got time fo’ dat shit, man! We’d be too busy spending our reparation money from da Gov’ment, giving back to the economy.
Chicken spots n’ drive through liquor stores would be on every corner. You welcome! (So what, we get drunk…). 12pm would be a mandatory nation wide nap time, which no one would pay any attention to. Fuck the system! (So what, we don’t sleep…). Though dey should ’cause “The Itis” is a very serious condition affecting 1 out of 2 black folk e’rywhere. And finally, random flash mob dances would be to songs like “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” and “We Fly High” (We just havin’ fun and we don’t care who sees…).
We stay fly. No lie. You know dis…
Book was provided by publisher/author via NetGalley for an honest review.
RadiantShadowss
I saw this on NetGalley and the temptation was too great. It is now burning a hole through my Kindle. I knew it was going to be awful and I knew it was going to be offensive; I didn’t realize it was going to be this bad. I’m half tempted to read it anyways, but then again, I also have a million other books that won’t be so offensive to read.
Now as for my grillz, are all metals covered by my insurance or only silver plating?
Stephanie Sinclair
@RadiantShadowss I’d skip it if I were you. It really is awful. Any and all grillz are totally covered. 😉
amandapearl2
Great review, but this book is pure fuckery.
Stephanie Sinclair
@amandapearl2 Thank you. It is.
April Books And Wine
I can’t stop singing the autotune version of Antoine Dodeson’s video. Sigh.
In other words, thanks for braving Save The Pearls, what an act of amazing courage.
Stephanie Sinclair
LOL! Oh, gosh, that song is hilarious. And thank you!
Pocketful of Books
I don’t understand how this novel ever saw the light of day. The quotes you have included are ludicrous! Brilliant review that has ignited my morbid curiosity to read it
Stephanie Sinclair
@Pocketful of Books NOOOO!! Don’t do it! Well, if you insist. It’s still up on NetGalley and she seems to approve any and everyone who requests it. I wouldn’t pay for it though.
sofie_hatter
Stephanie,
I got through three chapters and couldn’t handle any more bad writing and offensive material, though obviously it is entirely my fault for being an overly sensitive PoC and not understanding this masterpiece. So thanks for having the patience to read this in its entirety. Yet more proof that review blogs are necessary if only to allow the rest of us to dodge crappy books like this.
I thought I would finish this review feeling deflated,but your ending has me laughing so hard that my sides hurt.
Thank you!
Stephanie Sinclair
@sofie_hatter Well, if we don’t laugh a little, then all we’d end up doing is crying. I did want to give up a bunch of times. That’s why it took me so long to finish.
ParomaChakravarty
The first time I read the blurb I felt very uncomfortable but I couldn’t explain why. The author seemed to say it was a book against racism, but something was off. Later I came across tumblr posts by readers who expressed themselves a lot better than I could. And you’ve done a fantastic job here. But I think what bothered me most about all of this is that racism has not only NOT disappeared but it seems to have gone underground and become far more insidious. This woman, this author…she BELIEVES what she says, she actually thinks that THIS is a stand against racism. The idea that racism has now become instinctual, that it is hidden and ingrained so deeply that the affected can no longer tell…that’s horrifying and that is what truly disturbed me.
Stephanie Sinclair
@ParomaChakravarty Brilliant comment. She definitely believes what she is saying. It scares me because she won’t even admit that she was event he slightest bit offensive. We all just read it wrong or are racist ourselves. Like, wow. Archer once showed me the quote “Not being a racist is the new racism” and it’s completely accurate.
ParomaChakravarty
@Stephanie Sinclair and being ‘colour blind’ is the newest excuse to hide behind for racists. They’ll tell you that they didn’t mean to offend you by making a certain remark, that you’re being over-sensitive or still living behind times because now-a-days people don’t REALLY get discriminated over because of their race, skin tone, etc.
The sad thing is that no matter how much I want to scream at them for saying things like that, I can see in their eyes that they really think they’re right. Those ignorant idiots.
Stephanie Sinclair
@ParomaChakravarty It kills me that those who are privileged and who have never even faced oppression would put themselves in a position to educate others about oppression. *eyeroll*
KTGrant
The sad thing is, this book is getting a great deal attention and I’m afraid one of the big 6 pubs will buy it. If they do, I have no hope for publishing at all. Well, I started to think publishing was in a downward spiral the moment Twilight fan fiction has become the biggest craze and is still the #1 top selling book for the past 6 months.
Thanks for your review.
Stephanie Sinclair
I really hope they’d have enough sense not to pick this book up, but if you check Amazon it is selling. There are only 11 copies left according to the book purchase page. And it’s selling for more than most traditionally published books do. SMH.
Fangs4Fantasy
There is so much wrong with this book you need a book itself to just list it all. It’s the very definiton of a hot mess and remains one of the worst things we’ve ever had the displeasure to read
Stephanie Sinclair
@Fangs4Fantasy I completely agree. I just wanted to end the review several times, but there was so much that needed to be said. I completely maxed out my GR reviewing space. >.<
usagi
The “HIDE YO KIDS” gifs seem especially relevant. I knew after I got a proposal to review this book that it would be bad news. -__-; Steph, you’re awesome.
And hey, I could seriously use some free health care. For real.
Stephanie Sinclair
@usagi Thank you! We could all use that free health care!
Gellie
I love you, Steph. I’m not a “coal” but a “amber”. Still, I felt offended on your behalf. Racism as a topic is delicate and should be approached appropriately. Gosh, she hit it really bad with this one. Thank you for confirming I made the right choice of not reading this book.
P.S. The last part was hilarious!
Stephanie Sinclair
@Gellie Thank you! I think all races are offended by this book. It does not address the issue of racism in a way that provokes positive discussion but propagates stereotypes. Very sad.
Josin
Going viral in 3… 2…1…
Seriously, with the attention this book has been getting, I expect this review to explode across the web in a big way.
You did a terrific job of picking apart the issues (and I don’t mean “tackled social issues”) present in this novel and leaving little wiggle room for spinning or re-interpretation. Those GIF’s are priceless. 😀
(I also wonder how some of the people who were used in those mate-rate videos felt when/if they found out what they were being used
Stephanie Sinclair
Thank you, Josin! I often wonder how that girl who played Eden in the trailer feels after seeing all the backlash.
Josin
Okay, that got cut off.
“being used as advertising for something like this and not just a stupid set-up for a convention activity like they thought.”
should be at the end of the last post
JayJason
The whole premise isn’t original. There have been plenty of books in which white people are oppressed by those with darker skin. All it does is remind us all that there was racism and slavery at one point. As an American, it’s the kind of history of my country that I’d like to learn from, make sure it never happens again, and move on. Nonfiction novels are educational and help the purpose. (There’s that old saying “Those who don’t know history are bound to repeat it”) But unoriginal fiction novels like this just end up being blatantly offensive to everyone who reads them.
Stephanie Sinclair
@JayJason I agree. This book did nothing to help the situation, just offend people left and right.
Ebony
Thank you for taking the time to read this book so that I dont have to!
I think the justifications that the author has given are really pitiful. If she is so interested in showing what it is like to be discriminated against, why not actually write about a POC character?
I’m kind of left with the feeling that she created this whole world just so she could explore racism whilst still having a white protagonist.
Great review 🙂
Stephanie Sinclair
@Ebony Thanks! That is exactly what she did. She wanted white people to try and understand oppression. It’s a very difficult thing to try and accomplish especially if the author has not faced oppression herself.
The character of Eden is a racist. She doesn’t react like a person who has been oppressed. He entire characterization existed around throwing racial slurs around with the excuse of being oppressed. But if you were oppressed, that is something that effects you mentally. Half the things she said or did did not sound like an oppressed person. It sounded like someone who was intolerant, selfish and a racist.
heykelley
WOW. Was this book self-published? Because who would publish that? Who would WRITE that and expect it to be received well? What an utter, disgusting disaster! I’m half black, so I wonder where I would fit in this world. Half-coal? Half-pearl? Ugh, ugh, ugh…
You are my hero for reading and reviewing this book. This is definitely my favorite book blog ever.
Stephanie Sinclair
@heykelley Thank you, HeyKelley. This book was Vanity published by the author. As of now it has not been picked up by a publisher and I hope it never does. I hope it will just fade away into obscurity.
LeliaTaylor
Looking at Foyt’s background in independent filmmaking perhaps gives a hint—she may have written this pile of %#*! because of the potential for a movie and she may not be off the mark, sad to say. I have hopes no “real” publisher will pick it up because of the overwhelmingly low ratings on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble and Amazon and the relatively low sales ranking. When you think about it, all the backlash is encouraging because it means a lot of readers actually think about what they’re reading.
On another note, we have a long way to go in understanding each other but we’re making progress. I went on a cruise with a black friend (she prefers “black” to “African American”) 20-odd years ago and learned to my astonishment that black people get sunburns. Gasp! Who knew? That revelation sure made me more aware.
I have declined to review my copy from NetGalley but I appreciate that you have written this piece, Steph. It is a job well done 😉
Stephanie Sinclair
@LeliaTaylor So you think she’ll make her own movie next? Who would ever want to star in a movie like that?! Then again, I saw on an Amazon review that said it would make a fabulous film. Ugh. Please, no.
I think it’s impossible to fully understand any race, but that’s okay for me as long as we all can *respect* everyone’s cultural struggles.
parajunkee
I don’t have anything pertinent to say in regards to this book, I did watch the vids and the promotion and I just thought it was a very dumb idea..unfortunately the buzz around the book will probably generate sales instead of push people away from it. Face palm moment. Why does it seem that lately stupidity has filtered into the literary community?? I thought we were immune? Isn’t literacy the cure for stupidity? Or was that syphilis?
Stephanie Sinclair
@parajunkee You’re right. This book is going to sell simply because of the controversy. A part of me wonders if that was Foyt’s master plan all along. : /
cynicalsapphire
Wonderful use of the Hide Yo Kids, Hide Yo Wife pics.
This is one of the most comprehensive reviews I’ve read of this and definitely the best.
Stephanie Sinclair
@cynicalsapphire Thank you!
Lexie
The fact that a novel like this could even exist and be legitimately published completely horrifies me. I just can’t comprehend how someone could read this and think it’s okay in any universe. (Although it’s somewhat gratifying that it has the lowest GR rating that I have ever seen.)
Steph, you are fantastic. I’m sorry for all your brain cells that were damaged in the reading, but I’m glad you were able to push through and write this review, because it’s not just entertaining–it’s also very powerful. Hoping you won’t ever have to handle so much bullshit in one book ever again.
Stephanie Sinclair
Thank you, Lexie. It’s Vanity published for now and I hope it does not make it further than that. I think besides the book Hitler wrote, it may have one of the lowest ratings I’ve ever seen. I think I need a nice long string of 4-5 star reads, alcohol and cookies to heal my brain.
Lexie
…this actually has a lower rating than Mein Kampf. I kid you not.
KD
How does one promote a book as being against racism when the MC is so rampantly racist? Is the subtitle to this book “When bad ideas run amok in the heads of people with no real connection to reality” ?!!!?? DOES THIS WOMAN HAVE NO FRIENDS WHO CAN STOP HER INSANITY???!!!
I am so mad I can’t find the words.
Stephanie Sinclair
It’s because the author truly believes in what she wrote is a retaliation against racism. I think that fact offends and angers me even more than the book itself.
leslyepj
Kudos to you for making it through the entire book. Great review! I’m 34 and *I* cried when Obama was elected because I didn’t really think I’d ever see a black president. And I’m pretty sure I won’t see another one…
Stephanie Sinclair
@leslyepj Thank you. I was so shocked when he won that election. I thought for sure he would lose. I worry that he will not win the next one, though. 🙁
Mary BookSwarm
How in the hell did you make it all the way through this? Dear lord. Thank you so much for taking one for the team *bows down* I can’t even… I just… How… Yeah. I’m at a loss for words. How someone could write and promote this and think it’s okay is completely and utterly beyond me.
Stephanie Sinclair
@Mary BookSwarm With the help of alcohol and chocolate, I was able to overcome. But I also didn’t want anyone complaining that I didn’t know what I was talking about because I didn’t finish. I had every intention of giving up at the 50% mark, but I pushed to finish.
Respiring Thoughts
I requested this one (I too am a masochist and a POC), but then I decided I have better things to do than torture myself. Awesome review, Stephanie! Thanks for getting through it and sharing.
Stephanie Sinclair
@Respiring Thoughts Thank you! You are wise. Don’t do it to yourself.
Neyra
I just died a little xD On a more serious note though, wow that was a long ass review Steph, but definitely made some good points there >.< I hadn’t heard of this book until i saw it’d mentioned by you on Tweeter, so I’m not nor was I ever interested in it, but reading your review and based on the synopsis alone. it’s definitely NOT a book I’d ever pick up. This is just… I bow to you woman for having made it threw it all.. i would have tossed this book to the bonfire pile >.< Smh. Love the review btw 🙂
Stephanie Sinclair
@Neyra Thank you! I’m pretty sure this is my longest review. It beats Carrier of the Mark by 1,000 characters. O.O There was so much I needed to mention, though.
Neyra
@Stephanie Sinclair It’s the longest i’ve seen. lol And i still need to see that review >.< Def a lot of words to be writing, but damn if you didn’t make some good points! >.< i think your followers appreciate it though 😉
Lizzys Dark Ficiton
Thank you so much for reviewing this book. It’s so great to actually read a well-thought out review rather than just “don’t read, cause it’s racist.” It seems that this book fails on so many levels and I will definitely, 100%, not be buying this book after reading your review. Some of those quotes are so outrageous. Yes, definitely racist. Yes, definitely not great writing.
Stephanie Sinclair
@Lizzys Dark Ficiton Thank you, Lissy. Usually, but not always, there is something I can pick out that I like in a book, but I couldn’t find one redeemable thing. Even Eden’s dog hated black people. SMH.
Ann Somerville
Excellent, thorough review!
Stephanie Sinclair
@Ann Somerville Thank you, Ann!
erinf1
*slowclap* You rock! Like everyone else has said, thanks for taking one for the team. This is the one book that I truly think should be burned.
Stephanie Sinclair
@erinf1 Thank you! It really is horrifying.
christinashoe
How. On. Earth. Can they publish this kind of stuff. I am dead serious. This is sick. Completely and utterly sick. And comparing the love interest to RIDING AN ANIMAL?! UGH. People actually LIKE that?! Oh, and did I mention the whole illogical Pearl-Coal thing? So great. Not only is this book (if you can call it that) truly messed-up, it also doesn’t make any sense. I will most definitely not be reading this. EVER.
TaneikaS
FUCKING BRAVO. I want to fly over to America and give you a hug. That review was fucking marvellous Steph! I’ve read a shitload of reviews of this book, but your review was brilliant. THANKS FOR MAKING ME CRY BY THE WAY. When you mentioned your daughter asking you why her hair “doesn’t go down like a princess”, waterworks started to flow for me. Seriously. The only word going through my mind about this review is AWESOME. PS – I honestly wish Obama was president of the world
PPS – I love ‘We Fly High’ and now I have it stuck in my head HAHAHA!
Review: September Girls by Bennett Madison | Cuddlebuggery Book Blog
[…] I mean, goddamn! I really think this book hit on almost every way to demean a women. That is quite a feat considering I never thought I’d read a book that offended me more than Fifty Shades of Grey. Congrats, September Girls! You get the new title of Worst Book I’ve Ever Read right up there next to Revealing Eden. […]
Elisabeth
“Pearl” (a precious and beautiful material) is a racial slur, but “coal” (sometimes used as a racial slur in OUR world) is not? What the hell? Even u sing “maggot” (or something else that’s gross and white) for whites and “onyx” (a gemstone) for blacks wouldn’t have reinforced the racism so much. The title is “SAVE THE WHITE PEOPLE”, and the heroine calls her black love interest “beastial” and “savage”, and wants to ride him like a pony… and not in the fun-in-the-bedroom, but like she’s using him as a beast of burden. I thought there were some pretty blatantly racist moments in the House of Night series (along with homophobia, religious prejudice, lookism, making fun of disabilities and disorders, and a metric ton of misogyny), but this takes the fucking cake!
By the way, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve always thought that the majority of blacks (I’m Canadian, and the majority of black people here call themselves black) have pure-black hair. Now that I think about it, I’ve seen jet-black hair, brown-black, and a variety of shades of brown, from dark brown to golden or auburn
Rhys C. Ethan
I have to admit the blurb seemed somewhat intriguing. That is until you started listing the absurdist narrative and plot of the book. I got so pissed off with the author for standing so profoundly by her book (ok, it’s admirable, but when people start telling you it’s racist, you gotta wonder).
This book is wrong in so many levels. I mean I thought it was some kind of Noughts and Crosses ripoff (which I still haven’t found the time to read), but I will take your word for it and not waste my time.
I’m an author myself and I try to research the shit out of things that are out of my peripheral. Research is the Holy Bible of writing. And Foyt obviously didn’t do any of it.