“I’m five pages in and considering not reading any more. As a woman of size, Maxine is really offensive to me. Most women aren’t in single-digit sizes anymore. The average American woman is a size fourteen, and a portrayal like that is an over-the-top stereotype, of course, based on size. Low-hanging fruit and a very tired old trope. Let’s not overlook the contrast with the Julie-Anne character, who of course is successful along with being thin.”
“Lastly, whoever edited this missed all the punctuation errors.”
“I don’t know, I’m going to give this a few more pages, but so far I’ve got a pretty bad taste in my mouth, here.”
Linda Lyons-bailey
Dear Linda Lyons-bailey,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on our book. We genuinely appreciate your feedback, and we’re sorry to hear that the portrayal of Maxine has caused you discomfort.
Our intention is not to offend or perpetuate stereotypes. We understand and acknowledge the importance of diverse and authentic representations in literature. Your perspective is valuable, and we take your concerns seriously.
As you continue reading, we hope you might find other aspects of the story that resonate with you.
If you choose to continue with the book, we hope that it provides a more well-rounded and positive experience for you. Your input is essential for us to grow and improve, and we appreciate your openness in sharing your thoughts.
Thank you once again for your feedback.
P.S. Regarding plus-sized people: My partner and I are part of this category. We have no problem describing or reading stories about plus-sized people. Not all the characters in SEETHINGS are plus-sized or “Low Hanging Fruit” but they exist beyond the reach of page five.
As for punctuation, some countries use different punctuation styles. There is more than one version of English used in English-speaking countries. It’s true!
Clearly, this book isn’t for you. You require stories with a narrower scope and softer narratives. There are other novels written by authors who craft sensitive stories to protect readers from characters they might perceive as vulnerable.
SEETHINGS is not that kind of novel. It is a dark and brooding narrative, and I make that absolutely clear in every piece of correspondence I post. You were mistaken if you skipped reading the synopsis or misinterpreted it, hoping for warm, fairytale events to unfold within five pages.
Regarding reading and reviewing books: A book review is best conducted after reading a book. Digesting five pages of a book does not make for an accurate book review. -M
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