Comments on: Miss Dowd Rants http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/ More than you ever wanted to hear from Bestselling Author Jenny Crusie. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Jenny http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-363 Jenny Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:12:44 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-363 Yep, feminist here. I think Dowd has just lost her grip on the real world. As somebody said on Salon once about literary critics in academe, she thinks she's the elite but she's really just marginalized. The world goes on without her and she can't understand it because she's so RIGHT. Of course, I get that way myself, so I'm not in a position to throw pink covers at her. Yep, feminist here.

I think Dowd has just lost her grip on the real world. As somebody said on Salon once about literary critics in academe, she thinks she’s the elite but she’s really just marginalized. The world goes on without her and she can’t understand it because she’s so RIGHT.

Of course, I get that way myself, so I’m not in a position to throw pink covers at her.

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]]> By: Elise http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-361 Elise Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:34:00 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-361 I haven't read an article written by Maureen Dowd since she declared all stay at home moms weren't real feminists. As a mom of 3 who has worked full time, part time, and stayed at home, I found her sentiment harsh and utterly ridiculous. So I'll give her this much credit, the title of her article reeled me in. I just had to read what her latest anti-woman rant was about, and she didn't let me down. Her opinions were as elitist and trite as the type of feminism she brags to aspire too. Here's a thought Maureen. Maybe this day and age we need a new type of feminism. A type of feminism that includes women from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. A type of feminism that includes women who have all types of tastes (not just the ones you deem as acceptable), and the type of feminism that doesn't look down at our feminine qualities, but embraces them. One thing I love about Jennifer Crusie is that (I assume) she is a real feminist, and her heroines display those qualities. Of course, since Maureen Dowd doesn't do research (she just spouts off opinions) she doesn't know this. And as for the librarian quoted above. Another elitist snob no doubt. My mother is a librarian, and she doesn't believe in censorship, and that is a whole other can of worms I will leave untouched, but that is what this all seems like to me, and I can't stand the thought!!! I haven’t read an article written by Maureen Dowd since she declared all stay at home moms weren’t real feminists. As a mom of 3 who has worked full time, part time, and stayed at home, I found her sentiment harsh and utterly ridiculous. So I’ll give her this much credit, the title of her article reeled me in. I just had to read what her latest anti-woman rant was about, and she didn’t let me down. Her opinions were as elitist and trite as the type of feminism she brags to aspire too.

Here’s a thought Maureen. Maybe this day and age we need a new type of feminism. A type of feminism that includes women from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. A type of feminism that includes women who have all types of tastes (not just the ones you deem as acceptable), and the type of feminism that doesn’t look down at our feminine qualities, but embraces them.

One thing I love about Jennifer Crusie is that (I assume) she is a real feminist, and her heroines display those qualities. Of course, since Maureen Dowd doesn’t do research (she just spouts off opinions) she doesn’t know this.

And as for the librarian quoted above. Another elitist snob no doubt. My mother is a librarian, and she doesn’t believe in censorship, and that is a whole other can of worms I will leave untouched, but that is what this all seems like to me, and I can’t stand the thought!!!

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]]> By: eileen myers http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-357 eileen myers Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:39:41 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-357 It must have been a slow schmooze day for the ol' Dowdster. Normally, I can appreciate her point of view. And it must be said: Anne Coulter is the devil. Never speak her name aloud. If you do so by mistake, you must turn in a circle three times, spit on the ground, and send a check for $6.66 to the Republic Party in Molly Ivins' name. She'll get a heavenly chuckle from it. It must have been a slow schmooze day for the ol’ Dowdster. Normally, I can appreciate her point of view.

And it must be said: Anne Coulter is the devil. Never speak her name aloud. If you do so by mistake, you must turn in a circle three times, spit on the ground, and send a check for $6.66 to the Republic Party in Molly Ivins’ name. She’ll get a heavenly chuckle from it.

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]]> By: Kim http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-343 Kim Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:41:49 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-343 Orangehands - Aha! Now I know the secret. Bwahahaha! And to think, I've been reading for the story... silly me... Orangehands –

Aha! Now I know the secret. Bwahahaha! And to think, I’ve been reading for the story… silly me…

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]]> By: Karen H http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-342 Karen H Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:07:23 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-342 "“And when we’re at war and the country is under threat, they seem a little insular. America’s reading women [should] pick up ‘The Red Badge of Courage.’ ” Huh. That's lovely. A woman sees her son, husband, or boyfriend go off to war, decides to read "The Red Badge of Courage" so that she can better envision her son, husband, or boyfriend in bloody hand-to-hand combat, in constant threat of death. Or, maybe the woman going through cancer treatment should read storiesa bout the pain and travail that she will surely go through, so that not only can she live it as she goes through it, but live it again by reading about it. Such fun. I don't think so. It's not a sin to take a vacation from pain, and even to hope that maybe, maybe there's a chance that we might get through it all right. It might even be less cruel. A lot of people are living the reality of a harsh life. They don't have to read about it, too. ““And when we’re at war and the country is under threat, they seem a little insular. America’s reading women [should] pick up ‘The Red Badge of Courage.’ ”

Huh. That’s lovely. A woman sees her son, husband, or boyfriend go off to war, decides to read “The Red Badge of Courage” so that she can better envision her son, husband, or boyfriend in bloody hand-to-hand combat, in constant threat of death.

Or, maybe the woman going through cancer treatment should read storiesa bout the pain and travail that she will surely go through, so that not only can she live it as she goes through it, but live it again by reading about it. Such fun.

I don’t think so. It’s not a sin to take a vacation from pain, and even to hope that maybe, maybe there’s a chance that we might get through it all right. It might even be less cruel. A lot of people are living the reality of a harsh life. They don’t have to read about it, too.

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]]> By: orangehands http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-341 orangehands Wed, 14 Feb 2007 06:29:25 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-341 Kim: you didn't know? apparently in any pink book, of any genre it falls under, on page 123, the first letter of each line is oh heck, i think Homeland Security is on to me. Silke: LMAO. zaza: another one, eh? i admit, i did it too. i would also read the book and then find a modern book that got the same point across in a language kids would enjoy and respond to. they didn't appreciate that either... Steph: are you thinking of Feeling Sorry for Celia? it's an Aussie teen book? good stuff. Kim: you didn’t know? apparently in any pink book, of any genre it falls under, on page 123, the first letter of each line is oh heck, i think Homeland Security is on to me.

Silke: LMAO.

zaza: another one, eh? i admit, i did it too. i would also read the book and then find a modern book that got the same point across in a language kids would enjoy and respond to. they didn’t appreciate that either…

Steph: are you thinking of Feeling Sorry for Celia? it’s an Aussie teen book? good stuff.

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]]> By: downundergal http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-337 downundergal Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:09:03 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-337 Thank you SMH for posting the link. What the? Who the hell is Leon and how old is he? What paternalistic clap trap. He sounds like he has a stick firmly jabbed up a certain piece of his anatomy. Thank you SMH for posting the link.
What the? Who the hell is Leon and how old is he? What paternalistic clap trap. He sounds like he has a stick firmly jabbed up a certain piece of his anatomy.

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]]> By: Kim http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-336 Kim Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:23:03 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-336 Argh - I don't get the Times and I'm not a Times Select subcriber, so all I've read is the snippets that other bloggers have posted. I'm a little out of the loop on this, but I think it's a little insulting for Leon (whoever he is) to insinuate that just because someone reads chick lit, they couldn't possibly have read The Red Badge of Courage. What an idiot. And could someone explain to me how or what reading a chick lit book ties in with terrorism? What is THAT about? Is there some kind of code in them thar pages that I've missed? And, yes, you can find a Jane Austen novel that doesn't have a pink cover. I picked up a copy of Emma before Christmas and its cover is a pretty boring beige-y tan. But then again, I didn't buy it for the cover, but that's just me. Argh – I don’t get the Times and I’m not a Times Select subcriber, so all I’ve read is the snippets that other bloggers have posted. I’m a little out of the loop on this, but I think it’s a little insulting for Leon (whoever he is) to insinuate that just because someone reads chick lit, they couldn’t possibly have read The Red Badge of Courage. What an idiot. And could someone explain to me how or what reading a chick lit book ties in with terrorism? What is THAT about? Is there some kind of code in them thar pages that I’ve missed?

And, yes, you can find a Jane Austen novel that doesn’t have a pink cover. I picked up a copy of Emma before Christmas and its cover is a pretty boring beige-y tan. But then again, I didn’t buy it for the cover, but that’s just me.

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]]> By: G and T http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-335 G and T Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:52:30 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-335 I have to say I am not a big fan of pink. I am also not a big fan of being told what to read. That ship sailed when I ended formal education, which included weighty tomes, literature and translating six of the 12 books of the Aeneid from Latin to English. Also, I am not a fan of portions of the New York Times -- the smug parts and the parts that are poorly written and poorly reasoned and the parts that are patronizing about everywhere that is not Manhattan. What does that leave? The odd story on the business page, I guess. Really I should have written that to them, but you all get to read it now. I now read for enjoyment. I don't read for punishment. I have to say I am not a big fan of pink.
I am also not a big fan of being told what to read. That ship sailed when I ended formal education, which included weighty tomes, literature and translating six of the 12 books of the Aeneid from Latin to English.
Also, I am not a fan of portions of the New York Times — the smug parts and the parts that are poorly written and poorly reasoned and the parts that are patronizing about everywhere that is not Manhattan.
What does that leave?
The odd story on the business page, I guess.

Really I should have written that to them, but you all get to read it now.
I now read for enjoyment. I don’t read for punishment.

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]]> By: Louis http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-333 Louis Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:59:29 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-333 I've read "Red Badge Of Courage", have it stuck away in storage. Will never re-read it. As to the "Pink" covered books, I've read and re-read a great many of them. Most of the current crop of authors make excellent reading as compared to the 100 year ago writers, IMO. Ms Jenny...Loved your response...that will put Ms Dowd in her place. Might look up the dictionary defination of "dowd" I’ve read “Red Badge Of Courage”, have it stuck away in storage. Will never re-read it. As to the “Pink” covered books, I’ve read and re-read a great many of them. Most of the current crop of authors make excellent reading as compared to the 100 year ago writers, IMO.

Ms Jenny…Loved your response…that will put Ms Dowd in her place.

Might look up the dictionary defination of “dowd”

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]]> By: Pat Rice http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-332 Pat Rice Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:46:47 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-332 LOL on your reply to MD! It would be nice to think she actually reads replies and doesn't just measure them to count readership. She might actually have to think about that one. And Dowd is one of the reasons I don't read opinion columnists. (although admittedly, I loved Molly Ivins and would sneak a peek there occasionally) I only have so many angry cells to spare in my brain, and I prefer to reserve them for real conflicts. Take that, MD. LOL on your reply to MD! It would be nice to think she actually reads replies and doesn’t just measure them to count readership. She might actually have to think about that one.

And Dowd is one of the reasons I don’t read opinion columnists. (although admittedly, I loved Molly Ivins and would sneak a peek there occasionally) I only have so many angry cells to spare in my brain, and I prefer to reserve them for real conflicts. Take that, MD.

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]]> By: Katy http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-331 Katy Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:49:33 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-331 I feel such rage at the fact that ANYBODY would berate a person for reading. It doesn't matter WHAT that person reads, be it comic books, chick lit, telephone books, yogurt cartons, Shakespeare, etc., as long as they are engaging their brains with words instead of drugs... WHO CARES!!!! What's next? Censorship and book burning? Alright, that was probably taking it a bit too far... The bottom line is that this is America. We have freedom of choice and freedom to express ourselves. We should not feel guilty for buying a book with a pink cover nor should we feel guilty for enjoying that book (and getting a warm, fuzzy feeling in our hearts from its content!) I feel such rage at the fact that ANYBODY would berate a person for reading. It doesn’t matter WHAT that person reads, be it comic books, chick lit, telephone books, yogurt cartons, Shakespeare, etc., as long as they are engaging their brains with words instead of drugs… WHO CARES!!!! What’s next? Censorship and book burning? Alright, that was probably taking it a bit too far… The bottom line is that this is America. We have freedom of choice and freedom to express ourselves. We should not feel guilty for buying a book with a pink cover nor should we feel guilty for enjoying that book (and getting a warm, fuzzy feeling in our hearts from its content!)

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]]> By: ZaZa http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-330 ZaZa Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:40:38 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-330 Red Badge of Courage. Huh. That was assigned reading in one of my first English classes in high school. Need I say I neglected to read it? Didn't sound like my kind of thing. It's kind of amazing to me, now, that I got away with that argument. Ah, magnet schools. Little did I appreciate the intellectual freedom I had as a thirteen year old. Yet today, some broad, and her best bud, figure they're going to tell me what to read??? Pardon me while I take a break for maniacal laughter. Red Badge of Courage. Huh. That was assigned reading in one of my first English classes in high school. Need I say I neglected to read it? Didn’t sound like my kind of thing. It’s kind of amazing to me, now, that I got away with that argument. Ah, magnet schools. Little did I appreciate the intellectual freedom I had as a thirteen year old. Yet today, some broad, and her best bud, figure they’re going to tell me what to read???

Pardon me while I take a break for maniacal laughter.

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]]> By: Melissa James http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-329 Melissa James Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:26:50 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-329 I have read and still read literary works, as well as reading and writing romance. I enjoy both, and read newspapers regularly. What I find sad about Ms Dowd is that, in trying to recommend "better reading" for the American public, her appalling grammar and sentence structure makes The Times appear as a forum for the "I slept through college" folk to feel superior. Superior to what, by the end of the article, remains unclear. Then, I'm just a yokel from Australia who writes romance novels (*with pink covers*), so what would I know? Melissa I have read and still read literary works, as well as reading and writing romance. I enjoy both, and read newspapers regularly. What I find sad about Ms Dowd is that, in trying to recommend “better reading” for the American public, her appalling grammar and sentence structure makes The Times appear as a forum for the “I slept through college” folk to feel superior.

Superior to what, by the end of the article, remains unclear. Then, I’m just a yokel from Australia who writes romance novels (*with pink covers*), so what would I know?

Melissa

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]]> By: ZaZa http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-328 ZaZa Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:16:25 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-328 You may have been adding to some bean counter's idea of her popularity, but I'll bet no one else came up with such a funny, honest and snarky response. Having read the article, I can only conclude that she has a problem with pink. What else can it be??? You may have been adding to some bean counter’s idea of her popularity, but I’ll bet no one else came up with such a funny, honest and snarky response.

Having read the article, I can only conclude that she has a problem with pink. What else can it be???

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]]> By: KLC http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-327 KLC Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:06:29 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-327 I just read that blog, and Jenny, I'm amazed that you managed to narrow down your objections to compose the succinct response that you did. I think above all I find it offensive that she damn an entire genre to literary hell, based on their covers. Does she notice for instance that Jennifer Weiner's "Good in Bed" is less about sex than relationships? And not just between men and women, but between parents and children, and siblings? Does she realize that "Angus" is not geared toward the adult woamn, but adolescents? Louise Rennison addresses things in her series that teenagers think about in a sharp, funny way. I find it hard to believe out of the 36 books Ms. Dowd claims to have take home and read that not a single one was anything more than women wandering around and trying to capture husbands. But then when one enters with a closed mind into such an experiment, I suppose it's natural that they achieve the expected results. I just read that blog, and Jenny, I’m amazed that you managed to narrow down your objections to compose the succinct response that you did.

I think above all I find it offensive that she damn an entire genre to literary hell, based on their covers. Does she notice for instance that Jennifer Weiner’s “Good in Bed” is less about sex than relationships? And not just between men and women, but between parents and children, and siblings? Does she realize that “Angus” is not geared toward the adult woamn, but adolescents? Louise Rennison addresses things in her series that teenagers think about in a sharp, funny way.

I find it hard to believe out of the 36 books Ms. Dowd claims to have take home and read that not a single one was anything more than women wandering around and trying to capture husbands. But then when one enters with a closed mind into such an experiment, I suppose it’s natural that they achieve the expected results.

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]]> By: Marta http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-326 Marta Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:13:57 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-326 This would be a good example of why I lurk and don't comment; I missed a typo in my previous comment and can't figure out how to go in and fix it. I know it's not a big deal, but geez, if I'm yelling in print at someone, I'd like to seem as though I can spell. I've given up on grammer; I lost most of what I knew in post-menopausal memory dump. Can someone tell me how to edit after the fact? Thanks a heap! This would be a good example of why I lurk and don’t comment; I missed a typo in my previous comment and can’t figure out how to go in and fix it. I know it’s not a big deal, but geez, if I’m yelling in print at someone, I’d like to seem as though I can spell. I’ve given up on grammer; I lost most of what I knew in post-menopausal memory dump. Can someone tell me how to edit after the fact? Thanks a heap!

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]]> By: Andi http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-325 Andi Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:11:05 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-325 I've said this elsewhere about others, but it fits so nicely in this situation. Maureen, you are a poop. That was an ill-conceived and unorganized take on women's literature. And to prove my point I will only buy books with pink on the cover for the next month! I stopped letting men tell me what to read and how to shape my opinions when I left college. So Leon, be quiet. Thank you, Jenny, for succinctly summing up all that we have ranted about here. I’ve said this elsewhere about others, but it fits so nicely in this situation. Maureen, you are a poop. That was an ill-conceived and unorganized take on women’s literature. And to prove my point I will only buy books with pink on the cover for the next month! I stopped letting men tell me what to read and how to shape my opinions when I left college. So Leon, be quiet. Thank you, Jenny, for succinctly summing up all that we have ranted about here.

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]]> By: Silke http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-324 Silke Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:08:51 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-324 *lowers lids slightly, peering over the top of her glasses* Who the hell is Leon and why should I care what he wants me to read? For that matter... *I* decide what I read - and not one of my "trashy" romance novels every complained about having to share shelf space with Stephen Hawking stuff. My Fantasy novels have yet to push the Encyclopedia Britannica off the shelf (Granted, they are kinda heavy but my fantasy novels have dragons in them. Maybe they should just... like... uh... burn them off the shelf. Or something.) Idjits. *lowers lids slightly, peering over the top of her glasses*

Who the hell is Leon and why should I care what he wants me to read?
For that matter… *I* decide what I read – and not one of my “trashy” romance novels every complained about having to share shelf space with Stephen Hawking stuff. My Fantasy novels have yet to push the Encyclopedia Britannica off the shelf (Granted, they are kinda heavy but my fantasy novels have dragons in them. Maybe they should just… like… uh… burn them off the shelf. Or something.)

Idjits.

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]]> By: Tawna Fenske http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-322 Tawna Fenske Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:52:11 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/02/12/miss-dowd-rants/#comment-322 Great response, Jenny! Sometimes it just gets too uncomfortable to sit on your hands. Thanks for hitting that "send" button on behalf of the hand-sitters among us. Tawna Great response, Jenny!

Sometimes it just gets too uncomfortable to sit on your hands. Thanks for hitting that “send” button on behalf of the hand-sitters among us.

Tawna

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