Should I be brave?

[ontana]

Every year I post a list of some of the books I have read that year on my fb and it generates a lot of recommendations and discussions amongst my friends. This year I have read material girls and feminism for women and rather ridiculously I'm nervous about including them on my list. I have one tra friend who I have had disagreements with before over JKR etc. As im writing this I realise how ridiculous it is to be nervous about saying I've read a book- I should just do it shouldn't I??

Yes.

Yes, you should just do it.

Yes you should. I have just read material girls amd thought it was really interesting and swapped it with a book called the end of gender with a trans friend. TRAs do not represent many trans people

Yep. Especially if it's one among several. If your friend is the type of person who can't handle someone reading a book they may disagree with - well. Would you take it badly if a friend of yours read Shon Faye's book?

If you will get an all out pile on and get sent to Coventry (and you care), maybe stick to fiction (I hear Robert Galbraith does a good crime book).

Not stick to reading fiction - but listing the fiction. Have you read Cut (even they can’t bitch - too much - about that)?

Maybe say you also intend to read a pro-TRA book too, like Shon Fay's book but haven't got round to it yet?
Definitely post it though. If it's something you do every year, you should.

Yes, you should. Or you could just take part in a local book burning instead, to apease friends?

@Linguini

Maybe say you also intend to read a pro-TRA book too, like Shon Fay's book but haven't got round to it yet? Definitely post it though. If it's something you do every year, you should.

Please don't do this. You're a grown woman who can read what she likes without promising to do penance for it. Think of the women who might be quietly encouraged just by reading your list - and how that courage might immediately be slapped down by reading a disclaimer. Don't help normalise apologising for your reading material.

I say just include them. List all the books without comment. If someone starts whingeing in the comments, they will only be making themselves look a tiresome fool. Nobody will be impressed. Don't engage. The rest of your followers will see a) a nice, normal person who has read some nice, normal books, and b) an aggressive bore to scroll past.

I have done it! I read troubled blood last year so not on this years list!

Go for it, say precisely why you like it and if anyone objects just ask them if they have actually read the book

Yes, do it.
Reading is about discovery and education, you don’t necessarily read books that are about what you believe.

yes, do it
if it stimulates debate and discussion - great
we are all allowed differences of opinion
but its very difficult to dispute and argue against material facts
i'm reading material girls right now - kindly gifted to me at Christmas

What times we live in when someone has to question whether they need to keep quiet about a book they read.

@ontana

I have done it! I read troubled blood last year so not on this years list!

Good for you. Another women being brave when you should not need to. Thank you.

@ontana good for you! Did you get any reaction?

Well done and thank you, OP. Every little bit of bravery helps

@CrispAndFrosty no reaction whatsoever! No comment from tra and someone else who is outspokenly woke had asked me if I enjoyed a crime novel she had read 🤣

Not sure what I was worried about!

[quote ontana]@CrispAndFrosty no reaction whatsoever! No comment from tra and someone else who is outspokenly woke had asked me if I enjoyed a crime novel she had read 🤣

Not sure what I was worried about! [/quote]
Brilliant! That's good to hear.

They may just not have bothered to read your list...

@Storminamu probably!

Just go for it - you are entitled to read what you want and there have been plenty of main-stream reviews of these books (it's not as though they are some niche weird books!).

@ontana Excellent - the point where someone can't suggest reading material because they are worried someone might become aggressive is the point you absolutely should do it!!