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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

As JK Rowling turns 60, John Boyne on why he stands behind the fearless author

25 replies

miri1985 · 27/07/2025 15:16

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books-arts/book-news/john-boyne-on-jk-rowling-as-a-writer-im-in-awe-of-her-achievements-as-a-reader-i-love-her-work-and-as-a-fellow-terf-i-stand-four-square-behind-her/a857888465.html

https://archive.ph/7FufV

John Boyne on JK Rowling: ‘As a writer, I’m in awe of her achievements. As a reader, I love her work. And as a fellow Terf, I stand four-square behind her’

In response to some negative remarks made by Stephen Fry in June, the writer JK Rowling stated: “It is a great mistake to assume that everyone who claims to have been a friend of mine was ever considered a friend by me.”

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books-arts/book-news/john-boyne-on-jk-rowling-as-a-writer-im-in-awe-of-her-achievements-as-a-reader-i-love-her-work-and-as-a-fellow-terf-i-stand-four-square-behind-her/a857888465.html

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 27/07/2025 15:26
happy harry potter GIF by BAFTA

For these perfectly rational beliefs, she has been pilloried by three distinct types of person: the middle-aged men who’ve been rejected by women all their lives and have now abandoned the real world in favour of taking out their frustrations on social media; there’s the young people, so indoctrinated by social media, that they fail to recognise actual misogyny and homophobia when they see it. And there are the grown women who are astonishingly complicit in their own erasure.

These, perhaps, are the worst group, but it must be remembered that for every Commander Waterford, there’s a Serena Joy standing behind him, ready to pin a handmaiden down as her husband rapes her.

Treaclewell · 27/07/2025 15:35

I'd like to read it, but paywalled.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 27/07/2025 15:37

Treaclewell · 27/07/2025 15:35

I'd like to read it, but paywalled.

Click on the archive link.

SeanMean · 27/07/2025 15:49

@MissScarletInTheBallroom
How do you do that?

DeanElderberry · 27/07/2025 15:52

Encouraging that the Indo was prepared to print that. Even six months ago they wouldn't have.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 27/07/2025 16:06

SeanMean · 27/07/2025 15:49

@MissScarletInTheBallroom
How do you do that?

It's the link with "archive" in the address, immediately below the main link in the OP.

Abhannmor · 29/07/2025 10:34

I recommend John's book The Echo Chamber. Brilliant, funny novel about the follies of our time

TeiTetua · 29/07/2025 13:09

We're suspicious of any male who calls himself a "feminist", but maybe this is a case of "Terf is as terf does".

PestoHoliday · 29/07/2025 16:08

It was wonderful watching his conversion from TWAW to Terf a few years ago. He a knowledged how wrong he'd got it and has been gracious in seeking out those he criticised to apologise and then defend them

WarrenTofficier · 30/07/2025 00:06

Abhannmor · 29/07/2025 10:34

I recommend John's book The Echo Chamber. Brilliant, funny novel about the follies of our time

I hated it, one of the worst books I have ever read. I had assumed from it that Boyne was a fully fledged 'be kinder' so he has gone up slightly in my estimation but I will never get back the hours of my life I wasted on that awful, awful book.

Davros · 30/07/2025 11:29

Abhannmor · 29/07/2025 10:34

I recommend John's book The Echo Chamber. Brilliant, funny novel about the follies of our time

Essential reading and so funny. The audiobook is great too. Much better than Caledonian Road which has some similar characters

NameChangedOfc · 30/07/2025 11:36

It's always heartwarming to me when people support her publicly. I feel less of a missanthrope.

Davros · 30/07/2025 11:47

@WarrenTofficier I’m sorry, I didn’t see your post but I’m so surprised that you hated the book so much

WarrenTofficier · 30/07/2025 12:02

Davros · 30/07/2025 11:47

@WarrenTofficier I’m sorry, I didn’t see your post but I’m so surprised that you hated the book so much

Not just me it's code for awfulness at my book group! Every single one of us hated it. I found all the characters awful (I know we were meant to hate the main family but everyone was unlikeable and it would have worked better for me if they contrasted with the minor characters actually being likeable).

I found the Eastern European characters to be boardering on racist stereotypes.

We were supposed to believe that no one could spot that an attractive 'female' was in fact male and had presented as such until a couple of weeks ago.

The plot was ridiculous and I didn't think it was well written. I can't think that it had a single redeeming feature.

Abhannmor · 30/07/2025 12:59

WarrenTofficier · 30/07/2025 00:06

I hated it, one of the worst books I have ever read. I had assumed from it that Boyne was a fully fledged 'be kinder' so he has gone up slightly in my estimation but I will never get back the hours of my life I wasted on that awful, awful book.

It ain't Literary Fiction. More of an absurd bit of knockabout fun. If course the characters and plot are a bit unlikely. But are they as unlikely as the craziness we are actually living through?
Ps I've just bought Caledonian Rd for someone as a birthday present too. An impulse purchase after reading a few sentences.

Davros · 30/07/2025 13:40

Caledonian Road is good, a bit absurd in parts and fairly serious. It’s well written and interesting. I love Andrew O’Hagen’s book Maf The Dog, highly recommend it

DrUptonsWallofSad · 30/07/2025 14:56

I enjoyed The Echo Chamber. Over the top but fun.

John Boyne has had trouble at the hands of TRAs, IIRC (sorry not read linked article which may discuss it).

chickensandbees · 30/07/2025 15:35

That is just brilliant!

QuimReaper · 30/07/2025 17:59

DeanElderberry · 27/07/2025 15:52

Encouraging that the Indo was prepared to print that. Even six months ago they wouldn't have.

@DeanElderberry Is that true of the Irish Independent? Genuine question, it's not on my radar.

DeanElderberry · 30/07/2025 19:39

QuimReaper · 30/07/2025 17:59

@DeanElderberry Is that true of the Irish Independent? Genuine question, it's not on my radar.

All the Irish media have been continuing to toe the 'no debate' line.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/07/2025 19:42

60? Blimey! Almost as shocked as when I was.

Still remember sitting in a packed cinema for the premier of the first HP film with our 6 year old. She has her own 5 year old now 😳

BruisedNeckMeat · 09/08/2025 22:55

It seems John Boyne is coming under fire for being nominated for a literary award. The TRAs and their handmaidens are trying to get him.

I saw JKR tweet about this but couldn’t find a thread. It made me buy all four of his Elements series. I loved The Heart’s Invisible Furies so much so am happy to support this author.

BettyBooper · 10/08/2025 10:03

Yes I've been reading about this.

Now some of the other nominees have dropped out in protest about 'Johns hateful views' and I think mostly about the quote in the first post on this thread.

Sasha Coward seems particularly aggreived about the analogy with handmaidens....

BettyBooper · 10/08/2025 10:06

Polari Prize statement on the matter. Getting their arses handed to them from both sides on X...

https://x.com/PolariPrize/status/1953387847643185591

https://x.com/PolariPrize/status/1953387847643185591

Inkspotblue · 05/01/2026 18:06

PestoHoliday · 29/07/2025 16:08

It was wonderful watching his conversion from TWAW to Terf a few years ago. He a knowledged how wrong he'd got it and has been gracious in seeking out those he criticised to apologise and then defend them

I know this is an old thread but I’d love to read about JB’s conversion from TWAW…any links you could share? I can’t get past the paywall on the OP’s link, or archive link.

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