ish-i-ness reviewed The Source of Magic by Piers Anthony (Xanth (2))
Review of 'The Source of Magic' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
You know... there are some things I used to like that are really hard to read/watch as an adult who has been following feminist ideas for the past few decades. Xanth has not aged well. The frequency of instances of sexist, often misogynistic, comments from the characters is hard to take. Ultimately, I believe that Xanth becomes an exploration of what it means for men and women to form partnerships, and in the process it explores the many aspects of maleness that make that difficult. I really believe Xanth is an admonition of the male behavior it portrays, not a commendation. However, I fully admit it is hard to see that. I would encourage anyone who struggles with it to look for the many other enjoyable aspects of the world. The strange flora and fauna, the odd ways the many Talents of the people interact and work together, the zany …
You know... there are some things I used to like that are really hard to read/watch as an adult who has been following feminist ideas for the past few decades. Xanth has not aged well. The frequency of instances of sexist, often misogynistic, comments from the characters is hard to take. Ultimately, I believe that Xanth becomes an exploration of what it means for men and women to form partnerships, and in the process it explores the many aspects of maleness that make that difficult. I really believe Xanth is an admonition of the male behavior it portrays, not a commendation. However, I fully admit it is hard to see that. I would encourage anyone who struggles with it to look for the many other enjoyable aspects of the world. The strange flora and fauna, the odd ways the many Talents of the people interact and work together, the zany action sequences, the absurd philosophical musings, There’s plenty of other things to like about the world.
