Songs Of Submission: Sequence Two (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
I’m writing this with a very clear head. I left my anger and disappointment at the door.As a reader, I’ll say the story from book 1-6 is okay.As an individual, I’m deeply offended. This is the first time a book offends me so much. I’m not easily offended, to be frank.I’ve noticed that the author tends to general-stereotype people of color throughout the story. Chinese, housemaid. Filipinos, housemaid. Italian, gangster. Korean, irritating business manager. Hispanics, poor (Guessing from Rachel’s last name, her character is Hispanic?)I’ve noticed those things since the first trilogy, but I let them slide because I understand sometimes generalization is inevitable. As the story progresses to the second part of the trilogy, the stereotyping gets worse.The author likes to use Asia. A lot. In more than one occasion, the male character, Jonathan Drazen, views the time difference between L.A. and Asia as irritating. It’s not Asia’s fault that they live on the opposite side of the world, Mr. Drazen. If you can’t handle the pressure, please just do business with the people of Los Angeles. Besides, I doubt that the people in Asia demand you to answer their calls or emails right away. I’m sure they can calculate the hour’s difference and would totally understand if you didn’t answer them right this second. According to Wikipedia, Asia is the largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the easter and northern hemispheres. So, when the author conveniently groups everything under Asia in the story, or when the author comfortably belittles Asians as the story suggests, I can only assume that the author:1. Doesn’t care about Asia2. Doesn’t know about Asia3. Arrogant, ignorant, and insensitiveI’m guessing all of the above.Asia is big and beautiful, do you know? If you’re so interested in incorporating Asia into your story, please do a little research. Pick a country or two; learn a few things about the people who live there.Despite all that, I swallowed my annoyance and continued reading.But then I arrived at this page, Chapter 26, book 6 Resist. The sentences read: “Fucking Asia. The whole continent should fall into the sea, and by the urgency of the dinging, it sounded as if it was.”Too harsh even for a fiction, don’t you think? Again, if the male lead can’t stand doing business with Asia because time difference inconveniences him, then just don’t. Real people live in Asia, you know, I don't care if you write non-fiction or fiction, those sentences are offensive. The stereotyping is offensive. The generalization is offensive. It shows how insensitive or misinformed the author is. Not all Chinese or Filipino are housemaids, you know.Not every Koreans are dumb, you know.Not every Italians are mobs, you know.Wait. Do you know?What did Asia do that was so horrible that they deserve to be sent into the bottom of the sea?As I said earlier, some level of generalization and stereotyping is still acceptable. But if they were done repeatedly in a negative manner, it’s unfair. And cruel.After those harsh sentences, I force myself to finish the book. I’m hoping the author—through the characters—would redeem themselves, giving me something to understand those words in a greater context.Nope. Nothing. The stereotyping continues in a manner that’s not acceptable to me.I’m an Asian. I live in Asia. This is my home. I am proud of who I am, but I am smart enough not to twist my pride into arrogance and use it to look down at other people’s continent, other people’s country, other people’s race, other people’s religion, other people’s sexual preferences. Fictional or real, that behavior is NOT acceptable.It’s sad that when organization like We Need Diverse Books campaigns very hard to bring more diversity into our bookworld, when big and indie authors join hands in bringing diversity into their creations, when stories are created to INSPIRE, some author blows it by being insensitive.I will not change the ratings I’ve given to the first trilogy. Fair is fair. But this review is the summary of what I feel toward the Song of Submission series as a whole, from book 1-6.No matter how captivating the story is, it means nothing when it hurts my feeling and insults my intelligence. What a ride..Jezz, I didn't expect anything like this at all. As usual I went in blind, but I always find it better this way, especially when I read CD Reiss' books. I don't know why, but there's something in her style that grips me and never lets go until the end. This one wasn't different.I felt such longing and heartache, I was a mess and couldn't stop reading.I had to know what Monica was thinking and what Jonathan was going to do. With other people involved and secrets still waiting to come out, it isn't hard to imagine why I kep reading until the very last page.What's going to happen when everything comes out in the open? Every secrets or at least some of them revealed? Will Monica walk away? Will Jonathan forget about it all or fight for her?The ending..Holy effin...I have to read Sing next!!!!
What do You think about Songs Of Submission: Sequence Two (2000)?
6 7 stars may not b enough. The sex was great, the story and characters even better. A fan for life.
—LValla
4.5 stars.. so loved these books!!! very good read!!!
—AMFBFF7873
This Series is Spectacular!!!!! Must read it!!!
—hannah
