Would people still hate J.K. Rowling if she wasn't a TERF?

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I think the writing for Martin and Tolkien is clear although formal which is appropriate for high fantasy. I don’t find it remotely challenging although we are all different in that respect.

Writers are typically inspired by earlier works/writers. I tend to think of literature as an ongoing dialogue rather than a collection of distinct, separate entities.

If we are talking fictional literature then I think of it as a journey into our collective imaginations. I am often curious how English language literature is processed in non-western cultures? I imagine the stories are relatable once they are translated and characters universal.

Interestingly of all non-western foreign language literature, art, animation and movies, Japanese seems to be the most popular.

Since I can read in Spanish and French, I’ve read a lot of Spanish, Latin American, and French literature. I’ve also read translations of Russian works and enjoyed what I read as much as I would if they were English/American. I do think there is a universal element to literature. Of course, it might have more to do with the fact that people aren’t that different from each other. I don’t think I’ve encountered anything that I couldn’t relate to in some way.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticising the casting personally. I don't think it matters. Rather, I brought it up because I know that's something others criticised (in response to the question of this thread). However, I disagree with her that it's inherently racist to say that 'turned white' would imply a pale complexion. That's not to say that I'm complaining about the change. I know some fans get caught up on the physical appearance of characters when it comes to adaptations. Personally for me though what matters most is if an adaptation captures the spirit of what it is adapting. The style of dialogue, the humour, the overarching themes and so on. That's what's important.

I think European literature is much the same (broadly). Russian authors are tremendously popular in the west. Tolstoy, Nabakov etc....

I wouldn’t say it’s “much the same.” There’s quite a bit of cultural diversity in Europe.

Latin American literature is similarly relatable and diverse in my opinion. I’ve read the work of writers from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia. Magical realism is one of my favorite genres.

hmmm I think that's reasonable. Yes you touch on one valid point. Emma Watson's character of Hermoine in the HP franchise was quite perky in her mannerisms and quick witted which was quite endearing to many of her fans. I have to admit this wasn't something I remember with Noma's Hermoine but then again Noma's Hermoine is much older.

The same with Ashoka in Star wars, Ashley Eckstein's child Ashoka was perky and savvy, whereas Rosario Dawson's Ashoka seemed more laid back and understated. Again the reason might be down to the age of the characters.

Same in terms of relatabilty . The court of Catherine the Great isn't much different to that of Louis XVIII so many cultural references are common in older literature. Post-communism I can imagine does cast a different shadow.

Have you read a lot of Russian, French, and Spanish literature? There’s a great deal of cultural diversity even if a specific government is similar to another during a given time period. There are also cultural differences within countries.

Literature is relatable because we’re all human. Literary works tend to be universal because they say something about the human experience.

Yes but we are talking differences in diversity then a Spanish, Russian and French social setting is more likely relatable to members of these three societies > Indian, Japanese or African

One of the common themes in literature is transformation. Any good story is transformative in some way to both the character and the reader.

Spanish speakers, in particular, are incredibly diverse. People are people pretty much anywhere, except when they are alien-human hybrids or lizard people.

Many people in the West find Japanese literature highly relatable. My brother certainly does. I've not read any Japanese work since high school although I've been toying with the idea of learning Japanese for a few years. I want my next language to have a different writing system, and I find Japanese culture, history, and art appealing.

"Good stories" do not always involve transformation although, perhaps, your concept of what constitutes a "good story" does. Sometimes they are a snapshot of life or of a particular moment which says something about the human experience.

Shout out to the greys

I am by no means a language expert but I have lived in Asia for long periods and spoke a couple of Asian languages (I am rusty now). Please note that what your brother is reading is English translations of Japanese literature. Modern Japanese literature (post-WWII) is largely a re-translation of European literature but through Japanese eyes.

In the collectivist societies I mentioned, traditional stories created for entertainment were folk/village tales (whether it be African, Chinese, Japanese, Indian etc). They didn't have novels or books in the European tradition which were written as works of romance or great adventures coinciding with the colonial era. Folk tales in these regions usually have deeper spiritual lessons that were infact transformative, Quite unlike European folk tales which involved cutting off tails of three blind mice or witches eating children.

In this sense European literature is quite different to the mindsets of non-western people. But we live in a post-colonial world where literature written in all languages follow narratives taken from Hollywood or European literature classics. Thus stories are no longer culturally embedded but are indeed becoming more universal but definitely following European literary traditions.

I kind of understand what you are saying, but even a snapshot of human experience can be transformative. They are meant to give the reader room to reflect and explore their own experience but also open their minds to other's experiences they haven't yet experienced themselves. Literature has value in providing opportunity for people who can't travel or who don't want to visit certain places to experience life through other people's eyes.

Please note that you do not know what my brother has or hasn’t read.



I never claimed otherwise.

A comparison of Martin to Chaucer:



Not very similar. One is quite comprehensible to the average reader; the other is not.

Last edited by TwilightPrincess on 11 Jan 2024, 5:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.