Do Better: SFF without Sexual Violence discussion

Hey everyone! I hope you had a good month. And if you're new to Do Better, welcome!

We wanna know, what did you read in November? What did you like, what didn't you like and which (if any) do you think might be suitable for our DB bookshelf-database?

Pop by anytime this month and share. Elena and I will research/validate all member's suggestions for the DB bookshelf-database around the of the month.

Note: For any books you are recommending, if possible, let us know of any common content warnings that you noticed. Here is our current list on our bookshelf-database: (view spoiler)[

Animal abuse
Animal Death
Body Image
Bullying
Child Abuse
Child Death
Child Neglect
Emotional Abuse
Fat Shaming
Graphic Violence
Homophobia (that is acknowledged)
Low female rep
Mental Health
Memory Manipulation
Oppression
Racism (that is acknowledged)
Self harm
Sexism (that is acknowledged)
Slavery
Suicide
Transphobia (that is acknowledged)
Enbyphobia (that is acknowledged)
(hide spoiler)]



artist: tania garcia

I read The Steerswoman's Road series (first four books, anyway) and don't recall any troublesome content specifically directed against women. The society is surprisingly egalitarian. There is a very young woman who (view spoiler)[seems to be a sort of a concubine, and who does apparently die, but nothing is on-screen. (hide spoiler)].

And there is a lot of sword-play and wizardly violence, and one off-screen event of torture, but the steerswoman herself especially, and all others to a certain degree, rely much more on talking things out and on cleverness.

I read 24 books in November and they all contained disqualifying content for this groups bookshelf...

Actually, I don't recall The Expanse series having any sexual assault, but there is bullying, child abuse, child death, emotional abuse, graphic violence, oppression, acknowledged racism, self harm, acknowledged sexism, and suicide.

Ryan, do the Steerswoman books qualify for this group's shelf? You've read them much more carefully than I have!

Cheryl wrote: "Ryan, do the Steerswoman books qualify for this group's shelf? You've read them much more carefully than I have!"

I'm glad you liked it too. When I read #1 and recommended it to DB, Ryan reminded me of a previous discussion we had regarding the (view spoiler)[very brief threat of SV (hide spoiler)]. We agreed not to include it on the DB shelves as a result, but also agreed the book is one we feel comfortable recommending to all but the most sensitive DB members.

Ryan wrote: "I read 24 books in November and they all contained disqualifying content for this groups bookshelf..."

24! Woah! My eyes feel tired at the very thought. 😂

I'm looking forward to seeing what you made of the final Expanse book.

Ryan wrote: "I read 24 books in November"

Impressive number, Ryan! Side note: I love the message in your "About me" section on your profile.

Nothing for me to recommend for the DB this month.

I struggled through (and reviewed, with content warnings) The Book of Skulls: A Novel by Robert Silverberg. Stay well away.

I was surprised to find an instance of SA in The Trial by Kafka. (view spoiler)[Or several instances, depending on how you look at it... it's a weirdly horny book. The protagonist is on the 'right' side of it by trying to help, but the victim-blaming and general complicity/acceptance of what is happening (probably true to the time period, given the story is 100 years old) got my hackles up. (hide spoiler)]