tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post428772054966849390..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: Too Much Too YoungJim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-60347903223542901212012-12-04T11:45:51.324+00:002012-12-04T11:45:51.324+00:00Thanks for your comment, Nikesh. I’ve changed ‘Ind...Thanks for your comment, <b>Nikesh</b>. I’ve changed ‘Indians’ in my review but not in the quote from the story where you yourself refer to this group as ‘Indians’. For the record I have no bias against any ethic minority. Glasgow has a large Asian community and we have no issues with them. We’d be lost without their cuisine for starters. I’m afraid though all my life the term ‘Indian’ has been used and I think nothing of it. My wife, who is an American, was appalled when I suggested going for a Chinky not long after she first arrived here. I’ve nothing against Orientals but, again, all my life that’s what we’ve said; I intended no offense and so never imagined any would be taken.<br /><br />That doesn’t mean that’s Scots don’t discriminate. All my Primary School years, despite the fact I’d been born in Glasgow and had virtually never been out of the country, I was called “English Bastard” because, for some strange reason, I’d not picked up the local accent; I spoke with a slight Lancashire twang because that’s where my parents hailed from. Also I was a different religion from most of my peers and although they didn’t give a toss about religion whatever makes you different is something they’ll slag you about. Thankfully I had red hair so I at least blended in.<br /><br />As for your story you’re perfectly entitled to chip in your tuppenceworth. I wish I’d enjoyed it more but the problem was more mine than yours. I write books and stories that focus on one or two characters and that’s what I like to read. I don’t mind TV shows about groups but, come the end of the show, ask me anyone’s name and I’ll probably come up blank. I’ve just tried to see who I can remember from <i>Downton Abbey</i> and I came up with ‘Hudson’ and ‘Rose’ who were, of course, two of the mainstays in the original <i>Upstairs Downstairs</i>. Had your story been a novel rather than a short story then I probably would’ve fared better but it was all over too quickly; in the end they were just names on a page and I couldn’t differentiate one from another.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-63567209986145492972012-12-04T08:54:05.424+00:002012-12-04T08:54:05.424+00:00Hi there
I wanted to address something in your re...Hi there<br /><br />I wanted to address something in your review that upset me a little bit. I'm not commenting on my writing because I recognise my own flaws only too well and know I could be better, deeper, and the rest of it. I wanted to pick you up on the point about 'Indians'.<br /><br />Just to say, it's reductive to refer to the characters in this story as Indians. India is a country. These are British Asians. They count Hindus, Muslims, Bengalis, Farsis amongst them. It's sad to see them reduced in such a way. Also, this isn't a story about race so I was alarmed to see a comment that infers that despite their 'Indianness' they have universal experiences. There's a particularly nasty air in literature that ethnics are only allowed to write about ethnicity and any story featuring someone non-white is automatically about ethnicity, culture, identity, race. It's not. 'Indians' have normal lives too where they love, fight, hurt, hate, fall out with each other and other people, not because they're Indian, but because they're human.<br /><br />I don't want to be one of those idiot authors who goes round commenting on people's reviews of their work. I completely understand any reservations you may have had to the stories. You're entitled to your opinion. About the race stuff? I'm not so sure. This is exactly the kind of thing I've had to fight against for years so forgive having my tuppence worth.<br /><br />Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com