Should we be reading American Dirt?

In the past week there’s been a lot of controversy over the new novel American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I discuss some of the issues as best as I understand them and whether I should even read this novel. Please let me know your opinions and any points I missed. Click ‘Show More’ for info.
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My thoughts on Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli: lonesomereader....
Articles and Reviews:
Parul Sehgal in The New York Times: www.nytimes.co...
David Schmidt in The Blue Nib: thebluenib.com...
Myriam Gurba in Tropics of Meta: tropicsofmeta....
Porochista Khakpour: porochista.sub...
David Bowles in Medium : / non-mexican-crap
Entertainment Weekly: ew.com/books/2...
VICE: www.vice.com/e...
Texas Observer on 17 Great Books on the Border to Read Instead of ‘American Dirt’: www.texasobser...
Hannah Giorgis in The Atlantic: www.theatlanti...
Jeanine Cummins reading from and discussing her novel at Politics and Prose: • Jeanine Cummins, "Amer...
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[@EricKarlAnderson]

I've now read the novel in its entirety and have some thoughts: lonesomereader.com/blog/2020/2/19/american-dirt-by-jeanine-cummins

[@sylviavasquez9523]

My training as a librarian entailed putting books into people's hands, not taking them away. So I take this discussion seriously. I have heard a lot of things about "American Dirt". Some of the descriptions include the words "harmful", "inaccurate", "theft", etc. Whenever I hear these kinds of criticisms, I am immediately skeptical. I'm not unbiased. I'm Mexican and I have a lot of empathy for my peeps. I'm also a reader and was reading 'adult' books as a young child. No one barred me from the library. I was lucky in that I grew up in the 60s and had access to "harmful" ideas. Sex, politics, drugs, communism, you name it. My mother had no idea what I was reading. In today's world, the choices we make about where we get our news, our vocabulary, what we are allowed to laugh at, etc are under intense scrutiny. If you read a book that isn't by the "approved person" or doesn't include the proper talking points, will you be forever lost in literary limbo? Or worse? Will you become an oppressor? Are we all really that fragile? My complaint about the topic of immigration is that it doesn't get any real attention. Immigrants are criminalized and treated like dogs. It's a global phenomena, yet if you ask a random person for their opinion (Brown, Black, White, Asian) they will know next to nothing. Like most people, they are bombarded with anti-immigrant propaganda. One has to make an effort to find out what is going on--I too recommend the books that are being promoted by Latinx and immigration rights activists. But they are not thrillers and will not satisfy the reader who only reads in certain genres. Will "American Dirt" factor into this landscape in both negative and positive ways? Probably--but we can't say exactly how. Anyone who tells you, "Don't read this book" is telling you not to think or speak. We are already living in a world that rewards silence and greed. Yes, criticize freely and openly--use your brain and think for yourself. I haven't read this book, but I'm a criticona and I'm sure there's plenty to dislike. Everyone should have the opportunity to read and question. This is why I became a librarian. Cancel culture (no matter your politics) is NOT the path to dialogue and change. It pains me to see people I respect promoting this attitude. I know they think they are protecting "their people", but sadly, they are supporting the clampdown apparatus.

[@hardnewstakenharder]

What does Cancel Culture actually do? Who is being silenced? The book is a #1 bestseller and Cummins was paid over a million dollars. Racist trash is racist trash, and we're calling a spade a spade.

[@JoshuaElijahC]

Did you watch this video?

[@AlphabetSoup123]

@UCv8xd14I-rhWkNE3fuEErQw I couldn't have said it better myself! I have a real issue with the way the critiques around this book were fashioned. I am not Latinx, but I like you, am empathetic to my minority brethren and misrepresentation since I know what that feels like as a Black woman. However, when certain Latinx Bookstagrammers demanded that people not read this book and positioned the reading of this book as the equivalent of "Silencing Latinx voices" and being "racist," I was appalled. This is censorship, and it is not an answer to misrepresentation. This is the equivalent of telling people, "here are the thoughts I want you to think, don't research anything on your own!" There have been many things that were alarming about this situation since it feels as if a) people are mad at Cummins when they should be mad at themselves and b) misrepresenting the book's contents and the author's reach and background. For example, individual's keep stating that Cummins JUST started claiming a Puerto Rican grandmother, but in the article they reference, she states that she has a Puerto Rican grandmother after saying she identifies as White. Therefore, the large selling point of her not knowing about Latinx culture isn't necessarily true to the extent everyone keeps claiming. Likewise, people say she did no research, but her book is full of her sources and she states she did over 5 years of research. Also, the issue of her pointedly tricking readers is an unfair fact when other authors have also complained about how little an author controls in terms of marketing. We can't have it both ways, it's either authors have no control or they do. I'm willing to blame Cummins for her role in the issue, but it honestly feels like this backlash is coming more so because she got a 7-figure deal that others envy than that her book is complete and other trash. 🤷🏿‍♀️

[@AlphabetSoup123]

@@hardnewstakenharder Cancel culture is honestly counterproductive since the way we handle people when we're "Canceling" them doesn't teach them anything. This is dangerous since these same people still exist and are living in the world perpetrating harmful behaviors after we "banish" them from the internet, thereby, hurting real life people. If people were less vitriolic and could teach without stooping to being venomous and making below the belt comments, they would come off a lot better in helping to "Cancel" out behaviors opposed to just confining people to be crappy people offline once the public grows tired of "Dragging" folks in the short attention span that happens doing a cancel culture mob.

[@hardnewstakenharder]

@@AlphabetSoup123 So "cancelling" means you don't want your little feelings hurt? Sounds like you want a safe space. Cummins is a millionaire, she should wipe her tears away with benjamins. Read this: www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/as-a-28-year-old-latino-im-shocked-my-new-novel-memoirs-of-a-middle-aged-white-lady-has-been-so-poorly-received

[@yomismo74]

When there's some controversy i prefer to read it and make my own oppinion. There's a current tendency to put writers in boxes and limit what they can write or not based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. I don't agree with that at all. A writer should be free to write whatever he/she wants. Saying that when you write outside your personal knowledge you better be well documented because there's an extra responsability to be accurated. The problem with this novel is that it's been accused to perpetuate stereotypes and that, in case it's true is exactly what you can't do. Anyway, receiving criticism doesn't mean the critics are right, and we had storms in a glass of water before. Now it's on the market so people can make their own minds or skip reading it (sometimes the best thing is reading this kind of book once the controversy is over, when the noise is over is way easy to see if the book deserved praise or the critics were right)

[@aminthereader8946]

Good comment. I think it wasn't that she is being stereotypical, in fact she was being opposite. Rather, some people accused her of plagiarising other Hispanic authors.

[@edglebennett6312]

@yomismo74, Where you been all my life???? that's a good point you made!!!! right on!!

[@celifacejones]

@@aminthereader8946 Both. But mostly the shallow cliches are what got the ball rolling.

[@aminthereader8946]

@@celifacejones Not really. For works written by Mexican/Hispanics use the same "cliches" tropes. It simply depends on the level and genre of the book. No one was pretending this is a heavyweight intellectual novel.

[@JoshuaElijahC]

You didn't watch the video.

[@monikstar09]

I’m Mexican American and I am already halfway thru this book and have found nothing offensive about it. In fact, I didn’t even know there was an issue with it until I looked it up on KZbin. I would have never come to these strong conclusions on my own.

[@UcheOnonye]

Great stuff. Enjoyed your clear and articulate review of all the surrounding controversy. As far as my thoughts, I'm reminded of China Achebe's words about western depictions of Africans: "If there is something in these utterances more than youthful inexperience, more than a lack of factual knowledge, what is it? Quite simply it is the desire -- one might indeed say the need -- in Western psychology to set Africa up as a foil to Europe, as a place of negations at once remote and vaguely familiar, in comparison with which Europe's own state of spiritual grace will be manifest." Seems like something similar is happening with this book in reference to Mexicans on a subtextual level, judging by some of the harsher reviews. I guess if I get around to reading it I'll have that in mind.

[@suedavy5394]

I am going to cut to the chase, if the book is well written, good story, and characters that I can relate to, I will want to read it. I wouldn't care who wrote it.

[@TheLadyKiel]

Right but you have to be considerate. If it’s not her story to tell then we have to consider that fact and notion. If a minor who is genuinely an immigrant or have immigrated parents/family members and then they read this book, we have to remember that their feelings as such have the right to feel the way they feel and have the right to speak against the book. I read it. I personally loved it and it gave me an insight on the story of struggles many go through to actually get here to America. But if a group of people are telling you that it’s offensive, cultural appropriating and it’s a white washed and stereotypical.. listen to them. I’m not saying you shouldn’t read it, I didn’t have know about the controversy until AFTER the book and although I liked the characters and the storyline, I can understand why most would be offended if they or their family/friends had to go through traumatic events that doesn’t even compare to the book itself.

[@suedavy5394]

Princess Kicki you said you enjoyed the book but a group of people later tell you it is offensive and the author doesn’t have the right to tell the story because of race, experiences, background,...... Since when do fiction writers need to be told what they can write?? What a shame that we now have book police out there. Soon there will be nothing worth reading.

[@lindanindlovu4676]

@@MameysMedley Wow! Your privilege knows no bounds. Fortunately for you, you will never have to worry about being wrongly portrayed. It’s a book of “fiction” right. May you never wake up from your wonderland Alice

[@mjtingle1]

I just finished the book and loved it. Now reading reviews I'm finding out writers are only permitted to write fictional books about their real life experiences. I gotta go talk Tolkien about what sauron was really like. Get rid of every book written about the holocaust or civil war because the writer didn't directly experience it. Do people hear how stupid this sounds?

[@adrianainbetweenpages6485]

Although I do get your point on having this book start a conversation, as a Latina, I am still not planning on reading this book. It feels as you said at the beggining of the video, exploitative. Latinxs authors have such a hard time in the publishing industry as it is, so it feels wrong to me to support a book that only perpetuates that. Lets just be more concious from now on about supporting authors that are part of marginalized communities and lifting them up in order to for them to be able to tell their own stories. Great discussion!

[@Sofia-ny8fv]

the problem with "starting a conversation" argument is that it pretends latinos haven't been having these discussions, or worse, we need white people to start them for us. the truth is, the suffering of real people should not be aestheticised to create some thriller that is entertaining enough and will "bring back humanity to migrants" as a reviewer put it; if her goal was to get others to find humanity in the real stories it tries to represent-there are better ways to go about it that don't include a trendy manicure.

[@Sofia-ny8fv]

​@@johnnamurraycamp5100 first, are you latina? and most importantly are you a latina migrant? second, we're having two different conversations. you want to give this white woman a chance because you believe one should separate the art from the artist? no one's stopping you, no one's taking anything away from you. to pretend the cultural space we give works of art doesn't directly benefit the artists who created them by at least making their voices more amplified, is naive to me. i, myself, have different standards about the art and artists i support and consume, and give my time to; white women fantasising about what it's like to be a mexican migrant is not something i care to support. what is being taken away here however, are chances for latinos to tell their own stories, and the dignity of those who've suffered this journey by turning it into some motif for a fancy dinner. the idea that i might learn about "offenses" in this book is also preposterous and condescending-what exactly do you propose this white woman is going to teach me about being a migrant in this country? or about the journey to this country? or about how i am seen in this country? if you want a pat in the back for having conversations about the injustices done to poc in america, go ahead and give yourself one. seeing poc as human beings is the least one can do.

[@johnnamurraycamp5100]

@@Sofia-ny8fv I just got up aware of the mistaken tenor of my comment and deleted it before realizing you had replied. I apologize if it offended you. I do not ever want to be party to taking either opportunity or dignity away from people.

[@adrianainbetweenpages6485]

chaniqua smith Excuse me, but if you arent part of the community, I dont think you get to dictate how they feel.

[@akire602]

chaniqua smith if you are still using the word Hispanic you don’t even have a clue of the people you are talking about.

[@Shiznaft1]

I read what I want. Critics create nothing but controversy. Authors can and should write whatever they want.

[@lucytemple6984]

It’s an amazing story - which surely is why we read books. Politics geography and personal moral opinions will never be the same as your neighbour’s. I went in blind and I can honestly say it’s changed the way I think

[@jacquesclark1535]

😂😂😂CRT OR FACTS ..WHITE FRAGILITY 😅😅😅

[@AndrewJamesYo]

I'm latino and will happily read this book. If someone thinks they will be offended then maybe they shouldn't read it. If someone has read it and was offended, oh well, who cares?

[@margkropf5541]

I agree.Who bloody cares??!!!

[@michelejuza4531]

I bought this book before all the controversy and then avoided all articles & discussions about it until after I read it. And that certainly wasn’t easy! I recently finished it and loved it. It grabbed me immediately and I was riveted throughout. Now after reading some of the criticism I completely understand where the critics are coming from. But I am glad I read it and glad I went in blind so to speak. I think the attention this book brings to the faults & prejudice of the publishing industry is a good thing.

[@Nickabod79]

I don't think the question is "should we read the book?" The question we should be asking is "why was this book even published in the first place?" Why, when so many amazing immigration stories already exists written by Latinx authors with authentic voices? Why the seven figure advance and immediate movie deal for such mediocrity when so many authors of color get struggle to, and often never get, the right person with power at the right time to read their book? Why all the blurbs from white people on the jacket? Why did the publisher feel it was appropriate to create barbed wire centerpieces for the party, where they patted the author and themselves on the back? Why did the author post on social media that her barbed wire manicure, a symbol of oppression and decimation for immigrant families was "so pretty?" Why are all the white people clutching their pearls when they should just shut up and listen to authentic voices who have the ability to tell this story so much better than we white people do? She has the right to write it, of course, but we all as serious readers have a duty to critique both the book and the power structures behind it that allowed it to exist in the first place.

[@scorpiusjones5436]

Amazon how some white people can completely reject what minorities tell them about our own lives, substitute their own narratives, then pat themselves on the back like they did something.🤦🏻‍♂️

[@monflo123]

And that is why people are upset. Exactly what you said. I don't mind that she wrote the book, but they act like we don't have our own writers. And Sandra Cisneros should know better. She insists that we need Cummins book in order to reach white audiences that may not show empathy if the book were written by a Latino. Its like we can't win. Let the white writer speak for us because we can't do it ourselves.

[@Nickabod79]

@@monflo123 I am very embarrassed to admit that I pre-ordered the book even though I raised an eyebrow at the author, solely based on Cisneros' blurb. I canceled it as soon as I read Myriam Gruba's piece. But still, shame on me.

[@monflo123]

Nickabod79 It’s nothing to be ashamed about. I’m planning on checking it out from my local library so that I know exactly what she wrote about. I refuse to buy her book but I think an informed reader is far better than taking others peoples word for it.

[@searchanddiscover]

Monica Flores it being published by MacMillan there will definitely be trouble with libraries carrying it as they are the company trying to limit libraries from buying their ebooks. I heard that they knew this book was problematic from the get go I'm starting to believe this is one of those "no such thing as bad publicity" people will buy a book just to see why everyone is upset. So I guess this is their game plan, I think I will continue my boycott of McMillan for sure.

[@kindofrandom834]

I have literally just closed the last page and I can say that I'm not a very big reader, in fact I hardly ever read anything other than my social media... and one step further I will admit that's the only reason I read this book is because my computer broke down and I was without Netflix for a brief moment. This is the first book I have read, admittedly, for the last five years since Jack London's white Fang. I'm not the best person to leave an intelligent book review simply because I haven't read enough books in my life to do so and to make intelligent comparatives. however I did feel that this in some ways was as much a poetry book as it was a novel. Her illustrations and colourful and decorative adjectives and wonderfully poised observations of both geographical and psychological landscapes were a delight to read and I really found myself absorbed in the characters and excited by the thrill of the Chase, the journey and the outcome. I felt a deep compassion for pretty much most of the characters, which is an achievement for the author in itself. However I will say that I felt the metre and the pacr and general rhythm of this book was perhaps a little tedious and could have done with a little bit more,, variation in rhythm. I'll give this book and 8 Out of 10 as I thoroughly enjoyed it. however I do feel that books, like movies, should come with a trigger warning because anybody who has ever been raped or sexually abused in any wsy is going to be deeply triggered and traumatized by this book. I'm very grateful for the fact that you have raised my awareness to the existence of other writers in this genre.

[@M_SC]

Kind of Random I think you are self aware and fair, so I mean no disrespect when i say that to sum up your review, then implication is that it’s a book for people who don’t read and don’t know anything about the topic.

[@kindofrandom834]

@@M_SC LOL... Is that really what you got from what I said? You disrespect only yourself for writing such a stupid and irrelevant comment.

[@rosalopez-pq4ds]

Quick Question, who do you think are the major and minor characters in the book?

[@MinestroneChad]

Oof. Barbed wire centrepieces is the equivalent of decorating a room like a gas chamber to 'celebrate' the release of Tattooist of Auschwitz. Reading the author's note gave me a bad feeling too. Cummins says that "She wished someone slightly browner than her would've written it' (they did) and refers to migrants as a 'faceless brown mass' whom of which 'we seldom think of as human beings.' We!? No, thank you. That being said, you're right in that hearing about this novel has made me aware of and seek out Own Voices books, and in doing so have found some that I'm genuinely interested in reading and learning from. We can't properly know the authorial intent of writing the book and writing on the subject in these ways - can't base it solely off her twitter - but there have been positive things to come out of this controversy. I'd like to believe the author had the best intent and went about it quite ignorantly, but her ignorance or apparent brushing aside of the voices that are speaking out with genuine issues doesn't speak in her favour. At the same time, I can understand how anyone would find that completely overwhelming and would choose to steer clear of it until they feel they can healthily listen and absorb and take care of themselves. Suffice to say: it's a mess.

[@JoshuaElijahC]

THANK YOU

[@Anna-wh1zn]

If it's that controversial, it is all the more reason to read it. No one should take anyone else's word for anything. If it is worthy it will rise above the criticism and if it isn't it will sink quite naturally. People are far too quick to pass moral judgment on everyone and everything. If you start the book and find it distasteful, then by all means put it down and feel free to tell the world why you didn't like it. But to choose not to read it because someone doesn't like what it represents is small minded. Readers are naturally critical thinkers. The world needs more independent thinkers and fewer morality police.

[@distant_sounds]

I will be avoiding this book. It seemed interesting until I found out about the author. I have a few Luis Alberto Urrea books on the shelves. I've read two of his and he's an amazing storyteller. OwnVoices is the way I prefer to read, and I'm getting better at being more aware of that.

[@monflo123]

Apparently she read all his books and Urreas wife, who read Cummins book, claims that Cummins took scenes from one of Urreas novel and wrote it in her book. So she copied from him too.

[@AlphabetSoup123]

According to an episode on NPR's Latino USA, the book manicure wasn't Cummins' nails. It was from the Book Manicurist, an Australian based book influencer that takes book covers and designs nail art that is inspired by the covers.

[@ullagomez4990]

Hi Eric, thanks for this video, which has sparkled such an interesting discussion in the comments section! Here are a couple of thoughts from my side: - if you are curious and you want to have an opinion about the book: read it! - yes, you can shut down the outside noise and make up your own mind because you are an intelligent human adult, who can assess whether it is more than just entertainment based on an opportunistic hot topic - it has been designed to be a mass bestseller (hence the overhyped campaign). Not all good books are bestsellers and there are few bestsellers that have the traits of what makes a good book. It is very hard to find a book that combines both: so read it, judge for yourself and let us know what you think. - we should never ever ever ban people from being able to write about something, anything.

[@monflo123]

Yes we should read the book. We should read any book to have an opinion about them. Good or bad.

[@Sherlika_Gregori]

We shouldn’t be telling what you can or cannot write. Let’s keep writing .

[@brimfulofbooks4415]

Thank you very much for a thoughtful and generous response to the issues that have been raised. I have read the novel - I read it because of recommendations from commentators I respect so I read it with more than an open mind. I finished it yesterday before I read about the controversy. I have not yet fully processed my thoughts on the book but I wish I had not read it. This is not because I think that she has no right to write whatever she wants to write about, but because of the commodification of the subject matter of the novel. My problem was that this was a thriller; you are hooked from the beginning and there are a series of heartstopping moments. I raced through it - it is not designed to be a thoughtful experience - Its primarily written to entertain and indeed to make money. It is in such contrast with The Lost Children's Archive which is a particularly thoughtful and reflective book. As I read the book I did have uneasy moments, the problem of privilege, the attempt to make intellectual connections via favourite books, the multiple references to skin colour, the use of children as moral compasses, the easy divide between good and bad, but I did not pause. At the end I felt a bit tainted by having been entertained by such traumatic experiences without any engagement with the broader political issues surrounding migration, the lack of critical engagement with the promise of the United States was particularly disturbing. I dread to think of the film and the promotion of the book has been very distasteful. Thanks for the list of other reading.

[@marycalderon9363]

I’m not sure if I’ll be reading this. If I do, it’ll be a library read. I am Mexican, and I think her behavior is tone deaf. However, I’m trying to be positive, and maybe it’ll get people to read more by Latinx writers. There is so much good stuff out there by people who actually have a lifetime witnessing situations like these or experiencing them firsthand. 🤷🏻‍♀️ P.S. I don’t know why, but it really rubs me the wrong way with her being compared to Steinbeck.

[@iReadFiction]

The term Latino is used when describing both male and females. You should know this.

[@marycalderon9363]

iReadFiction Sure, but language changes. I don’t see anything wrong with using the all encompassing Latinx. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Have a good day.

[@iReadFiction]

@@marycalderon9363 Ah so we doing the goofy American progression spanish. Gotchu fam, sorry.

[@brookemercer2886]

Very well said. I agree with most of what you said. I’m glad you decided to do a video on it and i appreciate the thoughtful comments. I do not plan on reading it because of much of what you already stated.

[@jennifercairns1556]

Thank you for this Eric, I really appreciated all your thoughtful, balanced comments & insights.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I appreciate the nuanced discussion of this very complex topic. I had been thinking of doing a similar video but couldn’t figure out an approach-it’s quite a relief to see someone coherently grappling with the issues. Nicely done! I tend to think this is largely a fault of publishing and which stories it places emphasis on. I haven’t been able to decide if I intend to read the book or not, but I’m leaning against it right now.

[@seriela]

As a Puerto Rican, living on the island, cherishing the memories of my immigrant students and their parents from when I worked in NYC, I will read all the OTHER own voices books I can get my hands on before reading this one. Thanks for the links, Eric, and for the discussion.

[@JoshuaElijahC]

Thank you

[@cyriix]

Rather than saying "Instead of reading this book because it doesn't match my perceptive!" Should we not be saying "You should read this book in addition to that one because it has a different perspective." ?

[@bookwalk1]

Thanks for this very thoughtful video. I want to read American Dirt and I plan to accompany it with other Latinx books from the Texas Observer article you provided to give me a well-rounded perspective. If we are thoughtful readers we won’t take any book on any subject as the only perspective to be considered.

[@washeemdowlut3298]

Eric, you forgot to say HELLO

[@TheTheGhost14]

It gave me an impression of a very serious discussion.

[@washeemdowlut3298]

@@TheTheGhost14 why?😂😂

[@robotnic]

I've been following this and I've been finding it strikingly similar to the conversation around The Help. I've read quite a few books by Mexican authors and set in Mexico, it's an interest of mine, but I'm choosing not to read this one. A tweet of Roxane Gay's pretty much summarises my thoughts: "Writers can write about whatever they want. It’s fiction. But it has to be done well and carefully when you write beyond your subject position. And people are free to critique that work vigorously." That's what many of the reviews you linked have done. It doesn't seem like the author has been successful in doing justice to the people she's attempting to portray in the work itself or in her public comments around it.

[@pastorytime2683]

👍

[@Nepthu]

@robotnic, You can't genuinely think, "It doesn't seem like the author has been successful in doing justice to the people she's attempting to portray in the work..." without READING IT YOURSELF. How often do you let people tell you how to think?

[@robotnic]

Nepthu Hence the word “seems”. If you read any of the reviews Eric has linked you’ll see plenty of examples of its failures, enough for me to decide not to read it. I don’t owe the book or the author my money, time, or attention.

[@ChaoticBibliophile]

Thank you for this video, Eric. As always, very interesting points. Heres’s the thing as I see it. Authors shouldn’t be censored and can write about whatever they want, and as you said the publishing industry is, in the end, an industry. HOWEVER, as readers, we should be critical thinkers and reflect about what we read and why. As one of the many negative reviews I’ve read stated, if you’re interested in this topic and have read a lot about it, you would not like this book because it rings false. If you don’t usually read about the topic, you should ask yourself why this book instead of one by the many MANY own-voices authors? This book was written by a white American author for a white American audience; it caters to their sensibilities and their perspective. If that’s what someone wants to read, then fine, go ahead, but as a reader one should question why that is. And perhaps try to broaden one’s horizons more instead of staying with the comfortable perspective. There are SO many books and SO little time, why choose THIS one? I think that’s the key question to ask oneself as a reader.

[@hardnewstakenharder]

I'm agreeing with you broadly, but who is censoring the author?

[@ChaoticBibliophile]

hardnewstakenharder Nobody! In fact she's been given an uncommonly large platform. I wrote it because defenders of the book claim that the people who dislike/are offended by the book are in favor of censorship and trying to tell her what she can or cannot write. This is basically at the center of the whole own-voices discussion. And I believe, like many, that no, there shouldn't be censorship, but that white authors do often get bigger platforms to tell stories that own-voices authors are already telling, and we as readers can and should make the choice to prioritize the latter.

[@JoshuaElijahC]

@@ChaoticBibliophile Thank you!

[@KDjean]

Thank you! Even if this was extremely well written and didn’t rely on stereotypes, why would I choose it over actual own voice narratives? The answer is because it’s easier to read what’s pushed at me and as a white person it’s safer. At some point we have to decide to do the work and stop reading what’s easy. I’ve come across so many actual voice stories and all I had to do was use google!

[@BunsBooks]

I won’t be reading it only because I’m not that interested in the story, too many other books I’m excited about. But, regarding the climate, cancel culture is dangerous. If you choose to boycott something personally then do so, but let’s not turn this kind of stuff into big political fights. One thing that irks me is when people talk about if someone has “the right to write/tell a story”, a right is a legal term and in the west everyone has the right to tell whatever story they want, otherwise it would be shaming someone into censorship. I agree with Elif Shafak on her discussions about fiction, that it stays being treated as fiction most of all. That the greatest writers are the ones who don’t write reflections of their own identity into their characters, but create ones entirely outside of themselves. Literature will always be examined with political perceptions, which can become great topics of discussion for the development of societies. But never should fiction be censored or a group told that they cannot write a certain story. If you prefer own-voices novels (which is the majority of my reading) then buy them, praise the authors and the publishers that make them. Be positive, promote, and support the kinds of things you like to see from the literary world and give civil criticism where it is due. If she did write stereotypes into her characters then that is very disappointing, writers using stereotypes as traits of a character’s personality or experience is just plain lazy and can give a reader the wrong idea if they don’t know any better. That would be a big enough reason for me not to pick it up, personally. Now regarding this “faceless brown mass” comment, I went and read the interview and she meant that she believes that the U.S. society views Mexican, Central and South American immigrants as a “faceless brown mass”. Which I’d say is pretty accurate if you’ve ever listened to 10 seconds of any foxnews segment. She just worded it strangely so it seemed like she was the one with that belief.

[@sylviavasquez9523]

I agree with you. Thanks for stating your opinion. I too hate cancel culture. I'm not sure people understand the connection between writing, reading, and speaking. All of these activities enable us to think more clearly. Many people will elect to forego this book. That's fine. I can't keep up with contemporary fiction. There's a new 'star' every week. These books are hyped and I usually end up disappointed. But telling people to STFU, remove the book, boycott the author all sounds curiously familiar. By the way, I'm currently living in Germany....

[@HannahsBooks]

Thank you for your nuanced discussion here. I very much appreciate your effort to have compassion for all involved-and your efforts to understand the potential for all to have good intentions. I hope that for people who do read American Dirt will also read novels by LatinX authors-and both scholarly nonfiction and personal accounts. You have sold me, I think, on reading Lost Children Archive.

[@mariat6171]

So now only people who are the gender, religion, nationality etc are allowed to write the story. I'm Italian- American and one of the best movies about Italian-Americans was Moonstruck which was written by Shanley who is Irish!

[@modernmisfit1]

I don't think that is what he's saying or is even the debate going on currently about this book. It's a glamorized, whitewashed, white people acceptable version of the truth of a culture that the news and politics continue to perpetuate heinous ideas about. And so people should know this and read with caution. And you probably shouldn't just read this book, you should read books by actual latinx people who give culturally accurate experiences and perspectives. Mexican people don't need a white woman giving them a face, they need white people to see them for who they are - human.

[@mariat6171]

@@modernmisfit1 This book glamorizes what exactly - now I am really confused.

[@scorpiusjones5436]

You completely missed the point, congratulations.

[@modernmisfit1]

Maria T of course that’s the only part you pick out lol it would go over your head anyways.

[@mariat6171]

Lol - you have no answer - now I understand. Thank you.

[@august3777]

I haven't read a book in a few months due to fatigue, but tonight when I looked through Amazon to look for a book to finally break my book-slump, and found an ad for this book and clicked on it. After seeing that Stephen King and John Grisham liked it, I grew interested in it, and I immediately came onto youtube to see reviews on it. After seeing your review and all this issues that this book is getting, I'm more interested in it because of the backlash for the book. As far as, whether or not we should be reading it due to al the backlash from it, I think we should. After all this is how really great books get discovered by people who might not have read it because it might not be the kind of book that they normally like to read. So I just ordered it, and can't wait to read it.

[@pastorytime2683]

The barbed wire centerpieces were so distasteful! Am not going to be reading the book - Myriam Gerba's book Mean is one of my favourite books so I'm sticking with her! (Also I think the book looks pretty bad edit: bad as an bad writing as well as bad everything else) Sian. X

[@pastorytime2683]

@@zehrazaidi4293 it's horrible and I'm so sorry you're upset. Xx

[@pastorytime2683]

@@zehrazaidi4293 totally agree. Hadn't seen about it being plagiarised!

[@pastorytime2683]

@@zehrazaidi4293 I think the book should just be pulled at this point and an apology given.

[@suzannegonzalez2630]

I want to run it by my Mexican immigrant (1955) husband to see if he wants to read it & possibly get his take on it.

[@martinezgerard]

I just purchased the book to find out what it’s all about.

[@kindofrandom834]

You have raised some very interesting points and enlightened me to some extent. however I would have appreciated your review far more gratefully had you read the book before you started talking about it.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

This wasn't a review it was a discussion. I've now read the novel and you can read my thoughts about it here: lonesomereader.com/blog/2020/2/19/american-dirt-by-jeanine-cummins

[@kindofrandom834]

@@EricKarlAnderson same same.... would have been more open to any kind of discussion from someone who had read the book first.

[@andrewrussell2845]

I think I understand why it is controversial. Should people read it? Well, that's down to the individual. We have books on the Holocaust written by people that didn't live through it but whether such books make for an enjoyable reading experience doesn't tend to be left to anyone other than the reader themselves. Mexican immigration just happens to be a controversial topic in itself right now. I have to say, I think the whole controversy is more worrisome than the book itself,in terms of censorship and in proscribing what a fiction author can and cannot write on the basis of their skin colour and/or ethnic origin.

[@saintonfire77]

After watching this video I ordered the novel 'American Dirt' from Amazon. Sounds like a book everyone should read. Check out this book 'Blood Orchid An Unnatural History Of America' by Charles Bowden on what is going on in Mexico and along the Mexican and United States border.

[@judegrindvoll8467]

I feel like having an opinion about any book is just weird if you haven’t read it. But I get not wanting to support writers financially if they are problematic - I guess that’s where libraries come in. You don’t even have to borrow it, even just spending a couple of hours flicking through it will give you a better idea of it. I appreciate people being frustrated at under-representation in publishing but that’s not a good enough reason to blackball a writer. Only insensitive writing should be a criteria for that and only reading a writer’s piece can inform you of that.

[@corinebellasearoses3371]

Also, great video. I really like how concise your words and opinions were. Thank you for sharing you thoughts, I think you did a really good job at looking at this argument from many different angles.

[@mamas_quilts3573]

Ohh I agree with you. I will not buy this book. I try to read *in spite* of the commercial hype, but...here's where I draw the line.

[@curtjarrell9710]

Readers meet books on the page. I was a bookselling professional for almost forty years and I received an ARC of the book eight months before publication. The book works on the page as a thought provoking page turner. Barbed wire nail designs and party centerpieces in no way detracts from the story, but that was tacky and questionable. Several of our staff read the book and offered it enthusiastically to our regular customers. They were pleased. Some critics wanted to smother the book in its' crib. Readers should decide themselves. The talk about the advance paid to the author is professional jealousy imo. Flatiron was determined to get the rights to publish the novel and paid big bucks for it. It's a commercial novel and by design, on the page and in its' positioning in the marketplace was destined to sell. Jeanine Cummins meant no harm to the Latinx community or the issues of immigrants to the United States. I recommend the novel to general readers.

[@johnhunt8388]

I enjoyed your comments Eric in this video. This was a book I was very keen to read having read The Lost Children Archive. I loved that book. It was emotive and a very interesting thoughtful book. I wasn't aware of the media storm American Dirt was creating and that there was a lot of negative press around the content of this book. Surely the media hype good or bad will just fuel more people to read the book? People will want to see what all the fuss is about and if the comments are true. It is difficult when a book gets a lot of press surrounding it to make a fair judgement. You can't help but be swayed even slightly by comments made. I would personally still like to read this book. I wanted to before watching your video and that hasn't changed. I want to see for myself if the book is any good or not. Sadly any press negative or positive will fuel more interest in the book and increase sales. So it is a win, win for the author. Hopefully though the interest in the book and it's topic will get more people talking about the real issues here and that might in the long run be a good thing.

[@JoshuaElijahC]

Also, I appreciate your analysis. Your viewers are tone deaf (at least the ones I see commenting). You come off as both knowledgeable as well as self aware. Thank you, hopefully more people actually watch this video all the way through vs. Coming here to state their unwarranted opinion ✌🏽

[@bianquita1]

Timely video, well articulated, as always. I agree with everything you said, I have less of an issue with the photos as they were in tone with the book cover. I was just reading about this novel and all the contentious issues surrounding it. I'm in two minds about it: of course, I'm very curious to see if it's any good. I'm not that thrilled that it's a thriller :-). I do get why some Latinx would have issues with it. I do get why other people of Latin origin would love it for bringing the immigration issue into the mainstream. We must also remember that it's fiction, it doesn't have to be 100% accurate, it doesn't have to represent each and every experience, is that even possible? It wouldn't be the first time not so great books get undeserved (IMO) commercial success, whereas other much better books are forgotten. That's the world we live in. Indeed, it sucks that so many other Latinx authors don't get the attention they deserve(?) even though they wrote about the same issues. Hopefully this bookish controversy will bring some more readers to their books. Also, just because somebody has first hand knowledge/experience with a certain issue it doesn't mean that the book will be good/enjoyable. I'm weary of books that feel like what I call "misery porn". I may read it at some point, but it's not a priority.

[@Megora07]

Blanca, you expressed my thoughts on the book and the surrounding controversy exactly. I agree with everything you say!

[@flacotheoriginal186]

Many groups were similarly critical to having Jenniffer Lopez playing Selena in the movie. You all know how it turned out. Let's be open minded about it. I invite all to read it and then make your own opinion.

[@jacksonsilva6335]

Oswaldo Villacres people still hate jlo for it

[@eshire7646]

I ordered this from the library a couple weeks ago... I think i will still read it, but i will read it alongside The Distance Between Us and Accompanied, which I have also ordered from the library..

[@alldbooks9165]

The manicure wasn’t on the author herself. It was made by a manicure artist back in November prior to reading the book.

[@zehrazaidi4293]

Which she promotes and also goes giddy at a barbed wire porn table dressing. Valeria Luiselli said something very coherent: Latin authors dont have to be the only people writing about Mexican border issues, but others should at least deal with it with empathy. She shows little empathy.

[@JustJanetAshley]

@@zehrazaidi4293 I think she has empathy....maybe she's been misinterpreted, taken out of context, happens all the time.....www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/opinion/sunday/murder-isnt-black-or-white.html

[@haroldniver]

I’m personally planning to read it. One point I’ve seen made is that ‘if you’re going to do this, from a perspective that is outside your experience, do it right.’ And I think she has done her research and tried very hard to do it ‘right.’ And there’s the problem - some say she has done it very well, and some say she hasn’t. I can’t say until I’ve read it myself, and maybe not even then, because what she’s writing about is outside my experience as well. I think an obvious point to be made is that there is more than one way to tell this story, but only Cummins can tell her story as it has unfolded in her head. After all, this is a work of fiction - it’s not a work of non-fiction, it’s not a documentary. This is her story and I think she has every right to tell it.

[@olafkeith9186]

I think a writer who is worth reading should be allowed to write any story worth telling regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender etc. However, the barb wire marketing for this book is tasteless and disgusting. I believe that the author is sincere in her statements but the „event“ publishing detracts from the real issues. Also, the book got some glowing endorsements from trade journals like Publishers Weekly, writers and newspapers. The main objections center less on literary criticism, but on deciding who gets to tell whose story, which is not a literary argument but an ideological one. Also, „hate-reading“ a book is just as wrong as barb wire book promotion. Still, I am undecided if I am going to read this. I change my mind about it back and forth.

[@daniellelobo7722]

Wow, what a thoughtful and intelligent man. I decided not to read it because I didn't want my $ to go to her and flatiron and there is a long waitlist at the library. However, props to this guy for his diplomatic and humble commentary.

[@gnzaccar2301]

thank you eric for your very smart insight and your overview of this controversy.

[@bookishshenanigans4769]

I think that writers should be allowed to explore experiences that are not their own but the problem here is the imbalance on who gets to tell these stories. The Latinx writers who have an authentic understanding should always have their stories highlighted and celebrated first before an imposter's attempts at empathy that will naturally fall short.

[@layab22]

I had seen American Dirt on Goodreads and as I already have a number of pending books to read I was wondering whether I should download this one and your discussion has piqued my interest and now I am thinking of reading it.

[@theaelizabet]

And the book has gotten some bad reviews for perceived bad writing. I think I’ll let the dust settle for some time before even considering this one.

[@paulvaleri373]

listening to critics before i read the book ...nah

[@annegibson7867]

In the process of reading it. It is very interesting. Part of reading is being exposed to ideas we don't necessarily agree with.

[@M_SC]

Anne Gibson that’s not what “being exposed to ideas we don’t agree with” means.

[@curriesis3]

I love your channel. I love your opinions, recommendations, etc... However, I do think you are over thinking this. I've read it. I read it as a story. Nothing more. She is an incredible writer. I love it.

[@w.t.chapman1995]

Well said! Could not agree with you more.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Eric I just had my book group last night and we were discussing this exact topic! Varied opinions and I was eager to listen to the conversation and gauge how I feel about this book. Increasingly I’m feeling a lot of distaste for the author and the press on this book. Appropriation and tone deafness are some strongly accurate terms.

[@corginut123]

Boy you couldn't buy this kind of publicity. I am going to get my copy right away.

[@FMsukina]

Very interesting and insightful feedback, Eric! I think that the publishers needs to be held accountable a lot more. I just purchased a book titled, "Climate Justice: A Man-made Problem with a Feminist Solution" by Mary Robinson. This was previously published under a different title: "Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future". The former title better embodied and topics and themes of the stories. But since "feminism" is a hot topic and I enjoy reading about feminism, I was suckered into buying something that was mislabeled. Shame on Bloomsbury. There wasn't any "feminist solution" offered. There were stories about men and women who are on the front lies fighting global warming. The men and women share how they have confronted climate change in their communities. Recently, the marketing of some books has been misleading and even false. Regarding "American Dirt" specifically, I think that the comments from RecMeBooks&Stuff and sylvia vasquez mostly align with my own thoughts and feelings. I also liked robotnic's comment citing Roxanne Gay's tweet. As a Japanese Canadian who studied literature and wrote my thesis on cultural appropriation, this issue is complex and divisive. The bottom line is, if people don't want to support Cummins or Flatiron Books because of the subject matter, how it was presented, marketed, etc..., then borrow it from someone who has a copy, take it out from the library, or buy it used from a local secondhand bookshop. Don't invest or give your money to publishers and/or writers you aren't interested in supporting because money talks. Please keep us posted about whether or not you read this. If you do read it, I hope you'll share your thoughts! Also, have you read Edna O'Brien's "Girl"? I'm reading it now and have some mixed feelings about it (I'm not done yet though!). Just curious if you've read it and what your feelings were about it.

[@patricejones8799]

I believe that I will be reading the book. The controversy doesn't change my mind. I am listening to the discussions, however. It makes the process all the better.

[@shethewriter]

Writers gonna write what they want, but it doesn’t make it worthwhile, and it doesn’t mean publishers should keep rewarding all the trashfire and leaving good authors to fend for themselves. You couldn’t pay me to endorse this book; it is exactly what it’s called.

[@alisonsarahcarroll6063]

Hi 🙋🏼‍♀️ Eric, I’m reading the book “American dirt” I just started it today

[@BethKnight664]

I preordered the book before I heard any controversy and felt guilty for having it. After much deliberation, I decided I am going to read it, so I can form my own opinion, but I’m also going to read the books that are being recommended.

[@uhoh007]

There are 22 native languages spoken in Mexico. From tomatoes to chocolate, much of our best food was developed in the Americas, pre-Gringa entrada. You would never know it livin in the USA, that’s for sure. The war on drugs is just the sequel to our old stable of dictators, in Monroe’s utopia.

[@jennifernash4638]

Excellent summary of what has happened over this book and I wholly agree with your thoughts. I thought about reading this book with the criticisms in mind, but ultimately no one pays me to write reviews so I'd rather spend my time reading books that haven't been dragged halfway across the internet for stereotypical and negative portrayals of a oft-discriminated group of people.

[@ericchristopher1687]

Yuri Herrera's novel, Signs Preceding the End of the World follows a young Mexican woman who is involved with/threatened by drug cartels and must cross into the USA to search for her brother. It was published in 2015 by &OtherStories and is an amazing read. I highly recommend that book to anyone interested in the experiences of migrant or immigrant people crossing into the USA.

[@letahogge9776]

I like knowing what concerns people have about a book and will keep them in mind, but I will have to read the book and make my own decision. I would probably not buy a book that raised concerns, but there are many books I get from the library just because I'm not sure how much I would enjoy them, so that isn't much of a difference.

[@garyacker7388]

I'm finishing the book this afternoon and in my opinion its a good read about the corruption in Mexico and Central America. I think that you have to read a book to critique it, just a thought,. As far as putting it with "Grapes of wrath " how can you compare the two? Steinbeck was leaning towards a more leftist approach to social injustice and capitalism in the New Deal of the Roosevelt era. Personally I don't know how you could connect the two books. Read it before critiquing it is all I can say.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I said other people have compared it to Steinbeck. And I have now read it: lonesomereader.com/blog/2020/2/19/american-dirt-by-jeanine-cummins

[@evajanczaruk8790]

I find this to be an interesting issue but as far as I am concerned it is FICTION, and that people develop opinions about a cultural group under certain circumstances based on a novel speaks to a broader concern. Myself, I am not interested in the book but that is because I am generally disappointed in hyped books, and typically do not want to read what publishers want to sell for the season. And honestly that Cummins celebrated by having a manicure that emulates her book cover, is a writer celebrating her success with selling her NOVEL, and nothing more than that. I think we are becoming dullards, and painting everything with the colour of the day in our efforts to be politically correct.

[@MyBookishEmpire]

Erik, a great discussion video! I have decided not to support the author in any monetary way. I initially purchased the book on release day before seeing the controversy, later that same day I returned it after seeing a thread with Valeria Luiselli on Twitter. Luiselli is an author I admire and trust whole heartedly because of the work she does with migrant children. If my library ever gets a copy of this book, I may read it purely to see what the hype was about, but I will never purchase my own copy

[@terisloat2199]

A lot of comments about a book you haven’t read.

[@MyBookishEmpire]

@@terisloat2199 I mean that is the beauty of having freedom of speech. I don't have to support any work that misrepresents a culture, especially when there are some amazing authors out there in those communities writing excellent works depicting their culture. With this I did not feel the need to read or support the creator on this project.

[@lacasa8640]

I do not see myself reading this. As a Mexican-American I often find that our stories are ignored. I agree that this book has brought to light an issue that should be addressed and is overdue: Latinx and Hispanic voices are often left unheard. This goes deeper into the publishing industry. This has definitely had me thinking and has opened a dialogue on the matter.

[@exlibrisdabarai8773]

"these stories will not get huge readership" - that is up to the publisher to promote the book, if they decided promote Latinx writers the way they promoted American dirt, perhaps they would be also successful? Andrea in her stories speaks about American Dirt versus her experience as the person working on publishing, I think you will find it interesting (it is in her highlights). instagram.com/nastymuchachitareads/

[@exlibrisdabarai8773]

Also, at the end you say it would be hard to read harsh criticisms of your novel,so you do not, out of self-preservation, but how about people who deal with microagressions every day, and to hom this book is another example of it, how hard is for them to deal with them without option to step away from them?

[@mspaula0509]

Unfortunately, I think the only reason why Oprah is pushing it is because of the connection Oprah has to the publisher. Flaitron Books is owned by MacMillian (owned by another company). But even on MacMillian's website, there is an author bio page featuring who???? Oprah. I think that's the only reason why Oprah is pushing the book. Oprah will get backlash too. us.macmillan.com/author/oprahwinfrey/

[@danicadabic9789]

See, I bought this book EXACTLY because of all the fuss. It all boils down to money, I am sad to say. Had this book received a five figure advance, no one would have mentioned it nor signed the petition against it. But since a way more substantial sum was involved, everyone's suddenly finding it unacceptable. Gurba was extremely rude and obnoxious in her commentary. This book obviously targeted specific audience. And you know what? Maybe that's a good thing. The white America will take notice. She did open up doors for this conversation and she did move people to actually buy and read the books from Latinx authors. They should be thanking her. The author has the right to use her/his voice to tell ANY story they want. NO ONE should be limiting them. The issue is the publishing industry and their branding and marketing of books. This is hardly the reason for personal attacks at the author.

[@1book1review]

It was so hard to avoid the buzz and talk about this, you are right. And it just so supports my intention of not knowing much about the authors, as that can so often hurt a book.I can't say I have heard about the book before the controversy or was/am interested in it, but I think it took away from the book being able to stand on its own. The publishing arena is by no means neutral or fair, but not all books about the same topic have the same appeal and quality of writing. Sometimes I feel that gets forgotten in discussions like these. This may be baldy written and something else about the topic should have been published instead. But maybe this was the most appealing book that particular publisher got their hands on and thought it would sell - which now it defintely will. But who will really be able to read this this year without any of this in mind and just judge the story and writing?

[@adriennegarcia6628]

Thank you I can always count on you to be level headed.

[@judybrown1624]

I'm not planning on reading this novel but more because I doubt it's literary merit. If you read it and tell me otherwise, I MIGHT be tempted. For sure this will be a library book if I do pick it up.

[@kingabritschgi5809]

Eric, after all the talk and hoopla and controversy, it is evident you cannot read it with 'virgin mind'. However, witnessing through booktube and your blog your advanced and professional reading habits and skills I am sure you can sit down and read it with the thought 'OK, let's see if this book is a good one (=good thriller, story, whatever)', REGARDLESS of the exploitation issues. And as such I would be soooo curious about your opinion; in other words, yes, the classical separation of art and artist. (I am not suggesting to disregard these controversial issues, merely I am talking about an experiment).

[@mirkovic]

On chapter five, good opening and great translation of Neruda’s poem.... not surprising that Grisham and King liked the book, I don’t like either of them, but I prefer Lost Children Archive... should had been short listed😢

[@JDMcFarren]

I would read it if the back matter interested me. I don't get caught up in who's writing what. Never censor writers. Ever. That's a slippery slope. I also don't make my mind up to read something based on the opinions of others. That has never served me in the past.

[@Robert.Sheard]

I suspect I will be reading the book at some point. A lot of the negativity seems to stem from the NYT review, but I've seen 26 reviews of the novel now and that one is very much in the minority of the reviewers. Fully half of the reviews I've seen are raves and only five were negative, and I understand that the novel has been praised by some major Latinx writers like Sandra Cisneros (and I think I heard also Isabel Allende). Flatiron's publicity for the book is troubling, to be sure, but it's harsh to blame the author for what the publisher gets wrong in its promotion. More disturbing are the allegations of plagiarism and the perpetuation of racial stereotypes. If those allegations are accurate, that's on the author and a valid reason to pan the book. I intend to read it and decide for myself, however.

[@naturallybornthisway]

I just came across this video while trying to decide if I should read it but my overall conclusion is that I can’t. I refuse to read a book that ignores the fact this narrative will be used to represent a large community. The fact it’s only enabling and promoting a stereotype I think is disturbing. My hope when these types of books come out is that they provide an New dimension to the conversation

[@michellelekas211]

It’s a tough one. Lovers of this Fictional Romance compare it to “The Grapes of Wrath,” like this fellow. But John Steinbeck was never an Okie who migrated to California during the dust bowl.... IDK This book made a load of cash: that is the cause of all of this controversy.

[@gaspardpi]

The late Harold Bloom was right about the School of Resentment.

[@mattstruck6480]

Hi, I am putting together a podcast episode on the American Dirt controversy, do you mind if I grab a soundbite from your video to showcase the different takes on this book.

[@JustJanetAshley]

I think you should read it and judge for yourself. I come down on the side of not limiting what people write. The reading public will decide what is good literature and what is not. The problem with "authentic voices" is systemic and begins and ends with the publishing industry. Who besides privileged white people can afford to move to NYC and work unpaid for a year or two in order to join the ranks of the deciders? Jeanine Cummins is being unjustly vilified. No one is saying Don Winslow shouldn't have written The Power of the Dog trilogy.

[@flippinpages6550]

sad that people feel others can't write what they want. So much anger and pain going around the world today. Here is one more example of lets not like this author or that person or that idea. Sad

[@joyefulart]

Thank you for this thoughtful review. I had read Parul Segal’s NYT review before I saw your video and had decided not to read it. Not only is it not written by a Latino author, but according to the review, it was poorly written to boot. I have limited reading time, so I’m going to skip this one for my own individual protest.

[@8765432lh]

You are missing some good prose and a heartfelt story. This book may be a lot of things but poorly written is not one of them.

[@deniellebasselstv]

I loved this talk until the words "I haven't read this yet". Please, help me find an interview where the commenter has actually read the book. Please. I've been on the internet for an hour now and have watched 4 videos with "expert panels", and no one has read the book.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I have now read it and I posted my thoughts about it here: lonesomereader.com/blog/2020/2/19/american-dirt-by-jeanine-cummins

[@xtradelite903]

It sounds like transgressive literature. And, rarely do I read those (just not my cup of tea); Bret Easton Ellis I love, and he does some racist and misogynist ass shit sometimes (one time it was against a Latina; and I’m Latino). In fact, his “American Psycho” film was directed by a woman! Instead, read a classic fiction bestseller on immigrants, “Chicano” (1970) by Richard Vasquez. It came out during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. It’s on Goodreads. (side note: I met R.V. decades ago here in Los Angeles, California at his home. He’s as macho as they come).

[@johnnamurraycamp5100]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I plan to read "American Dirt.” Thereafter, I will read critiques. (Thank you for the links!) I am horrified at the inequities (publishing, media, kinda everywhere) that do not actively support voices from diverse cultures, but adding more labels - including "appropriation" - also makes me a tad nervous. I'm concerned that if artists cease to try to express their feelings/thoughts while ‘standing in other people's shoes’ we'll lose imaginative insights - pleasurable and positive as well as horrific and negative/cautionary - that might help us move forward. That said, propaganda can be dangerous. Not all readers are discerning. Sometimes I read books with which I disagree. I hope that being widely read helps my efforts to be vigilant about appropriate next steps. (If Ayn Rand’s books were taken off the shelves, might we understand even less about how to proceed?) One species on one planet, with so much work to do to ameliorate circumstances "we" have created. Assuming that we can accurately assess motives might in itself be curiously Western. In some cultures, if an event happened - whether intentionally or accidentally being impossible to ascertain - one owns the consequences, e.g., helping a family whose wage-earner was fatally hit by one’s car. Making active ethical choices in real life, at home and at any borders from your front door to national borders: priceless.

[@blkhistorydecoded]

Now some people understand when caucasians talk about African history and ignore the African version or what Ancients say about Ancient Egypt. It is VERY ANNOYING 😡.

[@Nepthu]

By that logic, Africans have no right to comment on history in Caucasian countries. In fact, no one can talk/study anyone else.

[@xandro2445]

White people love this book because it makes them feel all fuzzy inside. This book is dramatic brown trauma for white book clubs. She met actual mexican immigrants and felt it her duty to write something. Although she knows nothing about being hispanic and recognizes that there's immigration books from actual hispanic immigrants, she decided that us actual hispanics needed a white person to save us. She tries to speak spanish in the book and fails miserably. She tries to make cultural references and she fails miserably. Showing further that this book is for white people not Hispanics. She also then portrays the characters and places in a very Trump sterotypical manner. She doesn't understand or write about the deep political issues of the americas. She depicts mexico and mexicans in a very very bad light. We don't need white people to "be our voice", we don't need white people to explain our culture, we don't need a white person's perspective on our country, and we don't need white people getting a 7 figure paycheck to write about something they know nothing about.

[@luciacastrogiovanni7715]

The book american dirt is such a great book i can't stop reading this book it is that thrilling i have never read a book like this

[@alanshadastrokeanddiedinho2897]

I agree with you discussed about American Dirt. The author seems to have an opinion already made up about what is going on with the immigration issue before she even wrote the book. Five years research would take her into the Obama administration handling of the immigration policy. Then into the current occupant of the White House. To have liberals such as Oprah praising this novel makes me want to not read the novel. It is unfortunate that not a Latin author is not given the same treatment as you stated. The author should have just let her opinions out of the novel and let the reader decide.

[@Booklover-coffeelover]

There's no "should" when it comes to literature, for God's sake. I hate how people politicize everything these days.