In Regards to Chapter 1 of

Nicola Griffith's The Blue Place

briankessler@nowhereatall.net

http://www.nowhereatall.net

8 April 1999

I agree that Aud seems like Val: tall, blond, Amazon. She is a superwoman in society. I'm not really sure if this is what feminism really wants to be creating as the archtypical woman? Would it not be better to have a womanly woman as a super heor than a manly one? Is it not a reinforcement of male virtues and male heroism when only superwoman can stand on par?

I don't know whether woman are taught any more fears than men are. Granted, some fears (i.e. rape) are more applicable to women, but I don't think the average man is really taught much more on how to handle his fears. If someone were to attack me, I don't think I'd have much more clue than one else how to protect myself. Fortunately people don't attack me, but I don't look like I carry anything worth taking and I carry myself as though I know how to handle myself (and wearing armour, even if more decorative than functional, doesn't hurt).

I don't think too many people would ever say "It's so convienient that my bank was robbed last night." Of course crime is inconvienent. Even the police officers don't think "Well, if there was no crime, I'd have no paycheck." Crime as inconvienence seems obvious. I suppose there was some poetic beauty to parse the line, but I don't think it was either all that impressive or necessary.