tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post8746386180818283353..comments2024-03-27T17:34:52.560-05:00Comments on A Garden Carried in the Pocket: Bones of the Earth, Girl Most Likely, Shattered Dreamsjenclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-79308543901069418252019-04-28T11:33:07.277-05:002019-04-28T11:33:07.277-05:00You should perhaps have qualms, depending on your ...You should perhaps have qualms, depending on your own politics. Everything you say about "virtue signaling" is true, but the alt-right has co-opted (and popularized) the phrase, and unless your politics are far-right conservative, you risk sending an unintended message. I have no argument with your review; your opinions are your own and you were not nasty in expressing them, as some have been (though the reviews overall have been fine). I am just cautioning you about the use of a loaded phrase. Thanks.Max Allan Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06835573216586785465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-79673297655904491942019-04-25T09:22:57.626-05:002019-04-25T09:22:57.626-05:00Yes, I did find several definitions including &quo...Yes, I did find several definitions including "the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue." Also, "Academically, the phrase relates to signalling theory to describe a subset of social behaviors that could be used to signal virtue"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling" rel="nofollow">source</a> It can be a political phrase for anyone, left or right and can apply to personal behavior without political meaning, in that it can be used to make someone more appealing to someone else. I don't have any qualms about using it as "literary term" about characters. jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-77337158785107095142019-04-25T09:00:27.495-05:002019-04-25T09:00:27.495-05:00You might be interested to know, depending on your...You might be interested to know, depending on your politics, that "virtue signaling" is an alt-right term that describes authors supposedly inserting their own liberal opinions into the mouths of their characters, presumably for nefarious left-wing purposes. I would hesitate before embracing it, were I you.<br />Max Allan Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06835573216586785465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-65192286868515031562019-04-18T08:15:08.945-05:002019-04-18T08:15:08.945-05:00I was disappointed, but it seems most readers like...I was disappointed, but it seems most readers liked it better than I did. I won't continue with the series. jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-37618444168973061662019-04-18T07:47:28.567-05:002019-04-18T07:47:28.567-05:00Aw, I was hoping Girl Most Likely would be a bette...Aw, I was hoping Girl Most Likely would be a better read :( Verushkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08640500646511533020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-50644978986014597002019-04-17T07:30:27.516-05:002019-04-17T07:30:27.516-05:00The mysteries are embedded in such a fascinating p...The mysteries are embedded in such a fascinating paradox of cultures. The Tibetans still trying to adhere to their religious beliefs even as they are imprisoned and tortured; the Chinese trying to erase every aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-72258972206129899902019-04-16T15:50:21.709-05:002019-04-16T15:50:21.709-05:00Excessive clothing detail is a real bugbear of min...Excessive clothing detail is a real bugbear of mine too. If it doesn’t serve the story, leave it out, I say. <br /><br />The Inspector Shan series sounds great. And while I understand that fans will be sad, I always think it good when a book series ends on a high note. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-51832782737702546472019-04-16T14:10:01.634-05:002019-04-16T14:10:01.634-05:00Virtue signaling is a useful term, isn't it? ...Virtue signaling is a useful term, isn't it? :) I've had fun with National Letter Writing Month!jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-27140459992412187002019-04-16T14:08:27.157-05:002019-04-16T14:08:27.157-05:00I've loved the complexity of the mysteries and...I've loved the complexity of the mysteries and the characters are so interesting! Yep, that letter is on its way; I mailed at the first of April, but it takes a long time to get to Singapore. :)jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-72012949212049082482019-04-16T14:02:15.167-05:002019-04-16T14:02:15.167-05:00Virtue signaling. Never heard it called that befor...Virtue signaling. Never heard it called that before, but it's the perfect phrase for that heavyhanded kind of writing. And I love your postcards and envelopes. Especially your thumbprint character. Thanks for sharing! :DLark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-20876926529609587212019-04-16T07:54:55.065-05:002019-04-16T07:54:55.065-05:00That's a lovely variety of books you read, Jen...That's a lovely variety of books you read, Jenclair. Eliot Pattison's series sound interesting; I don't think I've heard of the author. Another new author to explore. And I'm looking forward to receiving your letter. :) Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848131929166247817noreply@blogger.com