The first time I tried to read Virginia Woolf's To The Whitehouse, I was bored stiff and tossed it aside before turning the first page.
Years later, when I picked it up because it was assigned in a class, I read it all the way through and adored it (writing my paper on it! greatest novel ever written!).
Reading experiences can be varied over our lifetimes (works I once loved, I no longer read--in a few cases CAN no longer read--Heinlein, I'm looking at YOU--works that I could not read the first time I tried, I now love).
So it's sad that this round of debates has set up not only the original author but a number of her published friends as people that a number of people (fans of color and white allies) do not want to read, and will recommend against reading: it's sad not because of any economic issues, but just what you say here--the lack of communication.
Re: I am only responding from my limited experience...
Years later, when I picked it up because it was assigned in a class, I read it all the way through and adored it (writing my paper on it! greatest novel ever written!).
Reading experiences can be varied over our lifetimes (works I once loved, I no longer read--in a few cases CAN no longer read--Heinlein, I'm looking at YOU--works that I could not read the first time I tried, I now love).
So it's sad that this round of debates has set up not only the original author but a number of her published friends as people that a number of people (fans of color and white allies) do not want to read, and will recommend against reading: it's sad not because of any economic issues, but just what you say here--the lack of communication.