tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post3247954550345038458..comments2024-03-28T01:04:21.897-06:00Comments on Gossamer Obsessions: "Whitney, My Love," by Judith McNaughtAnimeJunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229748454410488167noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-69148512243158288992020-03-03T10:05:49.898-07:002020-03-03T10:05:49.898-07:00This is a deep and genial review! This novel left ...This is a deep and genial review! This novel left me with a horrible aftertaste for a few days. I cannot start to think what’s the author’s perception about love and healthy relationships. It glamorizes mental, emotional and sexual abuse of a teenager with a low sense of worthiness on the hands of a 34 year old sociopathic narcissist. Would be interesting to find the unabridged version, tho...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01334451493198348572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-51461404501385549532016-12-10T01:18:53.948-07:002016-12-10T01:18:53.948-07:00@ amisha- if u have read the original version u wi...@ amisha- if u have read the original version u will recall how frightened she was . The whole carriage ride she was trying to find a way to escape, she was even ready to jump out of the moving vehicle. On reaching his house she was shouting for help when she saw his maid. In her mind she was still trying to rationalize his actions and why he was all of a sudden voilent ,abusive( calling her a whore) and forceful. How can u say that WHITNEY WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO GO TO BED WITH HIM. Did u read the same book i did. N when finally she lets him take her its cos she feels that she deserves his anger, she pushed him to this (which is sad victim mentality). So seriously this was a RAPE in all sense. And for your clarity if you ever come across some woman shouting for help please help her and don't just think that SHE WANTS IT and justify it as eternal love as most of the society does.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-60366068642091119472014-05-10T11:30:21.285-06:002014-05-10T11:30:21.285-06:00Amisha - I read the "cleaned up" version...Amisha - I read the "cleaned up" version, and she was willing to go to bed with him - because she was terrified of him. He essentially kidnapped her and took her to a remote location where she couldn't escape or call for help. It's exploitation - he has all the power, she has none. <br /><br /><br />And a hero who takes out his anger on other people and makes them suffer because he doesn't want to appear "weak" - that's not a heroic mindset. IMO.AnimeJunenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-33321509880823654712014-05-05T13:28:43.153-06:002014-05-05T13:28:43.153-06:00I totally AGREE!!! With the review that assshole d...I totally AGREE!!! With the review that assshole dump of a man is the worst heroes of a romantic novel that I ever read. And I hate mcmaught for making so much worked up that I wanted to throttle Clayton and shove a freaking stick down his asssanonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-89416356830904592582014-04-20T11:43:58.943-06:002014-04-20T11:43:58.943-06:00Well, it's a pity that the book makes you angr...Well, it's a pity that the book makes you angry. There are certain things you haven't considered though. Agreed that Clayton Westmoreland's character wasnt shown in more depth, that was the valid part.<br />As for the rape issue, if you read it carefully, Whitney was more than willing to go to bed with him, all the while. He did it in a forceful way, but he knew all along that she wanted it too. I dont know if it justifies what he did, probably doesnt, but its certainly not as bad as you made it look in the article. She did want him.<br />And yes, Clayton was too quick to judge her, and blame her, but doing enough character analysis will tell you that he did that because she was the only one for whom he crossed his personal limits of caring.. and he questioned it to himself more than once. He realized he was in love, he was a fool in love, and he didnt like the idea of deriving his happiness dependent on someone else. She had that kind of power over him, and he hated it, which is why he was quick to blame himself for being a fool. Over reaction, but understandable for a man who had trusted absolutely noone.Amishanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-55889749830321030252013-12-17T22:16:00.277-07:002013-12-17T22:16:00.277-07:00…even I did not know that. I will log that away fo...…even I did not know that. I will log that away for when I write so I don't make a similar mistake.AnimeJunenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-58163059882022678512013-12-14T20:54:00.648-07:002013-12-14T20:54:00.648-07:00Never happened. No such law as presented.Never happened. No such law as presented.Tim Kernnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-17302029036403293582013-12-14T20:52:57.750-07:002013-12-14T20:52:57.750-07:00...and it's a grip like a vise, not a "vi......and it's a grip like a vise, not a "vice." Sheesh.Tim Kernnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-32955016102476373602013-11-02T11:31:10.083-06:002013-11-02T11:31:10.083-06:00Oh exactly. And the book is filled with bizarre me...Oh exactly. And the book is filled with bizarre messages - like when Whitney realizes that Clayton is "too powerful a man" to apologize. The book is filled with ideas that only weak men respect consent and only weak men admit wrongdoing.AnimeJunenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-4042477116437931822013-10-22T16:41:12.703-06:002013-10-22T16:41:12.703-06:00Fantastic review, thank you for writing it. Over a...Fantastic review, thank you for writing it. Over at Amazon a 1-star reviewer said that as a portrayal of an abusive relationship the book deserves 5 stars, but as a romance it's a 1. I finished the book and felt (and still do) somehow betrayed (thinking this is a romance..), dirtied and abused myself. I don't doubt that this could be an accurate portrayal of a sick relationship, but a 'romance' it is not. Surely there is something wrong when women think that this "hero" is romantic - it's more a gothic nightmare than anything.Elisabethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-59779544813687725292013-09-22T12:27:33.748-06:002013-09-22T12:27:33.748-06:00oh my God, my thoughts exactly, i laughed so hard ...oh my God, my thoughts exactly, i laughed so hard with this review after reading a couple of others calling this book a classic and breathtaking. I know that people have the right to read whatever they like but i cant help feeling a bit angry when i hear people praising this book.Allisonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-40116390200390621042013-06-11T22:30:48.571-06:002013-06-11T22:30:48.571-06:00Same here. The story was never boring, I'll gi...Same here. The story was never boring, I'll give McNaught that. <br /><br />Also apparently the "rule of thumb" concept is apparently false, no such law existed. AnimeJunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18229748454410488167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-18418444740853586272013-06-02T12:44:44.343-06:002013-06-02T12:44:44.343-06:00Hey, I haven't truly examined my reaction abou...Hey, I haven't truly examined my reaction about Whitney, My Love, but reading this review brought it all up so I can say I totally agree with you, but I also (half)loved Whitney, My Love. Not because of Clayton, he's just too quick to judge without pausing to think clearly. His reasoning seems skewed and rule of thumb or not, I would never condone a man who hits a woman, regardless of the provocation, with the exception of life or death maybe, but anything less is inexcusable. I've read the original and let me say it was hard to continue reading but I persevered because I wanted to know what will happen to Whitney. Although, some parts of the story was good, it's just not enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-26961875681061756632013-01-11T17:10:47.927-07:002013-01-11T17:10:47.927-07:00LMFAO I couldn't stop laughing at this review ...LMFAO I couldn't stop laughing at this review <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-35643706609136183642012-01-12T00:42:16.277-07:002012-01-12T00:42:16.277-07:00The origins of the rule of thumb are a myth. http:...The origins of the rule of thumb are a myth. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2550/does-rule-of-thumb-refer-to-an-old-law-permitting-wife-beatingwillafulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17201963128584310884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-75305503654297880982012-01-06T22:57:17.767-07:002012-01-06T22:57:17.767-07:00omg I just watched your video. you are so weird. I...omg I just watched your video. you are so weird. I thought your site was cool but you're not so I'm out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-71152702510942767172012-01-06T22:17:48.376-07:002012-01-06T22:17:48.376-07:00Did you ever hear of the "rule of thumb"...Did you ever hear of the "rule of thumb"? It is derived from a law that states a husband is not allowed to hit his wife with anything thicker than his thumb. I'm not saying that I agree with the law but it is the way it was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-82604797924370283542012-01-06T20:09:19.644-07:002012-01-06T20:09:19.644-07:00Anonymous --> You're entitled to like what ...Anonymous --> You're entitled to like what you want. But since Judith McNaught plays fairly fast and loose with "historical" and "period" detail in this book to begin with (such as the clothing, good Lord, I'm surprised she didn't make Whitney wear shoulder pads) I personally don't see why I should regard this book entirely through the lens of 19th century society.<br /><br />Also please show me the 19th century law that said a man could beat a woman with a riding crop and then rape her because she became engaged to another man.<br /><br />Besides, I dislike and find entirely untrue the idea that all men were perpetual rape machines before the advent of the 20th century. There actually were, surprise surprise, men who existed in the 19th century who did not beat their wives, did not sexually assault them, did not rape them OUT OF REVENGE - those men? They were heroes. And heroes are what I personally want to read about in my romances, regardless of genre or time period.AnimeJunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18229748454410488167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-19449710912963292502012-01-06T20:00:15.822-07:002012-01-06T20:00:15.822-07:00I Love WML and Judith McNaught. And your review le...I Love WML and Judith McNaught. And your review leaves out a lot. First of all the book took place in the early 1800s when social etiguite and rules were much different then now. Secondly, Clayton rightfully accused Whitney of engaging herself to Paul! The only reason she didnt marry him was because Paul wouldnt have her once he found out she was broke. Thirdly, the reason that Whitney went back to beg Clayton to have her was because Clayton tried to apologize for his wrongs and since Whitney blew him off (and as he thought, rightfully so) he tried to get on with his life and let her live hers. However, Whitney realized that she loved him and knew that the only way to be with him would be to go to him herself. When you read the book you have to remember that it took place in the 19th century and that the type of courting described was socially acceptable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-17463856974163083862011-11-22T11:38:26.671-07:002011-11-22T11:38:26.671-07:00Wow! You know times have changed and so have taste...Wow! You know times have changed and so have tastes in romance reads when Judith McNaught gets an F-!!! <br /><br />Like KristieJ, I read this book "back in the day" when ALL the books were sagas with these types of heroes. My first romance novel (in English) was Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers... if you hated this one? You would hate that one too, lol! I, however, was hooked and still think of it with nostalgia (although I won't ever read it again because I don't want to spoil it for myself, *g*) But, yeah... somehow I guess those books don't stand the test of time.Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-22089601144599421322011-11-15T05:28:51.012-07:002011-11-15T05:28:51.012-07:00While I loved Judith McNaught in the day, this boo...While I loved Judith McNaught in the day, this book has always been an exception to that love. I never liked it though I didn't have as strong a hate on as you did - maybe because so many of the books I read in the day had the same issues of a$$hole heroes and doormat heroines. So to read one like that in this day and age, I think I'd hate Whitney, My Love as much as you do. What boggles my mind is so many readers love this book. Not to be rude or anything - but I always want to ask that age old question - WHY???????????????????Kristie (J)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-66842137760262082342011-11-12T13:24:35.219-07:002011-11-12T13:24:35.219-07:00Thanks for this review, it made me feel better aft...Thanks for this review, it made me feel better after reading 3/4ths of this depressing book. :)<br />Inside Whitney's head is a scary place to be. Clayton is horrifying and they're both mentally unbalanced. This book is just WRONG.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-22231307239131000902011-11-11T06:31:45.585-07:002011-11-11T06:31:45.585-07:00Kinda makes me wish for a "Z" grade opti...Kinda makes me wish for a "Z" grade option! I read this book (the original unaltered version which I was "lucky" enough to find in a used book store) a couple years ago and I will NEVER cleanse the awful taint of it from my brain. I have LOVED other McNaught books right to little bits --"Perfect" and "Almost Heaven" -- but WML has to be the most worstest awful romance novel I've ever read. Thanks for summing it up so very succinctly!mepameliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05967521027234468350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-79038386183356806022011-11-10T14:49:47.290-07:002011-11-10T14:49:47.290-07:00Nobody can trash a horrible book like you can! Yo...Nobody can trash a horrible book like you can! You are my hero! Um, heroine!Vorkosigrrlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348815.post-85945883923506059822011-11-10T12:09:41.919-07:002011-11-10T12:09:41.919-07:00Never read it, never going to read it.Never read it, never going to read it.Beebshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358906613973814461noreply@blogger.com