Comments on: Life and Death in Shanghai

By: Katinka

Katinka — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:25:48 +0000

Dear Sara,

I have to object, I came to your blog looking for inspiration because you are a politicised fiction writer! As a wannabe fiction writer with a PhD in political science, I have for a long time come to the conclusion that EVERYTHING is political. What frightens me most about the health insurance discussion is not that some conservative politicians oppose it, but that they are able to convince even or especially those that would profit most from a more social America.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:59:42 +0000

It bothers me that the voices which are the loudest right now in the health care/insurance debate are also the ones who restrict comment. For instance, you cannot email Rep. Bachman, unless you are a constituent. Most other representatives are the same. Yet, they all keep saying they are listening to the voice of the American people and working for the American people, but really don’t want to hear from the American People. A sad commentary. Thank you so much for your books and your thoughtful comments on this American life.

By: genny from jersey

genny from jersey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:15:45 +0000

Sara, I’m happy we were able to make the booksigning. It was a wonderful time. We also got a chance to talk to a lot of other fans also.

By: paretsky

paretsky — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:21:45 +0000

Thanks, Genny. I’m happy we met–I love being able to picture your face when I read your comments.

By: genny from jersey

genny from jersey — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:21:34 +0000

Sara, one of the reasons I enjoy your writing so much is the passion with which you write. Even though “Hardball” is fiction, it wouldn’t have the impact it does without the realistic elements that you included. Life is a struggle and unfortunately the “good guys” don’t always win. But we must never give up the fight.

By: paretsky

paretsky — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:25:06 +0000

Thanks for all these thoughtful comments. Dominique ter Braak’s point is exactly on target. By appropriating shocking events and twisting their meaning, demagogues successfully belittle the original event and make debate impossible. Clarence Thomas, one of the most bitter and right-wing of the justices on the US Supreme Court, did this when he claimed that the women who were reporting on his sexual aggression in the workplace were “a lynch mob.”

By: Dominique ter Braak

Dominique ter Braak — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:15:27 +0000

Something like Bachman’s action could be brought before a judge in my country (Belgium). Using the holocaust fur such purposes is illegal, because in a way it is a form of denial or if you like a belittlement. I hope the people responsible will be punished or at least reprimanded. I want to thank you for your beautiful book “Kansas burning” that made me more aware of how some conservative Americans actually think.

By: Deborah Thomson

Deborah Thomson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:24:42 +0000

I came to your website as I enjoy your books, as a New Zealander I can’t comprehend not having social health care, nor can I really understand a country that would deny it’s people the most basic health care, how can you have a strong progressive nation without the nation being healthy? I like many who are not American find it hard to comprehend the level of greed nepotism favourtism and coruption that seems to polute American politics the whole lobbyist thing jsut seems to be a bunch of the biggest hogs with their snouts in the trough stopping all the other hogs getting a fair share, keep writing keep talking politics

By: skeller

skeller — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:06:12 +0000

As far as I’m concerned, you can blog about politics and world events any time you feel moved. There are things I first encountered in the novels that I followed up on, and am glad I learned about. (Jane, for instance.) I was deeply grateful for Blacklist, as well as for Writing in an Age of Silence. (Totally unrelated but I always meant to say: I love Ghost Country.)

By: Shirley Harrison

Shirley Harrison — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:43:56 +0000

You had the courage to speak out during the Bush/Cheney years about blacklisting. I am very worried about women’s reproductive health as a result of the House of Representative’s health care bill. Their plan makes abortion not covered by insurance, as it is now under most insurance plans. Many Senators won’t do the right thing and put it in their plan, either, unless we let them know this is UNacceptable!