Invitation from the Planet Debby and Response, in Reverse Order

Dear Ron,
I have to question the wisdom of donating romance novels to a shelter for female victims of domestic violence. Why not donate actual literature, like Chekhov or some good solid books of "history from under," Hobsbawm, or Kropotkin for that matter--I'd be happy to donate "The Day Wall Street Exploded," by Beverly Gage, an account of the anarchist attack on the headquarters of JP Morgan and Company on Sept. 16, 1920...it might be more empowering for battered women to be enlightened, as if they actually needed to be, about how intricately woven into our society the rotten treatment of women and of many other people who don't happen to be rich white men is.
I realize that donating books that are written for Escape is a worthwhile thing. However, escaping into fantasies of Romance is not going to help these women escape the fantasy of Romance and I think it's a tad condescending to presume that victims of domestic violence are all subliterates, or somehow mentally incapable of learning how to analyze their situation, and, by extension, the vile class system that keeps the poor in peonage, one of the veritable incitements to domestic violence when the male of the couple is afflicted with testosterone poisoning and, being powerless in the greater world, feels impelled to inflict his rage on his spouse or domestic partner.
It's just a suggestion, not a grand jury indictment of your efforts to help others. Helping others is a good thing, helping them in a manner that is actually helpful an even better one.
With best wishes,
Gary Indiana

You don't usually hear from me two weeks in a row, but I've lined up a
bumper crop of events for November... as always, though, if you don't
want to get these announcements, just tell me and I'll pull you from
the list.

So, Monday night, November 2: It's time for a new Lady Jane's Salon,
the only monthly reading series in New York City dedicated to romance
fiction. This month, I'll be sharing the hosting duties with Elizabeth
Kerri Mahon, who'll be sharing excerpts from the forthcoming book
based on her historical blog, Scandalous Women. We'll be introducing
readings from two novelists: Joanne Rendell (The Professors' Wives
Club, Crossing Washington Square) and Caridad Pineiro (Sins of the
Flesh). Join us at 7 p.m. at Madame X (94 West Houston St.) --
admission is just $5 or a used paperback romance, collected for
Share-the-Love.org, a non-profit organization that donates books to
domestic violence shelters and other institutions serving women in
need.

Then, on Wednesday night, November 4, I'll be throwing another one of
my Beatrice.com Slipper Room parties, with two special guests from the
United Kingdom: Sarah Hall (How to Paint a Dead Man) and Richard
Milward (Ten Storey Love Song). I'm told Richard will be leading some
sort of artistic audience participation, with pens and paper in ample
supply; we'll also have an acoustic set by Gee Henry between the two
readings. This event also starts at 7 p.m., there's no cover charge
for the cash bar.

It would be great to see you at either event (or both)! If you can
drop me a line and let me know, that's great, but neither event
requires an RSVP. And on that note, I promise: no more event notices
for about three weeks!

Yours, Ron Hogan