You Deserve Nothing

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

You know the book is worthwhile when you break out the tape flags. Explores students‘ hero-worship of professors from the perspectives of both the students and professor. Lots of good stuff in here that I can relate to. Can‘t wait to see how it ends.

readordierachel Is that a skull pillow? 6y

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @ReadOrDieRachel Yes! 💀 perfect decor for my living room 6y

readordierachel Love it! 6y

Cinfhen Oooh, sounds good ❣️#stacked 6y

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @Cinfhen Let me know what you think when you get to it! 6y

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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

With a title and a cover like that, I had to start this one today. Mixed reviews due to controversy, which is also enticing!

Lacythebookworm I look forward to hearing your thoughts! 6y

TrishB I‘ll look out for your review! 6y

sprainedbrain Can‘t wait to hear what you think... this one intrigues me! 6y

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @Lacythebookworm @TrishB @sprainedbrain Thanks! So far, so good! 6y

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AEBowenPhD

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

I feel *deeply* conflicted about this book. And yet, parts of it really resonated with me-- teaching as a kind of seduction and all that. Still. I can't imagine recommending it to anyone.

5 likes

TorchlightReading

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

pick

Such a wonderful, beautiful and moving book. This will stick with you. Read anything Alexander Maksik has written. You won't be disappointed.

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TorchlightReading

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

The distance between desire and action.

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theshrinkette

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

I knew the premise of the book when I bought it, but I didn't realise that it was based on the author's life which they were selling as fiction (the story is of a high school teacher who has an affair with a student). After that I read interviews of some of his former students who felt exploited by this book branded as fiction. Anyway the whole thing pissed me off because male privilege and I DNFed the book. #photoadaynov16 #threwitacrosstheroom

RealLifeReading

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theshrinkette

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

Okay guys, a friend just linked me to an article in Jezebel about this book being based on the author's own story? According to the article it's the reason the author was fired from the school. Neither the publication nor the author got back to Jezebel with a comment. Also comments floating around from his students who were pissed he presented this as a work of fiction.

If you've read this book or know about the article-thoughts?

courtney My friend who recommended this book and to me and I have talked about this A LOT. We both really enjoyed the book, and after when we were researching more about the author came across that article. Yikes. It's terrible because the book tackles that subject matter but is also beautiful in a way, but then the fact that it becomes more non-fiction/exploitative puts a cloud over it. 8y

courtney What are your thoughts? Is it easier or harder for you to separate the art from the artist? 8y

WanderingBookaneer When I bought it I knew it was inspired by his experiences. I hadn't thought to look for students' reactions. 8y

See All 19 Comments

theshrinkette @courtney In this case, I don't know if I'd call the exploitation of an underage girl (who is your student) art. The fact that this was marketed as a work of fiction bothers me A LOT. Unfortunately, the subject of the book IRL is not a grey area. If this story is true, it's white side privilege at its finest. Add to this that his students and former coworkers probably read this, or even for that girl to read it and relive it. 8y

theshrinkette @courtney I'm also just really angry because I was enjoying the book until I heard about this and I'm finding it hard to get back into it. I can't even imagine what his former students were feeling. 8y

theshrinkette @WanderingBookaneer Based on these articles and his students' comments it's a lot more than a loose inspiration. 8y

courtney I think I considered it exploitation (I can't remember if it's the same article or a different one) where the female student did step forward and say that many of the conversations she had with him in confidence were used in the book, like she told him secrets and he voiced them through her "character" and their illegal relationship so I always thought of it as being exploitative for her. It's such a scummy situation 8y

theshrinkette @courtney Agreed! It's also hard for me not to place value judgement on everything that went down with him and that student (allegedly). Also conflicted because of a long history of women being exploited and consequentially not believed when they place blame because the men in question happen to be in a position of power of sorts. 8y

courtney Right! I usually recommend this book to people still but also tell them the situation up front. It makes for really interesting book club discussions. I have another book written by him on a different subject and I'm so torn on whether or not I want to read it (because I thought his writing was good) but I also don't want to support him 😓 8y

theshrinkette I feel your pain @courtney! 8y

KrisConstantReader Wow, this is all so fascinating. I hadn't heard of this book before. This may seem like a dumb question, but can't the student/students sue him or anything? 8y

ScrappyMags I never heard about this but just read the article. Yikes all over the place. I'm one who can't separate art from artist. Just like Woody Allen... Can't stand to watch him or look at him or listen to him. Don't care how good his movies are, the fact that he molested his adopted daughter skeeves me to no end. If I want to be pissed I will read this because I hear he paints the female student as the seductress which is BULLSHIT. Lol see?? 8y

theshrinkette @KrisConstantReader That's a good question- not sure about the circumstances surrounding the actual event, since neither the publication not the author have any comments on that article. 8y

theshrinkette @ScrappyMags YES to all this. 8y

KrisConstantReader I just googled him, he does speak about it briefly around halfway into this interview https://www.guernicamag.com/interviews/how-to-make-a-life/ So, aside from all of the controversy and everything, how is the book itself? 8y

KrisConstantReader @ScrappyMags I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said. 8y

theshrinkette @KrisConstantReader Like I said, it's hard for me to separate the two. Also he's absolutely unapologetic in that article as well. Once again a white dude has ruined a book for me. 8y

KrisConstantReader @theshrinkette ah, I haven't read the article yet but I definitely will check it out. 8y

KrisConstantReader I can't believe he's unapologetic, to me that says everything. Taking it off my to read list. 8y

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theshrinkette

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

Em890 Beautiful quote! 8y

17 likes1 comment

theshrinkette

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

13 likes

theshrinkette

You Deserve Nothing: A Novel | Alexander Maksik

As recommended by @Waynegjr. #getindie

WanderingBookaneer I liked this one, but didn't love it. My main issue was during a protest scene when the protagonist didn't practice what he preached. 8y

19 likes3 stack adds1 comment

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