Do your books have social commentary? 🧐 (Updated)

The world is a hot mess now, so if there ever were a time for social commentary in the arts, this would be it!

I've always been a fan of social commentary in books, movies, television, and music. In fact, for me, it's a significant part of the writing process. I love the idea of planting a few seeds for readers to ponder. I don't do this to influence anyone's opinion but to give them some food for thought. We often get locked in our beliefs and stubbornly refuse to see the other side, but can we make a fair assessment if we don't? 

When it comes to the arts, books, movies, and television are sometimes a more tangible way to process information. News stories and documentaries are often slanted, possibly more with the concern of capturing ratings. However, fiction shows the emotional side of some dicey subjects. The human being behind societal problems has a face. As they say, before you judge, walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Books, movies, and television allow you to do so.

With that in mind, there are various topics and questions that writers will bring to light for the reader's consideration. For example, in my book The Devil May Lie, Paige Noël-Hernandez worries about her appearance after having a baby. She mentions a recent magazine article that suggests women 'of a certain age' have to work twice as hard to slip back into those favorite pair of jeans after giving birth. Her husband Jorge is quick to ask if this specific article comes before a page of ads for weight loss products. Of course, we know that advertisers target their audience and, in some cases, instigate insecurities to make potential customers for their products. Welcome to the world of consumerism!

As a writer, I want to encourage critical thinking. Ideally, I would love to believe that my books are read with an open mind and heart, that sometimes their ideas are challenged, or perhaps readers are relating to specific events in the book. I hope that the characters stay with them long after finishing the book and maybe even inspired them. I want to believe that my books shake things up a bit, whether it be the reader's imagination or how they see themselves and the world.