" It also seems to be more acceptable for a female character to be interested in another guy if she thinks her relationship with another love interest is not going to happen."
Ugh, personally I really dislike that. At least first make it clear that the guy knows she's not interested anymore. You know what I really dislike in books? Love triangles! I know it's almost unavoidable, but even though I don't usually read books where romance is a big aspect of the plot, it still kind of annoys me. First, most of the time it's just there to make readers aware of how awesome the main character is and how she is so ignorant about this awesomeness that she actually doesn't realize she's made at least 2 guys fall in love with her. I mean... honestly? And I always feel bad for the person who is left behind. It doesn't matter if he's just some loser on the sidewalk, because it always seems as if he cares about her genuinely.
Yeah, I agree with you. If you care about somebody, jealousy shouldn't be something you want them to feel. Even if you feel neglected. There are so many other ways for you to make him want you.
Ah, I hate catfights too! They're so... cringe-worthy. Especially all the shouting and raving and hair pulling. I don't want to be reading a Maury Pauvich episode, you know. Yeah, it's hard to get characters to act "in character" when there are feelings involved that are associated with romance. Especially since there's been a surge of the 'tough-chick' roles, and it's harder to write about them falling in love without getting all mushy. At least, that's how I think it is.
See, sometimes I do wish I knew more about history. It'll help a great deal when analyzing fantasy books. Hehe. But what actually made me realize the importance of that scene was when I was reading a post in Sounis about how unhealthy their relationship was. There was someone, I can't remember who, who said that Attolia slapped him not because he changed her orders (which is what I assumed at first), but because he took her guilt and basically rubbed it on her face. That was one of the moments when I realized how brilliant MWT was, hehe. There's one meaning to what she writes if you just read it as is, but if you think a little bit, there's always more meaning.
I agree. I find it strange that many people feel like it's acceptable to slap a guy. I'd think it's kind of humiliating for them. I always feel bad when I see shows where if a guy is "stupid", he gets smacked over the head or something.
Oh, Alanna series. See, I always feel like I'm missing so much of the fantasy genre by not reading Tamora Pierce (or Harry Potter, for that matter... and Lord of The Rings... and Hunger Games -__-), but every time I decide I'm going to read them, there comes a book out of nowhere that seems just a tad bit more interesting. And before I know it, I just never get around to reading them. Are they good? I know that Alanna was in the Fantasy Showdown too.
"I also dislike the trope that says that girls who are more traditionally girly can't be independent and tough too."
Yeah, me too. Or girls who are religious can't be feminists. But there's a limit to being "girly" for me. Like everyone else, I can mostly identify with characters who are most like myself, so if the girl is squealing over a bunch of boys walking by, caking her face with make-up and thinking about shopping 24/7, I just kind of... lose interest. Hmm, I just realized something. Other than Sophos, I don't think I've read a main character who was good at math.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-11-13 03:06 pm (UTC)Ugh, personally I really dislike that. At least first make it clear that the guy knows she's not interested anymore. You know what I really dislike in books? Love triangles! I know it's almost unavoidable, but even though I don't usually read books where romance is a big aspect of the plot, it still kind of annoys me. First, most of the time it's just there to make readers aware of how awesome the main character is and how she is so ignorant about this awesomeness that she actually doesn't realize she's made at least 2 guys fall in love with her. I mean... honestly? And I always feel bad for the person who is left behind. It doesn't matter if he's just some loser on the sidewalk, because it always seems as if he cares about her genuinely.
Yeah, I agree with you. If you care about somebody, jealousy shouldn't be something you want them to feel. Even if you feel neglected. There are so many other ways for you to make him want you.
Ah, I hate catfights too! They're so... cringe-worthy. Especially all the shouting and raving and hair pulling. I don't want to be reading a Maury Pauvich episode, you know. Yeah, it's hard to get characters to act "in character" when there are feelings involved that are associated with romance. Especially since there's been a surge of the 'tough-chick' roles, and it's harder to write about them falling in love without getting all mushy. At least, that's how I think it is.
See, sometimes I do wish I knew more about history. It'll help a great deal when analyzing fantasy books. Hehe. But what actually made me realize the importance of that scene was when I was reading a post in Sounis about how unhealthy their relationship was. There was someone, I can't remember who, who said that Attolia slapped him not because he changed her orders (which is what I assumed at first), but because he took her guilt and basically rubbed it on her face. That was one of the moments when I realized how brilliant MWT was, hehe. There's one meaning to what she writes if you just read it as is, but if you think a little bit, there's always more meaning.
I agree. I find it strange that many people feel like it's acceptable to slap a guy. I'd think it's kind of humiliating for them. I always feel bad when I see shows where if a guy is "stupid", he gets smacked over the head or something.
Oh, Alanna series. See, I always feel like I'm missing so much of the fantasy genre by not reading Tamora Pierce (or Harry Potter, for that matter... and Lord of The Rings... and Hunger Games
-__-), but every time I decide I'm going to read them, there comes a book out of nowhere that seems just a tad bit more interesting. And before I know it, I just never get around to reading them. Are they good? I know that Alanna was in the Fantasy Showdown too.
"I also dislike the trope that says that girls who are more traditionally girly can't be independent and tough too."
Yeah, me too. Or girls who are religious can't be feminists. But there's a limit to being "girly" for me. Like everyone else, I can mostly identify with characters who are most like myself, so if the girl is squealing over a bunch of boys walking by, caking her face with make-up and thinking about shopping 24/7, I just kind of... lose interest. Hmm, I just realized something. Other than Sophos, I don't think I've read a main character who was good at math.