fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2318 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2318 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

__________________________________________________

02.

__________________________________________________

03.

__________________________________________________

04.

__________________________________________________

05.

__________________________________________________

06.

__________________________________________________

07.

__________________________________________________

08.

__________________________________________________

09.

__________________________________________________

10.

__________________________________________________

11.

__________________________________________________

12.

[Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire]

__________________________________________________

13.

[Game of Thrones]

__________________________________________________

14.

[Game of Thrones]

__________________________________________________

15.

[Game of Thrones]

__________________________________________________

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 031 secrets from Secret Submission Post #331.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I've heard this series is reeeeally heavy on telling you the female main character is superstrongamazingawesome unlike all ~~other girls~~ the other female characters who are silly dumb vapid slutty sluts who you're supposed to hate. I find it hard to believe a series like that would be as popular among F!S members as it apparently is, so... anyone want to elaborate? Have I been misled?

I never got the impression that they emphasize how strong or awesome she is. She is a better person than her stepmother/stepsisters, who are mild (and in one instance, not-so-mild) antagonists for a very brief time. Her best friend is a little bit silly. Okay, very silly. And she comes off as vapid, but she's really just the sort of person who likes being pleasant and fun and looking at the best parts of life, and she's a much stronger character than just "a silly girl." Her other closest friend is a complex, dynamic woman, and there are several other lady characters in the books, not a single one of whom could possibly be described as "a slutty slut."

Also, out of all the leads there's like, one, maybe two straight characters. It's not "hit you over the face" with it (mostly?), it's just kind of nice to see a book where characters can be not-straight and that's okay and not even a huge deal to them.

No, I don't think so. This isn't really a spoiler since it's on the back of the book, but the main character actually has no soul, and she's the only one of her kind that she knows (the only other that she knows of is her father, who she never met), so she really IS different from everyone around her (usually, she comments on her lack of imagination). Her sisters and mother are portrayed as vapid, but I think that's more of a commentary on Victorian high society. There are plenty of well-written female characters--Ivy Hisselpenny is my favorite although she's probably not the best example because she's sort of comic relief (at least so far, I'm just gonna go ahead and say that I'm the OP of this secret and yeah, I'm only on book 3, but she does have a pretty strong influence on the story). But there are other female characters who play a crucial role in the part. Also, it's hilarious and full of action and basically the best.

Edited 2013-05-09 00:49 (UTC)

I'm so glad this comm got you to reading these books! I love the series so hard. And I loved the final book the best. I love that all the threads of each book come together in this very cool way. I LOLed, I cried, and now I need to start another of Carriger's series.

I think you've been misled. I think pretty much all the ladies in the book are portrayed as having their own strengths. Even Ivy, who could be called vapid (although not slutty) possesses a well of fortitude and is a true friend to the main female character. I don't get the impression that you're supposed to hate any of the characters actually.

ETA: I did forget to mention that her mother and her step-sisters are vapid and awful, but I see them as riffs more on characters that are traditionally included in Victorian literature than anything else. They are not substantive characters.

Edited 2013-05-09 02:10 (UTC)

but I see them as riffs more on characters that are traditionally included in Victorian literature than anything else.

Exactly. Squire Loontwill even says he feels like he's trapped in a ~~soap opera~~ novel, and he's right. The Loontwills are there for comedic tension.

So far I have loved every character I've been introduced to.

Absolutely. And they're there as foils so that the spinster trope can be subverted.

I'll have to give the books a try when I have the time :)

Excellent.

[ SECRET POST #2318 ]

OT question about the books

Re: OT question about the books

Re: OT question about the books

Re: OT question about the books

Re: OT question about the books

Re: OT question about the books

Re: OT question about the books

OP of question thanks you all for the answers

Re: OP of question thanks you all for the answers