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[lilly-linton]

So, I’m finally near the end again of SNS 1 (who needs sleep anyways) and I already have thoughts when comparing it to later stories he has written, be it in the SNS series or entirely new ones. I’ll provide a more thorough in-depth analysis once my notes are organized and I don’t have to deal with my day-job, but here’s a huge observation that I already see in book 1:

Rob is way in over his head.

From the get-go, we see a feminist character who is not as inclusive as many readers would like to think or feel. Repeatedly, she body shames herself, as if this is all women think about when considering their appearances, and judges other women for their ideals. She defies expectations of women, yet bows down to a man, ignoring that strong pillar of her personality. She preaches inclusivity yet shuns other women in the story who are bound by society and literally have no choice. There is something strange about her, as if she is a hero, but not one who knows the depths of the problems she faces, or the consequences of what her actions might bring.

In layman’s terms: throughout the story, there is just something off.

Eventually, the plot dwindles into some far-off abyss (let’s be honest, since book 2, the plot has gone south), and we get a more and more superficial character who appears to be all over the place in her ideals and morale, and less and less a strong woman. As a consequence, we see that core pillar of her personality, being a feminist, disappear.

This is when as the reader, if you take a critical eye to it, you realize what that ‘something’ is. She reminds you of your brother, father, uncle, grandfather, boyfriend, husband, and male friend. She knows the issues exist, she sees them, she can critically assess them, she even constantly makes light of them, but she doesn’t truly experience them fully as all women do.

Now, I’m a clown myself who often tries to make light of situations; however, I know even I will break sometimes because being a woman sometimes really sucks. I know Lilly hasn’t experienced sexual assault like have, but she has experienced restrictions and worry over what will happen to her if she doesn’t conform to the expectations. I’m living in an very open society, and I still feel anxious, nervous, and upset over that. I still sometimes feel sad because there will always be a man saying I can’t. This happens to her too – repeatedly – and she barely bats an eye. But, she is a female character, so why doesn’t she?

The reason for this is simple: Rob is a man, and can never fully comprehend the true worries, fears, and issues women faced now, let alone then when they were much more severe.

As you read on, you begin to wonder as a reader: whose voice is this? Is it the author’s or Lilly’s? It is normal for an author to put a little bit of themselves in a character, sometimes even more so! But there is a problem when it is a man doing it to a female character. We start to see the mix of ideals and experiences; we start to see the boundary where a male writer cannot grasp what women go through on a day-to-day basis.

That would be fine initially, perhaps, for any new author. Why should we limit artistic expression? But it starts to blur into the reader’s perspective as to whether Rob himself feels this way. Because in this story, it is one single ‘joke’, and is never dealt with - not once - properly. We don’t know for an absolute fact if he himself feels this way, he’s never made it clear! But it starts to look worse and worse as the stories go on and women are less and less powerful except when they are needed to bring the reader back in from the lost plot, as if to say “Hey look! I do care sometimes!”

The result is an author writing about inclusivity, but instead, it comes across as discriminative. We have a single flat tone, as if someone is pressing a C note throughout the story, and never progressing. I don’t know about you guys, but if Taylor Swift played one single note for her entire career, none of us would be listening. It stays there the entire time, a ruler-straighter tonality of constant comedy, turning and warping the inclusivity into cheap plot devices, and mental walls for the readers that he has to shakily try to break every so often.

With that in mind, after a few books the author’s ‘colours’ start to show if this continues.

I started this series way back in the age of the dinosaurs, and adored it. I still do! I have nothing against the stories themselves or characters, I love me a good Victorian romance, but my goodness – the way the subject matter is dealt with is practically insulting of late!

I decided to go back to SNS 1, and look at it critically, as if I’m back in uni trying to dissect Shakespeare. Worryingly, it’s already visible in book 1, and is excused repeatedly with commentary by the author using what I like to call ‘false empathy’.  An Instagram commenter recently mentioned that A/Ns are unprofessional, and I agree, I think they’re dangerous. It is better to be upfront in the Prelude or Foreword, or shameless about the fact that you don’t care (G.R Martin, anyone?) because this starts to add the author’s view. With Rob constantly trying to excuse things, it makes everyone question things more and more – although perhaps in light of recent events, this is a good thing.

The fact of the matter is, at the end of the day, “This was how it was in the time” is not an excuse to have the main female character constantly beat her appearance and dismiss other female characters whilst her own personality is diminished. It tricks readers into thinking a male author cares - but does he? Can he? Will he ever truly understand?

Probably not, it’s impossible.

However, this doesn’t mean he needs to stop, and that I despise his stories (okay, maybe a little bit 😉). It means he needs to change. It can’t be ‘this is what happened and this is how it was’. It needs to be this is how it was, this is what happened, this is how it felt, and this is it’s impact. It means he needs to read a book on feminism and issues women experience. It means he needs to ask women to gain a view as to how these things actually feel, and to gain insight into how it’s not something to make a 24/7 joke out of for multiple years. He needs to read up on how those who do not fit the particular ‘box’ of discrimination he is dealing with tend to not like it when you constantly make fun of it tactlessly. There are ways to go about it, you can be funny and deal with serious issues.

Instead, Rob has chosen (and I mean chosen, the OG fandom has been trying for years to message and help this get fixed) to continue on this flatlining path where the star of our story is turned into a joke and a male stereotype of women. It is a shame, because Lilly is pretty damn cool, but he conveniently plucks that core principle out of her as the books go on, until she is eventually a husk whose only purpose is to be funny.  

In case you guys ever wondered why the OG fandom stopped reading, stopped being active on the content, and why we only post memes and have turned these two into a running joke, but still keep original Lilly in our quotes, this is why.

[lilly-linton]

victor linton, 5 words, go.

A pain in the arse.

[lilly-linton]

So what is your opinion on Dalgliesh wanting to "do several things" to Miss Linton?

Absolutely not. 

[lilly-linton]

“I thought it’s “knowledge is power” and “time is money”.’

‘I combined the two to save time.”

[lilly-linton]

lmk when u find out

how do i use this app again ..

[lilly-linton]

Do you ever just miss captain Carter and his friendship with Lilly cause I sure fucking do

[lilly-linton]

Lambrose with one or more young kids

Hmmm…Im not sure which universe this takes place in. I suppose a pseudo post-canonverse/imitation AU where lambrose had consistent development and stayed true to their original, complex personalities like in Book 1? Because tbh, with the way that they turned out in book 4 and beyond, they wouldn’t make for very good parents if they cant even have solid communication to be proper partners.

So yes, let’s pretend that this happens in a universe where the two main characters ended up as somewhat decent people and not as shades of their former selves.

Keep reading

[lilly-linton]

this is the stuff true love is made of 👌👌😪😪

if your man doesn't treat you like this he ain't a man at all 💕💕😭😭👏👏👏

[lilly-linton]

i can’t believe sir rob’s naming the next and final book “storm of bells” what kind of name is that? storm of bells? how exactly. all i can think of is bells being rung so loudly it deafens the whole house. remember Silent Night? that shit slapped. anyway book 5 is over and i only read like 3 chapters of it

[lilly-linton]

I am proud to announce that - after months of hard work and patience - the “Made of Memories” fanzine is finally on sale!

The pdf contains 55 pages (52 of content) and is available for $ 10. All proceeds will go to the LGBTQ+ youth supporting organization Trevor Project.

Here you go to our shop:

https://payhip.com/MadeofMemoriesZine  

Thank you, creators, for making this zine possible and, last but not least, thank you all for your interest in buying this zine!

(Sorry, I deleted the previous post.)

[lilly-linton]

Would you fuck a clone of yourself?

Ambrose: I don’t want to fuck my clone because it would be gay sex and I’m not gay.

Adaria: I’m not gay, but I would actually totally fuck my clone.

Patsy: I’m gay, but I still don’t want to fuck my clone, that’s gross and weird.

Edmund: I don’t want to fuck my clone because my self-loathing is THAT strong.

Captain Carter: I’d totally fuck my clone because I want to know if I’m good in bed.

Dalgliesh: I’d fuck my clone because who would know better how to fuck ME than ME?

Ella: I’d totally do all sorts of weird things to my clone I’d be embarrassed to ask someone else to do.

Amy: To be honest, fucking my clone has always been my fantasy.

Maria: It’s basically the same as masturbating, right? So no big deal.

Anne: It’s not the same as masturbating; it’d be like having sex with your twin. Wrong and bad!

Karim: I would not have sex with my clone because what if my clone is evil.

Lilly: Not only would I have sex with my clone, I’d probably make a bunch of clones and just get it on with all of them at once because that’s how pro-clone fucking I am.

[lilly-linton]

Silence Breaking Analysis/Review

Probably the most heavily discussed one in the series so far, I decided I would write up my thoughts on the book. This post focuses on the two main characters (1. and 2.) as well as the structure of the book as a whole (3.). Divided into three parts below:

Character Review: The Good

Character Review: The Bad

Book Review: The Good & Bad

Not really an analysis of the book itself but an observation of an event that occured while Silence Breaking was being written (Optional to read):

The 2018 FanArt Contest Blunder

[lilly-linton]

Storm and Silence SURVEY

I’ve put together a questionnaire (mostly multiple choice) with general questions about the Storm and Silence series by Sir Rob, and the fandom itself. This is just for fun, but I might make a post discussing the results later on. This questionnaire will remain open for a long time.

LINK HERE

URL in case the hyperlink above doesn’t work: https://goo.gl/forms/eNeAkw9svMX9TU1r2

Anyone can answer this poll.  Whether you’ve been reading the series for years, just started yesterday, or used to read then stopped, this questionnaire is for you.

You don’t need to know me or be following me to answer this. I’d actually love it if I got responses from both friends/mutuals, and strangers.

All of your inputs and responses will be anonymous, I won’t know who you are unless you decide to tell me yourself.

No question is obligatory, you can skip questions if you want

You can be as honest as you want, don’t be afraid to state your honest opinion. I will not think badly of any of the responses.

You will be able to edit your response even after sending it to me.

The form may contain minor spoilers and sensitive questions.

Have fun!

[lilly-linton]

Lilly: give a man fire and he’ll be warm for a day.

Lilly: set a man on fire and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.

Karim: I don’t really think that’s how it goes…

[lilly-linton]

Coming out as a trans guy on this blog a few days ago has really improved things for me. For over a year i’ve been very confused about my gender, and it was only recently when i realized that i might be specifically a trans guy. It was still hard to accept it and i tried to ignore it. But doesn’t work like that.

I didn’t think much of coming out on here, i really only wrote that post because i wasn’t sure how to tell the people in the storm and silence gc that i wanted them to use he/him pronouns for me. But somehow coming out made me more confident in my gender and decreased my denial greatly. It also made it easier for me to realize my sexuality. Initially i thought i was a straight guy (since i identified as a lesbian before) but after being sure that i’m a guy, i realized that my attraction wasn’t limited to just girls. I’m not sure why i thought i was a lesbian before, but at least my sexuality is clearer to me now.

Everyone who saw my coming out post was very supportive and that was really unexpected to me, so thank you. I didn’t know a simple post like that would make such a huge (and good) difference, but it did. Thanks.

[lilly-linton]

Best Characters In SnS

8. it isn't fair

7. To compare characters

6. Each has their own

5. Merits and vices

4. And to act as if my

3. Opinion is more valid

2. Than anyone else's is

1. Captain James Carter

[lilly-linton]