#Jake Windsnap

[cjbolan]

Again very Jake/Mary Penelope-coded song. Particularly in Book 2 when Jake helps Mary P. learn to swim.

Odysseus = Jake

Penelope = Mary Penelope

(And it fits @artistic-moth-man 's headcanon that Jake's original name was Odysseus. )

[orithereticent]

Since you drew Jake Windsnap with dreadlocks (I think), do you imagine he ever styles or decorates them?

Yes!

Jake makes jewelry, and he's a creative. It certainly seems something that he'd love doing. I bet he does Emily's hair sometimes too.

[notsolittlemerman]

this is exactly how I headcanon Jake Windsnap to be after his 12 years in prison. he started out being so malnourished and skinny (and paler too for not being under the sun for so long).

but since getting out, he starts gaining weight and developing a bit of a dad bod as he spends more time to relax more and eat more. he also becomes a bit buffer too for spending so much time on land as a merman

The trope I appreciate very much

[cjbolan]

Very Jake/Mary Penelope coded song.

[orithereticent]

I remember a while back you wrote some stuff about Jake Windsnap’s family! Mainly on how they’d react to him marrying a human. What do you imagine they were like? And how much do you think Emily’s life would change if they were part of her story? Or at least mentioned?

Oh!

So, seeing as they are never mentioned, I figure that probably means that they didn't approve of Jake marrying a human. If they were dead, he'd probably mention them, but he doesn't which implies, at least to me that they don't have a positive relationship.

Jake probably didn't tell them about the 'marrying a human' thing, and once they found out they completely stopped talking to Jake.

If Emily's paternal family had been interested in her while Jake was gone, I could imagine them trying to lure her into the water so they could speak to her, and Emily being kind of aware of mermaids, but not fully. Like there's these weird people with fish tails in the water who say they're her grandparents/aunts/uncles/ etc. Her mom thinks that she just has an imagination.

[artistic-moth-man]

Youve heard of mary p and jake yaoi but what about mary p and jake yuri???

[cjbolan]

These comments on my Emily Windsnap fancast. Kinda funny now because it predicted the much bigger racist backlash towards Disney's live action Ariel.

[deepestphotoshopwonderwomanpaper]

Why is Mary the real villain of the book 4

Understanding Mary P. as the Real Villain in Book 4 of Emily Windsnap

Character Analysis of Mary P.

Mary Penelope Windsnap, Emily’s mother, is portrayed as a complex character throughout the series, but in Book 4, her actions and decisions lead to her being perceived as the real villain. This perception stems from several key aspects of her character and behavior that create conflict within the narrative.

Stubbornness and Control: Mary exhibits a strong sense of control over Emily’s life, particularly regarding her schooling and interactions with others. This controlling nature often leads to tension between mother and daughter. In Book 4, her refusal to listen to Emily’s desires or consider her feelings creates an environment where Emily feels misunderstood and trapped.

Lack of Support: Throughout the book, Mary fails to support Emily during critical moments. Instead of encouraging her daughter’s growth and independence, she often dismisses Emily’s concerns or desires. This lack of emotional support contributes to a rift in their relationship and positions Mary as an antagonist in Emily’s journey.

Conflict with Jake: The dynamic between Mary and Jake also plays a significant role in how Mary is perceived. While Jake is depicted as more understanding and supportive, Mary’s stubbornness often puts him in a position where he has to choose sides or mediate conflicts rather than being a united front with his wife. This imbalance can make Mary appear unreasonable and harsh compared to Jake’s more lenient approach.

Misguided Decisions: Mary’s decisions throughout the book are often misguided, leading to negative consequences for both herself and Emily. Her insistence on maintaining strict boundaries without considering the implications for Emily’s happiness showcases a lack of foresight that ultimately harms their relationship.

Emotional Manipulation: At times, Mary uses emotional manipulation to maintain control over situations involving Emily. This behavior can be seen as villainous because it undermines trust between them, making it difficult for Emily to express herself freely without fear of reprimand or misunderstanding.

Failure to Acknowledge Mistakes: Unlike other characters who show growth by recognizing their flaws, Mary struggles with admitting when she is wrong or when her actions have hurt others. This inability to reflect on her behavior further solidifies her role as an antagonist in this particular narrative arc.

In summary, while Mary Penelope Windsnap may not fit the traditional mold of a villain characterized by overt malice or evil intentions, her actions throughout Book 4 create significant obstacles for Emily that align with typical traits associated with antagonists in literature.

Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used

Kessler, Liz - The Tail of Emily Windsnap This source provides foundational information about the characters and plotlines within the series, offering insights into character motivations and relationships.

Kessler, Liz - Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep This book expands on character dynamics between Mary P., Jake, and Emily while illustrating how their interactions shape perceptions within the story.

Kessler, Liz - Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist This source further develops themes related to family dynamics and individual character arcs that contribute to understanding why Mary P.’s actions can be viewed negatively in Book 4.

[cjbolan]

“Love in Paradise” made me realize Emily Windsnap Book 3’s Odyssey undertones. Mary just like Odysseus is held against her will on a tropical island, with someone who who loves her but can’t see why she’s miserable and only makes things worse (Jake/Calypso).

[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

Just finished the Emily Windsnap series, where the title character's parents remind me a lot of Rhaegar Targaryen/Lyanna Stark!

They're the starcrossed lovers in forbidden love, they're a tomboyish woman who loves "masculine" pastimes (sailing for Mary, horseback riding&fighting for Lyanna) and a man who enjoys "feminine" activities (poetry and jewelry for Jake, singing for Rhaegar). Also they secretly give birth to the hero of their series (Emily/Jon Snow) ;)

(artwork to the right is by this person)

Hi!!

I haven't read this book series, but in your description those two couples seem to share some similarities.

Isn't it beautiful when you read a book and find similar themes or similarities between some characters with your fav. book/book characters? It happens to me all the time to either find similarities between various book characters and Jon Snow or to think how the said characters would interact with him :)

[cjbolan]

@amazingmsme Ironically Emily Windsnap features a merman with his human wife Penelope !

Oh my gosh that mermaid!odysseus x penelope fic im- *jumps in to the ocean*

KXHSSMFJDKMEJ I KNOW RIGHT?!?!?! Especially for me, I’ve been obsessed with mermaids for as long as I can remember! & she’s a science geek who’s so curious about him & he’s skeptical but soooooo smitten rn I need like 20 chapters STAT!

[lolbeech]

Emily Windsnap characters’ favorite Broadway songs

Emily - Where Do You Belong? (Mean Girls) - Emily struggled finding where she fit in (multiple times) because of being both mermaid and human, and she had friends (I.e. Aaron and Shona) like Damian and Janis

Shona - Popular (Wicked) / Omigod You Guys (Legally Blonde) / She’s In Love (The Little Mermaid) - Shona is popular in school and has a personality very similar to Glinda. Same with Elle Woods. She’s In Love has a girly mermaidy sound to it and represents Shona’s love of romance

Aaron - Home (Beetlejuice) - Aaron has similar pain to Lydia because he also lost a parent. This song also represents how he finds a new home at Forgotten Island

Mandy - What Is This Feeling? (Wicked) - Emily and Mandy had a lot of conflict over the series but end up besties like Elphaba and Glinda

Mary Penelope - I Remember…/Stranger Than You Dreamt It (Phantom) - Represents Mary losing her memory and then regaining it, and the song also talks about a boat and a man lol

Jake - Epic III (Hadestown) - Jake and his family remind Neptune of love and cause him to change, just like Orpheus did with Hades. Also Jake loves poetry 📖

Millie - No Reason (Beetlejuice) - Millie is exactly like Delia and I could easily see her singing this to Emily

Mr. Beeston - A Cautionary Tale (Mean Girls) - Describes a tale of destruction and betrayal, just like what Beeston did to the Windsnap family

Neptune - Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again / The World Above (Reprise) (The Little Mermaid) - WYWSHA represents Neptune’s love for Aurora and how much pain he was in when she died/and even later on in current day. The World Above is kinda self explanatory lol

Aurora - The One You’ve Been Waiting For (Six) / Heart of Stone (Six) - Aurora is the more famous and mysterious wife of Neptune just like Anne Boleyn is to Henry VIII (Shona learned about her in school and Aurora’s story has many secrets that are uncovered throughout the series). Just like in Six, Neptune is said to have multiple wives, but I honestly don’t believe that to be canon or he married mermaids just for temporary companionship. But just like Jane Seymour (Heart of Stone) Aurora is said to have been Neptune’s favorite and also died early in their marriage.

Njord - I Want The Good Times Back (The Little Mermaid) - Njord wants to overthrow Neptune just like Ursula wanted to overthrow Triton. He also had a past as royalty, as he was Neptune’s brother and shared the throne with him for a time

Archie - Sweet Child (The Little Mermaid) - Archie manipulated Emily and Aaron into helping him and Njord carry out their plans, just like Flotsam and Jetsam manipulated Ariel into helping Ursula

Seth - Something Bad (Wicked) - This song represents how Seth tells Emily and Shona about Njord and his history with Neptune

Jeras - Wonderful (Wicked) - Jeras wanted power and was offered it by Terra, like Elphaba was by the Wizard. The deal in both instances didn’t pan out

Fortuna - Close the Door (Anastasia) - This song represent’s Fortuna’s pain from losing Aurora, similar to the dowager and Anastasia

Terra - When You’re Good To Mama (Chicago) - This song represents Terra’s personality and how she helped Jeras when she saw power for herself, but she cursed him when he made a mistake

Jakob - Easy Street (Annie) - Jakob schemes like Rooster and Ms. Hannigan to get money/treasure

Michele - Get Down (Six) - Michele likes nice things (like things mentioned in the song) and has a certain level of power being the pirate king’s wife

Sam - For Good (Wicked) - Sam and Emily changed each other for the better over their adventure and allowed each other to gain confidence and courage

Noah - You’ll Be Back (Hamilton) - Noah believes that his crew will return to him after they side with Sam and he has the same possessiveness and cruelty as King George III

[artistic-moth-man]

Jake redesign!!! Not liking how i did his hands but whatever

[wolfreader]

july 2024 wrap-up - children's fiction

this month i read four (4) children's books.

the case of the left-handed lady by nancy springer 📖 🌟🌟

i did not realize when i read this like five years ago just how much of it is anti-union propaganda. the main villain is a scowling, conniving, marx-reading man of the upper middle class who bamboozes the lower classes into believing he's one of them so that he can tempt them into such disreputable acts as going on strike and being anti-capitalist. just so you know he's really evil, he also literally hypnotizes a teenage girl into handing out union pamphlets for him. not to mention the handful of paragraphs dedicated informing the reader of how awful and boring das kapital is.

but aside from that i like it? i've always liked how the relationship between enola holmes and sherlock holmes is written. enola obviously idolizes her younger brother and slowly comes to see him as a person rather than an ideal to live up to over the series, and i really appreciate that nancy springer makes it clear that sherlock really cares for his younger sister. a lot of sherlock holmes derivatives / adaptations fall into making holmes this unfeeling robot despite that not being supported by the original stories if you're actually familiar with them, and that issue isn't present in springer's series! it's very obvious that holmes really and truly cares for enola and is actually distraught at the idea of her being in danger.

consider this a 2.5 star. well written, but looses points for being a children's book partway dedicated to how evil communism is or whatever.

emily windsnap and the monster from the deep by liz kessler 📖 🌟🌟🌟

slowly collecting and rereading an old favorite from childhood! this is the second book in the emily windsnap series and definitely one of the weaker ones, but still very enjoyable.

while the plot of this one is weaker than the first book, i love how the relationship between emily and her father is written, along with the relationship between the windsnap family in general. something that i remember noticing as a child and now have a greater appreciation for as an adult is just how real and genuine the family dynamics in this book feel. and suprisingly given the circumstances (and the trend for young adult and children's fiction in general) the windsnap family is very healthy and loving, also in a way that feels very real.

and while i will never forgive liz kessler for naming him "jake", i really love the character of emily's dad. he's a man that is so clearly not only written by a woman, but by a lesbian (which i didn't know until i started this reread back in january, but makes so much sense in hindsight. of course the author of one of my favorite middle school series is sapphic, why did i expect otherwise lmao?).

redwall by brian jacques 📖 🌟🌟🌟🌟

another childhood reread; i finally got my hands on a copy of the original hardcover. these aren't particularly difficult to find on their own, but finding one in decent condition for a reasonable price can range very wildly in difficulty depending on when and where you're looking. i managed to get my copy for ten bucks with only a few minor tears in the dust jacket!

this book is kind of the platonic ideal of the "well mannered british woodland creatures in fantasy garb" genre of fiction. it definitely reads like children's fiction from the 80s, but it's very charming!

hoping i can convince my brother to give me his original hardcovers of mossflower and mattimeo, but i doubt he'll give them up lmao.

the case of the bizarre bouquets by nancy springer 📖 🌟🌟🌟

a much better installment than the second one, in my opinion. seeing as the first enola holmes movie was very loosely adapting the missing marquess and the second was very loosely adapting the left-handed lady, i imagine that the third will be loosely adapting this one, and i'm excited to see how that will be done!

once again as a massive sherlock holmes fan i think the way he's characterized is the best part about this series. yes he's a bit of an ass but nancy springer makes it very clear that he cares very very deeply about enola and (in this particular book) watson. she doesn't shy away from making holmes human like a lot of peope seeking to adapt the acd stories tend to do and it's very refreshing.

this was the book in the series that i think i remember the best out of all of them, so there wasn't a lot that suprised me. however, there was an interaction between enola and sherlock that i was sure was in this book but wasn't, i suppose it's in the next one lmao!

[notsolittlemerman]

awwww, thank you. btw that's me, I'm pacificmermanseedge (on discord)

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Prompt 12 - Family

Best family ever! Based this one of off a friend of mine on insta, pacificmanseedge's drawing of the family reuniting

[deepestphotoshopwonderwomanpaper]

Jake Windsnap as an Enabler in Book 4

In the fourth book of the Emily Windsnap series, Jake Windsnap’s character exhibits traits that can be interpreted as enabling behavior, particularly in his interactions with his daughter, Emily. To understand this dynamic, we need to analyze several aspects of his character and actions throughout the narrative.

1. Lack of Boundaries: Jake often displays a tendency to prioritize Emily’s desires over setting appropriate boundaries. This is evident when he allows her to engage in risky adventures without fully considering the potential consequences. For instance, when Emily expresses a desire to explore dangerous situations or interact with characters that pose risks, Jake tends to support her decisions rather than cautioning her against them. This lack of boundary-setting can lead to Emily feeling emboldened to act impulsively, knowing she has her father’s backing.

2. Supportive Yet Overly Lenient: While it is important for parents to be supportive, Jake’s approach sometimes crosses into being overly lenient. He often agrees with Emily’s plans and ideas without challenging her thought process or encouraging her to think critically about her choices. This can create an environment where Emily feels she can do no wrong, which may contribute to her making poor decisions throughout the story.

3. Avoidance of Conflict: Jake tends to avoid conflict with Emily, opting instead for a more relaxed parenting style that lacks firmness. When disagreements arise between him and Mary regarding how they should parent Emily or handle specific situations, Jake often sides with Emily or remains neutral rather than taking a stand that might help guide her towards better decision-making. This avoidance can reinforce negative behaviors in Emily because she learns that she can manipulate situations without facing significant pushback from her father.

4. Emotional Support Without Accountability: Jake provides emotional support but fails to hold Emily accountable for her actions when necessary. For example, during moments when Emily makes choices that lead to trouble or conflict, Jake may comfort her but does not always address the underlying issues or encourage her to take responsibility for those choices. This pattern reinforces a cycle where Emily does not learn from mistakes because she is not faced with the consequences in a constructive manner.

In summary, Jake Windsnap’s enabling behavior in Book 4 stems from his lack of boundaries, overly lenient support style, avoidance of conflict, and failure to hold his daughter accountable for her actions. These traits contribute to an environment where Emily feels free to act without considering the repercussions of her decisions.

Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question

Kessler, Liz - The Tail of Emily Windsnap Series: This source provides foundational information about the characters and their development throughout the series.

Kessler, Liz - Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep: This book offers insights into character dynamics and relationships within the context of parental influence on children’s behavior.

Kessler, Liz - Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist: This source explores themes related to family dynamics and decision-making processes among characters within the narrative framework.