#Min Reads Romances

[mzminola]

Image: tags which read "mmmm I get it BUT, but, can we remember that this is Elizabeth's pov and not the ultimate morality, i mean, we can recognize the injustice of women's situation in this era, and also recognize that Darcy doesn't know the Bennets from a bar of soap and loves Bingley who is his bestest stupidest baby bro, and it's legitimately horrifying to go well he should have just let Bingley take on six dependents for a woman who is maybe only into him, for his money, and who Bingley is maybe only temporarily infatuated with, that is actually a horrifying concept, can we see both sides here please" /end ID

You know what I realize that people underestimate with Pride & Prejudice is the strategic importance of Jane.

Because like, I recently saw Charlotte and Elizabeth contrasted as the former being pragmatic and the latter holding out for a love match, because she's younger and prettier and thinks she can afford it, and that is very much not what's happening.

The Charlotte take is correct, but the Elizabeth is all wrong. Lizzie doesn't insist on a love match. That's serendipitous and rather unexpected. She wants, exactly as Mr. Bennet says, someone she can respect. Contempt won't do. Mr. Bennet puts it in weirdly sexist terms like he's trying to avoid acknowledging what he did to himself by marrying a self-absorbed idiot, but it's still true. That's what Elizabeth is shooting for: a marriage that won't make her unhappy.

She's grown up watching how miserable her parents make one another; she's not willing to sign up for a lifetime of being bitter and lonely in her own home.

I think she is very aware, in refusing Mr. Collins, that it's reasonably unlikely that anyone she actually respects is going to want her, with her few accomplishments and her lack of property. That she is turning down security and the chance keep the house she grew up in, and all she gets in return may be spinsterhood.

But, crucially, she has absolute faith in Jane.

The bit about teaching Jane's daughters to embroider badly? That's a joke, but it's also a serious potential life plan. Jane is the best creature in the world, and a beauty; there's no chance at all she won't get married to someone worthwhile.

(Bingley mucks this up by breaking Jane's heart, but her prospects remain reasonable if their mother would lay off!)

And if Elizabeth can't replicate that feat, then there's also no doubt in her mind that Jane will let her live in her house as a dependent as long as she likes, and never let it be made shameful or awful to be that impoverished spinster aunt. It will be okay never to be married at all, because she has her sister, whom she trusts absolutely to succeed and to protect her.

And if something eventually happens to Jane's family and they can't keep her anymore, she can throw herself upon the mercy of the Gardeners, who have money and like her very much, and are likewise good people. She has a support network--not a perfect or impregnable one, but it exists. It gives her realistic options.

Spinsterhood was a very dangerous choice; there are reasons you would go to considerable lengths not to risk it.

But Elizabeth has Jane, and her pride, and an understanding of what marrying someone who will make you miserable costs.

That's part of the thesis of the book, I would say! Recurring Austen thought. How important it is not to marry someone who will make you, specifically, unhappy.

She would rather be a dependent of people she likes and trusts than of someone she doesn't, even if the latter is formally considered more secure; she would rather live in a happy, reasonable household as an extra than be the mistress of her own home, but that home is full of Mr. Collins and her mother.

This is a calculation she's making consciously! She's not counting on a better marriage coming along. She just feels the most likely bad outcome from refusing Mr. Collins is still much better than the certain outcome of accepting him. Which is being stuck with Mr. Collins forever.

Elizabeth is also being pragmatic. Austen also endorses her choice, for the person she is and the concerns she has. She's just picking different trade-offs than Charlotte.

Elizabeth's flaw is not in her own priorities; she doesn't make a reckless choice and get lucky. But in being unable to accept that Charlotte's are different, and it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with Charlotte.

Because realistically, when your marriage is your whole family and career forever, and you only get to pick the ones that offer themselves to you, when you are legally bound to the status of dependent, you're always going to be making some trade-offs.

😂 Even the unrealistically ideal dream scenario of wealthy handsome clever ethical Mr. Darcy still asks you to undergo personal growth, accommodate someone else's communication style, and eat a little crow.

[cosmicrhetoric]

obligatory ch 1128 romance dawn personality pics <333

[bookishfreedom]

perfect weekend morning ☀️

[rjalker]

I do really really hate it when people act like misogynistic men must all be gay because that's the only reason they'd hate women.

A)Why are you being homomisic like that. Why do you think gay men are more likely to be misogynistic? Why do you think not being sexually attracted to women is what leads to systemic oppression of women?

B)just. seriously what's wrong with you. Why are you like this. Why do you want to ignore the fact that cis straight men are the ones who invented and uphold misogyny and the Patriarchy. Why do you want to insist that the only way they could hate and oppress women is if they're secretly gay. Do you have any idea how much of a bigot this idea makes you.

You do not understand how any oppression works at all if you think this way. Especially not misogyny.

[velvetwyrme]

me while in the middle of writing like 4 other things: what if. soundwave/reader/jazz fic. what then.

[vegalocity]

I mentioned this in a server chat but i think it's funny-

now that i actually have been a dungeon master for Dungeons and Dragons im physically incapable of watching the gravity falls episode "Dungeons Dungeons and More Dungeons" because i cant possibly be expected to presume that the lesson was 'Stan and Mabel need to learn to get out of their comfort zone and might end up surprised' when Ford and Dipper are shown to be extremely inhospitable DMs to anyone with a different play style other than themselves

[n0heart]

.

[infizero]

i cant phrase this well but infinity train book 2 is for the aroace transgenders. lake transgenderism is obvious but nothing in my life has screamed to me queerplatonicism as much as lake and jesse like their qpr readings are off the fucking charts

[deeplyridiculouslyinlove]

Two books in, I can’t help feeling like people who are upset that Rand isn’t getting enough screen time in the show just have some sort of wish fulfillment with book!Rand. He’s a totally fine “chosen one” character, but in typical chosen one fashion he’s trope-y enough to be one of the less interesting characters in the books so far imo. But you know, every girl is in love with him for some unclear reason, people give him respect when he’s quiet and then even more when he gets bossy, being petulant makes people like him *more,* and nothing he has to do actually takes that much effort or challenge (and his mistakes don’t ever backfire). There’s a certain type of person, and especially a certain type of young boy, for whom I feel like that would REALLY resonate.

[teafiend]

Have never watched the original of which “A Time Called You” is adapted from, so have no idea what is the difference between the versions in terms of characterisation/portrayal, but the way Min Ju is portrayed in the Korean version breaks my heart. Her character trajectory is understandable from the POV of a highly introverted, emotionally-intense, “anxious-depressive” and socially awkward girl who is trying to make her “dreams” come true vis-a-vis her long-time crush, ignoring the fact of imminent dangers forewarned.

It is tragic yet so realistic in its depiction of a young person’s - in her case in particular but of course issues which happen across ages - distorted outlook in life. Han Jun Hee is a confident, outgoing working professional in her 30s (her brighter personality notwithstanding, the life experiences between a teen and a woman in her 30s touched by grief is unimaginably large), and the contrast between an insecure teen and her is a wide gulf.

In a sense, I assume the age difference in the characters themselves between the Taiwanese and Korean versions would be noticeable in how the tone of the characters and narrative would be set. From a fan comment, I suppose the vibes/moods and portrayals between the versions differ, which is simply natural, and I would state, desirable. No point in making an exact copy of an already fantastic existing work (which is not really achievable either).

It is actually wonderful to be given different interpretations and portrayals of the same basic premise. It just means there is more to enjoy, and perhaps a/another favourite.

Jeon Yeo Been really performed both roles brilliantly, especially in the final last episodes. Both characters are easily recognizable from each other, and my heart just breaks for Min Ju and her misguided naivety and desperation. I took a peek of the finale and expect the ending would not be tragic, but I truly hope Min Ju gets her HE. She truly does deserve the world even if she did not feel she does.

Because by the end, I am much more invested in the “love story” between Min Ju and In Gyu than Jun Hee and Si Heon. 😅😆

Edit after completing the show: I enjoyed the ending but certainly wished we got a bit more updates on what happened to the characters, especially Min Ju and In Gyu. I suppose there is always headcanons.

[outdraws]

clive is a very reserved person and with loss of home, family, identity he's lost the ability to really express himself especially in affectionate / romantic terms. he will hardly know what he's doing. knowing this there will always be hesitance to initiate and he will try to let instinct and feeling guide him through.

those gentle bumps of his head to yours. brush of hands. the smallest contact carry the weight of his hesitance, care, and perseverance.

[fingertipsmp3]

Ughhhhhhh I hate writing and I hate not writing and I hate myself

[froggomcdoo]

you ever read a work of fiction so good that you immediately need to find more and consume it but it doesn't have any more and there will likely be no more so you just suffer and think what if.

[aroaessidhe]

2023 reads // twitter thread    

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

a female professor from Cambridge visiting a wintery town in the far north with her old dog to study the local fey for her encyclopedia

her colleague shows up despite her protests, managing to charm the local townsfolk

in the form of journal entries

interesting fey, field trips, grumpy romance

[rjalker]

the funniest frame as far as I'm concerned

[ID: An MS Paint drawing showing a large purple Square, a Straight Line, a small Hexagon, and a small green circle. The line is pointed partly at the Square, who says, without any punctuation, "What language are you speaking", while the small hexagon is "looking" at the green small circle. End ID.]

[theinfinitedivides]

me seeing all of the MD discourse once again cursing out Gil Chae and calling her weak/a bitch for still turning down Jang Hyun's proposal before he left with the Crown Prince: