#i think people are just extremely uncomfortable with gothic romance in general

[cto10121]

Posted with permission, @car-lizzzle. Thank you.

Fans turning against their creator and expressing heavy disdain or even hatred for them/their work is nothing new. We saw it in Star Wars, Harry Potter, and so forth. It seems to happen especially with large franchises and author-related controversies. But Twilight to me is a unique case in which the ones that consistently post about it…are simply the ones who hate it. Or who claim to love it, but happen to mostly post about how bad it is. These anti fans have the same irritating/creepy tendencies, namely:

Being confused about/asking very basic questions about canon. Most fans never have that trouble, unless they are exclusively movie fans

Conflating both book and movie canons. Even Contrapoints bases a lot of her analysis on the movies instead of the books, a faux pas I doubt she would have done with Harry Potter. This almost never happens with book fandoms, especially ones with a movie franchise almost universally disliked. Even the most anti-Rowling HP fans still rant about changes in characterization from book to movies and call out fanon based on the movies. And this is despite the fact that the HP movie franchise is much better done and much more beloved than the Twilight movies ever were

Overly bashing characters and overly loving others (one creator is a Team Jacob fan, and her bias against Edward and the Cullens—minus Rosalie, tellingly enough—is very obvious).

Conjecture and theories on Stephenie Meyer's supposed thoughts and beliefs in writing the series, even when Meyer has been clear about her writing processes (i.e. that weird “Twilight was inspired by MCR” shit going around).

Absurd and increasingly deranged “fan” theories that don’t make sense (e.g. Edward digging up his mother’s grave in Chicago to retrieve her wedding ring)

The reluctance to admit any part of the series is good. If an anti does admit it, they will inevitably complain it’s bad, actually (e.g. “The vampire backstories are so much more interesting than stupid Bella/Edward, bad writing!!!” “Edward privileged Bella’s health and safety over that of their child, but Meyer definitely did not mean this is a positive way, bad writing!!!!”).

Just...the bitter and angry tone some of these fans have. If not bitter or angry, then just downright disdainful. You’d think Meyer personally killed their relatives or something. It’s comparable only to the R&J hate I eat regularly on this blog. The fact that these two works are both romances with heavy social commentary is no coincidence

So why does Twilight have such a toxic anti fandom? A book getting a horrifically bad film adaptation isn’t anything new (see: Percy Jackson). As for romance, I’ve heard less vitriol against the Bridgerton and Outlander books, even though they have some of the same problematic elements Twilight is accused of (and they have actual rape and dubious consent involved). ACOTAR is still big despite receiving criticism of both its writing and of Maas. Only Colleen Hoover gets more hate than Meyer at this point, but she is more recent.

Twilight is a wildly successful book series from 2006, which received dutiful but inept film adaptations and a strong backlash on literally all fronts. And yet interest in this series, even if negative, is still going strong. A reasonable person would conclude Twilight is standing the test of time pretty well so far and at least one person already has: Robert Pattinson himself. But to admit Twilight is in any way good is an anathema to these anti fans.

It’ll be interesting to see in what way the upcoming animated adaptation may improve—or worsen—the image of this series. Here’s hoping it’ll get enough positive attention to banish the nasty anti ones into the ether.

[firstdivisiongirl]

HiI! I'd like to request a matchup for my perfect match in Tokyo Revengers

I go by she/her and my MBTI type is ISFJ (might be incorrect)

I love to read, write fiction stories, and draw. I read a variety of genres, one of those being Fantasy, romance, mystery, horror, and adventure.

I hate getting touched by people but at the same time I crave it. I suffer from Germophobia, which is an extreme fear of germs/dirty stuff. I only allow people I trust and have spent a long time with to touch me otherwise I'd feel uncomfortable and annoyed. (Last time that happened I had a panic attack and cleaned my whole room.)

I am a very loyal and caring person towards my loved ones. I would go out of my way to do everything for them such as giving them a story I wrote or something I drew for them. However I am easily angered. I hate people who lack empathy for others, when people make assumptions about me, and when people are just straight up stupid.

I spent hours inside the world in my head. I like to imagine scenarios of my original characters and their very own world.

I'm very anxious. One thing would easily worry me and it could either get worse or better. It's pretty bad. I've cried for a whole week because of it. I need to constantly be reassured.

Speaking of crying, I tend to cry by myself and quietly in my room. I hate it when my family finds out about it and I always act like I was fine when they come to my room.

I'm scared of being abandoned by my loved ones. I always worry that one day my best friend will leave me and I wish I could have more friends.

I keep my problems to myself. Not once have I ever told a single person in my life about what I'm going through because I don't want to burden them and I just don't know how to open up in general.

I'm pretty harsh on myself. I would always sulk whenever I couldn't bring myself to study or do something productive. I feel disappointed in myself and a failure to my parents.

I'm hesitant to eat out of fear of worsening my health. Whenever I eat a large portion of food, I would always regret it and avoid eating so much or eating nothing at all.

Based on fashion style, I don't know. I just wear whatever is available but I so desperately wish I could wear a more Gothic style or Coquette. I love pretty pink colors but also dark colors. I wear modest clothes. Anything tight or revealing makes me uncomfortable.

When it comes to music, I LOVE The Neighborhood, Lana Del Rey, Melanie Martinez, Isabel Larosa, and Lady Gaga.

I also HATE summer. I hate the heat, sweating makes me more annoyed than usual.

I'm a morning person but I cannot sleep consistently. My sleep schedule always gets messed up after 3 days.

I would love to go out with someone I know to explore abandoned/haunted buildings. I've never done that but I would not turn down the opportunity when given.

I love the rain, especially when it's quiet and empty whenever I'm at. I just love a gloomy/creepy atmosphere.

I think that's all there is to me. I would put more but it goes against my privacy. 😭

I would prefer a male character, thanks! ❤

Hey hey hey. Let’s get you a match. I hope you like it.

You Got…

Ryusei Satou!!!

Loves a good haunted place! Will take you to haunted places for dates.

Feel like you two have similar taste in music

He would support you and tell you that you are perfect no matter how bad you feel.

He is extremely loyal. You would never have to worry about him ever leaving you

Would respect your disliking of germs. He wouldn’t touch you if you didn’t want him too

I think he would enjoy you reading to him white he naps. It would make him happy to hear your voice as he dreams

[bronanlynch]

I enjoyed doing this last week so this is. a thing now I guess. click through for roundup of whatever media I’ve been into in the past week (will normally be on thursdays I think bc that’s the day I’m usually free but my schedule this week was weird) (inspired by the tuesday again thing that @girlfriendsofthegalaxy does)

listening: the new Mountain Goats album Getting Into Knives is very fun and full of bops, for a given value of both “fun” and “bops” because it’s The Mountain Goats so it does have that edge of depression but quite a few of the songs are a bit more. cheerful? than a lot of their other stuff, for lack of a better word

favorite track is probably The Rat Queen

listening (podcast edition): this very fun episode of Overinvested tearing apart the new movie adaptation of Rebecca which I have not seen and was not planning on seeing but I do enjoy people smartly analyzing why things aren’t good and also I do love discussions about Gothic romance

reading: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall is probably a very good book that someone else will enjoy very much, as lots of people whose opinions I generally trust already have enjoyed it. and I possibly will enjoy more if I give it another chance, once I’ve gotten over being disappointed that it wasn’t what I was looking for right now. the premise is neat! the worldbuilding is cool! the characters are interesting! mermaids, witches, and seas are three of my favorite things and also there are pirates, my other fave thing!

the reason I bounced off of it so hard is that I kept seeing it hyped up as a trans/nonbinary book, and then felt kinda let down when I started reading it and realized that the main character whom I’ve seen described as genderqueer is 1) dressing as a guy because someone else suggested it for safety reasons and 2) this was several years before the story starts and this character still refers to herself exclusively (disclaimer that I didn’t read the full thing but. as far as I got and also I skimmed toward the ending) as she and by her feminine birthname. and those things are fine, that’s a valid gender story, nonbinary people can absolutely keep their old pronouns and names and it doesn’t make them any less nonbinary, but the way it was framed in the parts that I read felt to me more like the old classic ‘girl dresses as guy for plot reasons’ thing, which isn’t something I personally wanted to read more of right now, especially not when I went in expecting something that would resonate more with my gender experience

watching: I’ve been rewatching Leverage, since I only ever watched the first season many years ago because that’s what was free on hulu at the time, and the thing that’s really getting to me is how fundamentally hopeful it is. like, yeah, sure, the premise of it is about how capitalism is designed to fuck people over and there is A Lot about specifically health insurance being really really awful. so there are parts of it that are a lil bit too real, but then at the end of the day they always win and punish the rich capitalists and help their victims and it’s just. nice to see that kind of happy ending

the specific episode I’m having lots of thoughts about is the Mile High Job, which is about the team is trying to protect a potential corporate whistleblower from being murdered by her coworker while on an airplane. at first they’re not sure what’s going on because they weren’t expecting two people from the corporation to be on that flight, so they don’t know which person is the one they should be focusing on. one of them is an anxious younger woman and the other is an extremely generic man, and from the moment they decided that the woman was the one they had to protect I was dreading the plot twist of “no actually you just helped her take out her target and you should’ve been protecting the other guy” which would’ve felt just. so mean-spirited and cynical but it’s the kind of thing I expect from media I guess. and then once it was clear that nope, that twist wasn’t going to happen, I expected her to turn around at the end and be like “actually no I’m not gonna testify against the corporation because I’ve realized how dangerous it is.” and I kind of hate that I’ve become so jaded by both media and also the real world that I’m so ready to expect the most cynical option, because I’m not used to stories about how even though the system is corrupt and oppressive and exploitative, people can still help each and they do and sometimes they make things better

playing: got back into playing Dishonored after taking a couple weeks off because I got stuck and frustrated and also kept playing for too long at a time and giving myself headaches. Lady Boyle’s Last Party (which I am going to completely and entirely spoil so if you don’t want that this is your warning) is probably the mission that I have the strongest mixed feelings about. I love the approach to the party, I love the concept of sneaking into a masquerade ball, I love signing the guestbook with your actual legal wanted fugitive name while wearing the mask that you commit all of your crimes in, I love a good fancy party mission I cannot stress that enough it’s the sexiest possible setting

HOWEVER. trying to sneak around upstairs fucking sucks because the ceilings aren’t high enough for there to be places to hide, like convenient hanging lamps or pipes to blink up to. my least favorite room in this entire game is that art gallery because you can get on top of the cases and you think you’re safe because you’re Up but then the guards spot you instantly and sound the alarm and the entire party shuts down and then you let them kill you so that you can go back to your last save

ADDITIONALLY, fuck the nonlethal option for this one. I hate it so much and feel so incredibly gross about choosing it but I also feel extremely not great about tricking her into meeting me alone and then actually assassinating her. the conversation is so uncomfortable that I tried to be like “actually no nevermind” which causes her to think you’re weird and creepy and she has the guards ““throw you out”“ which apparently in Dunwall is just how you say that she’s gonna have the guards murder you. but anyway. she's a shitty rich lady but she doesn't deserve either of the things that could happen to her and she's only a target because she's sleeping w a guy who sucks. she hasn’t done anything! she isn’t actually responsible for what happened to Jessamine or Emily! which works on a narrative level in my opinion because this is the last mission before you go after the lord regent and it’s becoming clear that the loyalists are just using Corvo for their own agenda and don’t actually care about Jessamine. but it’s still unpleasant to be the one enacting it, y’know?

also on a narrative level, I really like the concept of doing a clean hands run except killing each of the actual targets, because I feel like that would be a cool inversion of the trope where the hero kills a bunch of mooks and then refuses to kill the big bad because murder is wrong. on a gameplay level, I’m still gonna do the nonlethal options because I refuse to risk getting the bad ending, and I’m proud of the fact that I haven’t killed anyone since getting out of prison. I do wanna do a high chaos playthrough at some point though just to see how it goes, since I went low chaos last time too

sorry for writing an entire essay about Dishonored but. the funniest thing from that mission is that apparently if you get spotted by one of the maids in the basement where you are not supposed to be (the guards will immediately attack if they see you) instead of raising the alarm she just says “welcome to the party.” love that solidarity.

making: none of my cosplay stuff is at an especially picture-worthy stage and I didn’t get pictures of the pesto I made for dinner last night so there’s not gonna be much that’s interesting here but I did go to Spirit Halloween after Halloween when everything was on clearance and got a bunch of stuff that I’m gonna use for cosplay eventually

writing: soon I will finish the Eddis/Attolia Queen’s Thief fic that’s been rattling around in my brain ever since I finished the last book. hopefully.

[fyrapartnersearch]

Devilish Delight

Welcome, welcome! Please call me Gil :) I have posted here before and was very happy with the results, as it helped me quite a bit finding amazing partners! Through my recent post I met amazing partners who I share a great Roleplay with. But now I am also really craving for another kind of RP, a darker one… with less boundaries and more grit. It’ll be a hell of a good time! 



Stay seated because puns will be rolling through this whole shebang :P (And they will be terrible.)

My mind has become restless with the idea that has been haunting me recently - a Roleplay involving Devilish creatures, Demons, Demon Hunters as well as the concept of Heaven and Hell. And no I don’t mean in a biblical sense… more in a mythological kind of sense. I am heavily inspired by original lore and creating our own version of it.


But before I whip out an excerpt from my idea, a few things first! 
 If you reach out to me, please be sure not to ghost me after the first few messages before we even get to the Roleplay itself. Don’t write to me without a proper thread, or a simple one-liner like ‘Hey, I’ve come across your rp ad on tumblr and I thought I’d message you. Wanna rp?’ sort of thing. Short and lacklustre messages will also be ignored, sorry :( I am currently searching for a literate, mature (preferably 20+ partner) writer with a vast, creative mindset willing to push some boundaries. Someone who is not afraid delving into darker themes, or come up with new fresh ideas for a fantasy plot. Someone who is willing to commit to a long-term Roleplay. Are you that someone? I’ll swing you a few facts about me: I am a 20+ woman, living in Europe, currently studying at a university that is fairly time consuming. With that being said, I am able to type out 3-4 messages per week. I think tis a good solid rate that can get the plot going. Depending on my schedule, my frequency will increase or decrease. Not to worry, I will let you know as soon if there is something coming up that might influence the Roleplay. I love detailed paragraphs that describe a scenery and emotion of one’s character. If you are someone comfortable or only willing to type one-liners, you are not going to find your match here, sorry. I only role-play on either email or goggle docs.

Summary:

    Above the age of 20, thus mature and open minded

    Paragraph writer

    Detailed

    Experienced with 10 years under my belt

    Preference to doubling

I love a good brainstorming. Once we get to know each other, I would love to do a bit of strategising, erecting a system in our own world, a gathering of ideas that we can utilise for the story. 
Here’s a detailed description of my style and boundaries that I have for a potential RP. How I write: I am a multi-paragraph sort of writer, which means that frequently, my writing will exceed at least 500 words, and upward of 1000+ words. I love detail in description, and I am actively seeking someone of the same infamy. Generally, I tend to write in the 3rd person. But it can change based on the situation. My partner should have a basic grasp on grammar, punctuation and somewhat of an interest in erudite writing.   The genres I am into: I am versatile when it comes to genres and settings that I like to focus on. Supernatural is my bread and butter, especially urban and gothic fantasy, but also very much mythological stories. But I am not opposed to tapping into science fiction, action, romance, crime, action or thriller genres, though my most favourite is a combination of both fantasy and science fiction. What has struck my interest lately, is a world with gargantuan titan like monsters battling against each other, causing all sorts of havoc and devastation. I was heavily inspired by Pacific Rim, Godzilla and other monster themed movies, films and games. We could forge something original along those lines, like a clash of titans, ancient deities and creatures believed to be myth who now awakened to take back the world by storm. For the Roleplay I would like to take a lot of elements from the Lovecraftian lore and a bit of inspiration from Hellboy. I love to mesh multiple genres together to make it an original and different sort of universe. Romance: I openly play and accept characters of both genders, preferable m x f pairings, but I am open to m x m and f x f relationships as well. I have more experience with m x f relationships, so I might excel in this category more than I would do with the others. I do not fade to black - instead I encourage erotism and tastefully written romance scenes. The passion must be felt, even if its just an intelligent description of someone’s stream of thought. I am double friendly and prefer it over a single pairing! Characters, the center of attention: Faceclaims, GIFs, drawings, mood boards or just a plain physical description is absolutely welcome / sufficient. I am not someone who necessarily requires a face claim for a character in order ‘to get the picture’. There are many instances where I could not find a suiting match for my character’s definition, so I resorted to drawing them myself or leaving it with a simple description. Characters should have flaws - that is a no brainer obviously, because its what makes them most interesting and compelling to read. I think we’re also far past the Mary Sue and Gary Stu issue, so I am certain that anyone who messages me, is capable of forging great characters. World building & plotting: An active Roleplayer is wanted in this category, without a doubt. I love to build but I tend to lose interest real quick when I get the feeling I’m the only one who puts effort into it. I can’t do the thinking for two people, so I implore anyone to at least share the burden (which should not be regarded as such in the first place, because Roleplaying is a fun hobby and nothing more). Too often I find people shying away from it in this regard. If I feel that I’m carrying the weight of the world-building part with specific ideas, I will end the Roleplay with immediate effect. Be bold with your ideas! A bird cannot fly with only one wing. Content: I find writing erotic, dramatic or action packed scenes very enjoyable. I don’t hinder myself when certain subjects are mentioned that may be uncomfortable for the general public. But then again, as a reminder, a Roleplay is not reality but fiction. For example situations that heavily imply and involve brutality, mayhem, psychological and physical torture are things that don’t really bother me in a sense, because again, it is fiction. Characters should be fully fleshed out, even the not so pretty parts of one’s personality and actions. Limits: I don’t do necrophilia, pedophilia & and any sort of underage pairings, bestiality, vore, toilet play, furries and other strange fetishes. What I’m also not particularly fond of are oneliners, text-talk ‘grammar’, or emails with the subject: ‘Hey wanna rp?’ or ‘RP?’. I also note that my partners must be around 20 years or older, I will accept no younger partners, sorry. The last thing I tend to avoid like the plague are slice of life Roleplays, because lets face it, our own lives are pretty much slice of life. MY IDEA: So this idea takes place in a world that is modern, much like ours but different in some ways. Humans have evolved enough to not believe in the supernatural and rely on technology. However this cannot be further from the truth …. Devils and demons are hiding in the shadows, creating their own little network among mortals, possessing, draining and eventually killing them. Spirits whisper things, inspiring people with the best and worst of ideas, driving them to reach their ultimate happiness or demise. Although rare, magic seeps through every crack of reality. With each passing year the spectacles increase until the veil finally breaks, unleashing demons into our world. Corruption, violence, deviation and other carnal vices become rampant in the world, especially in capital cities. Who or what set them free? And what is the purpose behind all of this? What powers have come into play here?
Well… this can be answered by a multitude of characters who are willing and capable enough to take the infernal bull by the horns. An extremely sharp and intelligent detective who comes to realise that there are powers at play here beyond anyone’s control - a secret agent who specialises in the supernatural with a dubious mission to end it one way or the other - an extremely experienced demon hunter with his target set on destroying evil - a halfbreed, born from a devilish father and human mother who shares a great vendetta against the world - and a world class thief blessed / cursed with the eyes of the devil, granting her inexplicable powers and the ability to see evil. Who will be the one to save the world and who will be the one to destroy it? Who will win in the Devil's Dalliance? Of course we can totally rearrange things here and there, change it up, modify the story and create our own cities, characters and so forth. Its just a very rough concept that I am dying to role-play for quite some time now! 

If this idea managed to garner your interest, you know where to find me! <3

Original pairings I am absolutely down for are:

Supernatural x Human (non supernatural)

Witch / Warlock x Human

Witch / Warlock x Hunter

Witch / Warlock x Witch / Warlock

Monster x Human

Antagonist x Protagonist

Bully x Victim (sort of..)

Criminal x Regular citizen

Criminal x Cop

Soldier / Warrior / Knight x Civilian

Royal / Noble x Peasant

Royal / Noble x Traveler

Mentor x Apprentice

Knight x (Female in disguise) Knight

etc.

The list goes on.

Also, if an original doesn’t really suit your fancy - I am willing to do canon Roleplay, although I don’t feel as much inspiration for it as I do for an original story. I’m also very picky about it, so apologies if there aren’t too many things listed here:



Marvel

DC
Carmen SanDiego

Pacific Rim

Star Wars

Star Trek
Harry Potter

Castlevania

Berserk

Witcher

Dark Souls

Bloodborne

Devil May Cry (The original series, not the reboot)

Shadow of the Colossus

Kingdom Hearts 
God of War

What I will NOT do are canon stories of shows, games, movies, books, comics, etc that aren’t listed here. Please don’t ask me if we can do a specific RP based on anything I have no interest in, or don’t personally know. I highly welcome ideas and other takes on a story. If you crave something different, I am down for it as well :) If you are still reading, congratulations! xD 
The journey has come to an end! Usually I would also list my Discord on this platform, but since Discord did an update on me recently where I can’t log into it anymore - I thought email would be a better alternative. That way I can better assess the person. In the past, people on Discord had only sent me friend without messaging whatsoever so I couldn’t quite figure out what they were looking for in the first place, or being completely uncommunicative. Email is much safer and more professional that way. Contact me here! EMAIL: gilgameshmercury@gmail.com Hope to talk to you soon!

[onewomancitadel]

The term people are probably looking for is 'hate-to-love' in the context of general enemies to lovers misuse. That's not Darcy and Elizabeth, but it was something I was thinking about. (It's a simplification of Darcy and Elizabeth).

Even then I don't think the real key to 'hate-to-love' has been identified, which is that it's an easy reason for why they can't be together yet (the question you need to keep asking when you're writing a romance) and is easy to deliver upon dramatically.

This is where sometimes a real issue in media criticism is attributing something like hate to love to social issues, social commentary, expectations of women and men etc. etc. when at the heart of it what makes it so successful and easy to replicate in the worst romcom (and I'll expand on romcoms in a bit) is because it's just dramatically more interesting than friends-to-lovers and easier to deliver upon. The conflict is set. The character is set. The stage is set. Friends-to-lovers as a trope needs more work. It's not because women should set the bar low for men, or because women are conditioned to accept bad behaviour from men (when a story involves character reform anyway that's the fantasy, not the mean behaviour as such).

Romcoms are really a misrepresentation of what makes romance novels appealing though, and are kind of themselves somewhat of a different entity - I'm not as well-versed on this issue though, but I do know romcoms are somewhat of an artificial genre designed to cater to an invented demographic, but they are the usual suspect for the hate-to-love trope problems.

In fact, the way I sort of mentally think of most romcoms is just imitation of what the perceived romance genre is versus what it actually offers. I'm not wholly 'with' the romance genre, but I definitely understand it, and appreciate its conventions and expectations, and a critical issue in a lot of storytelling is just not understanding how to write romance... so the craft of it really interests me. But it says a lot about me that my favourite romance novel is also sort of a Gothic horror romance, and self-published at that.

Romcoms hit the familiar milestones of romance but often lack the soul. There are certainly exceptions, because I'm talking about a very wide genre which continued to evolve. 10 Things I Hate About You is very good; Bridget Jones' Diary misses everything good about Pride & Prejudice, and I wish Bridget ended up with the Mr. Wickham instead, because they would've been terrible and wonderful together.

Although my issue with the romance genre is often that the development of the relationship just happens too quickly for my tastes, and so that's why I tend to lean towards the hate-to-love spectrum of things, just because you get that protracted development and discovery. On the other hand, sometimes you get the hate-to-instantaneous love, which is something I equally dislike. I love romance, I'm just very picky.

The broader point I was working towards is that sometimes identifying why something is compelling doesn't need a social approach but a technical approach. This is why people are so mistaken about enemies to lovers. It's fun. It's ironic. It's dramatic. It's fantastic; I'm not sure why romance is so scrutinised compared to other consistently ridiculous things which happen in fiction, but compassion is boring and women are stupid, I guess.

Actually, I was remarking to Best Mate about the idea of characters 'deserving' redemption arcs (which I have gone on record of mocking and finding extremely stupid, because redemption is an active act, not passive) and she said that on the topic of what they deserve, the idea that everybody is deserving of something like compassion is ideal but it's also extremely difficult in practice to the point of being emotionally impossible to extend to everybody as well as uncomfortable for most people to contemplate. I said that's exactly why it feels like a superpower in the context of enemies to lovers, because it's that enormous philosophical demand.

I think I may have figured out one of the major reasons Elizabeth and Darcy's dynamic gets compared to or conflated with the enemies-to-lovers trope: because it involves the (poor) preconceptions of the other -> expectation reversal, in addition to intertwined character and moral development.

Beat for beat, that's what a lot of 'true' (bear with me here) ETL fans enjoy about the trope. The structural enmity is there to keep two fundamentally similar people apart but also they are two people who grow in response to the other. In the Elizabeth and Darcy dynamic, the barriers to their interactions are not enemy- or allegiance-based.

But you can see how that crosses over. Obviously I do think there's the element of people wanting the watered down ETL trope and just generally a misunderstanding of tropes contributing to things but I think this is the most interesting part, because I don't think the ETL trope is often articulated the way I'm describing it here (and where it mirrors Darcy/Elizabeth). The hatred is really accessory.

[trendingnewsb]

The 20 Most Inspiring Books from the Last 10 Years That Every Woman Should Read

I am woman, hear me roar!

Oh yes, I am wise, but it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price, but look how much I gained

If I have to, I can do anything

I am strong

I am invincible

I AM WOMAN!

~Lyrics from “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy

Women are strong, sexy, intelligent, resourceful, nurturing, intuitive and resilient. Sometimes being all of these things (and more) comes at a price. As women there are times when we become depleted and we need to be inspired, rejuvenated and our fire needs reigniting.

Reading is one of the most empowering things any person can do for themselves. A good book–I mean a really good book–can touch your soul, heal your heart and stir your creative juices.

Below is a list of 20 books that every woman should read. They will inspire, educate, transform and bring back your roar!

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I had to begin with this epic and well penned story. To be more exact, this isn’t just a book, it is an emotional journey.

Katniss, this book’s title character, epitomizes Helen Reddy’s anthem for women. As a protagonist, she exhibits strength during her weakness. She is outwardly fearless while inwardly she is petrified. She is you in hero form. You may have seen the movie but the movie is vastly inferior to this work of art by Suzanne Collins. This book is a timeless classic. You will cheer and cry. You will walk away inspired.

2. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

This New York Times bestseller is set in the 1970’s and is described as being, “A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing…[it] is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.” It is a story that shows how to survive loss and tragedy without losing yourself.

3. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Bad Feminist is as a sharp and funny funny collection of essays that provide an accurate look at the ways in which our culture consumes us and snatches our identity. Roxane Gay takes us on her journey and describes life from the lens of a black a woman. She comments on trends and recent events and how they have effected feminism. In the end, this book is really an inspiring call-to-action and highlights areas in which we as women need to do better.

4. The Goldfinch by Donna Tart

The New York Times describes “The Goldfinch” as “a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind…. You keep waiting for the wheels to fall off, but in the case of “The Goldfinch,” they never do.”

This is a historical fiction story that recounts the experiences of a young boy loses his mother in a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This story is perfect for women as it explores the meaning and purpose of art as well as love, friendship, and the pain of loss.

5. The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

This New York Times Bestseller is a practical guide for helping women gain and maintain self-confidence. The principles in this book are based on time tested research on gender, behavior, cognition and genetics.

6. Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

Set in the 1950s, Boy, Snow, Bird opens on the Lower East Side of New York City, with a young white woman named Boy Novak running away from her violent father. She finds her self in Massachusetts where she meets a widower, a jewelry craftsman, Arturo Whitman, in Flax Hill, Mass. They marry and she becomes obsessed with her new stepdaughter, Snow.

This novel is a remake if not hugely reminiscent of the famous fairy-tale, Snow White. The interesting twist in this novel is that Boy’s husband is a very light-skinned black man, who “passes” as white. This novel poetically discusses the the themes of color and race relations, self-love and acceptance wrapped in the familiarity of a well-known tale.

7. Knowing Your Value: Women, Money and Getting What You’re Worth by Mika Brzezinski

This New York Times bestseller is a collection of interviews from the world’s most successful business women. This book uses the stories and success of other women to show you how to thrive in your career and financially and understand your self-worth as a woman.

8. Drink by Ann Dowsett Johnston

Drink is part research reporting and part memoir that delves into the realities of the rising rates of women alcoholics. This book looks at the psychological and social pressures extreme and risky drinking behaviors has had on women in general. This book, while addressing alcoholism in women, is a picture of how society can shape and manipulate the behavior of an entire species.

9. The Financial Fast by Michelle Singletary

The 21-Day Financial Fast, written by award-winning writer and The Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary, challenges women to look at finances differently. For twenty-one days, participants will put away their credit cards and buy only the barest essentials. The challenge is designed to not only change how you view and manage your money but also why you do what you do. Michelle challenges you take an introspective look at your relationship with money. It will end your dysfunctional relationship with money.

10. The Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

This book is the ultimate motivational tool. Once you put it down, you will feel inspired to tackle that project, write your book, open a bakery or change careers. Elizabeth Gilbert is the award winning author of the wildly popular Eat, Pray, Love. She is all about unlocking your creativity and living fearlessly.

11. The Life Boat by Charlotte Rogan

This is a poignant novel is a gritty, naked look at what being a survivor really means. This book opens with a newly married couple being ripped apart by a horrible accident at sea and only half of the couple survives. This book follows the perils of what the survivors must do in order to survive. It shows the inner strength that lies within all of us. But it also shows that we are all capable of being horrible sadists.

12. I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This by Kate White

Kate White, who is also the author of Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead…But Gutsy Girls Do, has written another wise, witty and straight-shooting career guide for women. In this book, Kate inspires women to chase their career goals–no matter how lofty. She serves as a champion for high- achieving career- driven women.

13. Ask For It: How Women Can Use Negotiation To Get What They Really Want by Linda Babock and Sarah Laschever

This book tackles and explains the art of negotiation from a woman’s point of view. Negotiations look and flow differently for women in the workforce and this book gives a four-phased approach to negotiations. It is designed to teach women how to maximize their bargaining power and how to silence their negative inner self-talk. You will become a more confident and powerful go-getter.

14. Swamplandia by Karen Russell

Karen Russell has struck gold with her first novel. This tale about a girl’s courageous effort to preserve her grieving family’s way of life, is infused “with humor and gothic whimsy.” The New York Time’s praises Russell’s “exuberantly inventive language and her vivid portrait of a heroine who is wise beyond her years.”

15. Becoming Wise: An Inquiry Into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett

This book is a culmination of wisdom gained from years spent interviewing scientists, philosophers, theologians, activists and poets on her award winning NPR podcast. She has taken all that she has learned, condensed and distilled it down to create a “master class on living.” This book encourages and instructs women how to live, love and exists on their own terms.

16. The Immortal Life of Henerietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Described by NPR as “a remarkable feat of investigative journalism and a moving work of narrative nonfiction that reads with the vividness and urgency of fiction. It also raises sometimes uncomfortable questions with no clear-cut answers about whether people should be remunerated for their physical, genetic contributions to research and about the role of profit in science.” This book will cause you to think and it may just cause a shift in your worldview.

17. Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring For Yourself by Melody Beattie

This wildly popular, Amazon best-seller is what every woman needs to shake loose of codependency and to have healthy, drama-free relationships. Through a series of interactive activities and funny anecdotes, Melody Beattie, walks you through her simple and direct approach that leads to a path of independence, wholeness and satisfaction.

18. Bossypants by Tina Fey

Who doesn’t love Tina Fey? And this is all Tina Fey. This book is a light yet deeply insightful easy read. In this memoir of sorts, Tina takes us into her life and dishes the “tea” on what it’s like to be a woman in the male dominated comedy business. Expertly told, this book is full of the witt and humor you’ve come to expect from Fey but it is also a heroic tale of a woman who found success in the face of numerous obstacles.

19. Better Than before by Gretchen Reuben

This book is written by the New York Times’ bestselling author of The Happiness Project. This book is all about helping you to change by addressing your habits. She offers women a methodical approach to recognizing and changing dysfunctional behaviors, attitudes and habits that sabotage their success and rob them of happiness. She shows women how to tackle their number one enemy: herself.

20. Come To The Edge: A Love Story by Christina Haag

Every woman loves a good love story and Haag definitely delivers with this book. Christina details her five year romance with John F. Kennedy Jr. The Washington Post says that Haag’s story “lyrically and precisely recaptures the frenetic ecstasy of early love.” This book shows how true love surpasses wealth, status and fame. We all desire to love and be loved passionately and Haag expertly captures and exposes this all encompassing love in this well written story.

The post The 20 Most Inspiring Books from the Last 10 Years That Every Woman Should Read appeared first on Lifehack.

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The 20 Most Inspiring Books from the Last 10 Years That Every Woman Should Read

I am woman, hear me roar!

Oh yes, I am wise, but it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price, but look how much I gained

If I have to, I can do anything

I am strong

I am invincible

I AM WOMAN!

~Lyrics from “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy

Women are strong, sexy, intelligent, resourceful, nurturing, intuitive and resilient. Sometimes being all of these things (and more) comes at a price. As women there are times when we become depleted and we need to be inspired, rejuvenated and our fire needs reigniting.

Reading is one of the most empowering things any person can do for themselves. A good book–I mean a really good book–can touch your soul, heal your heart and stir your creative juices.

Below is a list of 20 books that every woman should read. They will inspire, educate, transform and bring back your roar!

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I had to begin with this epic and well penned story. To be more exact, this isn’t just a book, it is an emotional journey.

Katniss, this book’s title character, epitomizes Helen Reddy’s anthem for women. As a protagonist, she exhibits strength during her weakness. She is outwardly fearless while inwardly she is petrified. She is you in hero form. You may have seen the movie but the movie is vastly inferior to this work of art by Suzanne Collins. This book is a timeless classic. You will cheer and cry. You will walk away inspired.

2. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

This New York Times bestseller is set in the 1970’s and is described as being, “A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing…[it] is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.” It is a story that shows how to survive loss and tragedy without losing yourself.

3. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Bad Feminist is as a sharp and funny funny collection of essays that provide an accurate look at the ways in which our culture consumes us and snatches our identity. Roxane Gay takes us on her journey and describes life from the lens of a black a woman. She comments on trends and recent events and how they have effected feminism. In the end, this book is really an inspiring call-to-action and highlights areas in which we as women need to do better.

4. The Goldfinch by Donna Tart

The New York Times describes “The Goldfinch” as “a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind…. You keep waiting for the wheels to fall off, but in the case of “The Goldfinch,” they never do.”

This is a historical fiction story that recounts the experiences of a young boy loses his mother in a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This story is perfect for women as it explores the meaning and purpose of art as well as love, friendship, and the pain of loss.

5. The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

This New York Times Bestseller is a practical guide for helping women gain and maintain self-confidence. The principles in this book are based on time tested research on gender, behavior, cognition and genetics.

6. Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

Set in the 1950s, Boy, Snow, Bird opens on the Lower East Side of New York City, with a young white woman named Boy Novak running away from her violent father. She finds her self in Massachusetts where she meets a widower, a jewelry craftsman, Arturo Whitman, in Flax Hill, Mass. They marry and she becomes obsessed with her new stepdaughter, Snow.

This novel is a remake if not hugely reminiscent of the famous fairy-tale, Snow White. The interesting twist in this novel is that Boy’s husband is a very light-skinned black man, who “passes” as white. This novel poetically discusses the the themes of color and race relations, self-love and acceptance wrapped in the familiarity of a well-known tale.

7. Knowing Your Value: Women, Money and Getting What You’re Worth by Mika Brzezinski

This New York Times bestseller is a collection of interviews from the world’s most successful business women. This book uses the stories and success of other women to show you how to thrive in your career and financially and understand your self-worth as a woman.

8. Drink by Ann Dowsett Johnston

Drink is part research reporting and part memoir that delves into the realities of the rising rates of women alcoholics. This book looks at the psychological and social pressures extreme and risky drinking behaviors has had on women in general. This book, while addressing alcoholism in women, is a picture of how society can shape and manipulate the behavior of an entire species.

9. The Financial Fast by Michelle Singletary

The 21-Day Financial Fast, written by award-winning writer and The Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary, challenges women to look at finances differently. For twenty-one days, participants will put away their credit cards and buy only the barest essentials. The challenge is designed to not only change how you view and manage your money but also why you do what you do. Michelle challenges you take an introspective look at your relationship with money. It will end your dysfunctional relationship with money.

10. The Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

This book is the ultimate motivational tool. Once you put it down, you will feel inspired to tackle that project, write your book, open a bakery or change careers. Elizabeth Gilbert is the award winning author of the wildly popular Eat, Pray, Love. She is all about unlocking your creativity and living fearlessly.

11. The Life Boat by Charlotte Rogan

This is a poignant novel is a gritty, naked look at what being a survivor really means. This book opens with a newly married couple being ripped apart by a horrible accident at sea and only half of the couple survives. This book follows the perils of what the survivors must do in order to survive. It shows the inner strength that lies within all of us. But it also shows that we are all capable of being horrible sadists.

12. I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This by Kate White

Kate White, who is also the author of Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead…But Gutsy Girls Do, has written another wise, witty and straight-shooting career guide for women. In this book, Kate inspires women to chase their career goals–no matter how lofty. She serves as a champion for high- achieving career- driven women.

13. Ask For It: How Women Can Use Negotiation To Get What They Really Want by Linda Babock and Sarah Laschever

This book tackles and explains the art of negotiation from a woman’s point of view. Negotiations look and flow differently for women in the workforce and this book gives a four-phased approach to negotiations. It is designed to teach women how to maximize their bargaining power and how to silence their negative inner self-talk. You will become a more confident and powerful go-getter.

14. Swamplandia by Karen Russell

Karen Russell has struck gold with her first novel. This tale about a girl’s courageous effort to preserve her grieving family’s way of life, is infused “with humor and gothic whimsy.” The New York Time’s praises Russell’s “exuberantly inventive language and her vivid portrait of a heroine who is wise beyond her years.”

15. Becoming Wise: An Inquiry Into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett

This book is a culmination of wisdom gained from years spent interviewing scientists, philosophers, theologians, activists and poets on her award winning NPR podcast. She has taken all that she has learned, condensed and distilled it down to create a “master class on living.” This book encourages and instructs women how to live, love and exists on their own terms.

16. The Immortal Life of Henerietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Described by NPR as “a remarkable feat of investigative journalism and a moving work of narrative nonfiction that reads with the vividness and urgency of fiction. It also raises sometimes uncomfortable questions with no clear-cut answers about whether people should be remunerated for their physical, genetic contributions to research and about the role of profit in science.” This book will cause you to think and it may just cause a shift in your worldview.

17. Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring For Yourself by Melody Beattie

This wildly popular, Amazon best-seller is what every woman needs to shake loose of codependency and to have healthy, drama-free relationships. Through a series of interactive activities and funny anecdotes, Melody Beattie, walks you through her simple and direct approach that leads to a path of independence, wholeness and satisfaction.

18. Bossypants by Tina Fey

Who doesn’t love Tina Fey? And this is all Tina Fey. This book is a light yet deeply insightful easy read. In this memoir of sorts, Tina takes us into her life and dishes the “tea” on what it’s like to be a woman in the male dominated comedy business. Expertly told, this book is full of the witt and humor you’ve come to expect from Fey but it is also a heroic tale of a woman who found success in the face of numerous obstacles.

19. Better Than before by Gretchen Reuben

This book is written by the New York Times’ bestselling author of The Happiness Project. This book is all about helping you to change by addressing your habits. She offers women a methodical approach to recognizing and changing dysfunctional behaviors, attitudes and habits that sabotage their success and rob them of happiness. She shows women how to tackle their number one enemy: herself.

20. Come To The Edge: A Love Story by Christina Haag

Every woman loves a good love story and Haag definitely delivers with this book. Christina details her five year romance with John F. Kennedy Jr. The Washington Post says that Haag’s story “lyrically and precisely recaptures the frenetic ecstasy of early love.” This book shows how true love surpasses wealth, status and fame. We all desire to love and be loved passionately and Haag expertly captures and exposes this all encompassing love in this well written story.

The post The 20 Most Inspiring Books from the Last 10 Years That Every Woman Should Read appeared first on Lifehack.

from Viral News HQ http://ift.tt/2qepTOl via Viral News HQ