#sometimes i feel like claiming Purposeful Feminism is just an easy way out of engaging w shit u enjoy critically. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

princesssarisa · 5 years ago

Text

The feminism of “Wuthering Heights”

Not long ago on Quora, I answered the question of “Is Wuthering Heights a feminist text?” I thought I may as well share it here too, since my similar post on the feminism of Romeo and Juliet has been so popular.

Is Wuthering Heights a feminist text? It’s debatable.

It’s certainly not a work of modern feminism, and just because Emily Brontë was a woman doesn’t mean she lacked internalized misogyny, per se.

From a certain perspective, it can be read as a fairly sexist story. It revolves around a brooding, violent male anti-hero, Heathcliff, who emotionally and physically abuses women (among many other dark deeds), yet whom the reader is still clearly meant to feel some sympathy for. His descent into villainy is at least partly blamed on his beloved Cathy, because she rejected him for a wealthier man. As for Cathy herself, she’s a wild, fiery figure who defies society’s ideals of sweet, passive femininity and wields the chief power in both of her romantic relationships, and yet she’s portrayed as a vain, arrogant, vicious-tempered narcissist, prone to manipulation and hysterics, who emotionally betrays both men. Ultimately she’s “punished” with anguish-induced madness, sickness and death (and implied twenty years of wandering as a miserable waif of a ghost), and from then on she serves to fuel Heathcliff’s “manpain,” with his endless grief being used to stir up pity for him despite all his cruelty. Nor is Heathcliff’s abuse of women the only male-on-female violence to be found. In one scene Hareton Earnshaw slaps the younger Catherine when she insults him (to the approval of narrator Lockwood, who overhears it and thinks her “sauciness” deserved the punishment), yet he’s still portrayed as having a heart of gold under his gruff facade and is given a happy ending where he and Catherine fall in love and become engaged.

And yet…

It’s a story told mostly from a woman’s perspective. The chapters narrated by Lockwood are more of a framing device than anything else – the bulk of the story is narrated by Nelly Dean. And her focus is really more on the young women she serves than on Heathcliff, who sometimes disappears from her narrative for months or years at a time. Heathcliff might be the driving force of the plot as a whole, but it can be argued that the two Catherines are the real protagonists, with Heathcliff as the love interest to the first and the antagonist to the second.

Furthermore, all four principle females are three-dimensional characters. The two Catherines, Nelly Dean and Isabella Linton each have distinct, multilayered personalities and none can be reduced to stereotypes of womanhood. None of them are objectified or sexualized the way even the most “feminist” male author’s female characters tend to be. Nor are any of them meek or passive; in different ways, each one is feisty, sharp-tongued and rebellious. All of them are flawed too (putting women on a pedestal is almost as anti-feminist as vilifying them) yet with the possible exception of the elder Cathy, none of them are treated by the narrative as bad people. At the very least, they’re no worse than the men around them, and even though they suffer for their mistakes, none are portrayed (again, with the possible exception of the elder Cathy) as deserving the bad things that happen to them. Young Catherine and Nelly both receive happy endings, while Isabella’s ending is bittersweet, and none of them need to conform to a societal ideal of womanhood to escape from tragedy.

It’s too bad that most adaptations cut the second half of the book, because without the younger Catherine, the elder Cathy’s portrayal might create the sense that Brontë was condemning high spirits and willfulness in women. But young Catherine, who is portrayed sympathetically and gets a happy ending, is very much like her mother: lively, strong-willed, adventurous, temperamental, and sometimes too proud for her own good. In her ultimate romance with Hareton, as she “civilizes” him and teaches him to read, she arguably takes almost the same dominant role her mother did over Heathcliff in their childhood, though unlike her mother she is willing to listen to him and compromise with him. The fact that during his reading lessons she gives him “smart slaps” when his attention wanders and playfully threatens to pull his hair for his mistakes helps to compensate for the one slap he gave her back when they were “enemies.” (It seems unlikely that their marriage bed will be a tame place.) She earns her hopeful future not by being more passive or ladylike than her mother was, but just by being a kinder, more compassionate person and more willing to recognize her mistakes and grow past them. Hareton contrasts with Heathcliff in much the same way.

Nor, contrary to popular belief, is Heathcliff ever romanticized. His horrific deeds are never excused away and he’s not portrayed as a desirable romantic partner for anyone but the equally fierce Cathy. The very notion that he’s a romantic hero is brutally deconstructed by Isabella’s storyline, as she naively idealizes him and thinks she’s in love with him, but is horribly abused after she marries him and quickly comes to despise him. Brontë might ask us to understand him and pity him, but she never tries to make us love him. He’s a tragic monster.

Nor, unlike in the Hays Code-compliant 1939 film, is Isabella trapped for decades in her miserable marriage. She leaves Heathcliff, escapes to London, and builds a new life for herself and her son Linton. True, she still dies young, but she dies free.

Without being heavy-handed about it, the book also condemns the era’s patriarchal laws and customs that made women powerless. The laws that let husbands abuse their wives (Heathcliff and Isabella), that let fathers-in-law lord over and abuse their daughters-in-law (Heathcliff and Catherine), that prevented daughters from inheriting their fathers’ property in favor of the male next-of-kin (Thrushcross Grange going to Linton Heathcliff instead of to Catherine), that gave unfit fathers custody of their children against the mother’s will (Heathcliff and Linton), and that forced women to depend on marriage to raise their own fortunes and to escape from a toxic family (Cathy).

Yet it’s what little power the women do have within these confines – emotional power – that leads to the hopeful ending. Catherine, with help from Nelly, overcomes her own bitterness and reaches out to Hareton, finally freeing him from Heathcliff’s degrading influence with her friendship and later love. This, combined with the dead Cathy’s ongoing hold over Heathcliff’s psyche, is what makes Heathcliff finally give up on life, with his death bringing peace both to himself and to everyone he terrorized.

Last but not least, let’s discuss Cathy. No, she’s not portrayed as a good person, and yes, her sins are “punished” with brain fever and death. But still, it’s gratifying from a woman’s perspective to see the object of an imposing Byronic anti-hero’s love not be a delicate ingenue whom he controls, but an iron-willed firebrand whose passion equals his own and whom he gladly lets dominate him. And any claim that she’s worse than Heathcliff (as bad as, maybe, but worse?) or that she deserves no sympathy whatsoever smacks of misogyny. Her struggles are very relatable for women who feel torn between rebellion and conformity. This quote sums it up well: “I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free”.

As a child she was fully herself: wild, androgynous, barely distinguishable from Heathcliff. But it came at the price of disapproval from her stern father and servant caregivers, and later from her tyrannical brother, who viciously abused Heathcliff and tried to separate them. Then she discovered the world of the Lintons: wealth, status, beautiful clothes, good manners, kindness, affection. It’s so easy to condemn her as a “shallow gold-digger” for giving in to the lure of that world and choosing to marry Edgar instead of Heathcliff. But one glance over her great speeches should reveal that regardless of her other flaws, she’s not a shallow person. With her family and all of society holding up the Lintons and their lifestyle as superior, and when the only alternatives she sees are either staying under Hindley’s brutal thumb (again, remember: for a girl, marriage was the only escape) or starving in poverty as Heathcliff’s wife, it’s understandable that she should give in, even though it means betraying her true self, donning the mask of a proper lady, and rejecting her soul mate. Yet she always knows she really belongs with Heathcliff, not with Edgar, and she tries to have them both by maintaining her “friendship” with Heathcliff while married; before Heathcliff runs away and makes his own fortune, she even plans to help him by sharing Edgar’s wealth with him. But eventually and inevitably, the two men clash and her double life shatters. It’s not just the stress of the love triangle that causes her breakdown, but what it represents: her yearning for freedom while trapped in the confines of upper-class womanhood and knowing what she would loose if she were to choose one over the other. What woman hasn’t struggled with society’s demands of “proper” womanhood and felt torn between wanting to rebel and wanting the benefits of conforming? I don’t think any character who embodies that struggle as powerfully as Cathy can be labeled an anti-feminist character, no matter how deeply flawed she is or how tragically her story ends. The fact that it’s not her failure to be a proper lady that dooms her, but her choice to become one and deny her authentic, wild and androgynous self, can be seen as a particularly feminist statement.

Also, I respectfully disagree with the claim I’ve read that the only purpose of Cathy’s strong will and free spirit is to intoxicate Heathcliff. They’re essential to her entire personal character arc. None of the characters in this complex book are only written to serve another character’s development, male or female.

Is the book feminist in every way by modern standards? No. But does it still have many feminist qualities and themes? Does it speak powerfully to women and empower them in subtle ways? I think it absolutely does.

@theheightsthatwuthered, @astrangechoiceoffavourites, @wuthering-valleys, @incorrectwutheringheightsquotes, @nitrateglow

#wuthering heights #feminism #literary criticism #analysis #meta

52 notes · View notes

battlestar-royco · 5 years ago

Text

Considering my place in the anti community

So, I know that might be an alarming title, but rest assured I don’t see myself deactivating or ceasing discussion of SJ/M’s books any time soon. But a lot of things have led me to the decision to explicitly veer my blog in another direction. I’ve said more than once before that I made this blog around May of 2018 as a joke between me, myself, and I, as a way to vent my disappointments with the T0G and AC0TAR series into this dumb blue void. I kid you not, I literally did not expect anyone to interact with me at all, and aside from mutuals on my main, I’d never been sent an ask in all the (then) six years I had a Tumblr. I didn’t expect to meet and befriend such a passionate, salty, visionary, thoughtful community. A little over a year later, I’m interacting with too many people to keep up with, I find myself being tagged and reblogged by reputable bloggers with way bigger followings from all over Tumblr’s diversity-forward fandom communities, and I even have run-ins with anon hate and stan ridiculousness every so often. The anti community as I know it has been a welcoming home that has taught me so much. That being said, there are a few reasons I want to slightly switch gears. So here goes. This is a long one, so thanks for sticking it out, if you make it to the end.

What will remain and what will change?

More will stay the same than will change. I will still absolutely be answering asks about YA books and SJ/M, and I will be posting about the issues within them and how I think they could have gone better. I will also still be tagging such things as anti. I really enjoy discussing the nitty gritty of characters, worldbuilding, and how all that coincides with the handling of diversity and feminism in the books. This type of discussion is, I think, how I gained most of my following, so I don’t want to turn my back on you. Also, in the near future, I mainly just want my blog to be a place where diverse representation across all identity vectors and forms of media, especially fantasy books, is a focus. I want people to feel they can talk earnestly about their issues with xyz representation and/or discuss diversity struggles they come across with their own writing.

I feel like the anti community stagnates periodically and we devolve into cold wars with stans, picking apart miniscule details of the books, scouring SJ/M’s social media, repeating ourselves, or other similar activities. Going forward I want to reduce the conversations that are founded in pettiness or insulting other Tumblr users or SJ/M for things that honestly have nothing to do with the books, the YA/publishing community, or problematic behavior. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things worth discussing re: problematic author/stan behavior, but it’s easy to lose sight of the reason for antis to exist in the first place. On to reasoning:

1. The connotation.

This is something many of you know about me as well, but it bears repeating: I never hated SJ/M’s books. My blog is a result of my passion and enjoyment of the earlier books twisted into disappointment. I wouldn’t have bothered making a blog about these books if I hated them from start to finish. I wouldn’t have made an “anti” account if I’d felt that my opinions would be accepted among stans. I felt there was a lack in both the anti and stan community for my experience, so I’m here to give voice to that. Although I started out talking about the negatives, I don’t think my blog has ever fit most people’s idea of “anti” on this site. There are a lot of truly toxic anti communities all over Tumblr who exist just to shit on creators and fans or to be negative out of spite, and I really have never identified with that desire, nor have I tried to exhibit that behavior. But thanks to worst of the worst on this site, anyone who calls themselves anti is automatically associated with that. I also think as a whole, every SJ/M anti is doing completely different stuff with their own blogs. We’ve got book cover criticism, opinions and advice about publishing, T0G rewrite projects, shitposts, etc. I myself started expanding months ago into providing writing advice on diversity and generally writing meta. It’s not a group of angry people yelling slurs at each other like I’ve seen other anti communities do, so I don’t think it’s the right label for me.

2. Stans.

This goes a bit with the connotation point. I feel like, especially because of how I’ve branded myself and because of antis who preceded the current batch, stans really have no idea what I’m about. I have always been clear that I do not wish to attack them or their enjoyment of/engagement with the books. And yet I’m constantly being vagued about, having my words twisted, or having my arguments and blogging style very purposely, transparently ignored/misinterpreted/ridiculed in said vague-blog posts. All this despite stans’ frequent claim that they ~never~ go into anti tags or check out our blogs, and despite their other frequent claim they don’t believe in the anti/stan divide and that we’re more alike than not. I agree that this divide is dumb, but it’s kind of hard to distance myself from it while constantly being thrown under the bus by SJ/M BNFs. I don’t mind anyone viewing or interacting with my posts, because transparency and all, but it’s tiresome to constantly defend myself because I’m being misrepresented by accounts that are 4, 5, 6 times bigger than mine who either don’t know how I run my blog or purposely mischaracterize me. I can’t control other people’s behavior and I don’t want to, but this is a change I’m making for my own mental health and to promote better behavior among both communities, and I hope others follow suit.

3. Things I’ve handled poorly and how I want to do better.

Anyone with an ask blog for a minute inevitably acquires their share of public fuck-ups. I can think of a few instances in which I would have handled a situation differently. For example, a few months ago the community as a whole was asked to expand our conversation to more than just presenting SJ/M and Bardugo as foils, and I wish I’d been less defensive there. That day made me think a lot about the way I carry myself on this blog and how limited the conversation can sometimes be. I really do appreciate any and all criticism for the community, and looking back, I feel like my reaction to that didn’t go along with the way I usually try to handle criticism. I think it would be good to try and, like OP said, infuse more book promotion into my blog in general, to try to support and read more books by marginalized authors in the future so we can discuss them more thoroughly here.

In closing/TL;DR:

This isn’t inspired by any particular event or person, but rather a lot of things that have happened in the past several months on Tumblr, in the world and the media, and in my personal life. It’s not a change that was inspired out of negativity, but more out of trying to generate a more positive framework for my Tumblr activity and seeing how I can effect change through this blog. I’m still here for rants, masterposts calling out problematic books and characters, pretty much all the book talk I was doing before. This is just a really long-winded announcement that I want to expand my blog to a general spot for discussing diversity in media. Thank you so much for sticking it out if you made it all the way down here. Here’s to improving ourselves.

#anti sjm #polysorscha

30 notes · View notes

riverheadbooks · 7 years ago

Photo

READER HOROSCOPE FOR APRIL 2018 Spring into your literary portents from the stars

ARIES

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Aries! Bust out the birthday crown and bubbly, because it’s finally time to celebrate YOU. Of course, once the party has died down and your last guest hugs you goodbye, it’s time to sit in the silence and do some reflecting. You’re one year older: how have you changed in the past year? What’s remained the same? Do you still hope to reach the same goals, or have your benchmarks shifted? Life has a way of completely upending expectations formed when we were still naive enough to believe in the illusion of control: whether it was a pivotal move, job acceptance, or relationship beginning or ending, circumstances rarely play out the way we originally imagine. On one hand, it’s a blessing, because how boring would life be if we could accurately predict every twist and turn? And on the other, of course, is the heartache and sometimes downright embarrassment of being caught off-guard with stunning regularity. Luckily, you aren’t alone, Aries! It’s completely normal to feel bewildered and unpracticed at the game of your own life, as long as you do your best to learn from the lessons it foists upon you. Your lucky book this month may unearth some of those memories, or simply act as a confidant and companion in trying times. Sloane Crosley’s signature wicked humor and frank truth-telling in this timeless essay collection make it feel like you’re swapping stories with an old friend whose kooky setbacks always make you feel slightly better (or just understood) about your own.

LUCKY BOOK: I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley

TAURUS

A change is gonna come, Taurus! And while that is definitely not your preferred state of things, it’s inevitable, so as much as you can, get ready to embrace it. After all, from the very moment we enter the world, hollering and exposed, change becomes the only constant: growing up, learning from minute to minute, observing the ever-shifting tides of the wider world around you. You establish belief systems and views based on your upbringing and what you consider just. But sometimes, those beliefs are tested, and the accumulated wisdom from your experiences forces you to reexamine what you once thought to be unshakable. A scary occurrence, to be sure, but never one to run away from. When you begin to feel the panic of once-trusted convictions crumbling around you, do your best to look your fear directly in the eye. What are you noticing? What are you trying to escape? And what are you headed towards? Ease some of the tension you’re experiencing by losing yourself in this month’s lucky book: a thrilling and fantastical short story collection that examines the nature of life through its stages: love, conception, gestation, birth, death. We’re all familiar with them, yet it can become all too easy to feel like you’re experiencing them in a vacuum -- not so. Allow yourself to be reminded of the universality of doubt, of questioning and recalibrating, and let change you’re going through illuminate a new way forward.

LUCKY BOOK: A Guide to Being Born by Ramona Ausubel

GEMINI

You are Gemini! Let’s hear you ROAR! This month, you’re completely fired and ready to go. Let’s face it: we’re living through some very challenging times, and the pace and content of our breaking news alerts can feel downright dystopic. But there are a number of different ways to engage with that reality, and this month, you’re not feeling particularly inclined to mourn, mope, or stick your fingers into your ears. With the resurgence of spring comes a wave of energy that has you feeling inspired to activism, whatever that might mean for you. Ready to arm yourself with signs and take to the streets? Organize a night of letter-writing making calls to Congress? Creating fundraisers for your favorite charities? There are an abundance of ways to raise your voice in support of the causes that matter the most to you, and we salute your commitment to righting some of the world’s many, many wrongs. Just don’t allow yourself to get so swept up in your vision that you lose sight of the people around you -- especially the people who share a similar goal, but maybe not always the same methods. Buoyed by righteous indignation, it can be alarmingly easy to slip into a dictator-like role rather than listen and compromise when the stakes feel high. For a story that gorgeously and deftly explores modern-day feminism through the lens of a bright young woman, your lucky book this month is guaranteed to please. Simultaneously succinct yet taking a generational view of a few crucial, groundbreaking aspects of women’s liberation, this novel will only stoke your fire, while reminding you of the importance of listening, collaboration, and learning from the people around you.

LUCKY BOOK: The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

CANCER

Hey there, Cancer! Welcome to a brand new month. It won’t be a totally smooth one, but alas, that’s life. There are times that it seems as though no matter what you do, you just can’t win. Even worse, the people you’re closest to -- partner, best friends, parents, siblings -- are sometimes your loudest naysayers. What is that about? Here’s the thing: the ones you know us best are usually able to see our blind spots. If you ate a hearty spinach salad for lunch and had several pieces stuck in your teeth, you’d be furious if someone who claimed to love you pretended not to see it, wouldn’t you? Well, it may be a decidedly less benign issue than impacted spinach, but the fact is, there’s likely an aspect of your life that you’re unwittingly messing up right now, and your loved ones are the only ones in the best position to let you know. Try not to jump to a defensive position, but listen to what they’re saying and take their observations to heart. Maybe their concern is completely unfounded, but most likely, there’s a kernel of truth (if not more) that you can benefit from. They’re helping you. Don’t allow anyone to trash you, of course, but if you feel their intentions are pure, then accept that help, for your sake and for theirs. And consider the alternative: it’s laid out in your lucky book this month. Think of all the poor souls in positions of high visibility and power who didn’t have anyone save them from themselves until it was too late, and they suffered a takedown in front of thousands or even millions of friends, acquaintances, and total strangers. Cautionary tale! Don’t give yourself the chance to be put in that position -- accept the humbling advice, and thank your loved ones for getting you together.

LUCKY BOOK: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

LEO

Into April and through the looking glass, huh Leo? Things are feeling pretty topsy-turvy lately, and it’s beginning to make you a bit seasick. The bad news is, you’re going to have to live with it a bit longer. You’re in a moment of flux: old routines, relationships, and habits that you’ve come to rely on are suddenly changing, often without your permission or preparation. It can be terrifying to feel as though you’ve suddenly lost the plot, and you’re set adrift in what used to be the familiar landmarks of your own life. But! The good news: it will end, eventually. Things will settle and re-organize themselves into a new normal. You can adapt; you will be fine. But until then, figure out some ways to cope with this moment of transition. What are your core beliefs, things that you can turn to when everything else seems wonky and unsure? It can be as simple as returning to a beloved childhood book or movie, attending a religious service, or quiet meditation. Don’t let a few shake-ups disrupt your entire sense of self and stability; after all, you’re still here, aren’t you? Of course, sometimes it helps to have some perspective, and dive into a world where characters are experiencing some similar emotions and handling things all wrong. (Call it literary schadenfreude, the best kind, because it’s guilt-free!) Your lucky book this month features a woman who can’t quite control her reckless impulses when her life begins to spiral out of her control. A startling and moving examination of how race and class collide in 1980s Brooklyn, but darkly sharp enough to feel incredibly relevant today. You’re feeling unsettled? This will settle you right back in!

LUCKY BOOK: New People by Danzy Senna

VIRGO

Oh, Virgo! The advent of Spring is so often a disjointed, murky phenomenon, with indecisive weather outside and inconsistency inside. Messy, in other words. And if there’s one thing you do not relish, it’s mess! Fortunately, the clouds and rain will make way for the sun, but it’s just going to take a bit of time. But think about it this way: when the clutter of life begins to build, the friction it creates helps us get some stuff done more thoroughly than we may have otherwise. Rather than take a depressingly long view, zoom in on the particulars: what is there to be done? If you’re stressed at work, devote an afternoon to cleaning your email inbox. It’s not a sweeping gesture that makes all things right again, but it’s a tangible step towards clarity and peace. Did you find a mouse in your apartment last week that you refuse to think about now? Do yourself a favor and just make the call to an exterminator. Small steps! In every area of your life, pinpoint the rough parts that are bringing you anxiety and pick them off, bit by tiny bit. Progress may be slow, but it’s still progress. You’re getting a doozy of a lucky book this month, one that’s guaranteed to put all of your current issues of perspective yet continue to illuminate the power of making purposeful steps toward your salvation (by whichever scale you happen to measure it). A young boy flung far from his home, pursued by danger and traversing an apocalyptic, barren country, must learn how to choose hope and bravery over despair. In a dystopian world where morals have melted away and one wrong movement can mean sudden death, all he can do is keep his wits about him and keep moving forward. A valuable lesson to absorb, though thankfully at much lower stakes!

LUCKY BOOK: Out in the Open by Jesús Carrasco

LIBRA

Welcome to a brand new month, Libra! And a brand new season to boot. April will bring its challenges, so be prepared for a bit of turbulence. Some of your relationships are about to be tested in a real way, but if you really think about it, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. It can be very easy to let small hurts slide, temporarily let go of missteps and frustrations for the sake of calm and keeping a cool head in the midst of a busy schedule. But the reckoning always comes, sooner or later! Those flashes of irritation don’t really go away if they’re not addressed, they just get buried for the time being. Use this new beginning to have some difficult conversations; you desperately need to vent. And most likely, your partner/friend/family member/coworker does too! Maintain focus on what you need (don’t forget your “I” statements!) and don’t meander into unrelated topics. Think of this as another aspect of spring cleaning: you’re clearing away the debris from past wounds to make room for the goodness and growth to come. Tackling these difficult moments with grace and knowing when to compromise, when to concede, and when to de-escalate are the telltale signs of a healthy, mature relationship, romantic and platonic alike. Your lucky book this month is a modern classic, a hilarious tale of an emotional stunted adult that will paint your relationship endeavors this month in an even more flattering light! It follows the story of ultra-cool Will Freeman, who’s developed the ultimate dating hack: attend single parents’ groups full of single women hoping to meet Mr. Nice Guy. But along comes twelve-year-old Marcus, who takes a liking to Will and turns his seemingly foolproof strategy upside down. Grab this one when you need a mental break from the relationship heavy-lifting; it’ll be sure to provide some laughs when you need them most.

LUCKY BOOK: About a Boy by Nick Hornby

SCORPIO

Scorpio, what’s going on? April’s just begun and it’s already got you down! If you feel yourself growing increasingly stressed by the day, take a step back and look around. Attacking your problems head on will only work if you know what to attack, and right now, your anxiety feels too broad and uncertain to allow for much clarity. Time to embark upon a cleaning mission -- whether that be literal, and you spend a weekend cleaning your apartment or work space from top to bottom; or metaphorical, and you spend a weekend away, doing some intense inner reflection and meditation -- whatever your methods, it’s time to take a short break from life and its stressors in favor of getting yourself back to center. Where are you feeling particularly blocked? What’s standing in your way? You may be surprised by the answers to these questions. But they won’t come to you right away; it takes work and patience to discover these parts of yourself, especially if you’ve been unknowingly hiding from them for a long time. Be intentional: commit yourself to emerging from this place of negativity you’ve been stuck in, but trust yourself to the process. Once you’ve decided to take action and you begin your internal excavation, then allow yourself to truth your own intuition. Don’t dismiss anything that seems like a “stray” thought -- follow them, examine them, see where they lead. Your lucky book this month is thematically appropriate to the struggle you’re working through, as it follows the waterways that branch off from the Colorado River, an essential source for a large part of the United States. A fascinating tale of the many issues affecting our watery ecosystem and how crucial a functional system is for our futures, this book can be a meaningful reminder of what is lost when we fail to acknowledge the many through-lines of our choices and habits. After all, they all have to lead somewhere.

LUCKY BOOK: Where the Water Goes by David Owen

SAGITTARIUS

Happy April, Sag! The sun is shining (...sort of), flowers are just beginning to bloom, and you’re in the mood to make moves. Money moves, to be specific. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that! It makes the world go ‘round, after all, and financial freedom is a blessing. All of that said, chasing meaningless money is the quickest way to end up miserable. Rather, put your talents and interests to work. What do you enjoy doing? What are you good at? If you can imagine it, there is probably a way for you to monetize it. We live in a sharing economy, after all, and it’s easier than ever to market and brand yourself for broad audiences. Of course, balance is key. Too much ambition and you may end up corrupting a once-loved hobby by only taking pleasure in it if brings in some quick cash. Too little and you’re trapped in an endless cycle of procrastination and feeling like a failure. Remember that the only person you should be aiming to impress is YOU, not the other sculptors, essayists, knitters, or dog walkers you follow on social media. Keep your sets sight on the goals you aim to achieve, the milestones you take pleasure in working toward. It will keep your creativity flowing and your momentum steady. Your lucky book this month is about a young woman who grows up watching two groups of fishermen caught up in a generational feud over fishing rights for the water between their islands, off the coast of Maine. When she returns home after college, determined to make a name for herself among this group of headstrong, gruff men, she must reckon with her place in this new society and what she alone can bring to the table.

LUCKY BOOK: Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert

CAPRICORN

Happy April, Cap! The seasons are slowly changing and the emerging sun and warmth are having incredible effects on your productivity and presence. Simply put, you’re in your element this month, a bit heady with power, in whatever arena feels most applicable: in the board room, in your relationship, with your friend group, or some combination of all those and more. People are sitting up and paying attention when you speak, deferring to your ideas, coming to you for guidance and encouragement. If you feel proud, you should: you’ve worked hard to get to where you are, and you deserve that recognition. But as you settle into your new status as a leader, don’t forget yourself or where you came from. That is, tread lightly. Don’t allow your influence to get to your head, and undo all of the work you’ve done to make it this far. It’s cliche because it’s true: power can easily corrupt, so be intentional about the decisions you’re making, how you treat the people around you, and how you conduct yourself. You could be riding this high for a long time, Cap, if you play your right cards right. For inspiration, turn to your lucky book: a sweeping, satisfying tale of a young business tycoon who builds an empire on water, an increasingly scarce ingredient, and recruits other young people from all over “rising Asia” to join him in his quest. But more than untold riches and power, the young businessman hopes to win the affections of a beautiful woman whose career is similarly bound for greatness. In the midst of a rapidly changing world, these two young people are forced to come to terms with what power and riches truly mean, and how much is worth sacrificing to attain them.

LUCKY BOOK: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid

AQUARIUS

Is this all a dream, Aquarius? Or is what you’re experiencing real? April is here, and it’s got you feeling decidedly...trippy. Rather like an extended episode of deja vu, or just like you haven’t gotten enough sleep for past two weeks (which may very well be true; smart phones in bed are a habit you should try to break sooner rather than later!), you’re having more trouble than usual making sense of what’s happening around you. You’ve had a few encounters lately that left you feeling distinctly off-kilter, like there was some giant hint you weren’t picking up on, or social cue you’d utterly missed. Or maybe it’s the inverse of that issue, and you’re blurting things out that you’d normally filter, causing your friends and family to give you that look more often that usual. Yeah, you know the one. Don’t panic, you’re fine. You’re probably just in sore need of a break. March was a trying month and your brain needs a break! Take a few steps away from the hustle of your every day and escape to somewhere quiet for a few days, where you won’t be expected to make sparkling conversation to struggle to remember the names of the five strangers you just met at a stuffy work event. Bust out your old journal and write what you’re thinking, feeling, wishing for. Unload some of the stress that’s carried over from last month and what you’re hoping to accomplish in April. And then, for goodness’ sake, take a few naps! In between these essential moments of R&R, though, get your blood pumping and brain engaged with a riveting tale: a legal conspiracy steeped in racism that shocked the nation in 1957. There is nothing like the satisfaction of witnessing a truly gifted journalist at work, slowly peeling back the layers of subterfuge and lies to get to the long-concealed truth. You’ll relish this one, and by the end, you’ll be raring to jump back into the fray of human society, if for anything, to tell someone else about this book.

LUCKY BOOK: Beneath a Ruthless Sun by Gilbert King

PISCES

What’s good, Pisces? April’s barely arrived and your social calendar is half full already! Understandable -- the glimpses of warmer weather have probably awakened a desire for outdoor brunches and long walks through the park that were in hibernation during the long, cold months of winter. So socialize away! But as you’re putting yourself out there for one-on-one time or group hang time, be mindful of who you’re penciling into your life. You tend to pride yourself on knowing when to cut toxic people out, but those individuals have a way of creeping back in when your defenses are low. It’s a new month, it’s a new day, and you’ve come too far to backslide now. Maintain a squad of true friends who have proven that they’re looking out for your best interests, just as they know you’d do for them. If a family member becomes too demanding and controlling, don’t be afraid to make your discomfort known. Closed mouths don’t get fed, after all, and keeping consistently healthy relationships means that sometimes, you need to have uncomfortable conversations that tell the truth. If you open yourself up to people, then you have to accept that not every interaction will be 100% pleasant, and be prepared to respond accordingly. Luckily, your selection for the month is engrossing and thrilling enough to offer you the distraction you’ll most likely need from various pockets of fiction. A short story that examines the ties that bind us to each other through gripping narration and sprinkles of magical realism and myth, this is one that you’ll tear through and walk away from forever slightly changed.

LUCKY BOOK: What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah

#riverhead #riverhead books #reader horoscope #readerscope #horoscope #astrology #zodiac #aries #aries season #april horoscope #books #reading #spring reads #new releases #now in paperback

133 notes · View notes

autoirishlitdiscourses · 4 years ago

Text

Discourse of Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Perhaps most importantly, though. One of these have genuinely hurt your grade provided that you do all of your perspective and talking, and that you should have read your texts, and it's a reliable source some guy ranting about sociopathy in a more impassioned which may have noticed that he approves, though. I think others are compelled to live and come out unscathed, full of rather depictions that are not meant to move up, you did a very good reason for not writing a general plan such as Firefox with the professor, but it would have helped to have in section this quarter, too. A-paper, no, I think that this is a hard time distancing themselves from their topics well enough in advance that people saw in the third paragraph of the poem's rhythm and showed this in terms of which parts of the poem; performed a nuanced and graceful, and failure to notice an email, but it wasn't saved by the time I saw Cake in Golden Gate Park back in, say, because freedom is a good weekend. So, for the delay.

Etc. Is Calculated in excruciating detail This document has not always an easy task, as it can be found on the reading yet, and your readings sometimes fall flat because you're bright and can take some reasonable guesses. 10 pm tonight requirement in grad school. You two have some very perceptive readings of the things the professor mentioned in lecture, you had thought closely about what your argument, as outlined in my office hours. For one thing that would be to conceptualize the paper does what it can be hard to get at this stage, but ID #3 overlaps substantially with ID #9 from the group very effectively and in a coffee shop, I think that Ulysses has and did this without being warmed up eventually, and giving other people react to Dexter may very well wind up living out amongst it.

Again, thank you for a while ago that might help students to review that document anyway, but need to refine your thesis statement at the final starts and nine a. Contact and Communications Policy: I think, is to take so long to get into South Hall is locked on weekends. Though not by any means the only way that Francie's home is? This is not a full recitation schedule in both sections in this, then do come to section. Up to/two percent/for leading an insightful, focused discussion about the source of a particular depiction of people we have sympathy for Francie, and extreme claims require very strong alcohol, often lost to modern readers and got a perfectly acceptable as-is possible for you and think about what we mean by passionate, and I think that practicing just a moment, counting absolutely everything except for the previous group and what is Mary likely to be fully successful, though. Part Two vocab. Answer: a custom brought to the question? The fact that you were to go with it. I suppose, is to provide additional evidence or an idea of his speech and demeanor is expected from everyone in class to speak, and good choice, depending on where you move a bit more. Let me know how many minutes away you are nervous about possibly having accidentally leaked confidential information, at your U-Mail address regularly. Lesson Plan for Week 8: General Thoughts and Notes Mooney, TA, I imagine, and you do well. 5% of the term that make sense? I didn't get your hands on a Thursday, December 10 30% of course readings or issues that I've pointed to some comparatively nitpicky issues to which you dealt. You seemed a bit too tired tonight to do. Hi! One suggestion I have a fairly natural relationship well. I think that your grade I'd just like to see whether that answers your questions? I think that paying very close to this explicitly when I responded to this document is, again, and thereby enrich your analysis on other classes and do not impede the reader's ability to construct your answer. That's fine with me for now so no one else in your paper and saying so is an unlucky month for marriages may be surprised if they cover ground which you make sure that you're already doing a large gap for recall and some people will have an A-and carrot-related question #1, because right now the single biggest influence on your paper is not simultaneously one of the quarter a very, very perceptive. Make sure not to write questions on the paper proposal you sent me the URL where you need any changes made that are very solid job of deploying pauses effectively to the end. One problem that I don't know that the writer considers obvious. I'll accommodate you if I can. There will be recited during our second section meeting during week 1,3, and I expect that you'll need to do here would help to increase your specificity would be necessary to somehow be constructed through texts that you're one of the more likely it is probably unnecessary, because asking people whether they agree with opinions that have been possible to give a close reading of Ulysses in productive ways that you wanted to work, and practicing a bit more practice but your writing is quite interesting. You covered some important material provided an interpretive pathway into one of her anguish in response to that point in the first week, though, you in section during Thanksgiving week, you do. 1-3:50 or so announcement to your final paper. All in all, are they terrible, and then make the paper's relevance to contemporary Irish-descended manual laborers in the position of protector from the first line of the recitation half of Yeats's poem, gave a sensitive, thoughtful, engaged delivery, and I think you're on the other reading assignments for Ulysses recitations is over remember that at the beginning of the text.

In Conclusion. But you've done a lot of ways in which language and thought closely about it. One good, and each piece of land. You had a lot of these is to say that you have too many pieces of writing for this paper to punch through to a strong job here, but afraid to use the texts with which you are perfectly capable of doing better than I had been stronger in other audio equipment to record your performance. You had a good job in many ways basically fair to the topic you will have to define your key terms. If you go over twelve I'll start making discreet kneecap-breaking gestures unless someone before you begin working on memorizing it by adding. Two student musical performances have been meaning to get in without waiting at 3:30 to discuss how you respond to any emails by Monday night, you are hopefully already memorizing. Again, thank you for being such a strong job of thinking about it in then. It's a good night, and, despite the fact that the Irish experience that should help you with issues that you mention that Bloom ponders Roentgen rays in the Ulysses lectures which, come to a natural end or otherwise need to be fully successful, however. You had said that he has never met. If you have any questions, please consult a writing handbook, or Muldoon, Extraordinary Rendition: Patrick Kavanagh, Eavan Boland, Muldoon, provided that everyone is also productive ways to get people to engage with the poem's ideas needed a vocal pause in order to be reciting as soon as possible it is necessary to try to force a discussion. On her mind simply because they're yours. I'm sorry about that character. Hi! In addition to the zombies, who mentioned it to me but I think that this was a pleasure having you in section tonight like you were well above adequate here for grading purposes. Totally up to them? Chivalry, honor generally means that, and let me know if you don't email me and holding eye contact for me! Thanks. I like arrangement more. Both of these as a section on 27 November discussion of a short breakdown on your paper to be more specific claim that's in theory to enter into culminant stage of the book it appears on your own purpose. Hi! DON'T FORGET TO BRING BLUE BOOKS TO THE FINAL! You may remember that your pacing was quite good. I will still expect you to punch through to being caught up on the midterm. And, yes, perfect! Name/both/items Bloom orders for lunch;/or which elements you see evidence of feminization, specifically, to work at the evidence, and I'm sure you'll do well. Similarly, the upshot is that you need to focus your thoughts in your discussion score reflects this. Are the descnts of Irish, and so unreciprocated love is being transmitted, specifically? Dennis Redmond 2. One more note: the namby-pamby justice system has its hands tied by a good job of balancing your time as a whole has a particular time Wednesday afternoon my regular office hour that day, then it's perfectly acceptable to use your own, and may be elementary and/or the penalty. Good question. Thought for the term; b it's OK with me this one. I think that there is no genuine contribution to the reader or the various quite excellent feminist readings that you intend to accept it by 11:30 tomorrow, as it can be hard to draw the full text of the IDs they attempt, and it's been the case and I feel that it will replace the grade sheets for all students, too, about conversation, or would prefer to avoid responding to both of my students: Explanations for the phrase is chosen because it makes my life easier if you want it to get these to you. I've gotten pretty good at picking up cues that this is the case and I think that it naturally wants to do to be less behind and have more to offer than you might, of Yeats and nationalism? Pdfs from Precarious Life to you. So I had a good but quite difficult piece of writing. If you want to do so, so make/absolutely sure that you're making dinner, waiting for the course. Though I haven't yet posted a copy for my records, but also the only person reciting and discussing the selection in question generally or always plays by the prosaic fact that liberals are really important; and any other characteristic other than the end of the section they describe and how it can be hard to get back to people. However, be aware of your project, and exploring additional related issues, specifically, issues relating to slavery, identity, there are some ways in this paper, and keep you at C. Again, this is rather heavy, and haven't used the same time, I felt that it occurs. On a related but more so that you attend section during the add period and how much work it can also be aggressively dropping non-passing grade, but there are ways in which you are missing section, so let me record the conversation without badgering or threats or even any real need for me. Participatory-ness, I think, are engaging in close readings of Butcher Boy, you had a good job this week.

Perhaps a question is a mark of professionalism on your writing and its mechanics may also, if that reason isn't going to motivate people to open discussion about the issues involved, but an important part of the poems by Yeats we talked about this in your key terms and presuppositions and taking the no-show penalty, which gives you a grade in the background so that it would help you work on future writing—you've demonstrated this quite clearly and lucidly in general is a good Thanksgiving break. I'll give you good things to focus your thoughts to, and below 103 to drop a photocopy of the following table: If a fellow gave them trouble being lagged they let him have it hot and heavy in the future will help you to reschedule, and #5, about finding something to say, but some students may not, but are not currently checked out, you have any questions, OK?

There are lots of good work here, but I don't fully know myself the professor. Mp3 of the authors in the meantime or have been assessed for you if you don't need to hold the 11:45 is the point value of each of you and the larger structures and concerns and did a good sense of rhythm.

I'm also happy to give quite a long time, whereas with Dexter, what you want to make it the second excerpt from a topic that includes it; again, this sounds great! You dig into the details of phrasing and style would, I think, a very good job of accomplishing many important qualities of the one in exchange details in a lot of ways.

Again, thank you for being a nuanced critic of your total score for you, and he will be to make it support that central claim that for sure that I would say the smartest way to construct an overall narrative is fundamentally very fair in most places is basically avoiding the so what? B-paper demonstrates a solid connection between romance and the specific language of your performance idea, and you did a good thumbnail background to the research resources on the professor's English 150.

Beyond that, overall. If a legitimate need arises for you is so strong that it looks like the Synge vocabulary quiz on John Synge's play, contemporary politics, religion, and that asking yourself what your paper should be sure. Wordsworth's Prelude frequently describes the poet thinking or resting under a bunch of old people who are not particularly likely, but it's more or less right before the reflecting gleams. You've got a special offer, if you count days from now. —This is true in academia as well. —, Ulysses 11.

Discussion notes for week 4. A for the midterm as a team and gave a good sense of rhythm was not how I think that you're both aware that you should have said when we first scheduled recitations. Have a good number of things quite well here, and especially of An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Yeats, The Stare's Nest By My Window 6 p. You Are Old Yeats, The Butcher Boy; you have any questions! All of these are impressive moves. Students who are advocates of reform as a team and gave a sensitive, thoughtful job of reading the Japanese car as a lens to tell; changed We feel in England believe on line 648; changed of to and the British pound or pound sterling is complex and probably very healthy move.

Truthfully, I have one of the following characters in order to follow it. I have not yet been updated to reflect the Thanksgiving holiday. This is a strong paper, and that's not required by the time period during which your UMail addresses are forwarded are rejecting messages. Great! Section Discussion Notes These notes are absolutely welcome to propose other text/that you give a quiz. Ultimately, it's a wonderful poem, and what these differences might mean. This does not overlap with yours, but you are from the book has that passage I take it in a lot of things is he concerned with Irish nationalism, and your writing is so impassioned. You can always find my own editing process, but will be worth 50 points for not coming to section for the week. This is the specificity of its most precious illusions. Again, thank you for a single text, and I have enough exams printed. Doubtless your intelligence and enthusiasm mean that you want any changes, and have a hard text, though I occasionally feel that picking only well … primarily sources that disagree with you, because you'll probably do at the window that's closest to it from a higher overall grade for the quarter so far, mid-century Japanese cinema. It's only 32 lines of poetry handout, which perhaps requires you to, supportive of, say, emigrants during the first week in which it could be structured, but I can take the paper to this explicitly when I need to be more effective for you never quite come out and talk about, and it completely slid off my back, but they're also doing a solid job of structuring your paper should be proud of it, in part because it affects your grade, divided as follows: total number of things that people were holding up the appropriate types that add to your paper. You also did a good way to get graded first this week. This might be a productive analytical framework is too open because its boundaries are rather jarring—my own suspicion is ultimately up to you as an obvious set of ideas. Have a good place to close-read. This can be a productive way to motivate people to reflect on the final one selection from The Butcher Boy if you approve. However, any of them. These are real problems that I've gestured toward, though I think you've got a very good job here is going to do a shorter passage, but I don't think that it's important, and number the episodes on the poem and its historical situation. Great! There are some books that I mark you present on my SoundCloud account and link to the beach? This means that the airman gets out of all my students are going pretty well in the wrong field but grad students who are, even in California, nothing is more likely he is not so general that it's a concentrated bit that represents, in my margin comments.

#Irish literature #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Python #Markov chains

0 notes