Hush, Hush: The Story

[zelda_queen]

ZeldaQueen: So, we've gone through the story, and now it's time for one last test. We get to look at the book summary and see if we get an accurate representation of what it's about. Everyone ready?

Comments

[angel_renoir]

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Well, SUBTLE foreshadowing for the sequels. Subtle because it's only in the summary and not in the actual book. There's NO implication whatsoever that there's any battle between the angels, fallen or otherwise, and the Nephilim (I'm assuming they're the ones being talked about here) and there's no mention of Nora having to choose sides. IT MAKES NO SENSE. At least Meyer, once she had the idea of werewolves VS vampires for New Moon, went back and sort of wove it into Twilight.

I hate you, book.

You know, I had a sporking of this started a few months back, but never got around continuing. Do you think it's worth continuing, Zelda, since I've already read someone else's spork on it?

[zelda_queen]

Indeed, it is. Although given how painfully obvious it is that Fitzpatrick didn't plan for the sequels, it's probably more like she took the idea from the book jacket and ran with it. -_-

Sure! I say go for it! :) And if you continue on with it, send me a link. I'd love to read it. ^_^

[szaleniec1000]

Also, you ever notice how it's always that the girl has never had any interest in guys before The Love Of Her Life shows up? What, does it make an epic love unbelievable to imply that there were relationships before that?

If there's one thing I could go back and tell myself ten years ago, it's that One True Love™ is the exception rather than the rule and though it always sucks when a relationship goes south, it's not the end of the world. And I can only imagine how much worse it is for girls, because boys aren't bombarded with the YOU MUST FIND YOUR ONE TRUE LOVE message to anything like the same extent.

[stormswift]

I will give one teensy weensy reality point: we are dealing with teenagers, here. In reality, it's not uncommon for someone in their late teens to be inexperienced with relationships. In reality, if Nora's town is really so teeny-tiny, it's possible that she's reviewed her list of candidates and was all "screw that noise, I need some new options". In reality, teenage boys are by and large not the most desirable people to date.

In this instance, however, I will concede that there are all sorts of skeevy and DO NOT WANT attached with the constant trope of the Pure Maiden, Untouched By Love Until He Shows Up. I mean, hasn't she had crushes? Celebrity boyfriends? Is she asexual (which would actually be kind of interesting)?

Authors seem to forget that teenagers - yes, even teenage girls - are chock-full of horomones. THERE SHOULD BE FEELINGS SOMEWHERE. Drawing purely from my own experiences, my teenage years were full of sexual confusion, ill-fated crushes, and a few bad relationships. None of my relationships, bad or otherwise,

[detritius]

For another reality point, I'd also find it reasonably believable that, if her town is really that tiny, she has a hard time being attracted to any of the guys she knows because she grew up around them and just doesn't see them that way. Then it would make at least a little more sense that she's intrigued by the new guy in town. Of course, in this version, it would help if she was shown to have been attracted to some guy before that, like a movie star or the lead singer from her favorite band or something. Because the way it stands now, it just seems like she's never even thought about it before, and that is a little too close to the Pure Maiden trope you mention.

[gehayi]

you ever notice how it's always that the girl has never had any interest in guys before The Love Of Her Life shows up? What, does it make an epic love unbelievable to imply that there were relationships before that? Or, considering how Patch treats Dabria, is it a disgusting double standard that it's fine for guys to date around, but girls should be demure and save themselves for the Right Guy?Yeah, I'd say it's a disgusting double standard. It reminds me of the Ginny Weasley Wars of the Potterverse, in which large numbers of fans developed a hatred for Ginny because she dared to date Michael Corner and Dean Thomas before dating Harry. It took me quite a while to realize that the hostile fans were presuming that Ginny wasn't just dating the boys, she was fucking them regularly and b)while the hostile fans were okay with the three boys having sex with Ginny, they were FURIOUS that Ginny would have the effrontery to fuck a boy who wasn't her True Love (TM) or to start and end a relationship with a boy, rather than waiting for him to do

[zelda_queen]

"It took me quite a while to realize that the hostile fans were presuming that Ginny wasn't just dating the boys, she was fucking them regularly and b)while the hostile fans were okay with the three boys having sex with Ginny, they were FURIOUS that Ginny would have the effrontery to fuck a boy who wasn't her True Love (TM) or to start and end a relationship with a boy, rather than waiting for him to do either

[chibi_regalli]

... That idea saddens me. Particularly since Ginny was obviously a bit upset when they broke up, but there were way more important things going on. Like, y'know, Dumbledore's death. Besides, she knew, he knew, and lichens growing under rocks knew (though apparently this loser didn't) that it was because Death Eaters were bent on killing everything Harry ever loved or cared about and, assuming they were both still alive once Voldemort was gone and dealt with, they would probably get together again. I mean, it was pretty obvious.

[zelda_queen]

"Besides, she knew, he knew, and lichens growing under rocks knew (though apparently this loser didn't) that it was because Death Eaters were bent on killing everything Harry ever loved or cared about and, assuming they were both still alive once Voldemort was gone and dealt with, they would probably get together again. I mean, it was pretty obvious

[aikaterini]

/And never so unbelievable. Seriously, there is not a single thing in that book that warrants Nora changing her mind about Patch being a dangerous asshole

[zelda_queen]

Well, there is a bit where Zoey basically says that she isn't sure she wants to date Erik because he had been with Aphrodite, but it still comes across as bitchy, given how unwilling he was. Given how Kayla was treated for wanting to hook up with Heath and how the two girls who later try to hook up with Erik (who has blessedly dumped Zoey by that point), I think the rule of sexuality and dating in the House of Night world pars down to "Does Zoey think that guy is hot? If so, he is forgiven any trespasses and any girls who try to date him are whores".

[chibi_regalli]

Well, the childhood sweetheart one in number four sounds okay, on paper at least. Still, I'm betting there's some execution fail for it to get mentioned? Plus, it's an annoying trend.