Ariel’s Comments (group member since Nov 09, 2013)

Ariel’s comments from the Bad Books, Good Times group.

Charlotte wrote: "I think Erik is probably the worst since his insidious hot/cold jealousy thing feels super abuser-y, yet we're still supposed to see him as a viable love interest."

Yeah he seriously rubs me the wrong way. I think Zoey is waking up to it a bit finally, so I'm relieved that it looks like the Casts are more aware than I thought of what they were doing with him as a character. Time will tell, though...and given how they're now writing Stark, I'm skeptical of all their portrayals of Zoey's love interests.

Who is the most and least awful of Zoey's love interests? Right now, I'm ashamed to say, I think Heath is the least awful (somehow), and Stark is the worst. It's pretty shocking that somehow Erik isn't the worst! And I'm not even counting Loren Blake because OBVIOUSLY HE WAS THE WORST!

So we (and by we I mean me, Ariel) finally spoiled that the "big twist" at the end of Beautiful Oblivion is that Cami's boyfriend T.J. is A MADDOX BRO.

We all should have known since his name begins with a "T", but alas, McGuire kept this so secret that the twist actually makes no sense.

Please discuss/rage/mock/moan about the injustice of it all here.

It's sad, but I'm really enjoying doing a lot of non-fiction reading. Like I'm reading The Art of SEO right now, and it's awesome and fascinating how search engines work and decide what information is relevant and trustworthy. Somehow some of our posts were deemed relevant and trustworthy when searching things like "Fifty Shades Excerpt," so that's weird and hilarious.

Bellomy, I plan on checking out your stuff! Also, have you thought about writing any more guest posts? The Animorphs/Host one was great, and people really enjoyed it.

Beth wrote: "I hate that this is how the Casts picture a 'mature beyond her years' teenager. I mean, I can't even imagine if they had written this from the viewpoint of an average one!"

Sam wrote: "I hate...DESPISE the slut shaming!"

I couldn't agree more with you both. Matt said it above, but it's Zoey's relentless hypocrisy that really undermines the supposed "mature beyond her years" characterization.

I left this out of my post on chapter 17, but there's this whole bit where Zoey says that she's always telling Kayla to be nicer to people, and then moments later she starts talking about what an awful loser Elliot is (you know, the kid who is failing life). And it's like, "Riiiight, Kayla is the mean one."

I think for me the most frustrating, enraging thing is when Zoey says things like "I hate homophobes" and then says something like "Damien isn't like those other weird, girly gay guys." Oh ya, so progressive, Zo.

Also all the poop mentions.

How bout you guys?

Share your favorite moments of misogyny demonstrated in one of the bad books! Relive the good times and let the nostalgia wash over you as you remember the time when Christian almost murdered Ana when she sunbathed topless. Or when Gideon had Eva stay in his hotel so that he could have people spy on her and prevent other men from even saying hi to her.

Natalie wrote: "Please finish with Entwined!"

Hopefully after we're done one of the current books :) I don't want to leave it for too long.

I'll probably end up doing the next book on the blog at some point in the near future while Matt does another book potentially (he realllly doesn't want to read more of this while I still do. But he's got his own cool book planned that I was like "uggg do I have to do that one!")

Can't believe we're finishing up Reflected in You this week! Who else is pumped to get started on another new book?