Gabriel's Rapture
question
Is Gabriel not as nice as we think he is??
Terry
Nov 05, 2012 05:54PM
Gabriel's Rapture
I feel like a traitor. My knees still go weak when I read (or listen to) Gabriel's lovemaking skills. I love both books and have read them way too many times. Which is why it hurts me to say this: Gabriel is not a hero -- he's an anti-hero. For about 3/4 of the book, Gabriel is not a nice guy where it matters (except in the bedroom, and I guess it does matter there.:)
I was listening to the Paulina/Christmas chapters driving home today, particularly the scene where Gabriel opens Paulina's present and runs out toward the orchard. I listened to the dialogue between him and Julia, and the uncovering of more lies. BIG lies.
And for all of his excuses and reasons, I realized that even then, after he professes his adoration of Julia and total honesty when he first takes her to bed, his moral compass is ambiguous at best. That is the definition of an anti-hero -- one who lives in morally ambiguous space for the so-called good of others.
He lies -- a lot. He holds back truths that Julia needed to make an adult decision about him. He held back information about the important call from Jeremy Martin -- his dept Chair, that involved Julia and their relationship. He held back talking to Julia about what he was doing in his home office until 3 am.
He has a pouty temper tantrum when Julia has her period. He introduces her to sex, turns her on in ways she didn't know existed, and then denies her (and himself) later (as he says to her,"What a stunning reversal.") You bet. He doesn't tell her that Paulina came to see him in January. He feels entitled to make all the decisions and they are hurtful and dishonest ones. A real anti-hero.
I love how SR weaved this story of love and forgiveness, and I think he wrote these books with a level of complexity that we as readers overlook. There is far more to Gabriel than first meets the eye.
I will admit that Gabriel does a monumental (and painful) job of coming to terms with all he's done. He deserves Julia's love by the end of the second book. I think he reeks sexuality in a way that sucks us in (pardon the pun.) Sex on legs? Yes. But now I'm just not so sure I like him very much. Do you agree or am I totally off base?
I feel like a traitor. My knees still go weak when I read (or listen to) Gabriel's lovemaking skills. I love both books and have read them way too many times. Which is why it hurts me to say this: Gabriel is not a hero -- he's an anti-hero. For about 3/4 of the book, Gabriel is not a nice guy where it matters (except in the bedroom, and I guess it does matter there.:)
I was listening to the Paulina/Christmas chapters driving home today, particularly the scene where Gabriel opens Paulina's present and runs out toward the orchard. I listened to the dialogue between him and Julia, and the uncovering of more lies. BIG lies.
And for all of his excuses and reasons, I realized that even then, after he professes his adoration of Julia and total honesty when he first takes her to bed, his moral compass is ambiguous at best. That is the definition of an anti-hero -- one who lives in morally ambiguous space for the so-called good of others.
He lies -- a lot. He holds back truths that Julia needed to make an adult decision about him. He held back information about the important call from Jeremy Martin -- his dept Chair, that involved Julia and their relationship. He held back talking to Julia about what he was doing in his home office until 3 am.
He has a pouty temper tantrum when Julia has her period. He introduces her to sex, turns her on in ways she didn't know existed, and then denies her (and himself) later (as he says to her,"What a stunning reversal.") You bet. He doesn't tell her that Paulina came to see him in January. He feels entitled to make all the decisions and they are hurtful and dishonest ones. A real anti-hero.
I love how SR weaved this story of love and forgiveness, and I think he wrote these books with a level of complexity that we as readers overlook. There is far more to Gabriel than first meets the eye.
I will admit that Gabriel does a monumental (and painful) job of coming to terms with all he's done. He deserves Julia's love by the end of the second book. I think he reeks sexuality in a way that sucks us in (pardon the pun.) Sex on legs? Yes. But now I'm just not so sure I like him very much. Do you agree or am I totally off base?
He's unlikeable to certain degree and I've always wondered about that meeting he had with Paulina back in Canada. A hero is a hero...not all are meant to be likeable but darn it I do...cnt help it =)
i think there were definitely times when he wasn't my favorite. he's got a bit of a history that we don't know from 'back in the day' and then the Paulina connection kind of bugs me too. but i keep trying to see deep into his heart to find the guy that she's been 'obsessed' with for so long
I think he is a lil grumpy but Julia is slowly changing him. Deep down he is a wonderful guy he just has a lot of walls to get through.
i know what you mean!.I really felt anger towards Gabriel during the orchard scene at christmas.He lied to Julia and withheld information from her.I also cannot believe he left her for 3 hours to spend time with Paulina.Julia should have been way more angry with him.
I think he is grumpy because he doesn't like himself. He doesn't think he is worth loving. This stems from him being adopted and not feeling he is worth the love of his adopted mother. She loved him for who he was and he thought he brought her pain, Julia is much like her, he feels like he will bring her pain but can't stay away from her. He has so much guilt about Paulina. He introduced her to drugs, he was so high that he didn't realize she went into early labor. So because of he is selfish and high she loses their baby. I think he was trying to do the right thing. Paulina knows that he feels guilty and uses it aginst him. he finally realizes he is not helping her get better by enabling her and bailing her out so he lets her go. So sometimes your heart can be in the right place but comes out wrong.
I don't think he is meant to be the hero in the story. I think he is a man. Not a great man or a bad man. He is a Tortured soul that needs to be saved by the love of one woman, Julia.
So,if you need a hero to the story, I think that Julia is the hero.
So,if you need a hero to the story, I think that Julia is the hero.
I did not look for him to be a hero. At the beginning of the first book I did not like him. I found him to be materialistic and self absorbed. As I continued to read though I began to understand his need for material things and realized he was no self absorbed at all. He actually had a deep self loathing issue.
He revered Julia though, worshipped her almost. The love and devotion he was able to give to her after the life he had lived. Whether it be the life he was given or even the lifestyle he chose as he grew up. Neither was good. He came out of the darkness and found the light with her, if you will.
As hard as it was to read my favorite part of the books is in the second book when they are apart for months. Him going to Italy and essentially finding himself is very poignant to me. He was able to love her deeper and be a better love/husband to her in the end because of the time they spent apart. He grew emotionally and spiritually during that time. He needed to do that for himself and for them as a couple.
He revered Julia though, worshipped her almost. The love and devotion he was able to give to her after the life he had lived. Whether it be the life he was given or even the lifestyle he chose as he grew up. Neither was good. He came out of the darkness and found the light with her, if you will.
As hard as it was to read my favorite part of the books is in the second book when they are apart for months. Him going to Italy and essentially finding himself is very poignant to me. He was able to love her deeper and be a better love/husband to her in the end because of the time they spent apart. He grew emotionally and spiritually during that time. He needed to do that for himself and for them as a couple.
i didnt know there was gonna be a 3rd book to this series, i cant wait to see what its about too. i hope its good, the second book endend with them getting married maybe he will get his visectomy reversed and they will have a baby together. :)
I didn't like him at first but then he evolved and that's what I liked. Yeah, he was stupid in parts but Julia changed all that and it was amazing to feel the love pour from this man for her. I really would like to know what the storyline for book 3...I can't figure out where the author is going to take Gabriel and Julia.
I don't think Julia had a right to be upset about what Gabriel did prior to their romantic relationship. It is actually none of her business, so by even discussing it with her, Gabriel was not really acting in a gentlemanly manner. He was mean to Julia in the beginning of the book and for that he is flawed like any other human being.
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Jan 24, 2013 07:44AM · flag