Status Updates From Angel in Scarlet

Book has somewhat redeemed itself because the main character learned that theater is actually a lot of work and skill, and there was a sex scene where people were actually enjoying themselves and both fully into it. Still don’t like how this book handles some material.

The way this books talks of theater bugs me as well. Maybe I’m just too protective of my art form, haha. But, well, I feel like Angela doesn’t have enough experience in a theater to really judge good performances from bad, and she’s so judgemental of heightened dialogue — as if all theater isn’t in some sense heightened. Heightened does not equal bad or unrealistic. Suspension of disbelief is a thing yknow.

I hate the way almost all the men in this book won’t take no for an answer. I am furious that the women are treated as adults when they are teenagers and underage. I am so done with the main character refusing to accept she is pretty when everyone tells her the opposite. She — as narrator — even describes herself with adjectives that make one think of someone who looks nice, but can’t accept she looks nice.

Pretty engaging, actually, and the character building isn’t bad, but there’s a lot of Eurocentric beauty standards.

“Actresses were supposed to be temperamental and exclusive, haughty creatures who were surrounded by sycophants and had nothing to do with the common folk” ya so not an expert on 18th century theatre but I do that actresses were on the same social scale as sex workers, and definitely were not seen as “nothing to do with the common folk”.

“You don’t look a day over 26”, I assured her” *blinks in 27* ma’am I know it’s the 1700s but fuck off lmao 🤣

Maybe it’s because I have allergies, but having sex on a haystack, especially when it’s your first time, sounds absolutely itchy and miserable!

“You need to get laid” okay wHat? Wilde’s books have never been a beacon of historical accuracy but like??? Was this a phrase in the 80s when this book was written???

“Father didn’t consider me one of the “females”. We had a special relationship…we were friends as well as father and daughter, allies against female tyranny that prevailed throughout the rest of the house” YUP lol HAS NOT AGED WELL

I genuinely don’t understand why I like Wilde’s books, as they haven’t aged well, the MCs are all generally the same, and I just read the word “horny” in a book that I’m guessing takes place in the 18th or early 19th century, but something about his writing sucks me in.

I would murder someone to find an og physical copy of the book, I’m obsessed with the cover.