Francesca Danielle > Recent Status Updates

Lasco remarks that the high value placed on physical appearance should be obvious -- yes, it's a given that height matters here in the Philippines. Still, I never considered how a person's very verticality could be considered body capital. That's a new phrase I should use -- body capital.

The fourth play, "The Beatas" was amazing! It started off slowly, but the motif of the hermanas acting as faithful soldiers to the cause and trudging along together even when it meant going against patriarchal society.... it was amazing. It lost me in some parts because I'm not religious, but I still appreciated what it was trying to say

The third play, "Fathers and Sons", explores the idea of the cycles of abuse and violence between family generations in an interesting and visceral way. Pain only emerges from pain inflicted, and forgiveness is a merciful salve that is elusive to those who have been hurt before. My favorite of all plays so far!

This is a really difficult book for me to read because it feels like I'm intruding on private letters (which. I am.) but I love the hopeless, tragic romance between two people who aren't meant to be together

The first play, "A Portrait of the Artist" is a good commentary on the family structure of the Philippines and the pressure for women to uphold their role as caretaker, daughter, and wife. No wonder the script has been used time and time again for adaptations LOL

I liked the second play "Tatarin" more than the former because it felt more visceral and painful and I do love a painful, uncomfortable reading experience

Ivan and Alyosha getting along is so sweet, honestly. Hearing Ivan’s personal views was interesting—to cast aside the world and not believing in a God-made one. How life is meant to be lived in belief, but Ivan has none whatsoever. Walking contradiction.

Snegirev and Ilyusha are so.. soo [grips with force]! I enjoyed reading about Snegirev and his family. They felt like a real and tangible family that you could find in Russia. I loved this chapter—“Heartbreak Outdoors”—as well!

“Heartbreak in the Drawing Room” has got to be my favorite chapter of all time. It really shows how every character is a walking contradiction. I loved how raw all the lines felt! Especially from Katerina and Ivan. Katerina using Dmitry to soother her pride was excellent. Ivan recognizing that he was an instrument was just as good. He doesn’t want to be used like Katerina. Ohhh, that was so very good.

Smerdyakov is slowly growing on me. Help!

Oh my God. Dmitry’s tirade was so painful to read. Clearly, he’s inebriated and poor Alyosha (whose love for his brother is quite cute.. he wanted to help for badly) is just sitting there and waiting for him to Get A Grip.

Again, the hints of Alyosha becoming a true “Karamazov” because all of them have insects that stir up the sensuality within them.

I loved the insect imagery too!!

Dostoevsky, I’m begging you to keep going with the parallels.

This time, you put two queens against each other (Zosima and Ivan) and show that their differences run even to their core philosophies. As to who I am more similar with, well. I have no idea. Humanity is tricky, fully loving it is trickier. I can certainly see where both sides are coming from though. But, the general vs specific is so good <3

Funny how even the “best” of the Karamazovs is just as terrible as the rest of them. What a cursed family, shackled to their passions and emotions—even the most rational of the brothers is swayed by love and desire. How very fun ❤️

Man, the convoluted love triangle. The summary did /not/ lie at all.

Funny how all the Karamazovs are all such interesting characters and how Ivan is so similar to Fyodor. Maybe that’s why they’re so close. Alyosha’s reverence to Zosima is quite sweet. Premature mourning hit home—why grieve what is still alive? Very nice chapter, honestly

Ivan really is so cerebral. The Church absorbing the State instead of the other way around really surprised me. I’m not going to pretend and say that I understand what he’s saying, but this concept that was suddenly turned on its head is really so interesting? Dostoevsky is able to find novel ways to show common themes. I literally want to study this man under a microscope.

I seriously don’t know how Dostoevsky can talk so candidly about love through dialogue alone. It shows that you can say less and mean more, especially when it comes to the character of the one speaking. I love how truth and love are juxtaposed. Zosima is right—how can you love what seems like a lie? Is that truly love, or would deceiving yourself into believing it was suffice?

You are crazy for writing this.

There’s a lot of discussion about truth and happiness, as well as how these two are connected. Zosima clearly values truth because being honest allows you to find what truly makes you happy, rather than being deceitful to yourself. Fyodor, who has lies lining his tongue is a direct opposite of that.

Also, Alyosha was quite cute in this chapter. Poor thing was so embarrassed by his dad

read this book while signing up for voters registration!! ended up devouring nearly half of it! can’t say i regret reading it when it kept me so occupied ^v^

danielle (they/them) 🎐 ‘25 bs biology
started this account to get back into reading! it’s one of my goals for 2022 🌾

Silly little Russians and their bouts of hysteria stemming from the harsh lives led by peasant women. I like the philosophical bouts that arise from this book, and it’s a joy to see Zosima and Fyodor converse considering that the latter is a living paradox of a man. He fascinates me in a morbidly curious way.