reagan’s Reviews > If We Were Villains > Status Update

“Where is the villain, Edmund?”

“Where is the villain, Edmund? Here, sir, but trouble him not- his wits are gone.”

…

“Stop, stop! No help? The enemy’s in view! … The wheel is come full circle; I am here!”

Something about this Shakespeare dialogue is really tugging at me. It does a masterful job of conveying the guilt and horror of the death.

Ok so love the conversation but I don’t think there’s been enough built up tension to warrant Oliver’s strong reaction. So much of it happens off screen (James being flighty) that I’m still trapped in their Thanksgiving holiday together. That’s much more memorable.

“He kissed her once more, this time long and lingering. My mask was hot and sticky on my face, my stomach twisted inside out and aching like an open wound. I leaned heavily on the balustrade, trembling under the weight of parallel truths that I had, until then, been able to ignore: James was in love with Wren, and I was blindly, savagely jealous.”

NO WAYYYYYYYYYYY

James (as Romeo): …”’In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.’

For a moment I forgot which line of mine followed…With a jolt I remembered my words, but not quite the right ones.

Oliver (as Benvolio): ‘Be ruled by me,’ I said, a few lines too soon. ‘Forget to think of her.’

James blinked rapidly behind the mask…”

No way they aren’t in love

I’m slightly disappointed. I wish the tension had built for longer leading up to the climax of their story. Each scene I hoped for it to be a little more drawn out, because the ideas and character conflicts are enthralling.

Okay I am prepared to eat my words if this gets good. Seeing the Macbeth parallels with the character castings and potential future happenings is interesting… anticipating more friction between Richard and James.

I don’t believe the dramatic reactions in this book are merited. You would think this group of 7, after knowing each other so intimately for 3 years that they are “not impressed by their best and worst traits” anymore, would not be shocked at Meredith’s little reveal. Maybe I’m being too much of a critic.