Issued with Romance

So I was reading this interesting wattpad book that seeks out the opinions of the site users on various wattpad/internet problems and reading other people's opinions just sents my brain to overdrive. This really just means that there is a loud opinionated and sassy (cough, bit itchy, cough) running commentary in my head. Seriously, she's a devil, don't know how she escaped her cage...

Anyway the topic of 'Issued with Romance' (on the internet at least) really brings out the she-devil in me which obviously resulted in this.

Anyone who knows me or have read this blog or looked at my reading list on any internet reading site or whatevs is probably well aware of the fact that I am an almost exclusive romance reader. 

Ah yes, I can feel the judgemental stares. Whatevs. I am a girl and a romantic at heart no matter how cynical I may sometimes sound. Perfectly normal for me to like reading romances. 

But I feel the need to clarify. 

Yes, I like reading romances. 

Yes, I like the idea of romance. 

Yes, I am guilty of enjoying Mills and Boon (come at me judgemental stares!). 

Yes, I sometimes seek out cliche stories on purpose. 

But, do I actually like the romance stories I read? Mostly no. 

Do I think they are largely unrealistic and unoriginal? Yes. 

Do my eyes get more exercise (through rolling) than the rest of me if I read for 2-3hours a day? Yes. 

Do I scream abuses at the computer because almost every romance story sucks? Yes. 

Do I hate myself sometimes for liking 'cliche crap' (as some people may put it)? Yes. 

So why do I subject myself to utter frustration and devastation in the romance genre?

Let's start with the negatives. 

You know what I hate? Introductions. 

No, it's not the introductions you are thinking of. It's self introductions in stories that I hate. 

It's kinda became a way for me to see if the a cliche story is worth reading. If I "so I better introduce myself..." or "I am 5'5 with long brown hair and green eyes..." or any other equivalent of that, alarm bells sound "Abandon! ABANDON!". 

I obey the command but no before the sassy she-devil from within flings abuse at it: "What are you 5!? No body gives a fuck about how you look like or how sparkly your damn personality is! Haven't you heard!? Actions speak louder than words you little twat! ighreot834hc843cho34tv" and other obscenities.

Yeah I definitely need a punching bag. 

Along the same lines as self-descriptions: character profiles. Oh. My. Effing. Pies. I honestly can't tell you whether whether profile or descriptions are worse. 

I am sure there is at least one person out there (or so I am hoping) that can write a good character profile. But I have not come across any. What I have seen is this is literally this give or take a few headings:

Name: Jane Doe
Age: 18
Personality: Jane is a happy-lucky-go girl who always have a bright smile. She is beautiful but she doesn't think so. She might seem like a nice girl but everyone is scare of her when she is angry!

Like what the actual fuck. 

Excuse me while I go and build a space ship and find an alien planet where the residents actually have a brain.

I honestly don't know whether these characters profiles and descriptions are more disturbing or watching A Serbian Film (if you don't know what that is go look it up. It's a disturbing piece of work).

Seriously, I am really gonna have anger problems if I come across any more of crap like these.

I am too disgusted by the thought of those profiles and descriptions to even think about all the other things wrong with wrong with romances on the internet. 

Yep. Definitely gonna needa get a punching bag.

♥W=3ndu

Story Review: Improved

Tbh, this really shouldn't have been when I decided to read at the moment at all. But yet here I am, having read the whole thing without skipping any bits (which is quite a challenge because I am impatient and lose interest easily so only good captivating stuff holds more urges to skip in check) and is left itching for more. 

I myself don't really understand why I decided to read this instead of leaving it in my never ending list of to-reads but, to be cliche, fate works in mysterious ways. 

I am glad that I picked this up instead of my preferred genre of romance (most of which just involved me skipping parts because I don't find them substantially captivating enough). 

On a normal day I won't have picked this up, but normal is hard to define. Either way I am glad I picked this genuinely intriguing and well-writing story up to read instead of, what one might call, 'crappy romance fiction'. 

But here is the link for you to check out if so wish: Improved: http://www.wattpad.com/story/1019597-improved

Title

The title is understandable and is obvious as to what it is pointing at. It's simple and to the point. 

Grammar/spelling/punctuation/all-those-English-thing

I really should take this section out... I really shouldn't judge other people when I can barely use the right tense ^^"

Plot/Characterisation/General Comment/What-not-and-stuff/SPOILER

Well the plot isn't that original. It's quite typical of the dystopian genere which this, imo, falls under. 

Honestly a lot of the major plot devices are very predictable but even then my fickle self still found enjoyment reading it because it is well written. 

The language and tone is very good (for the lack of.a better word and a lack of knowledge of English savvy terms). 

The transition between the different character point of views are seamless and feels really natural (which is just another way of saying seamless.. I don't know why I repeated myself ^^"). Most chapters focus on the story from a different character's perspective. It is a really clever way to show your character instead of explain your character. It allows us, the audience, to understand the various characters deeper and from more angles than possible if it was only written from one perspective. It's clever. 

Another clever thing about this is how I don't find any discrepancies in the events described. It all falls on a pretty clear linear timeline. It all seems to me a very well planned out world and not just some random ideas of the future thrown together. It's panned, clear and sensible. 

I like the characters too. They all feel 'human'. They have their flaws. They are all prone to confirmation bias and prone to being in denial of things that might shake up their established idea of the world and their place in it. And they are all quick to judge and often fail to truly to understand/know even their closest companions. All very 'humane' flaws along with other character specific flaws.

As a psychology junkie, I love the realistic-ness of the characters. It puts a smile on my face :)

I like how the main character Lai is different in a very relatable way imo. She is just feels very real in a 'I am anti-social and different but I don't care' kind of way which is probably not the best way to describe it. Although at times I thought there were slight discrepancies in her character (which might just be my paranoia talking) it doesn't seem unrealistic. 

I like Alec and how initially judgmental he was of Lai. SPOILER I like how he slowly learns about her but doesn't exactly change his opinion of her until it kinda clicks naturally that she isn't exactly what he thought she was. 

I like Cade and kind of how almost puppy-like he is. SPOILER I like the issue to do with how his appearance changed and that he became more confident because of it and whether he is still the same person (which I still believe him to be internally - his software is updated but his hardware is still the same kinda thing). I like how normal he is and I can't pity him in a way. 

I like Ema (who for some reason my brain decided was call Vera.. Probably something to do with how her physic description reminds me of those beautiful creatures in Harry Potter which I have associated with the name Vera even though I can't remember what they are called) because I dislike her. I think her character is interesting but I just don't like her as a person. 

SPOILER My reason for my facination and dislike is, simply put, because she is, in my opinion, delusionally trying to maintain the perfect order in her life and rather ignore the fact something 'wrong' has happened lest her perfect world be destroyed. She is also display subtle evidence of self-centreness which is masked by her need to help people. It is kind of expected though because she is 'perfect' in her orderly world and she knows it. So now that bad things is trying to destroy her world where she is perfect and she realises that she is not as 'the best' as she thought she runs away and is in denial in a way. And ofc she needs to convince others  that she to follow her and run away with her to assure her that she is not wrong in what she chose. It's quite fascinating and since this is not a psychological rambling section I will just leave this as my opinion and not try to prove anything because even if I did throw data and savvy terms it really is just my opinion. 

SPOILER Another interesting thing also related to Ema for me is how she said she always "wanted to be the first imp to fall in love" and she is the first imp to fall in love. It really makes me think whether she is in love with Cade or whether she forced herself to fall in love with him. Especially since they met when she was distraughted and he helped her. So it won't be improbable that she mistook the comfort and fondness she found with him as 'love'. But then again... What is love? So I don't exactly doubt that she did love Cade, I am just questioning whether really was in love him. But I do have doubts about her "I love you" to Cade/Les at the end. Isn't it just convinient that she decided that she did love him once she needed someone to assure her of her actions. So I just don't buy it. 

End Note

Anyway! I just really sound like an rambling lunatic (which is why I ended it there before I started on another trail ^^"). Well *shrug* what can I say... I just really like this story. 

I like it so much I actually kind of want a sequel. And this is a big thing because I have an irrational prejudice against sequels. Well I don't mind if there wasn't one... But I would really like to read it if there was one (but I will probably wait until it's completed before I read it). 

Conclusion: doing things outside of the usual might lead to insane rambling but it also might lead to fascinating gems :)

♥W=3ndu

Story Review: SwEeT MaDnEsS

well.. I thought I should try this out... reviewing stuff that is =3 

I mean I think it's much healthier for my friends' ears if I let out my pent up reviewing-feelings online than into their poor abused eardrums ;P

So yeah... this review thing is probs only gonna happen when my big mouth needs another outlet (cuz, fortunately for my friends' poor abused eardrums, there are no one to yell out my pent-up review-iness to =P)

so to kick-off the review I like to say: the name is such a bother to type out ^^" I keep missing one of the 'e's 'cuz I am too busy making sure the capitals are where it's meant to be ^^"

Owait... I should probs link you to the story first.. yeah might be a good idea.. oops ^^"

SwEeT MaDnEsS: http://www.wattpad.com/story/810374-sweet-madness-watty-awards-2012

the link is down at the bottom of the page on my Red List too =3

So yeah how do I start reviewing...

okay.. let's get this started =3

The Title

well I like the title...  but I am not particularly fond of the alternating capitalism of the letters.. but okay.. maybe their is a meaning for it... I am not too sure... cuz I can't think of anything.. so any ideas people? (I realise I might as well as message the author for an answer.. but knowing my laziness... not gonna happen ==)

Grammar/spelling/punctuation/all-those-English-things

I am the worse person to judge grammar ^^" I am kinda self-taught in this area.. and let's just say... well I discover the internet and then it messed up my subconscious understanding of grammar.... ^^" 

So yeah... I don't recall any major hiccups... and well minor hiccups are completely understandable cuz lack of edit and even publish books have occasional hiccups... 

so basically I am really lenient for these sorta things.... well I still have my limit.. as long as it's nothing major I don't really complain =3

Plot/Characterisation/General Comment/What-not-and-stuff/SPOILER(probs)

knowing my big mouth I probs just start sprouting and never stop so that's why all under the same heading =3.... and I don't think that made much sense.......................................

Anyway!

Let me just point this out. This is classified under the genre of 'horror' so don't expect romance.. don't expect happy things.. like srsly don't...

Tbh.. It isn't exactly what I would consider horror, it's more like suspense imo.. but then again horror to me = ghosts and/or undead things (which are not vampires, zombies that are not skeletal, demons, etc).. so yeah ^^" more thriller or suspense imo but then again I have been told I am weird......

My opinion: I really love this. I like how it make my heart thump in suspense (not in horror mind you). I love how it makes me question reality. Am I mad? Am I insane? Is the person I thought was insane actually not insane?

I love question/thought provoking stuff =3 (although I have been told my definition of thought provoking-ness is weird and disturbing at times...........)

Obviously this is fantastical.. but I like the realism of it... It really makes you think (and get paranoid) that maybe this could be real... hence the thought provoking questions...

and honestly.. I like the fact that (Spoiler alert. You have been warned) the ending was not happy

well it wasn't like it wasn't exactly unhappy.. okay nevermind it is not happy.. but it's more like the ending signified hopelessness (and imo has very little to do with being happy ^^" you can be hopeful and still be unhappy just saying)

I am not too sure how other ppl feel about the ending.. but honestly I like it... it feels real... scary... but real.. and well if this was set under the romance genre then I can think of other ways this story could have ended (most of which are very very cliche).. but for the fact that it is not a romance story the ending is very suitable..

I have to admit though.. I did go into the story not knowing what genre it was.. I think I was under the impression that it was romance... so I did assume too much from the characters' interactions and stuff ^^" but I wasn't disappointed by the lack of romance... a good story is a good story despite genres =3

(sorry I am kinda jumping around here.. 'cuz I  am just typing things as they come to mind)

there was something I didn't particularly like about the ending... and well I don't mind it per say... it just makes me very anxious (for the lack of a better word).... I feel like there was so many unanswered questions... and the questions that were kinda answered makes me a bit confuse... but then I realise that was probably the point............................... but I am a curious person okay! >~<

but really it's not something I can complain about.. 'cuz the unknowing and confusion adds to the realism/horror/suspense/blahblah of the story

there was one other thing I am not too fond of (note: it's not dislike.. I am just not fond of it.. there's a diff).. is it just me or is the protagonist extremely dim-witted? ^^" it's kinda grates on my nerves a bit... but at the same time I kinda sympathise (at times)... still not too fond of her...

But yeah the confusion is great in the story... makes you confuse enough that you get paranoid about Madness but not enough that to not understand the flow of the story (imo) =3 and sides confusion is good. makes you think. makes you learn =3

So overall, it is one of my favourites. I hesitate with ranking it because there are too many elements to consider - especially cuz this isn't a romance unlike the rest of the stories up in my heaven of favourites. But yes this story is up in my heaven of favourites... I just hesitate to rank =3

End Note

Heard the author is probs gonna write an epilogue or a sequel... honestly I would prefer an epilogue.. I don't particular want a sequel (although I probs end up reading it ^^").. I find that usually, not always 'cuz I can think of some amazing exceptions, sequels tend to disappoint and take away the something of amazingness of the original (I was gonna say "take away the toppings of the original" but then I was afraid I would confuse people too much ^^") so an epilogue would be nice.. maybe clarify few things... but I would probs read the sequel if she writes one anyway ^^"

♥W=3ndu