Ashley Reads Books
So, a while ago I reread the last Harry Potter book. And after this reading, my thoughts after the last movie were confirmed: completely independent of any 'shipping, I really just dislike the character of Tonks.
I feel like Tonks is that one female character that J.K. Rowling tries really hard to make hip! Oh, she's so cool! And look at this rare magical ability she has! And her super cool job! And she's related to, well, everyone! And she goes by TONKS, 'cause that's just how she rolls! Yeah! Go, Tonks! Go after what you want! Get that guy! GIRL POWER! (Oh, but she's clumsy. And therefore, totally relatable!)
I guess Tonks, to me, just feels like a character that JKR tried so hard to make likeable, to make a role model, a heroine. And see, she has so many other amazing female characters, with their strengths and weaknesses, that are so REAL and so truly relatable, that I just...really hate Tonks.
I did feel bad for her in the seventh book, where Remus leaves her. But really, I think I would have liked her better if she had never gotten him in the first place, just to see her deal with adversity (and not in the 'boo hoo, I'm so mopey my hair is brown wahhhh' way) and not getting what she wants. Honestly, I feel the same way about Tonks that I do about Lily Evans. JKR is just trying too hard to make them strong, to make them lovable, that I just find them unpalatable. Give me Fleur, who comes around from a vain, haughty, snotty teenager to a courageous woman who knows the real depth of love. Give me Molly Weasley, overbearing and overprotective and poor but a true mother, and so important to Harry. Give me Minerva McGonagall, strict and smart and serious but shows more and more as the books go on why she is head of Gryffindor House. Even Hermione, who can be a bit too deux ex machina at times for my taste, is still complex and bossy and irritating but so loyal and smart. Even Bellatrix, in her madness, is so interesting.
Next to these characters, Tonks just feels flat and two-dimensional to me. She even has the classic Mary Sue 'fault' of being too clumsy.
I know we all had a hate-fest on Tonks when the sixth book came out, so it's interesting to me that now, removed from fandom, I still really dislike the character.
Onto other books and other things!
IS ANYONE ELSE READING THESE????
You may also recognize:
I watched the first season after finishing the first book, and have now finished the second book and am eager to start the third! It is going to be a seven book series, of which five are completed.
GUYS. THESE BOOKS ARE SO GOOD.
I've really been enjoying this series, and highly recommend them to anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter. It's definitely high fantasy, where there is this elaborate complex universe constructed that you are flung into, and you just can't get over all the details. It takes a few chapters to get into the first book, but once you're in, you are HOOKED.
(FUCK YES Catelyn Stark - Head Bitch in Charge, yo.)
I can't remember the last time I cared as much about characters and their well being that I do with these. Even with Harry Potter, although it was wondered if Harry would sacrifice himself...I always thought that he, Ron, and Hermione would pull out okay. Just because of the kind of story it was, and the kind of message it was sending. It got dark, but this series is DARK. And there is so much death and sorrow. In the words of my friend who started me on the first book (while the TV show is called 'Game of Thrones', the series is actually "A Song of Ice and Fire" with the first book being called "A Game of Thrones") "Before page 90, something so bad happens that I closed the book and asked myself, 'Do I want to continue this?' Then I said 'Yes' and picked it back up." I like so many of the characters, and I know none of them are safe.
(NOT EVEN YOOOOOOU ARE SAFE!!!)
Also, for any English history buffs, it is loosely based on the War of the Roses, and it is fun to see the similarities. :D
Seriously. Highly recommended.
I feel like Tonks is that one female character that J.K. Rowling tries really hard to make hip! Oh, she's so cool! And look at this rare magical ability she has! And her super cool job! And she's related to, well, everyone! And she goes by TONKS, 'cause that's just how she rolls! Yeah! Go, Tonks! Go after what you want! Get that guy! GIRL POWER! (Oh, but she's clumsy. And therefore, totally relatable!)
I guess Tonks, to me, just feels like a character that JKR tried so hard to make likeable, to make a role model, a heroine. And see, she has so many other amazing female characters, with their strengths and weaknesses, that are so REAL and so truly relatable, that I just...really hate Tonks.
I did feel bad for her in the seventh book, where Remus leaves her. But really, I think I would have liked her better if she had never gotten him in the first place, just to see her deal with adversity (and not in the 'boo hoo, I'm so mopey my hair is brown wahhhh' way) and not getting what she wants. Honestly, I feel the same way about Tonks that I do about Lily Evans. JKR is just trying too hard to make them strong, to make them lovable, that I just find them unpalatable. Give me Fleur, who comes around from a vain, haughty, snotty teenager to a courageous woman who knows the real depth of love. Give me Molly Weasley, overbearing and overprotective and poor but a true mother, and so important to Harry. Give me Minerva McGonagall, strict and smart and serious but shows more and more as the books go on why she is head of Gryffindor House. Even Hermione, who can be a bit too deux ex machina at times for my taste, is still complex and bossy and irritating but so loyal and smart. Even Bellatrix, in her madness, is so interesting.
Next to these characters, Tonks just feels flat and two-dimensional to me. She even has the classic Mary Sue 'fault' of being too clumsy.
I know we all had a hate-fest on Tonks when the sixth book came out, so it's interesting to me that now, removed from fandom, I still really dislike the character.
Onto other books and other things!
IS ANYONE ELSE READING THESE????
You may also recognize:
I watched the first season after finishing the first book, and have now finished the second book and am eager to start the third! It is going to be a seven book series, of which five are completed.
GUYS. THESE BOOKS ARE SO GOOD.
I've really been enjoying this series, and highly recommend them to anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter. It's definitely high fantasy, where there is this elaborate complex universe constructed that you are flung into, and you just can't get over all the details. It takes a few chapters to get into the first book, but once you're in, you are HOOKED.
(FUCK YES Catelyn Stark - Head Bitch in Charge, yo.)
I can't remember the last time I cared as much about characters and their well being that I do with these. Even with Harry Potter, although it was wondered if Harry would sacrifice himself...I always thought that he, Ron, and Hermione would pull out okay. Just because of the kind of story it was, and the kind of message it was sending. It got dark, but this series is DARK. And there is so much death and sorrow. In the words of my friend who started me on the first book (while the TV show is called 'Game of Thrones', the series is actually "A Song of Ice and Fire" with the first book being called "A Game of Thrones") "Before page 90, something so bad happens that I closed the book and asked myself, 'Do I want to continue this?' Then I said 'Yes' and picked it back up." I like so many of the characters, and I know none of them are safe.
(NOT EVEN YOOOOOOU ARE SAFE!!!)
Also, for any English history buffs, it is loosely based on the War of the Roses, and it is fun to see the similarities. :D
Seriously. Highly recommended.