Unpopular opinions

[litlover12]

Just a little book meme I thought of. Feel free to put your own unpopular opinions about books and adaptations on your LJ or in the comments section!

So, here are mine . . .



1. I think of May as the heroine of The Age of Innocence. Yes, I recognize her flaws, but it's not her fault that Newland married her without loving her. She offered him his freedom beforehand; it was his choice not to take it. And afterward, she fights to keep her marriage and family intact. I admire that.

2. I kind of like Ginevra Fanshawe in Villette. I realize I'm not supposed to, and I realize she's rude and has bad taste in men, but she's lively and interesting and not nearly as stupid as Lucy thinks she is. (How many stupid people do you know who nickname their friends after Shakespeare characters?) If Bronte was really trying to come up with a brat that no one would like, she should have taken a leaf out of Jane Austen's book, and made her truly empty-headed like Lydia Bennet.

3. I think Young John Chivery is overrated in Little Dorrit. Don't throw things at me! I know he has good qualities, and I know Russell Tovey played the heck out of him, but he's not really my cup of tea. I know he's sweet, but he has a selfish side too: His big goal in life is to have Amy always in the prison with him, and I don't believe he ever stops to think about what that might be like for her. Besides, he steals Arthur's thunder in the big scene in the Marshalsea. Arthur has at long, long last learned that Amy loves him, and it should be HUGE, and all anyone can talk about is "OMG POOR JOHN, LOOK AT HIM CRY!!!!!!!!" *sigh*

Comments

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

May is just amazing and I'm rather sad we didn't get a whole book from her perspective. I would have loved it so much more that what we got from Newland, ha.

Hmm, I never thought about YJC like that before. I think in the mini Russell Tovey did steal the thunder a bit. But man, that guy can CRY!

Very interesting meme! I might have to give it a try if I can come up with enough things to talk about.

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

I hope so! Would like to see yours. And perhaps my May opinion isn't quite as unpopular as I thought. :-) I wonder if that's one of those things that has changed over the years since the book was written?

[katharhino.livejournal.com]

I so agree about #3. But I am coming to realize, I have a pet peeve about men who pursue women who have made it clear they aren't interested. It's always portrayed as romantic and it really isn't.

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

He NEVER pursues her after she says no, though. He doesn't know she's uninterested until she says so, and then he never bothers her again. Clennam is sent to talk to Little Dorrit about it by the elder Chivery, not Young John.

(Because I, too, dislike the men who pursue women after they've been asked not to. See Bradley Headstone!)

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

I AM THROWING THINGS AT YOU RIGHT NOW.

Russell Tovey did an excellent job, but even before that, Young John was a fascinating character. He WAS selfish, but he ended up letting go of his love for Little Dorrit to be the most important researcher for Mr. Panks in order to help her become wealthy and leave the prison AND he is the one who finally shocks Clennam into reality. He's a sentimental and ridiculous character, but he truly does what is best for Little Dorrit because he truly loves her.

(But I agree about poor May. I'm always so disgusted by "WE HAVE EPIC LOVE SO YOU ARE A B*** FOR WANTING ME TO STAY FAITHFUL, WIFE!!!!!" stories. Finding Neverland was like that, too. Ugh!)

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

I will admit that he does some truly kind and selfless actions. I just find him a little overhyped, that's all. *ducks flying things*

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

Do you find him overhyped as he actually appears in the book and the film? OR do you mean that he has rabid and irrational fangurlz?

(Though his final scene was one of the most well-acted in the mini-series. Doesn't make it the most important, but it was done brilliantly.)

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it's more about the rabid and irrational fangurlz.

[ever-maedhros.livejournal.com]

Thank you so, so, so much for your comment on May! I agree wholeheartedly! And you've got a good point about Chivery, too. :)

I'm going to presumptuously assume that I have A LOT of unpopular opinions, so I'll mull over this for a few days before posting on my journal. :D

[asoulinbliss.livejournal.com]

I like Catcher in the Rye. There, it's out. ;)

[spiderorchid81.livejournal.com]

I think it's very important to dare to defy popular opinion about art once in a while (after all, most people just repeat what's considered the "right" opinion without even knowing the work...).