for The Stirring2/20/2023 c42 Laura S
I really walk around very distracted, because I always forget something and I remember later...
To Floop:
You can also tell that even though Snape wants her to drop the formalities, he goes on with his own... half the time he calls her Rosin and the other half Feral.
Those patterns are hard to break and I like that Nilsia takes her time, those details of how they call and treat each other are everything. They show how difficult the situation is for both of them.
I really walk around very distracted, because I always forget something and I remember later...
To Floop:
You can also tell that even though Snape wants her to drop the formalities, he goes on with his own... half the time he calls her Rosin and the other half Feral.
Those patterns are hard to break and I like that Nilsia takes her time, those details of how they call and treat each other are everything. They show how difficult the situation is for both of them.
2/20/2023 c42 Laura S
To Magdalene:
I don't know if he left hickeys on her neck, but I'm 100% sure that at least on her thighs if they were left, because in 41 it says:
"he sucked on her inner thigh so hard it almost hurt."
Something tells me that when Rosin wakes up and feels all the deliciously tired muscles and sees herself full of hickeys, she won't even know how to look it in the face without remembering it.
To Floop:
Hahahahahah your idea I love it, like: if Sirius didn't hear them, if he's going to see what happened, right on her neck.
Something that gives me more reason to say that if she has a hickey on her neck it's 100% sure to get caught, is that if Rosin is as short as I imagine her to be, everyone sees her from a certain high angle, which prevents her from hiding her neck too much. (Says the girl who's 5'5" (1.50m), they always notice).
We really are mean, we keep thinking of ways to embarrass Rosin and ourselves in passing by reading it.
To Support Group:
I think I understood the talk about "Feral, this is not a Disney film, this is a Ken Loach movie." I kind of got the gist of it, but I'm missing the details... I'll still say that any FOAF that pops up, FOAF I'll read.
To Magdalene:
I don't know if he left hickeys on her neck, but I'm 100% sure that at least on her thighs if they were left, because in 41 it says:
"he sucked on her inner thigh so hard it almost hurt."
Something tells me that when Rosin wakes up and feels all the deliciously tired muscles and sees herself full of hickeys, she won't even know how to look it in the face without remembering it.
To Floop:
Hahahahahah your idea I love it, like: if Sirius didn't hear them, if he's going to see what happened, right on her neck.
Something that gives me more reason to say that if she has a hickey on her neck it's 100% sure to get caught, is that if Rosin is as short as I imagine her to be, everyone sees her from a certain high angle, which prevents her from hiding her neck too much. (Says the girl who's 5'5" (1.50m), they always notice).
We really are mean, we keep thinking of ways to embarrass Rosin and ourselves in passing by reading it.
To Support Group:
I think I understood the talk about "Feral, this is not a Disney film, this is a Ken Loach movie." I kind of got the gist of it, but I'm missing the details... I'll still say that any FOAF that pops up, FOAF I'll read.
2/20/2023 c42 Quarantine Blues
Floop- you're my hero. I can't wait for your FOAF!
"lt kinda amuses me that a boarding school story (which is such a British/English trope) is so loved by Americans, because I wonder if all the class nuances are understood."
Unequivocally, no. We don't understand.
(Though I'm open to contradiction if some Fellow American here disagrees. Things might be different if one grew up, say, on the East Coast or something. It's a big, diverse country)
When I first started writing HP fanfiction, I tried really, really hard to be AUTHENTICALLY BRITISH. Always put 'u's in my favourite colours and everything. Then at a certain point, I was, like, fuck it. Who am I fooling? I've never even seen fog in real life, let alone any understanding of British class nuance.
I think that ignorance is precisely why we love boarding school stories. They're so foreign and romantic - from a bygone era. Even the awful ones (looking at you, Orwell's Such Were The Joys) have an unreal quality.
I mean, even your note about a "headmaster" reading from a classic at "assembly" fills me with a kind of fictional glee.
Our *assemblies* we're big pep rallies in the gym, where the pirinciPAL introduced a motivational speaker who told us that abstinence was cool. Then the cheerleaders did a little dance and we all went back to class just in time for our active shooter drills.
Floop- you're my hero. I can't wait for your FOAF!
"lt kinda amuses me that a boarding school story (which is such a British/English trope) is so loved by Americans, because I wonder if all the class nuances are understood."
Unequivocally, no. We don't understand.
(Though I'm open to contradiction if some Fellow American here disagrees. Things might be different if one grew up, say, on the East Coast or something. It's a big, diverse country)
When I first started writing HP fanfiction, I tried really, really hard to be AUTHENTICALLY BRITISH. Always put 'u's in my favourite colours and everything. Then at a certain point, I was, like, fuck it. Who am I fooling? I've never even seen fog in real life, let alone any understanding of British class nuance.
I think that ignorance is precisely why we love boarding school stories. They're so foreign and romantic - from a bygone era. Even the awful ones (looking at you, Orwell's Such Were The Joys) have an unreal quality.
I mean, even your note about a "headmaster" reading from a classic at "assembly" fills me with a kind of fictional glee.
Our *assemblies* we're big pep rallies in the gym, where the pirinciPAL introduced a motivational speaker who told us that abstinence was cool. Then the cheerleaders did a little dance and we all went back to class just in time for our active shooter drills.
2/20/2023 c42 Floop
I have added the line to my FOAF! Which is slowly being written (deadlines deadlines deadlines this week).
Ken Loach is a director who does 'kitchen sink' dramas - like very working class films. I was thinking about Kes to be honest which I haven't seen (I might watch this week) because the book (Kestrel for a Knave) was a big deal even decades later. I have memories of our headmaster reading it to us at assembly in the 90s when I was a child. Snape is a working class character who is passing as a pureblood wizard (at least in Roisin's eyes) so I think he'd be aware of things like that. It kinda amuses me that a boarding school story (which is such a British/English trope) is so loved by Americans, because I wonder if all the class nuances are understood? Like, it's a big shock that Snape turns out to be from a two up two down (certain type of terraced house) because we mostly see quite middle class people in the story - and he's from A SLUM. In the MIDLANDS. A Billy Elliot type town (although it's a mill and not a mine)... This is why he's so fascinating...
I'm also so glad there's one Scot in this story because I think there was a shocking lack of Scots in the original. Thanks for including Eoghan, Nilsia! (finally, some Edinburgh representation!)
I have added the line to my FOAF! Which is slowly being written (deadlines deadlines deadlines this week).
Ken Loach is a director who does 'kitchen sink' dramas - like very working class films. I was thinking about Kes to be honest which I haven't seen (I might watch this week) because the book (Kestrel for a Knave) was a big deal even decades later. I have memories of our headmaster reading it to us at assembly in the 90s when I was a child. Snape is a working class character who is passing as a pureblood wizard (at least in Roisin's eyes) so I think he'd be aware of things like that. It kinda amuses me that a boarding school story (which is such a British/English trope) is so loved by Americans, because I wonder if all the class nuances are understood? Like, it's a big shock that Snape turns out to be from a two up two down (certain type of terraced house) because we mostly see quite middle class people in the story - and he's from A SLUM. In the MIDLANDS. A Billy Elliot type town (although it's a mill and not a mine)... This is why he's so fascinating...
I'm also so glad there's one Scot in this story because I think there was a shocking lack of Scots in the original. Thanks for including Eoghan, Nilsia! (finally, some Edinburgh representation!)
2/19/2023 c42 ahhhhh sorry
floop i love you too. Um but,,, idk who Ken Loach is. I assume he's like a British Michael Moore. though i think the unintended comedy of Róisín being given a muggle reference from Snape and then her Pikachu surprise face as he just doesnt comment further and leaves. Also just fyi i divided the number of words by the number of lines on a standard double spaced word document and as of this review it's a 515 page story. So I'm counting this as part of 2023 books i've read.
floop i love you too. Um but,,, idk who Ken Loach is. I assume he's like a British Michael Moore. though i think the unintended comedy of Róisín being given a muggle reference from Snape and then her Pikachu surprise face as he just doesnt comment further and leaves. Also just fyi i divided the number of words by the number of lines on a standard double spaced word document and as of this review it's a 515 page story. So I'm counting this as part of 2023 books i've read.
2/19/2023 c42 Quarantine Blues
"Feral, this is not a Disney film, this is a Ken Loach movie."
Somebody please write a FOAF with this as the summary before I'm forced to do it myself.
"Feral, this is not a Disney film, this is a Ken Loach movie."
Somebody please write a FOAF with this as the summary before I'm forced to do it myself.
2/19/2023 c42 Floop
Ahhhhh sorry:
Your reviews are sublime? I sort of love you?
I read: "This is not a Disney story, this is an autobiography about political corruption and dehumanization through the perspective of someone who is othered, and designated useful and that exploitation." in an Alan Rickman muppet-y voice.
Now I really want Snape to say: "Feral, this is not a Disney film, this is a Ken Loach movie." And then for Roisin to be confused that he knows what either of those things are.
Magdalene:
I hope she has a hickey/love bite/whatever the kids are calling them these days, doesn't realise it until she notices Sirius staring at it in horror, looks in the mirror, and is incredibly embarrassed while Snape shows up and smirks.
Laura S:
That's so interesting - about how the power dynamics don't magically break down with people who have authority over you. It makes sense - patterns are hard to break. And in this story, I always notices that he doesn't want her to call him Sir, but he often refers to her as Miss Feral. So it's not easy for him to break the patterns either. Also, he is a bit domineering.
Ahhhhh sorry:
Your reviews are sublime? I sort of love you?
I read: "This is not a Disney story, this is an autobiography about political corruption and dehumanization through the perspective of someone who is othered, and designated useful and that exploitation." in an Alan Rickman muppet-y voice.
Now I really want Snape to say: "Feral, this is not a Disney film, this is a Ken Loach movie." And then for Roisin to be confused that he knows what either of those things are.
Magdalene:
I hope she has a hickey/love bite/whatever the kids are calling them these days, doesn't realise it until she notices Sirius staring at it in horror, looks in the mirror, and is incredibly embarrassed while Snape shows up and smirks.
Laura S:
That's so interesting - about how the power dynamics don't magically break down with people who have authority over you. It makes sense - patterns are hard to break. And in this story, I always notices that he doesn't want her to call him Sir, but he often refers to her as Miss Feral. So it's not easy for him to break the patterns either. Also, he is a bit domineering.
2/18/2023 c42 Magdalene
just read ~that one review and I agree with everyone’s responses to it... anyway. Just here because I was rereading this chapter (what? for the 6th time now?) and realized that... Snape kissing and sucking on her neck... will it form ~a least one little hickey? and please god will you make Róisín forget to cover it in the morning? bc like Floop commented, I want people's reactions in the story LOL
just read ~that one review and I agree with everyone’s responses to it... anyway. Just here because I was rereading this chapter (what? for the 6th time now?) and realized that... Snape kissing and sucking on her neck... will it form ~a least one little hickey? and please god will you make Róisín forget to cover it in the morning? bc like Floop commented, I want people's reactions in the story LOL
2/18/2023 c42 Ahhh sorry
Okay I’m not gonna lie. I had an edible when I first posted my review. HOWEVER I have taken an edible again. So I’ll try my best. The writing is sublime. Your command of modern ideas on human sexuality, socialization, lingual societal changes (eg female pleasure and female sexuality, not shaming for sa and presenting and demanding consent) is so well constructed. You’re not here to debate with your audience, you are setting to standard Wizard Society Norms, and the consequences of those violations. In addition, your control of each characters voice and mannerisms. Snape wouldn’t smile, he wouldn’t raise his voice. He would smirk, and is deep voice would remain even and low toned. McGonnagal wouldn’t go speechless. She’s an exceptionally talented witch and is well known in standard wizard society, and she would have a retort glazed with logic and sarcasm. And you nailed Fred and Heorges humor perfectly. And the pacing is perfect. Absolutely perfect. This is not a story where the pair end up in love and have amazing sex. This is the raw biography about the disabilities, prejudice, and capitalization of those designated othered but useful. This is not a Disney story, this is an autobiography about political corruption and dehumanization through the perspective of someone who is othered, and designated useful and that exploitation. Feelings aren’t smothered or filtered for audience and everything is exposed. It’s a war story. It’s like an hbo show. It’s top notch writing, and story telling. Please continue writing, truly you are talented. I hope this review made sense. I stopped being able to read a while ago
Okay I’m not gonna lie. I had an edible when I first posted my review. HOWEVER I have taken an edible again. So I’ll try my best. The writing is sublime. Your command of modern ideas on human sexuality, socialization, lingual societal changes (eg female pleasure and female sexuality, not shaming for sa and presenting and demanding consent) is so well constructed. You’re not here to debate with your audience, you are setting to standard Wizard Society Norms, and the consequences of those violations. In addition, your control of each characters voice and mannerisms. Snape wouldn’t smile, he wouldn’t raise his voice. He would smirk, and is deep voice would remain even and low toned. McGonnagal wouldn’t go speechless. She’s an exceptionally talented witch and is well known in standard wizard society, and she would have a retort glazed with logic and sarcasm. And you nailed Fred and Heorges humor perfectly. And the pacing is perfect. Absolutely perfect. This is not a story where the pair end up in love and have amazing sex. This is the raw biography about the disabilities, prejudice, and capitalization of those designated othered but useful. This is not a Disney story, this is an autobiography about political corruption and dehumanization through the perspective of someone who is othered, and designated useful and that exploitation. Feelings aren’t smothered or filtered for audience and everything is exposed. It’s a war story. It’s like an hbo show. It’s top notch writing, and story telling. Please continue writing, truly you are talented. I hope this review made sense. I stopped being able to read a while ago
2/17/2023 c14 Ahhhhh sorry
Okay, I know this is a serious chapter but it’s really funny if you read this in the characters voice and start reading this with various accents. I, personally, used a muppety exaggerated Alan rickman voice, a McGonnahagal impersonator, a Jamaican Man, a guy in a musical, and a 2009 emo. Anyway I really enjoy your writing style, and your dialogue is sublime
Okay, I know this is a serious chapter but it’s really funny if you read this in the characters voice and start reading this with various accents. I, personally, used a muppety exaggerated Alan rickman voice, a McGonnahagal impersonator, a Jamaican Man, a guy in a musical, and a 2009 emo. Anyway I really enjoy your writing style, and your dialogue is sublime
2/17/2023 c42 Laura S
The giant comment above was mine... I forgot to put my name before posting it.
Again sorry for the length, I think that's why I forgot to put my name, I was more focused on getting it right than on my name.
The giant comment above was mine... I forgot to put my name before posting it.
Again sorry for the length, I think that's why I forgot to put my name, I was more focused on getting it right than on my name.
2/17/2023 c42 Guest
To Nilsia:
I think you know you're doing it right, especially since you already have people giving negative criticism and when that happens, it's because you're playing something correctly.
That not everybody likes it has always been my starting point to know that things are working.
Support Group:
I love how everyone seems to have collapsed with the chapter and taken their time to process before commenting on how much they enjoyed the chapter. This includes me.
I also love how many of us refrained from mentioning the "good girl", but since you brought it up, I know we all lost it right there.
To Sonderful:
"the entire Order knows that Snape and Róisín defiled Regulus Black's childhood bedroom."
I think you've earned the award for best sentence about the chapter.
To Quarantine Blues:
I agree with you, about the pregnancy thing. For the same reason, is that I'm wondering how the potion works. one dose every month? every 2 or 6? I'm curious about the potion as such, not how it affects the plot, as long as she doesn't get pregnant, I can live trusting that it still works a dose every so often.
To Floop:
I'm in for the request too to know the reaction of everyone in the order, if they found out.
About InformationQueen:
Floop's comment, "We're all here for Snape going "Good girl"."
In that one sentence he summed up everything he wanted to say on the subject.
As Quarantine Blues said this story has to be read as a twist, but I think it's more up to the reader, how each one is interpreting the story.
For my part, while I enjoy the smutty chapters. I'm here, because I squirm and have fun with all the things that happen, the conversation between Snape and Tonks is one of the best, as well as the first chapters when they are explaining to Rosin what is happening with her.
Now, as someone who dated an older man who also had some power over me (he was like my boss, long story), I have to say that power dynamics don't magically break down, it takes a long time to have the confidence to talk about certain topics with people who have authority over you. And in my case, it was not my first relationship, moreover, he loved me as much as I loved him.
I can't imagine Rosin breaking patterns of respect overnight. And that's without taking into account that it was a different era, with much more pressure in the treatment of superiors. Even more so, because they are both obligated here in a certain way, she needs him, he was convinced and on more than one occasion it has been noted that Snape does not make the decision to be with her on his own.
In short, it seems to me that Nilsia has portrayed very well the whole situation both in bed and out of it. And I will still be here, ready to read 100 chapters if necessary to see how Rosin and Snape get to know each other and take ownership of their relationship. Because I see "The Stirring" as the story of two people who would never have imagined themselves together, but life brings them together and they are learning to relate to each other, while also having to deal with a war, being searched and life itself.
Final Note:
I don't think I've ever written such a long comment in my life, sorry, but there was so much to say.
I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't have English as a native language, because I really feel like I screw up sometimes with how I write, but I see that I'm not the only one and that gives me some peace of mind.
To Nilsia:
I think you know you're doing it right, especially since you already have people giving negative criticism and when that happens, it's because you're playing something correctly.
That not everybody likes it has always been my starting point to know that things are working.
Support Group:
I love how everyone seems to have collapsed with the chapter and taken their time to process before commenting on how much they enjoyed the chapter. This includes me.
I also love how many of us refrained from mentioning the "good girl", but since you brought it up, I know we all lost it right there.
To Sonderful:
"the entire Order knows that Snape and Róisín defiled Regulus Black's childhood bedroom."
I think you've earned the award for best sentence about the chapter.
To Quarantine Blues:
I agree with you, about the pregnancy thing. For the same reason, is that I'm wondering how the potion works. one dose every month? every 2 or 6? I'm curious about the potion as such, not how it affects the plot, as long as she doesn't get pregnant, I can live trusting that it still works a dose every so often.
To Floop:
I'm in for the request too to know the reaction of everyone in the order, if they found out.
About InformationQueen:
Floop's comment, "We're all here for Snape going "Good girl"."
In that one sentence he summed up everything he wanted to say on the subject.
As Quarantine Blues said this story has to be read as a twist, but I think it's more up to the reader, how each one is interpreting the story.
For my part, while I enjoy the smutty chapters. I'm here, because I squirm and have fun with all the things that happen, the conversation between Snape and Tonks is one of the best, as well as the first chapters when they are explaining to Rosin what is happening with her.
Now, as someone who dated an older man who also had some power over me (he was like my boss, long story), I have to say that power dynamics don't magically break down, it takes a long time to have the confidence to talk about certain topics with people who have authority over you. And in my case, it was not my first relationship, moreover, he loved me as much as I loved him.
I can't imagine Rosin breaking patterns of respect overnight. And that's without taking into account that it was a different era, with much more pressure in the treatment of superiors. Even more so, because they are both obligated here in a certain way, she needs him, he was convinced and on more than one occasion it has been noted that Snape does not make the decision to be with her on his own.
In short, it seems to me that Nilsia has portrayed very well the whole situation both in bed and out of it. And I will still be here, ready to read 100 chapters if necessary to see how Rosin and Snape get to know each other and take ownership of their relationship. Because I see "The Stirring" as the story of two people who would never have imagined themselves together, but life brings them together and they are learning to relate to each other, while also having to deal with a war, being searched and life itself.
Final Note:
I don't think I've ever written such a long comment in my life, sorry, but there was so much to say.
I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't have English as a native language, because I really feel like I screw up sometimes with how I write, but I see that I'm not the only one and that gives me some peace of mind.
2/17/2023 c42 Floop
Quarantine Blues: First of all, I did not know smelt was a type of fish, so I was chuckling away before I Googled it... this is such an educational support group! I'm British but I prefer smelled I think. It's a weird word however you spell it.
"the general positive-consent-but-slight-domination vibe here"... YES. I love this description.
Khaleesins: "closing his eyes as if in pain" Róisín girl you're killing the man and you don't even know it " hahahahahaha SO TRUE
Magdalene: This is the burning question now. What is the Christmas Day surprise? What was he talking to Arthur about? Arghhhh the anticipation.
Tired Reader: Your English is perfect! (I nearly died too)
InformationQueen: Well, it's more my cup of tea than ever! I think the awkward sex and Roisin being uncomfortable/feeling shame are what makes this story authentic. I found the first few times I had sex really awkward and overwhelming and kinda intrusive in a way, and that was with a boyfriend, and not my scary Potions teacher. A lot of other Forced Together stories are enjoyable, but it's all, oh it's weird I have to have sex with this adult hahaha, wait now it's sexy and totally fine - and then sometimes they're a bonafide couple dealing with problems As A Team, and it just reads (to me) like someone really young and inexperienced, or emotionally immature wrote it. Like the relationships in Twilight or 50 Shades which truly baffled me. Also, only a few weeks have passed in the story, so really they've made up a lot of ground. He's teasing her! She was totally naked! She had two orgasms! They chatted! I'm with Guest - the power dynamic does not need to be rushed, and I don't want it to! It is interesting. If she were dating Eoghan, I'm sure it would be a sweet story - but you know, less interesting. We're all here for Snape going "Good girl". And he's come so far, too! He's teasing her, we see how much he hates the thought of her being in pain etc, and how thoughtful he's trying to be - it's really quite selfless in a way what he's doing. Maybe Dumbledore thought he needed a tension relief from spying! "Why not shag a student, Severus, that one is exceptionally pretty?"
Quarantine Blues: First of all, I did not know smelt was a type of fish, so I was chuckling away before I Googled it... this is such an educational support group! I'm British but I prefer smelled I think. It's a weird word however you spell it.
"the general positive-consent-but-slight-domination vibe here"... YES. I love this description.
Khaleesins: "closing his eyes as if in pain" Róisín girl you're killing the man and you don't even know it " hahahahahaha SO TRUE
Magdalene: This is the burning question now. What is the Christmas Day surprise? What was he talking to Arthur about? Arghhhh the anticipation.
Tired Reader: Your English is perfect! (I nearly died too)
InformationQueen: Well, it's more my cup of tea than ever! I think the awkward sex and Roisin being uncomfortable/feeling shame are what makes this story authentic. I found the first few times I had sex really awkward and overwhelming and kinda intrusive in a way, and that was with a boyfriend, and not my scary Potions teacher. A lot of other Forced Together stories are enjoyable, but it's all, oh it's weird I have to have sex with this adult hahaha, wait now it's sexy and totally fine - and then sometimes they're a bonafide couple dealing with problems As A Team, and it just reads (to me) like someone really young and inexperienced, or emotionally immature wrote it. Like the relationships in Twilight or 50 Shades which truly baffled me. Also, only a few weeks have passed in the story, so really they've made up a lot of ground. He's teasing her! She was totally naked! She had two orgasms! They chatted! I'm with Guest - the power dynamic does not need to be rushed, and I don't want it to! It is interesting. If she were dating Eoghan, I'm sure it would be a sweet story - but you know, less interesting. We're all here for Snape going "Good girl". And he's come so far, too! He's teasing her, we see how much he hates the thought of her being in pain etc, and how thoughtful he's trying to be - it's really quite selfless in a way what he's doing. Maybe Dumbledore thought he needed a tension relief from spying! "Why not shag a student, Severus, that one is exceptionally pretty?"
2/17/2023 c42 Quarantine Blues
“Like maybe you enjoy writing about uncomfortable sex that hurts and the female character acting like an unassertive little girl and having a kind of anxiety disorder.”
Well. That’s one way to read it.
No, really, it is.
I can see how The Stirring’s smut might read like kink. There are elements here – size kink, virginity kink, the kind of dub-con inherent in any power imbalance / fuck-or-die trope.
Bold of InformationQueen to attribute that intent to the author though. Lol. IMO.
Personally, The Stirring is way too nuanced to read that way to me, though. I’m a married lady approaching middle age now, but I remember what It was like to be young. I remember how one’s introduction to sexuality, no matter how wanted and consensual, can be nothing like a porno or a romance novel. It can be awkward, uncomfortable, and, yes, even painful. How, no matter how horny one is, the actuality of taking off one’s clothes and making the two-backed beast can be embarrassing; laughable; somehow absurd.
THAT’s what The Stirring gets at, to me. A swirl of contradictory emotions – ones that strike as true and real, but placed in a fictional, contrived context so they can be examined at leisure. That’s what realism as a genre is, no? A kind of dollhouse where you get to play with a miniature version of reality so that you can make sense of its bigger counterpart.
I think this last chapter shows enormous progress. And Roisin has never struck me as an “unassertive little girl” with an “anxiety disorder”. Is her deferential attitude (born of a decade of repressive English education and the solid ridiculousness of the situation she finds herself in) sometimes frustrating? Sure. But it’s not just frustrating for the reader – it’s frustrating for the characters, too. It’s frustrating for HER. And that’s what makes her real.
Anyway, this isn’t really a response to InformationQueen, and it’s not really a defense of The Stirring – people are free to read or not read, enjoy or be disappointed.
However, Nilsia, if there’s even the slightest chance this review shakes your confidence, don’t let it. As everyone here (including InformationQueen) has said, you are a talented writer and the enormous effort you’ve put into this piece is obvious.
I, for one, can’t wait to see how things shake out.
-QB
“Like maybe you enjoy writing about uncomfortable sex that hurts and the female character acting like an unassertive little girl and having a kind of anxiety disorder.”
Well. That’s one way to read it.
No, really, it is.
I can see how The Stirring’s smut might read like kink. There are elements here – size kink, virginity kink, the kind of dub-con inherent in any power imbalance / fuck-or-die trope.
Bold of InformationQueen to attribute that intent to the author though. Lol. IMO.
Personally, The Stirring is way too nuanced to read that way to me, though. I’m a married lady approaching middle age now, but I remember what It was like to be young. I remember how one’s introduction to sexuality, no matter how wanted and consensual, can be nothing like a porno or a romance novel. It can be awkward, uncomfortable, and, yes, even painful. How, no matter how horny one is, the actuality of taking off one’s clothes and making the two-backed beast can be embarrassing; laughable; somehow absurd.
THAT’s what The Stirring gets at, to me. A swirl of contradictory emotions – ones that strike as true and real, but placed in a fictional, contrived context so they can be examined at leisure. That’s what realism as a genre is, no? A kind of dollhouse where you get to play with a miniature version of reality so that you can make sense of its bigger counterpart.
I think this last chapter shows enormous progress. And Roisin has never struck me as an “unassertive little girl” with an “anxiety disorder”. Is her deferential attitude (born of a decade of repressive English education and the solid ridiculousness of the situation she finds herself in) sometimes frustrating? Sure. But it’s not just frustrating for the reader – it’s frustrating for the characters, too. It’s frustrating for HER. And that’s what makes her real.
Anyway, this isn’t really a response to InformationQueen, and it’s not really a defense of The Stirring – people are free to read or not read, enjoy or be disappointed.
However, Nilsia, if there’s even the slightest chance this review shakes your confidence, don’t let it. As everyone here (including InformationQueen) has said, you are a talented writer and the enormous effort you’ve put into this piece is obvious.
I, for one, can’t wait to see how things shake out.
-QB
2/17/2023 c42 Guest
that last review was just so frustrating to read lol in the story’s defense, I do think that the plot is moving forward. there are things that don’t need to be rushed either, like their power dynamic. I have faith that it will become equal eventually but I wouldn't rush it lol it is part of the premise of the story, anyway, and what’s so interesting about it.
that last review was just so frustrating to read lol in the story’s defense, I do think that the plot is moving forward. there are things that don’t need to be rushed either, like their power dynamic. I have faith that it will become equal eventually but I wouldn't rush it lol it is part of the premise of the story, anyway, and what’s so interesting about it.