tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post4227369115203189458..comments2023-09-07T10:40:00.762+01:00Comments on Stranger Worlds: Les Mis // my many thoughts on insta-love.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-24919121417430326402016-04-04T19:13:17.266+01:002016-04-04T19:13:17.266+01:00Not snarky. Not ever. I have three siblings. And 2...Not snarky. Not ever. I have three siblings. And 24? ~wipes brow~ You've got one foot in the grave ...<br /><br />“We know ourselves from the inside, but not the outside." That's a great way of putting it. It's so weird to consider that you will never actually see your face; only in a mirror or a photograph. Or the fact that you can never really replicate your expressions; even if you try in the mirror, my smile/laugh/myriad of weird faces are never going to be the way they are when I'm reacting to something. So I'll never know what face other people say. (And I make weird faces ALL THE TIME. It's worrying.)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-46058256018025200652016-04-01T18:42:43.456+01:002016-04-01T18:42:43.456+01:00Oh, I love that CS Lewis quote! Why didn't I u...Oh, I love that CS Lewis quote! Why didn't I use it? It would've made things so much simpler. :/<br /><br />Yep, my siblings feel the awkward pressure too. We tend to communicate with externally polite smiles that say, "Can you believe this person?" because we are not snarky at all. No. Not us. (Yes there are four of them. Gosh, Emily, you are nosy. Tbh, I've difficulty keeping up with their ages? They hit a certain age and then they never grow older. For instance, I've convinced myself one of my brothers has been sixteen for the past three years. . . But the youngest is 11, and I'm the oldest at 24. Yeah, I'm an old lady in blogger years.) How many siblings do you have?<br /><br />True. Everything we talk about seems to cycle back to this! It is interesting though People see us from the outside, but not normally the inside. We know ourselves from the inside, but not the outside. Only God can know us inside and out. <br /><br />I LOVE THAT QUOTE! I might have to write it somewhere. *grabs pen*<br /><br />EXACTLY!a.n.g.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03667996517318905980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-28173563783703319992016-03-28T19:17:36.195+01:002016-03-28T19:17:36.195+01:00I do like very long comments, I do!
That does mak...I do like very long comments, I do!<br /><br />That does make sense, I think that's a good way of explaining. As #1 bae CS Lewis put it, “You don't have a soul. You have a body. You are a soul." <br /><br />Gah! Genuinely surprised? That is so annoying. At least you have your siblings, though, who I'm sure completely understand your feelings on this topic. (There are four of them, right? What is their age range? I'm just really nosy, sue me.)<br /><br />I feel like we spend most of our time talking about how you/I/Teresa Ruskin/Matthew/Corrie/Peril don't understand themselves. Puts me in mind of a song called Literature Lovers: “Me, I am just like the books upon my shelf, you have never read my cover, I have never read myself." I am my unread books!<br /><br />WE ARE NOT USELESS. I found the quotation I was talking about (I'm just a fount of quotations today!): <br /><br />“i want to apologize to all the women<br />i have called pretty.<br />before i’ve called them intelligent or brave.<br />i am sorry i made it sound as though<br />something as simple as what you’re born with<br />is the most you have to be proud of<br />when your spirit has crushed mountains<br />from now on i will say things like, you are resilient<br />or, you are extraordinary.<br />not because i don’t think you’re pretty.<br />but because you are so much more than that” ~ Rupi Kaur<br /><br />You are very welcome. I get that. We can spend so much time shouting “I AM NOT DEFINED BY A MAN!" that we forget that we actually are, he is just also God! I find it really liberating though, that I don't define myself? Because I'm a bit rubbish, I wouldn't want to be in charge of my own life and all my decisions! It's a lot better to pass the helm to somebody else!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-61766887098497073572016-03-27T23:17:06.756+01:002016-03-27T23:17:06.756+01:00Yes, you did. :)
That is such a hard line to walk...Yes, you did. :)<br /><br />That is such a hard line to walk. Lust vs. appreciation. Because there is a difference. It's okay to say that someone is beautiful or handsome. I mean, some people are obviously good looking (um, to the point that I don't even bother telling them?) God made them that way. He makes all of His creation beautiful and humans are no exception. We just can't cross that line to where we are making physical beauty all-important. Physical beauty is not the essence of a person. Because, we're souls. My frizzy hair and freckles are not me The database of my mind that knows 2+2 and how to drive a car is not me. It's my soul. It's the being inside that connects with God. And our physical appearance cannot compare to that soul God has given us each. There's nothing wrong with physical beauty and admiring it. It just holds no meaning for heaven. Does that make sense? And as you say, appearances do not define a person. <br /><br />Gah! Yes, I'm from that "perfect family." We've always been in church, my parents are leaders in church and some of us "kids" have often helped out too. Our pastor's wife has actually thanked my dad for our family? Multiple times. It kind of irritates me. Once I sat in my little sister's class (she's like thirteen) and the topic was sibling relationships. The instructor was talking about sibling arguments, then she looked at us and was said, "Not that you guys ever fight." We looked at each other and almost laughed. We were like, "Um, yes our family does fight sometimes. We're just normal." She was genuinely surprised to hear that. <br /><br />People baffle me, Emily. They truly do. <br /><br />And I am one of them! Maybe that's why I don't always understand myself. . . Hm. *shrugs* <br /><br />You're right about that telling a woman that she's beautiful. I mean, from just anybody, she probably doesn't care what just anybody thinks (I don't). But personally, when I hear it from one person all the time, I get the feeling that they think my purpose in life is to be looked at. And it is not. I can't stand those old movies/books where the guy says "You're too beautiful to be doing -insert general hard work-" or "Just stand there and look pretty." Just because someone is pretty doesn't mean they are useless. We are not useless, okay world? <br /><br />Maybe I'm ranting again. Eh, oops.<br /><br />Thank you very much. For that last paragraph. Or next to last? Whatever, you know what I mean. Like really, thank you. That Jesus is the one who defines me. I'm kind of defiant. So with other people trying define me, I think to myself that I define me, not anyone else. That's when the brakes in brain jar my thoughts and I have to step back and remember. "They" are wrong and so am I. Jesus defines me, I have to let Him. He is the only one who can make my life worth anything. I tell myself this to remember. Jesus defines me and no one else. But I feel like I'm only hearing this from myself? So it's very good for someone else to tell me that also. It's a nice affirmation. I'm not just lying to myself. So yeah, thank you. I feel a lot better. <br /><br />You happen to be a pretty cool friend too. ;)<br /><br />And I hope you like very long comments. *cough*<br /><br /> a.n.g.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03667996517318905980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-57359321775810638432016-03-21T20:45:00.499+00:002016-03-21T20:45:00.499+00:00Thank you! I had no idea that that version existed...Thank you! I had no idea that that version existed but it sounds great! I love Geoffrey Rush. I'll have to have a look for it :)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-72607539922106301552016-03-21T20:42:18.047+00:002016-03-21T20:42:18.047+00:00YOU SHOULD! YOU MUST! IT IS REQUISITE!
That's...YOU SHOULD! YOU MUST! IT IS REQUISITE!<br /><br />That's my fave song ever XD<br /><br />I'm glad you like it! I'm always a bit nervous of discussion posts because I think I'm going to have no argument, but they normally go down pretty well. This one was just like an essay I might write (with a few more gifs, perhaps).<br /><br />Yesss, that is an important distinction. You have to make the choice. You never get the stories where the person thinks they've fallen in love and then realises they haven't! I have heard a story from someone whose friend met this guy and he came to up to her and was like “God's told me I'm going to marry you!" and she was like “I think not" and that was that XD<br /><br />I very much enjoyed those two big paragraphs! I sense I have opened something deep inside you that had to come out?! XD<br /><br />It's so hard to draw the line between lust and aesthetic appreciation, though, in my opinion. That's not just me, right?! Marius' insta-love is definitely not lust, because of the whole I Can't Touch Her She's Perfect thing, but obviously I don't agree with that, either. <br /><br />It would be so stressful! And I'm so sorry that you are, by the sound of things, similarly stressed. I can't say I particularly relate, at least not from a looks POV, but I understand what it's like to be from the “perfect" family! (My dad is on the ministry/preaching team so, yeah, I'm a church kid through and through.) I'm now thinking of this quotation I saw recently, I can't find it, but it was about “you're beautiful" not being the first compliment to give a woman, because it's not the thing that defines her. <br /><br />Whilst attempting to find it I did find this TFIOS quote:<br /><br />Hazel: Why are you staring at me?<br />Augustus: Because you are beautiful. I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence.<br /><br />I guess that's what I was saying about the lust vs appreciation thing. Hence my Pinterest board Humanity, which could be renamed Pretty People ... I don't know. It's a tough area.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting! Also, Ashley, you are remarkable and unique and a wonderful writer, and a great friend to me and, I'm sure, many others, and you are also imperfect and have a shedload of sin in your life that I can't list because I don't know about it but I know it exists, and you are also beautiful but that is not what defines you. And if you bring all these aspects together do you know what does define you? Jesus. Which automatically means you're pretty cool.<br /><br />I shut up now also.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-60811389001828153402016-03-21T20:13:26.807+00:002016-03-21T20:13:26.807+00:00Ha, you could say that about him XD
I would reall...Ha, you could say that about him XD<br /><br />I would really like to read it at some point!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-73228730773743700752016-03-21T16:58:50.080+00:002016-03-21T16:58:50.080+00:00This is a really interesting discussion. I haven&#...This is a really interesting discussion. I haven't read the Les Mis books, but I have seen both film versions. One thing I like about the Geoffrey Rush and Liam Neeson version is that Cosette was not only first attract to him, but his ideals since she listened to his speeches, so it wasn't just about physical or sexual affection, but about something of him as well.<br /><br />storitorigrace.blogspot.comVictoria Grace Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849013182543674707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-62298577312837687172016-03-21T15:30:57.710+00:002016-03-21T15:30:57.710+00:00I liked the whole Grantaire-Enjolras dynamic partl...I liked the whole Grantaire-Enjolras dynamic partly because it contrasted the ultimate idealist withe the skeptic/realist, even though they both had to eventually make a stand (and die for it). Enjolras is a bit of a John Lennon type, isn't he? (Well, the really Victorian version).<br /><br />I actually loved the book Dracula. It's better if you try to cleanse your mind of every bit of modern interpretations of the story though. Similar to Shakespeare, if you can go in just to read and experience it, you'll get a lot more out of it.<br /><br /><3 You're welcome :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10263763900090745401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-86778696952730672782016-03-20T20:28:09.535+00:002016-03-20T20:28:09.535+00:00All your shrieking about The Raven King. Now I wan...All your shrieking about The Raven King. Now I want to go read The Dream Thieves. But I've got so many books I have to finish first!<br /><br />That Mulan gif. Yes!<br /><br />I love what you're saying here, and it's super great for discussion purposes. (Do you know how hard it is for me to write discussion posts? My brain just dies on me.)<br /><br />So the insta-love, I'm not normally into it. I mean, to me love is a choice and commit, and that's not something a person ought to do on some whim (not saying that they won't. . .). BUT I would definitely agree with let's say crush-at-first-sight? Does that make sense? Like there's for sure attraction and probably some chemistry, but it's not fully developed. There's still room to grow and build, or to devastate and walk away. It's not fully committed, I guess? Because that happens. <br /><br />I do agree with what you say about sexual love and romantic love. The first ought to be a result of the latter. If it's just the first, then it's lust, not love. If someone has only sexual love for someone, then it's lust. Which is why I think so many people are angsty against insta-love. Because a lot of people think of love as sexual love, therefore insta-love can only mean lust since, come on, who actually gets to know someone with one glance? But there is a difference. And romantic love grows, you know? It grows from attraction to love, and after marriage there's sexual love, although it will probably be felt beforehand. But it would be weird if it didn't come to that, as in Les Mis (which I know nothing about beyond this post. . . don't disown me!). God did create it and He created it for us (obviously under the right conditions, gosh I say obviously, but I'm speaking from a Christian standpoint, although, to me generally speaking it just seems smarting to wait until after marriage. . .). It's just the natural growth of romantic love. And I think you're right about the reason why Hugo talks about it, the way he does. It's the deification of women. Which brings me to my next point.<br /><br />WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?! I remember reading Othello and it made me so upset that Desdemona was portrayed as basically a goddess. It seems like that would be really stressful for women during that time. To be expected to act like objects of worship? To be perfect? I mean, in most nineteenth, eighteen century literature women are either the definition of perfection or women are the devil. Guys say that women are hard to understand now, but they were seriously confused a couple centuries ago. Even today, there are people who think that I'm "perfect." I'm one of the "perfect" children from the "perfect" family, and it drives me insane. Whenever I say or do something that doesn't line up with their opinion, their opinion doesn't actually change. They just get this look on their face that says they're confused, something in their brain isn't computing properly. It doesn't correlate with what they *think* they know (they know nothing). What's worse is these are people from church, people who ought to know better than to put humans on pedestals. Sometimes I feel like (I hope I'm wrong) I get it from my Dad too. All I hear is "you're such a blessing," "you're so beautiful." Which is fine. He's my dad; he's supposed to say nice thing, right? But when it's all I ever hear? I don't know. I'm ranting now. Sorry. <br /><br />But we women are humans too. We got souls just like everyone else, and souls have no gender. There's no gender differentiation in souls. Souls are all the same. <br /><br />Okay. I shut up now.a.n.g.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03667996517318905980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-81369021277307932392016-03-19T14:39:04.484+00:002016-03-19T14:39:04.484+00:00Same! And I'm glad it killed you (odd as that ...Same! And I'm glad it killed you (odd as that is to type!). I too am rarely to be found arguing with Shakespeare XD<br /><br />I've not read Dracula! But, wow, the *ravished* sounds like everything I cannot be bothered with in older books. I'm interested to hear about Mina and Stoker's subversion of stereotypes. I would like to read the book at some point (if only because it's such a major forerunner of the paranormal/horror genre).<br /><br />I do love musical Marius, because he actually cares about the revolution and his friends, whereas in the book he turns his back on politics as soon as meets Cosette and returns to the barricade only because, rather pathetic specimen that he is, he's convinced he needs to die without her. Before reading the book I was so excited for my favourite bits, for example Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, but that scene didn't even seem to happen! Marius was not at all affected, and I guess, in truth, he was never very good friends with the others in the first place, except for Combeferre. So yeah, book Marius didn't go it for me.<br /><br />I was interested in Grantaire/Enjolras, though, I really liked that. Enjolras made me quite sad, though. He was such an idealist and I guess he represented Hugo's ideals, and there's a bit where he makes this speech about the nineteenth century and how progress can only continue, and in the twentieth there'll be no war and no hunger and no suffering, and I just thought, what what Hugo say if he knew the truth? If he could see the World Wars, Stalin's Russia, Mao's China? If he could see the Middle East today? I guess Enjolras/Hugo were looking for heaven on earth, which isn't going to happen.<br /><br />I do love the Anne Shirley idea of kindred spirits! Although I think Montgomery totally plays with it -- how Anne thinks that because Diana is so beautiful, with the black hair and violet eyes Anne always wanted, she's also a romantic and a dreamer etc like Anne, whereas actually she's a lot more mundane -- I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course! -- thinking for example of Avril's Atonement and the baking powder competition XD<br /><br />I'm so glad you hijacked the post, thanks for such a long comment and for the follow, Rebekah! I'm really glad you liked it. And ha, I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that and ask! XD It's A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth.<br />Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-73814963237301994922016-03-18T15:25:09.845+00:002016-03-18T15:25:09.845+00:00Les Mis is one of my favorite things in the histor...Les Mis is one of my favorite things in the history of the world, so this made me SO HAPPY.<br />"You can argue with Shakespeare, but you can't argue with the Bible.*" - killed me. Though I don't argue with Shakespeare much, either <3<br /><br />ANYHOW. I agree with everything you said about the deification of women in Victorian novels. It was actually a *thing.* One of the prime examples (though it was actually written later) is Dracula. I find Dracula fascinating because we have Lucy, our stereotypically Victorian maiden ideal, who gets *ravished* by being turned into a vampire. And then we have Mina, who is smart and brave and kind of ahead of her time. She also gets *tainted* by Dracula, but she's able to overcome it to be far more awesome than basically the rest of the characters. In a way, it's like Stoker is pitting the Victorian zeitgeist against what he feels is a strong female character, and still somewhat failing.<br /><br />But you see it over and over again, my friend. In Les Mis, I was always so invested in the Valjean/Javert debate (and then the Enjolras and Grantaire comparison/contrast), that I basically ignored Marius and Cosette. However, I've also loved the musical for over a decade (ulp, makes me sound old), and I prefer Marius there, for the reasons you mentioned. Cosette is more of a character in the book.<br /><br />As for love at first sight - I'm a definite skeptic. But then, unless you count my unswerving devotion to certain songs or fictional characters, I've never been "in love" with anything. So I'm not a good test subject, lol. But instalove in books drives me batty - especially YA. Two teenagers who fancy each other and THINK they're in love make sense to me, on a psychological level. But when we readers are supposed to accept that they're in "everlasting love" in two seconds . . . Call me when you find unicorns, the sky falls, and dinosaurs living in the center of the earth, author. :) Even as a teenager, I never thought I was "in love" with people I just found attractive. There has to be more of a connection. Can people form instant connections, or recognize "kindred spirits," to quote Anne Shirley, maybe. I might buy that. Combine it with attraction, and we might have the closest thing to instalove. But I still think it's a dreadful mess in 99% of books.<br /><br />And now that I've hijacked your post with an epic-length comment, *applauds* you because I thought this was a great review of Les Mis, really well thought out and written, and a fascinating subject :) And what's the longest book you've read, by the way?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10263763900090745401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-66346041439036788042016-03-16T19:47:54.747+00:002016-03-16T19:47:54.747+00:00I really like the film. Eponine affected me the mo...I really like the film. Eponine affected me the most time, but I do love musical Marius. Cosette, though ... you have to read the book if you ever want properly to like Cosette!<br /><br />Same, but when it does ... ! <333<br /><br />ARAAGHHHH!!!!!!! So sincerely! D: D: Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-52591109440346952052016-03-15T23:51:43.776+00:002016-03-15T23:51:43.776+00:00Very interesting post, Emily. I've never read...Very interesting post, Emily. I've never read Les Mis, but I recently watched the 2012 movie version which I had never seen before. I'm going to say that's my favorite movie adaption so far. Of the Marius and Cosette section, I thought Marius was the most interesting of that group of characters. For some reason, I've never really cared for Cosette one way or the other. <br /><br />For the most part, I could do without instalove. Very rarely it works for me. <br /><br />I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE RAVEN KING!! I'm sincerely concerned for Gansey's well-being. Lauren Stoolfirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777860030600932061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-42558625491427641132016-03-14T22:21:00.339+00:002016-03-14T22:21:00.339+00:00SAME, TRESKIE, SAME. I AM JUST EXISTING I AM NOT L...SAME, TRESKIE, SAME. I AM JUST EXISTING I AM NOT LIVING I'M JUST IN A STATE OF WAITING WAITING WAITING OH GANSEY MY GANSEY----<br /><br />It is a VERY good musical, my fave in fact! I love Phantom but ... Les Mis, man! I will look up said version it does sound hawt. But I love musical Marius! Book Marius was laaame but Marius in the musical seems to have actual conviction about what he's fighting for. And Empty Chairs ...... !<br /><br />Really? That's so cool! Yes, that's how it happened (at beach barbecues, rather than in cafeterias) for two of the couples I cited. Although, interestingly, it was the woman both times who thought “that's the dude I'm goan marry" ... and she did! But I agree, it makes sense that it would be the man more often? I think?<br /><br />Interesting. I kinda disagree, like just for myself I'm 17 and have been in love once and am not going to marry that person (that would be a plot twist!) so if I AM going to get married (which I hope I am) I'll have to fall in love at least another time. I have a hard time believing that there's only one person you could marry in the world. But yes, if you have that “that's the one I'm going to marry" moment when you see someone, that should not happen more than once or that'd be a bit awkward ...<br /><br />Thanks! I know, it is hefty XDEmilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-49906394232863877782016-03-14T22:14:22.286+00:002016-03-14T22:14:22.286+00:00You do! That's so great, I'm glad to hear ...You do! That's so great, I'm glad to hear you've been converted ;) Ugh, you're going to be able to read all four without waiting, you lucky thing! But what's Lady Midnight?<br /><br />You should! You must! You shall! But THREE YEARS FOR OOTP???! I literally cannot book that down (well, maybe not quite literally, but you get me)! It was my fave last time I read them! Maybe you should start the series again to get your momentum going. (That's always my advice in any situation: just reAD ALL OF HARRY POTTER.)<br /><br />Thank you! I'm glad you appreciated it. I hope your thinking goes well :)<br />Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-45136035644319833652016-03-14T22:11:15.724+00:002016-03-14T22:11:15.724+00:00You're welcome, I'm glad someone else foun...You're welcome, I'm glad someone else found it interesting! XD<br /><br />You should! But yes, maybe wise ... !Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-35033177593926654872016-03-14T22:10:33.668+00:002016-03-14T22:10:33.668+00:00Well, you know where you stand! XD You should try ...Well, you know where you stand! XD You should try it again, though, it is a cracking book.<br /><br />SAME! ~runs in circles~Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-76793131417850917192016-03-13T21:21:36.677+00:002016-03-13T21:21:36.677+00:00**INTENSE SCREAMING BECAUSE GANSEY'S FATE IS F...**INTENSE SCREAMING BECAUSE GANSEY'S FATE IS FRIGHTENING**<br /><br />BUT WOW I KNEW IT WAS COMING OUT IN TWO WEEKS BUT I DIDN'T REALLY *REALIZE* IT UNTIL YOU WROTE IT DOWN AND THEN I WAS LIKE, 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."<br /><br />MMMM. Les Mis is a good musical, and I love the whole "faith" aspect of it, but it still stands behind Phantom on my favorite musicals list. lol. (Also, in my opinion, Michael Ball is the only guy who's played Marius in a way that doesn't make me want to shove him off a barricade. HIS VOICE THROBS.... Actually, if you can find the Symphonic version of it, with Michael Ball, Anthony Warlow (!!!!!) And Philip Quast as Javert, you really, really should. Anthony Warlow is the king of Broadway and his voice is insane and powerful and amazing and *faints* He's very hawt.)<br /><br />mmmm. I do actually believe in insta-love, just because... my Grandpa (Or Nono as we called him.) literally saw my Nona from across a cafeteria and went, "I'm gonna marry that girl." and he did, and they were happily married until he passed away. <br /><br />However, I think guys tend to get love at first sight more often than girls, and that's just something I've noticed. <br /><br />But I dunno, I think if God's created you TO BE with someone your whole life, then love at first sight makes sense, because your *souls* match. But I don't really think insta-love is real more than once. I have a hard time believing someone can "Fall in love" in the Christian sense of the word, more than once....<br /><br />I have no idea if that makes sense, but whatever, I'mma post it ANYWAY. :)<br /><br />(Also, WOW, congrats on reading the whole les mis book. like seriously, if I'm ever lost at sea I could use that book as a raft, it's so big.)Treskiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490639560086435577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-65198919797058114302016-03-13T19:37:21.692+00:002016-03-13T19:37:21.692+00:00I really need to catch up on Maggie Stiefvater thi...I really need to catch up on Maggie Stiefvater things! I'm currently reading The Raven Boys and I absolutely love it! Way different than my first impressions of it a year ago. My mind is having a constant tug of war of either reading The Raven Boys or Lady Midnight...<br /><br />Oh Les Mis... One of my friends is utterly obsessed with it and I feel the need to read it, but I'm already drowning in responsibility as it is. And big books just scare me. XD Just look at The Order of the Phoenix, it's been 3 years and I'm still not done with it.<br /><br />I really like this post! Coincidentally, the topic of the different types of love we see in literature has been floating around in my head for the past couple of weeks. It's really interesting to see someone else's thoughts and I totally agree with what you said about physical love. It's really given me a lot to think about.Carlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10522064884938295650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-46293951717217023212016-03-13T01:50:38.614+00:002016-03-13T01:50:38.614+00:00This was a REALLY interesting ramble! We do get st...This was a REALLY interesting ramble! We do get stuck on dismissing physical love, but it does play a part in relationships, so it's important to talk about. Thank you so much for sharing your insights!<br /><br />I feel inspired to read Les Mis, buuuuut maybe I'll wait until I finish my degree, haha. Sunny Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10185336977090257875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797055056494841024.post-383154321461401702016-03-12T23:30:58.628+00:002016-03-12T23:30:58.628+00:00I despise insta love, and I have never been able t...I despise insta love, and I have never been able to get into Les Mis. So excited for the Raven King!Skye Hofferthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02385765274513034927noreply@blogger.com