What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:
*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*
Books
The Elite by Kiera Cass – Ch 8-20
I knew something was going to go down as a result of this Halloween party, and boy did things go down. As soon as Marlee said she had a secret that she didn’t want to reveal, I suspected that she had taken a liking to someone other than who she was meant to, namely Maxon. Of course, with the threat of death hanging over their heads as punishment for unfaithfulness, it makes sense that she wasn’t willing to tell America her secret; but, then again, they were dumb enough to undress together in a broom closet during a massive event, so perhaps they kinda had it coming.
I really do hate inconsistent characterisation like this, and quite frankly, it’s what drives me up the wall. Does being a character in a book give you free rein to be an absolute idiot without major consequences? Aspen and America are also guilty of this, having a secret rendezvous together after her friend was literally lashed and cast out of society (as far as she knows) for doing the same thing. And these two have the gall to say Maxon is in the wrong for allowing Marlee and Carter to keep their lives when the law is on his side if he chose to uphold it.
However, America clearly doesn’t have very strong conviction, since she is rather easy to forgive Maxon not long after these events, all because she feels a little jealous of one of the other Selection girls. Okay, I guess, I mean that’s basically been her whole personality so far: choose Aspen or choose Maxon. And this is the only way to bring Maxon back in the game.
I’m at least glad we got to see the girls do some actual diplomatic work, something that will actually be useful to them as future monarchs. The hosting of the foreign diplomats was interesting in that we got to see a universe existing outside of Illéa, but it isn’t particularly different from our real world. The Germans still spoke German, and were typecast as stiff and uptight, and the Italians were similarly boxed into boisterous and fun-loving. It was intriguing to see the hints of political strife between nations and the hint of espionage from the Italian royalty through America.
Going forward, I want to see more of the rebels we keep hearing about and for America to grow a spine. Or is that too much to ask for? And I really just want either Maxon or Aspen to go on an extended leave of absence. Maybe without having one guy as a distraction, America may actually pick the other.
Colourful Granny 