The opposite of up

[mhalachai]

Allow me to clarify my rabidness about the Anita Blake books:

They're books. I tend to focus on the positive and the things I like in them, as I dislike to the extreme the crap that comes off a lot of the AB forums on the Internet, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to the books faults. These days, all that I read goes through the "Anita Blake fanfic" filter, so it's likely I'm looking at the books in a different way than you lot.

So here it is: As opposed to the normal sunshine and cheer that goes around here, take the opportunity to nitpick, to say what you don't like about the Anita Blake books/characters/cover art etc. Thing is, if you say you don't like something, you need to say why.

Also, feel free to comment anonymously.

ETA PS: There are now spoilers for Micah and the Danse Macabre teaser in this thread. FYI KTHNX.

Comments

[goddessvicky.livejournal.com]

I don't like how Anita has become so self-doubting lately. It seems like the more men she has around her telling her that's she's perfect, the more she feels like they're lying. She was so honest about herself in the first books when she only had her own opinion of herself. I miss the tough as nails Anita.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought about it that way. You're right... Almost as if letting herself be loved means she can't be so certain about herself.

Strange.

[morgie.livejournal.com]

Could be because those who she loved/loved her treated her so badly. Her dad, first fiancee....

[eiranea.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I miss the old Anita who didn't really care what anyone else thought of her. Seems like LKH has gone from writing this strong woman, who when you get down to it is quite a good role-model, to a 'traditional' woman with far less self-confidence than then men around her.

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, I like this self-doubting Anita. The old one was unrealistic and hypocritical. This one at least acknowledges her problems.

[iamabee-buzz.livejournal.com]

I agree. She seems more human to me now, somehow...which is rather ironic now that I think about it.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Some of the most "human" characters in the books are the monsters. So it makes sense :)

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm turning into a waffler. You're right, there was that hypocritical aspect, and the blinders on the world.... I can't say which I prefer because my mind has made the transision from "old Anita" to "new Anita" and there's no going back. Does that make any sense?

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

Makes perfect sense, and I'm right there with you. I read the first books because of the supernatural crime while hating Anita's personality. I read the later books because she was finally acting like a person, though the crime aspect is diluted with too much porn. Choices, choices.

Do you read Merry Gentry? I find I like that series better. More honest, so to speak. And even if Merry is the biggest MarySue ever, she's at least someone I'd like to spend time with. Anita makes me want to chuck her in a bathtub full of cold water and send her to therapy.