alexbud22

communication senior at xavier university | donut addict and music enthusiast | he/him | tweets are my own.

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@TreJackson52 The bayou does have a really eerie feel which makes it unsettling but also the perfect place for a murder mystery to be set. It definitely speaks to Locke’s genius as an author. #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@jackputneyxu The mystery looming over Darren (and what I assume will umbrella the entire series) makes it really difficult to feel completely satisfied. In this regard, Locke is kind of subverting the expectation that the mystery will be solved by the end of the book. #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

Obviously there are a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this first book in the series, but I’m particularly curious how other folks see Locke’s own familial history represented in Bluebird, Bluebird. #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@CastelliOlivia As Darren is slowly welcomed into the Black community in Lark, he notices more and more about Geneva’s Market. As he grows more familiar with the place, so does the reader, which provides a blossoming sense of home about the shop. #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@IMichnya This is a great example of Locke’s attention to detail. Imagery drives a lot of her storytelling, allowing the reader to really visualize the fictional world she has created on paper….even down to the bruises and slits on the body. #writingabouttexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

This description of the land behind the icebox tells an ominous story. The broken furniture and littered land gives me the impression that Lark is run-down. Literally and figuratively it has been through a lot. #writingabouttexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@ashsuttner Missing murder weapon is such a classic cliche of the mystery genre. I’m excited to see what Locke does with this piece of the puzzle and how the grand jury scene in chapter 1 will fit into the plot. #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@kylerxu2023 Darren definitely fits the trope of beat-down protagonist. In the first few chapters we see him struggling with alcoholism, his relationships, and his career. This leaves a lot of room for character growth. #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

In the first few chapters it was apparent how much Darren fits into the Sherlock trope: a mysterious, smart, and inherently curious detective. This is evident in his agreeing to take the case in Lark “from the minute Greg had laid out the scene.” #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@morganh2024 I definitely see these tropes play out in the mystery genre, but it’s interesting how many of these cliches are epistemically violent. When did we decide only men can be the ‘super genius’ and only women can receive the attention from their male counterparts? #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@morganh2024 Watching murder mysteries is one of my favorite activities I do with my mom, but I’ve never explored true crime podcasts before. I might need to check them out this summer! #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

In this powerful statement, Attica Locke explains how her novels are intertwined with her own familial history in Texas. Bluebird, Bluebird will seemingly unravel the tensions that exist because of land ownership disputes. https://t.co/E9XfRZ5RQa #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

This article confirms that like most genres, the mystery genre is a victim of epistemic violence. Especially when Black people are being killed by the police at disproportionate rates, it is vital to publish stories by Black novelists. https://t.co/5WeE30nVL7 #WritingAboutTexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@CastelliOlivia @IMichnya Based on the numerous other romance tropes in this novel, I have a feeling there is a HAE ending in sight, even though I think the plot would be more interesting with an unpredictable ending #writingabouttexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@CritterLarue I would absolutely consider this book more of a romance novel with elements of a mystery/thriller, and your observation about the sex scenes is good evidence of this. #writingabouttexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

Also, I found it surprising that Cole choose to describe the first time they had sex from Malcom’s perspective (in Chapter 13) as opposed to the heroine’s. That felt a little contradictory to the feminist vibes I got from Cole in her interviews. #writingabouttexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

This is the third time Elle and Malcom have gotten into a fight, made up, and displayed their affection for one another. I get they’re supposed to be madly in love, but do you think that their love is rooted in something unhealthy (i.e. constant quarreling) #writingabouttexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@akerskyler I totally got the same vibe. The prologue felt laborious simply because it cut into the middle of a plot I knew nothing about. As Cole settles into the chapters, I feel like the pace is picking up.

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

@EHeavern Like we know from Kindred, layering genres on top of one another is not easy, but Cole has done such a good job making this story equal parts romance and thriller. At times, I’d almost classify it as romantic suspense #writingabouttexts

[alexbud22 @alexbud22]

One of the first things I noticed about Cole’s Extraordinary Union was how the perspectives alternated each chapter between Elle and Malcom. I’ve read YA romance novels that have done this before, and I like the back-and-forth structure in this genre. #writingabouttexts