So, after eating her out. Marc Arwel, who is so insanely old at the age of 36, insists that she's the only student he's ever slept with. And that he's a mature man who 'knows how to really pleasure a woman' (I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT!), and Cerys falls in love with him, in a way that makes no sense for someone who's supposedly as sexually experienced as she is. I don't think 'she's 18' would be a sufficient explanation here. She's supposedly been having sex since she was 15, having encounters with sexy French strangers she's met on fancy holidays while wearing not much more than underwear. Her character background is a little concerning and Marc Arwel's behaviour, given that he's a lecturer, is seriously, seriously perverse and disturbing. I'm not sure though that we're supposed to be seeing his behaviour as disturbing.
HYWEL
Hywel discovers student societies, even Christian ones, are full of self-centered egotists. I'll give credit that this sounds very accurate, but it's also quite obvious. This isn't supposed to be a Young Adult novel. Most people who read this novel are probably at least undergraduates. It's written by a woman who went to university. This university. Yet it reads incredibly superficially, as if someone has only been told what university was like.
Anyway, that goth is back. The one who didn't want meet a 'fucking Bible-basher.' She's named Fflur! (IT'S WELSH!). These two chat for a while, and realise they have stuff in common. Which is not surprising in any way. Who loves religious imagery more than Goths? These two are obviously going to get together.
Then he meets a girl called Meleri. IT'S WELSH! Everyone in this version of Aberystwyth is Welsh, and has a very Welsh name. Even though Aberystwyth is in reality quite a diverse university (most universities are) and generally, you'd probably meet more students from Birmingham than anywhere else, given that Birmingham is where the trains go, and consequently the nearest and easiest big city to get to.
There's a proofing error on page 66 that says 'one of the rules of his Church was no pre-martial sex.'
Chapter 4 and we're back to LOIS being all virginal. I'm hoping the book isn't always going to be ordered: Lois, Cerys, Hywel. It's a very tedious structure.
'Lois was very happy with her recently purchased red mini-dress; it was short, not too eye-poppingly red, and sexy without being tarty.' OF COURSE NOT! SHE'S A VIRGIN! Jesus fucking Christ! Where exactly are they finding these incredibly sexy dresses. Aberystwyth isn't as quaint as some of its media portrayals, but it's equally still a small town, so it's not that fashion forward either. Laura Palmer was more typical of 1991 styling. 1991 is just before grunge and Britpop are about to break out. Sexy mini-dresses I remember thinking were more of a mid to late 90s thing for actual high street fashion - like Clueless, the Spice Girls and Buffy the Vampire Slayer - and the internet seems to agree. But if anyone wants to send me pictures of their 1991 self in hot pants and skinny t-shirts, on a cold British beach they're welcome to.
Lois has had to spend her money on boring Law books, when she'd wanted to spend it on drinking with Cai (IT'S WELSH!) and Daniel. Given that she was earlier going on about getting a full scholarship of £1500 (1991!), and she doesn't exactly sound like she comes from some background of hardship, I'm not exactly sorry for her. Also, you know, libraries gave us power and loans so we didn't have to buy expensive law books in their latest editions.And her lectures are hard, and everyone else is finding it so easy. Firstly, everyone will tell you that's not at all true, and secondly, they probably didn't decide to do Law, even though their interest is in Music, because they watched LA LAW.
Lois worries Cerys might try and steal her man, even though she doesn't have him yet and if Daniel decides he prefers Cerys, that's Daniel's fault, not hers. Why would these two be friends? Lois brags to Cerys about her new cool friends, once she realises that Cerys isn't interested. Yeah, that sounds like a healthy friendship!
Lois gets shy about her dress and puts a cardigan on because Daniel hasn't immediately paid attention to her sexy dress, because some other sexy third year blonder with a tasteful white mini-dress speaks to him. Then she gets really drunk, and resentful of the 'blonde bitch.' Because a slightly more attractive girl who talks to a guy that you barely even know is a bitch! This was written by a woman, and published by a women's writing press.
Then she takes some ecstasy, goes a bit funny, a guy bothers her and Daniel rescues her. Then they kiss. This was written by a woman, and published by a women's writing press.
CERYS THE BUTAIN!
She seemingly never wears a bra. She'll regret that someday. Marc says her nipples are 'the devil's rosebuds.' That is just gross. Marc apparently lives on the seafront in Aberystwyth. The hotel they were in was just off the seafront. Aber is a small town. How the fuck does he pull any of this off? Anyway, she's getting off with Cai now, apparently outside Marc's house. Cerys hasn't been given a single trait that doesn't portray her like a whore! Because at this point, we're only two weeks into the term and Cerys has had sex with three different men. Which, well, you know, if she wants to have sex with different people, she can do! Why not? I'm not slutshaming her! But the narrative is, making her nothing but sex and breasts and men! I applaud a girl who can have sex on the pebbly beach of Aberystwyth in OCTOBER!
HYWEL
Hywel has shit hair! But he's bought some cool clothes in Topman and River Island. Now he's hoping Meleri Haf (IT'S WEEEEELLLLLLSSSSSSHHHHH!) will love him! Meleri? What about Fflur?
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
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