Thursday 29 December 2011

Tessa and Jem - so not the perfect couple!

Just finished reading "Clockwork Prince" by Cassandra Clare. I loved the book, as I have loved all her other books. I think she's one of the most intriguing YA authors at the moment and I'm among those queuing in front of Waterstones the day her latest book is launched.
"Clockwork Prince" was no exception. To any rule - I got in on release day, I loved the story and devoured it in the matter of days, and I hated Cassie's "second book twist".
Tessa ends up with Jem? Are you kidding me right now? I'm really sorry about all the "team Jem" fans out there but honestly - JEM?? I don't mean it in a way that he's not good enough for a lead male character, on the contrary. But hands up those who think he's way too perfect! He's always so calm, so composed, so kind to everyone; he's the one who sees through Will's bad behavior; he's the one with the fatal illness inflicted on him by force and still he's not complaining!
And yet, Tessa loves Will. She doesn't admit it, she probably doesn't even know it herself for 2/3rd of the book but she does. The heat they generate when they are in close proximity of each other is enough to keep you warm during the winter months without ever switching the heating on. Hot water bottle - who needs it? Just read the DSBS and you'll be set!
And if that wasn't enough of a proof for you that Tessa loves the bad boys, just think about the moment she actually notices Jem as something more than a friend. When is that? The only time he actually loses his temper, has a shirtless rant and appeares almost as human as the rest of us.
And what about Mr. Perfect not even suspecting Will has feelings for Tessa? Jem - the observing, considerate, intuitive Jem - didn't notice even a flicker of interest in his best friend's, his parabatai's, eyes? Was he too self-involved to notice, or did he simply not care enough?
I really hope he dies in book three (sorry team Jem, it's Cassie's fault) because that's the only way he's out of the picture and Tessa and Will can be together. The scenario where he dies and asks Will to "take care of her" may have been exploited to an agonizing familiarity but it's still better than him ruining Tessa, and Will's, life.
Let's face it, Tessa and Will are meant to be together from the very first page.

2 comments:

  1. 1) First of all, how can Will not notice Jem's feelings for Tessa? He has never tried to conceal his feelings for her, ever. Even Sophie could see it! Don't get me wrong, Will has feelings for Tessa, but he has spent his entire life concealing his feelings. How could anyone know?
    2) And honestly, I think Jem's sweetness and goodness is a breath of fresh air, compared to all those angsty characters we see nowadays. His ability to be calm even in the face of his own death is admirable. He's a comfort to both Will and Tessa. Trust me, as far as faults go, being too "perfect" isn't so bad.
    3)If Jem died, Will wouldn't touch Tessa. Didn't you read the book? In Will's eyes, Tessa would always be the girl that Jem loved. That's what makes the situation so painful. It isn't that Tessa doesn't have feelings for Will: it's that Tessa can't admit it. If she did, she would ruin any chance for Will to find love somewhere down the road. It's all very tragic, but true.
    4) How can you see Jem's acceptance of his illness as a fault? Would he be more likeable as a character if he was nasty and bitter and always complaining?
    In short, don't let your Team Will-ness get in the way of seeing both sides. I'm not letting my Team Jem-ness get in the way of enjoying Will as a character. :)
    I love them both!

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  2. Thanks KristinKat for taking the time to read my rant :D You have some very convincing points, and to be honest I can totally see the other, team-Jem side. It's just that I can't warm up to Jem. For me he is pretty perfect from the start and doesn't have much room for improving throughout the series.
    And I just finished reading the book, the wound is still very fresh for me to think clearly :D
    But anyway, can't wait for the third book and see how Cassie resolves the problem.

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