The Freezer Bunny Club - A Reading Circle
The Freezer Bunny Club: A Reading Circle https://i.imgur.com/qBYoZ55.png Welcome to The Freezer Bunny Club! This reading circle is an open space for the members to share our stories and discuss...
Forum Discussion
@Duvelina Okay, here goes round 3! :smiley:
I like it! You have a way of letting us peek into your characters’ heads that is really endearing. Even Max, who I hate with a passion in-game, I can’t help but root for just a little. I’ve noticed that you don’t literally quote your sims, but rather tell us what they say through your narrative. It’s different from what I’m used to, but I like it. Plus, your pictures are always so colourful and bright!
I like it! I do have to admit that I was a little confused at the beginning, as it felt that I was jumping into a story on its midway point. But you’ve been playing with the Villareals long before you began to write their lives down, right? It’s not strange that it felt that way at first. You’ve given us a good overview of who everyone was and how they were related after that, and I’m super invested now, especially in Hugo (as I’m sure you know from my comments XD)
They feel real, especially Hugo and Sofia’s. With a lot of stories, relationships are either perfect, always in the middle of drama, or constantly in jeopardy. But Hugo and Sofia’s relationship just feels so real to me, especially with her addiction and Hugo’s enabling, doormat-like behaviour. People go through these struggles in real life too, and that’s what makes me really invested in the both of them. You’ve done a really good job there.
The relationship between Luna and Alyson is like that, too. You have a way of using very few words to forge very realistic, likable characters.
It’s great! You really put some work into it. I love the slice-of-life pictures at the top of every page. And adding the family tree is great for keeping track of who is who, as long as you’re not scared of spoilers. You may want to put the link to your blog in your signature, too – that way people clicking on it won’t have to make the detour of going through another thread first if they want to go directly to the blog.
Spoiler territory for those who have not caught up yet:
1. What do you think of my storytelling?
I like it! You have a way of letting us peek into your characters’ heads that is really endearing. Even Max, who I hate with a passion in-game, I can’t help but root for just a little. I’ve noticed that you don’t literally quote your sims, but rather tell us what they say through your narrative. It’s different from what I’m used to, but I like it. Plus, your pictures are always so colourful and bright!
2. What do you think of the overall story so far?
I like it! I do have to admit that I was a little confused at the beginning, as it felt that I was jumping into a story on its midway point. But you’ve been playing with the Villareals long before you began to write their lives down, right? It’s not strange that it felt that way at first. You’ve given us a good overview of who everyone was and how they were related after that, and I’m super invested now, especially in Hugo (as I’m sure you know from my comments XD)
3. What do you think of my ability to portray relationships specifically? Do they feel authentic?
They feel real, especially Hugo and Sofia’s. With a lot of stories, relationships are either perfect, always in the middle of drama, or constantly in jeopardy. But Hugo and Sofia’s relationship just feels so real to me, especially with her addiction and Hugo’s enabling, doormat-like behaviour. People go through these struggles in real life too, and that’s what makes me really invested in the both of them. You’ve done a really good job there.
The relationship between Luna and Alyson is like that, too. You have a way of using very few words to forge very realistic, likable characters.
4. What do you think of my new blog? Any feedback?
It’s great! You really put some work into it. I love the slice-of-life pictures at the top of every page. And adding the family tree is great for keeping track of who is who, as long as you’re not scared of spoilers. You may want to put the link to your blog in your signature, too – that way people clicking on it won’t have to make the detour of going through another thread first if they want to go directly to the blog.
Spoiler territory for those who have not caught up yet:
Spoiler
Yes. Her struggles and her complete apathy towards the rest of the world, including her fiancé, were very well done. I do think she got over her addiction very fast – but the other shoe may be waiting to drop on that one, depending on how her relationship with Luna goes. I have a sneaking suspicion that she’s fixating all of her attention on Luna as a sort of substitute.
Hugo and Sofia, as well as Hugo and Nelson. I’ve gushed about Hugo in the comments already, but he’s such a gentle giant, and you portray him in a way that makes me genuinely concerned for his well-being. I also love that you showed him slowly turning his life around after a certain point.
Sofia and Luna. Not because it’s badly written, but because I think that Sofia is using Luna as a distraction from her addiction and if that’s true, then there’s going to be a massive fallout and I just want all of them to be happy and ARGH. I’m too invested XD I actually love reading their chapters and I can’t wait to see what happens!
You took a premade EA family and turned them into realistic people with goals, flaws and history. I love what you’ve done with them. I’d actually love to see a sort of flashback to the earlier days, before you began to post chapters of them online. Lucy the golddigger snaring Jacques, Hugo proposing to Sofia, Luna with Alyson as a baby/toddler – moments like that. Of course, since that’s all in the past of the game, that’s a very tall order, if not impossible. xD
That neighbourhood bully who grew up without growing up. He’s still pulling pranks and being mean to people, but he doesn’t even have a place to live and is focusing on the wrong things. Then again, if he were to grow up, he’d probably turn into a major crime boss, so maybe it’s better he stay this way.
Hugo, which probably comes as no surprise. You’ve given him a very likable personality and believable flaws. He’s such a gentle giant, and I want him to be happy SO BAD.
Neal, I think. I don’t dislike him (though he lost points by trying to steal money from his sister xD), but he doesn’t feel as fleshed out as Sofia, Hugo, Luna and Max. That’s only natural with a large cast of people, so don’t feel bad about it!
Neal, for the above reason, and Jacqueline. I’d love a storyline where she slowly works through her insecurities and comes out a better person on the other end. But who knows where life will take her? I’m eager to find out, at any rate.
Hugo and Sofia, branching out to Sofia + Luna and Hugo + Nelson. I feel like we’ve spent time with them the most, and they are the most well fleshed-out of all the storylines.
I’m dreading what will happen to Sofia if something goes wrong with her Luna-infatuation. I may be completely misreading it, though, and they’ll continue to be happy together. I’m also expecting Max to royally mess life up for himself, but I can’t feel bad about that, because from the looks of it, he’s his own worst enemy. xD
Jacqueline, there are parts in the world where your body type is the epitome of beauty. You happen to live in one that think slim is the only way to go. If you genuinely don’t like your body, then train away, but don’t let others dictate what you should look like.
Yes! :smiley:
What made you choose the Villareal family over anyone else in the neighbourhood?
What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had while playing them, present in the story or otherwise?
How long do you plan to follow the Villareals in their life struggles? Do you have an endpoint in mind, or do you plan to keep writing and just see where it takes you?
Why is Hugo such a cutie?!
5. Do you think I portrayed Sofia’s addiction storyline well?
Yes. Her struggles and her complete apathy towards the rest of the world, including her fiancé, were very well done. I do think she got over her addiction very fast – but the other shoe may be waiting to drop on that one, depending on how her relationship with Luna goes. I have a sneaking suspicion that she’s fixating all of her attention on Luna as a sort of substitute.
6. What is your favourite portrayed relationship, romantic or otherwise, in the story so far and why?
Hugo and Sofia, as well as Hugo and Nelson. I’ve gushed about Hugo in the comments already, but he’s such a gentle giant, and you portray him in a way that makes me genuinely concerned for his well-being. I also love that you showed him slowly turning his life around after a certain point.
7. What is your least favourite portrayed relationship, romantic or otherwise, in the story so far and why?
Sofia and Luna. Not because it’s badly written, but because I think that Sofia is using Luna as a distraction from her addiction and if that’s true, then there’s going to be a massive fallout and I just want all of them to be happy and ARGH. I’m too invested XD I actually love reading their chapters and I can’t wait to see what happens!
8. What do you think of my portrayal of the Villareal family?
You took a premade EA family and turned them into realistic people with goals, flaws and history. I love what you’ve done with them. I’d actually love to see a sort of flashback to the earlier days, before you began to post chapters of them online. Lucy the golddigger snaring Jacques, Hugo proposing to Sofia, Luna with Alyson as a baby/toddler – moments like that. Of course, since that’s all in the past of the game, that’s a very tall order, if not impossible. xD
9. How would you interpret and describe Max as a character?
That neighbourhood bully who grew up without growing up. He’s still pulling pranks and being mean to people, but he doesn’t even have a place to live and is focusing on the wrong things. Then again, if he were to grow up, he’d probably turn into a major crime boss, so maybe it’s better he stay this way.
10. Who is your favourite character so far and why?
Hugo, which probably comes as no surprise. You’ve given him a very likable personality and believable flaws. He’s such a gentle giant, and I want him to be happy SO BAD.
11. Who is your least favourite character and why?
Neal, I think. I don’t dislike him (though he lost points by trying to steal money from his sister xD), but he doesn’t feel as fleshed out as Sofia, Hugo, Luna and Max. That’s only natural with a large cast of people, so don’t feel bad about it!
12. Who would you want to see more of?
Neal, for the above reason, and Jacqueline. I’d love a storyline where she slowly works through her insecurities and comes out a better person on the other end. But who knows where life will take her? I’m eager to find out, at any rate.
13. What is your favourite storyline and why?
Hugo and Sofia, branching out to Sofia + Luna and Hugo + Nelson. I feel like we’ve spent time with them the most, and they are the most well fleshed-out of all the storylines.
14. What are your predictions for any of the ongoing (or future) storylines?
I’m dreading what will happen to Sofia if something goes wrong with her Luna-infatuation. I may be completely misreading it, though, and they’ll continue to be happy together. I’m also expecting Max to royally mess life up for himself, but I can’t feel bad about that, because from the looks of it, he’s his own worst enemy. xD
15. If you could give a piece of advice to one character, who would you choose and what would you say?
Jacqueline, there are parts in the world where your body type is the epitome of beauty. You happen to live in one that think slim is the only way to go. If you genuinely don’t like your body, then train away, but don’t let others dictate what you should look like.
16. Do you have anything of your own to ask or add?
Yes! :smiley:
What made you choose the Villareal family over anyone else in the neighbourhood?
What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had while playing them, present in the story or otherwise?
How long do you plan to follow the Villareals in their life struggles? Do you have an endpoint in mind, or do you plan to keep writing and just see where it takes you?
Why is Hugo such a cutie?!
