Creative Writing Blogs
These Violent Delights - By Chloe Gong
Blog Entry 1: Chapter 1 - 10
I got recommended this book by my close family friend Emi. The only thing I knew was that it was about Asian gangs somewhere in the 1900’s. At the beginning of the book we placed into an important event for the book. This is the prologue that sets the storyline. A group from one of the gangs is hanging out at the dock when a different group from the rival gang comes by. We learn that these gangs have been rivals for a long long time, and both being in the same place at the same time means trouble. They start a rumble but before anyone can be shot, another mysterious force attacks and leaves the scene with only one survivor to tell the tale. As we get transported to where the rest of the book takes place, we are introduced to our first main character. Juliette is our main protagonist. She is sharp and witty. Juliette is an 18 year old who is the heir to one of the gangs introduced, the Scarlet Gang. She has returned from being sent away in New York to her home in Shanghai. She meets with the people her father, Lord Cai, can’t be bothered to meet with himself. While seeing this scene from Juliette’s view we get introduced to our other main character, and possibly our antagonist, Roma. Roma is also an important character in the world of the Shanghai gangs. He is the heir to the White Flowers, the main rival to the Scarlett Gang. We learn through their interaction that these two characters have met before and have a complicated past. They once used to have romantic relations, but where we get placed in the timeline is years past from when they were once close. So far I have really been enjoying the book and how it is set up. I think the writer does an amazing job of keeping the reader engaged as we go through this mystery with the characters. I always enjoy being a part of the main characters' inner thoughts and getting to have a behind the scenes of what events take place. This book focuses on a fantasy world where there are not only two rival gangs in Shanghai but where there is also a powerful monster murdering the townspeople in the most gruesome way. Our main conflict in this book is the mysterious monster leaving the townspeople to drop like flies each night with no leads as to what it is or how it is causing all this chaos. Our smaller conflict within this mystery is that these two rival gangs and more specifically Juliette and Roma have to work together to solve this mystery while still holding loyalty to their gang and being powerful. Although it still feels like I’m early in the story I love how this book is set up. We get to see each main character’s perspective and see all the background info that the other characters don’t have of each other. I have always loved the fantasy genre of books, but I have a hard time reaching for books in this genre right away. I tend to lean towards realistic fiction so the mix this book has of realistic fiction with the characters, and the fantasy of the monster mystery is really exciting for me. I chose this book to read for my humanities honors specifically for that reason and I hope to make my creative story a mix of these two genres I love. As I think about what I want for my story I know that I want my reader to know what my main characters are thinking. Like in These Violent Delights, I think being placed in the characters thoughts really keeps the reader connected to the story and to your characters. I hope that my story can have mystery to it as well and I can use a mystery as my conflict and way to tie in the fantasy area of the book. Although I don’t want it to be exactly like the book I’m reading, I am taking lots of inspiration about the format of the book and how it is set up. I am not completely sure on what I want my conflict to be, but as I continue reading I’ll have to decide if a murder monster-esque story is the route I want to take.
Blog Entry 2: 11 - 22
At this point in the book we've been introduced to many more characters and have gotten more insight into their personal storylines and conflicts. Juliette, our main protagonist is an only child but has/had three maternal cousins she's close with. Kathleen, Rosalind, and Celia. Kathleen passed away when they were all younger. Celia has only been referred to as Kathleen because we learn she is trans, and her father was only going to accept her with the name of her dead twin. Juliette we also learn, has killed her first victim at the age of 14. She seems to feel a lot of pressure from Lord Cai to be cold blooded and mature. She must do anything for the Scarlett Gang, including giving up her own feelings towards Roma. Although that won't be too hard for her because Roma all those years ago took advantage of their relationship and betrayed her. He led the White Flowers into Juliette's residency and murdered her maid. Unfortunately they have to work close with one another to solve this mystery of contagious madness. Two other detectives affiliated with the White Flowers and Roma find that there are insects infecting the brains of the people like lice. Once the infected person is dead so are the insects that led the victim to ripping out their own throats. There’s a scene in which Roma comes looking for help from Juliette and they get into their own violent quarrel. The descriptive language showing the scene made me worried for the characters. I really love these kinds of books that really get into each scene and let you dissect what events are unfolding. Although we mostly get Juliettes perspective, the author allows us to catch glimpses of Roma’s tasks and thoughts throughout the day. I love that there is still a level of mystery to some of our characters further into the book. It feels like we’re learning about the characters as if in real life. Learning new values and worries through each event as the story continues. Before I had wanted to make my story in the fantasy genre with a dark mystery. As I continue reading into the book and reflecting on what I feel a pull to write, I think I want to go in a different direction. Since the story is meant to be shorter I’m not sure that I want to write and solve a dark mystery. I do still want to create my world and characters within my own made up fantasy world though. I want to create a world in which maybe the conflict is the world having to adapt to a new reality, like in this book I’m currently reading. Mysterious monsters have never been introduced to this society, and not only is it new, but it’s dangerous does society have to adapt much quicker. I would love my story to go about this conflict in a softer, less violent way. I love reading the more dark side of fantasy, but I think for my first story diving into a new genre, I should stick to learning how to do one new thing at a time. I can keep my light hearted storyline, and just add in my fantasy world elements needed to fulfill my imagination's vision. I wish I had more time to finish my book because of how interesting it is, but unfortunately robotics season has been taking up all my free time I would have to read my book. Even throughout spring break I felt like I had no break to relax and get sucked into the world of “These Violent Delights”. I do have predictions for how the story will end though. I’m sure there will be some kind of cure found, most likely by the collaboration of the two gangs. After learning that Roma had betrayed Juliette I have an inkling that Juliette will get her revenge in some form before the book ends. I’m not sure if it will be more violent or less violent than what Roma did, but I think it’ll shock him all the same.