Monday, February 20, 2012

Team Linden!


The awesome Brodie from Eleusinian Mysteries and I are fighting about book boys again. This time, however, there is no boxing ring involved because we not fighting over the same boy. Instead, we are fighting over who is best for the lovely heroine Rhine - Linden or Gabriel.

I am firmly Team Linden. Yes, I know, his father is horrible. I am not Team Vaughn or even Team Linden’s family. I simply love Linden. I am going to lay out my reasons for thinking he is the best match for Rhine. Not all of them are going to be popular reasons, but ultimately I think he’s the one that is best capable of being what Rhine needs.

I might as well get the less than wonderful aspects of Linden out of the way. He is certainly not perfect. In order to see my points you have to remember the world Rhine lives in. She will die when she reaches 20. This is not something she can ignore or not deal with. It might be selfish of her, but Linden can provide comfort during her agonizing illness when it happens. I am not only referring to his presence. He has the ability to make her illness a little easier on her. She will be kept comfortable, given what medication she can to ease the pain and be surrounded by her sister wives and a loving husband.

There is always Vaughn to contend with and I agree that Linden would be much more appealing without him around. I think that Linden would protect Rhine from him. A position as the favoured wife would afford that.  One of Linden’s flaws is that he has been kept in the dark about his father’s true nature for too long, and it would be beneficial for Rhine to tell him. It would make her life with Linden much easier.

Not only is Linden kind to her, he is patient as well. He doesn’t push or really expect anything from her. He lets her go at her own pace. Rhine could have ended up in much worse circumstances than with someone like Linden. It may seem like a weak reason, but in Rhine’s world it is a real possibility that she could have ended up with someone much less gentle towards her.

Linden is this kind hearted, broken young man who has loved and lost. While Rhine can’t relate to losing a significant other the way Linden lost Rose, she can relate to losing someone she loves. Her parents (and even her brother.)They both understand loss and could comfort each other and hopefully help each other heal.

Linden is broken, very much so. He seems to come alive, and even takes steps forward with Rhine. She holds him and lets him cry with her. She is used to taking care of people, and it’s this type of relationship Linden needs. I think Rhine needs to feel needed and Linden would give that to her.

Linden himself isn’t happy with how they became married. He is as much driven by the circumstances of the world they live in, and quite sheltered by his father as well.

We see that Rhine is coming to care for Linden while at the mansion. She even gets jealous when he is dancing with another girl at a party. She was almost running from her feelings because she wanted so desperately to find her brother. I think if there was a way for her to know her brother was ok, and see him regularly she would have been happy where she was.

In Wither we see that Rhine is softening towards Linden. She could truly be happy with him if she could let herself.  Neither Gabriel nor Linden are perfect but I think she could be safer, and happier with Linden.

Have I convinced you to give Linden a shot? Want to learn all about Rhine’s other love interest Gabriel? Head on over to Brodie’s blog and read her persuasive Team Gabriel post.

Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of Fever, and let me know in the comments if you are Team Linden or Team Gabriel!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

50 comments:

  1. Aww geez Kathy! Seriously, you're swaying ME! (Sorry Gabriel, sorry!) I do really feel for Linden. I'd love to see him escape from uner his father's watching eyes and discover the truth about everything before he dies. And I do like what we see develop between him and Rhine, but I just think Gabriel is a batter match for her... for reasons alraedy described haha. He won my heart with June Beans. Le sigh.

    Such an amazing post, you really explored his character so well. I'm curious if we see him in Fever! Thank you so much for having me take part! <3

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  2. I'm Team Gabriel but I'm not so sure anymore :D
    Great post!

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  3. Team Linden!!! Thank you for the great post! :D

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  4. I just came from Brodie's where, even though I've yet to read Wither, Gabriel would be the one I'd pick, but boy.....you make Linden sound do good. It's so obvious that you adore him!

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  5. I was Team Gabriel in Wither and I became Team OH-MY-GOSH-THERE'S-NO-OTHER-TEAM-BUT Gabriel in Fever! x) That boy is just so sweet and amazing and adorable and... Should I go on? x) But reading your argument makes me adore Linden too -- he DOES love Rhine, and I think that's the thing I love most about him. :)

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  6. Team Gabriel! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  7. It never occurred to me that there would be a Linden/Gabriel showdown, :) I'm personally not in favor of either. Linden's too naive and Gabriel's too nice. Both of them have good and bad points, like you said.

    Renae @ Respiring Thoughts

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  8. Team Gabriel :)
    Thank you for the giveaway!

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  9. team Lindon :)
    thanks for the chance to win.best wishes

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  10. Linden, ahh you got it but I wanted to make sure. I am just very tired right now...:(

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  11. I was for sure, 100% Gabriel, but this post really highlights the good/redeemable qualities of Linden. Even while reading, I was kind of swayed toward Linden, but I think the true freedom Gabriel represents is better for Rhine.

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  12. Team Linden. I don't know what it is, but it just seems that Gabriel, as a character, isn't quite developed and I have trouble connecting with him. Plus I think Linden is better for Rhine.

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  13. Team Gabriel, because he sounds like such a nice guy! :)

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  14. While you're totally awesome at trying to convince me to chose Linden, I just... can't. Because... Gabriel. o: But seriously, it's tough! Great post:)

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    1. Oh, and a huuuge thank you for the giveaway, too! :D

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  15. Team Gabriel! Because, while I think Linden is also sweet and caring, I still can't get over the fact that a) he is related to Vaughn and b) he doesn't believe that Vaughn is completely and horribly evil!

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  16. OH KATHY, KATHY -- WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME? It's like I'm being pulled in two opposite directions. Linden or Gabriel?! I don't know! I am slightly more Gabriel just from reading Wither but I seriously want to re-read and maybe re-think that position after this post.

    Linden's flaws are obviously hugely impacted by Vaughn (*throws darts*) but there's also the fact that he is SO NAIVE sometimes. Gabriel is sweet and definitely had his moments but I don't feel a connection as strongly to him as I do to Linden. I just don't think we know enough about Gabriel.

    I don't know D: I DON'T KNOW OMG. Okay... I think I'm going to vote for... Linden. Alright. Linden. DONE. Nicely done, Kathy :D

    Sonia

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  17. I am team Linden all the way. I think that the situation that Rhine must overcome to truly connect with Linden is more challenging and interesting on a psychological level. I also feel that Linden cares far more deeply about Rhine then Gabriel does.

    I think that the gentility that Linden behaves with is an important *strength* of his character, considering the cruelty of the world that he is living in. I also feel that if Rhine had been more open with him that the niavete that he suffers likely would have lessened. I think that the contrast of an "eyes wide open" v.s. "eyes wide shut" relationship, regarding him & Rose, v.s. him and Rhine, would make an interesting theme romantically.

    It also must be noted that Linden did *not* know the girls he was choosing between had been captured. He believed that they were all from orphanages and that they had been being raised to look forward to this and want it their entire lives. Considering the kind and gentle person that Linden is, I feel strongly that he would be appalled if he knew the truth.

    Bottom line, for me at least, is that I think the series will be far stronger and much more memorable if she ends up with Linden. Being with Gabriel seems too easy (there is no real tension -- heck, no real *anything* between them) and would not have the right kind of context for the world that Lauren has created. She has already succeeded in gaining not only my sympathy, but also my admireation and (book) love for someone I was very certain I was going to hate.

    Can she do the same to Rhine? We shall see...

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  18. I'm team Gabriel, but I'm not so sure now.

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  19. Team Gabriel of course! Linden has a greatness to him (despite his die circumstances) but Gabriel is always my man! ;)

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  20. You just convinced me enough to make me go for Team Linden. I wasn't rooting for either of them before, not really anyway :3

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  21. Definitely on Team Gabriel.
    But I love the way you love Linden. Your arguments are really something note-worthy.
    But yeah, Team Gabriel all the way! :D

    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  23. I've not read Wither, but I think I have to go with Gabriel based on what Brodie said. Sorry! But he sounds better for Rhine.

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  24. I haven't read the books yet but based on what you said I am definitely favoring Team Linden. Having a kind hearted and gently man is better than anything!

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  25. You bring up some really good points but I'm going to have to say Team Gabriel.

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  26. Wow, Kathy! You almost talked me into Linden, but I'm still team Gabriel. You made some really good points though!

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  27. I rooted for Linden all throughout Wither, but I don't want he and Rhine to be together in that house. I think Linden has to get out from under his father's thumb and make their relationship exclusive to really have a shot. Great post! :)

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  28. Team Gabriel. <3 I don't like Linden at all :D Not my type ;) Gabriel, though.. he is amazing :) <3
    thanks for this giveaway :D
    Love, Carina

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  29. Team Gabriel...at least he has a better idea of what's going on. I hated that Cecily ended up pregnant, and I don't see how Linden and Rhine could end up together after all that's gone on.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  30. Team Gabriel, but you never know, my feelings might change after reading Fever!

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  31. I'm Team Gabriel but poor, lost Linden needs someone good too!

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  32. I was Team Gabriel, but after reading Fever, and still not having his character developed, I am Team Lindin. I feel so bad for him, and he really is such an amazing guy! Great post!

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  33. Team Gabriel all the way!!

    ~Brownie

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  34. I'm totally Team Gabriel. While I agree that Linden could definitely provide Rhine with everything she might need when she gets sick, I don't necessarily think that he'll protect her from his father. Not that I think he wouldn't want to, but I think he wouldn't be able too. He is his father's puppet and I don't think that will change even if he's aware of it. I don't think he has the balls to stand up to his father (so I think in his case ignorance really is bliss). But you never know.

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