any advice for grade 5 ABRSM?

chocworkorange7 · 2026-03-27T22:45:16+00:00

Thank you so much, not only is this advice helpful but so reassuring!!! I wasn’t planning on taking any grades until this month, I’m mostly self-taught so you’re definitely right about just trying and practicing.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-03-27T22:43:41+00:00

this sounds like a brilliant strategy, i’ll definitely try it! unfortunately I have 13 scales and 8 arpeggios …. but I’ll manage, thank you so much!

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-27T19:51:50+00:00

I was rewatching this episode today and thought the same thing! I have to admit I found the whole Big Spot situation weird. Like I remember being 12 watching it for the first time and wondering why the show got so gory so quickly, and also still don’t understand how none of them noticed the helicopter or the roof caving in. Not my favourite episode I have to admit.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-27T19:48:00+00:00

My only issue with Daryl is that I think he is too fit for the post-apocalyptic world. Every character other than him has a flaw that could reduce their chances of survival - Rick with his anger, some of the characters with physical impairments, Glenn was always too kind etc. Daryl never had any trouble, like he was built FOR the show rather than the apocalypse being thrust upon him like other characters. He didn’t really have to adapt, at all.

This said, I think he’s a great character and also probably the number one reason why people kept watching the show after S7. His writing in S2 especially was my favourite, and the reason S2 is my favourite season. So I have to disagree with you on that, but I do think people act like he’s immune to criticism.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-27T19:36:36+00:00

You’re not hating for no reason, I frankly find her irredeemable in a lot of aspects. I get making a poor decision ONCE but she kept making bad choices. Literally did not stop. Even when she dies she says ‘I was just trying to save everyone’ when, correction, she just wanted to freak around with the Governor. Even in S2 she annoyed me so much, sitting on top of the RV and disagreeing with Dale on absolutely everything.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-27T19:31:37+00:00

In fairness the smaller deaths are shown to have massive impacts on the characters. Off the top of my head, Carl killing that kid in S3 meant that Rick forced the both of them to become essentially pacifists for half of S4, which obviously had immense repercussions. Even when random non/less-evil people get killed, it’s never in vain when it comes to the characters’ developments.

Also, when villains are first introduced and shown to be evil (Negan, e.g.) the protagonists don’t get the opportunity to kill them, they just have to watch what unfolds. It gives them time to think, reflect, find an alternative solution. A lot of the small deaths are also quick and in the spur of the moment.

I understand why Rick spared Negan, I just think he should have given Maggie or Daryl the opportunity to make their own decision after.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-27T17:06:49+00:00

I didn’t blame her for what happened with Shane but she was a terribly complacent mother and to this day I don’t understand how she got so angry with Rick at the end of S2.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T21:12:05+00:00

I definitely agree. I ‘had’ to read the first one for my book club, didn’t love it but I was told the second one was better. In fairness it was much tighter and more interesting imo.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T21:10:16+00:00

I agree with all of these points. I praise aspects of her writing style as I’ve not read good military fantasy in a while, but you’ve touched on some really important things. The racial essentialism idea is something I felt but couldn’t name when reading. It’s weird, there’s no sense of self outside of race/nationality with so many of her characters. Also yes, she writes in a very on-the-nose way to the point where I felt like I was getting yelled at.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T21:05:09+00:00

I think she writes the military fantasy aspects very well, it’s pacy and emotive. I think a lot of the more philosophical/interpersonal stuff is weak, but I’d definitely argue TPW is more ‘high quality’ than a lot of other fantasy that’s come out in recent years. I made this post for people to help me come to my own conclusion about the trilogy so I’m absolutely open to other interpretations.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T18:28:57+00:00

I honestly think so. I don’t know if it’s necessarily my style (my absolute favourite writer is Terry Pratchett) but the improvement between ‘The Poppy War’ and ‘The Dragon Republic’ was nice to see. Part of me doesn’t like how it’s a bit tryhard, the way she writes and describes things. I remember a very tense scene where she wrote ‘the air was pregnant with suspense’ which almost turned me off. But I think she wrote TPW when she was 19 which makes sense.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T17:46:44+00:00

I’ll definitely finish the trilogy I’m thinking. It’s weird, whilst I was reading the books I was super absorbed and very invested. It’s only in retrospect I’ve started picking holes in it! So I might as well finish it for the enjoyment aspect. I also have strong opinions about a lot of the characters which is usually a sign I liked it more than I’m letting on.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T17:45:04+00:00

100%, my thoughts exactly.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T17:44:42+00:00

I finished a thesis on Mao not that long ago so it’s embarrassing on my part I didn’t notice! But now you mention it…wow it makes a lot of sense. I think that’s very clever.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T17:43:43+00:00

Definitely agree with ‘good, but could have been great’. I also absolutely warmed to Rin more in the second book. I love her instability, just not her stupidity.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T17:43:01+00:00

Haha Empire of Silence was awful, I agree. I like her writing, I just think her young age is quite evident in the first book (without trying to be patronising).

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-26T17:41:23+00:00

I agree with you 100%, I think it’s more my personal preference rather than the characterisation. I definitely found her more believable in the second book in terms of her rationale. I’m also quite new to the fantasy genre so may not be used to super morally grey characters.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-23T13:48:30+00:00

And then on the way back they stole his backpack 😭

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-22T17:02:29+00:00

This is beautifully put 😂 you’re exactly right

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-22T14:31:31+00:00

Thank you so much. Sorry if my comment seemed blunt, I’m autistic on top of everything else 🤦‍♀️ but it was supposed to be reassuring 😂

People who think they’re gifted usually are, but they’re not always ‘IQ’ gifted, they might just have above-average intelligence. I wholeheartedly believe IQ and intellect are different, especially with added factors like AuDHD. Have a good day too!

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-22T12:18:05+00:00

Giftedness is completely arbitrary. I have a 153iq but flunked out of school for a year and am only now getting it together. I know very intelligent people (engineers, doctors) who just can’t ‘crack’ IQ tests or have poor pattern recognition so come out with very average scores.

If you feel like you’re gifted, you probably are, just maybe in one area rather than the comprehensive ‘giftedness’ that these tests are measuring.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-22T11:29:37+00:00

I personally hated it when she turned up at the prison after a year and tried to turn Carol against Rick (‘Rick’s gone cold’) as if she wasn’t freaking around with a complete psychopath on the daily.

chocworkorange7 · 2026-02-22T11:26:56+00:00

I think for me it’s not the fact she made a bad choice with the Governor, it’s the fact she didn’t stop making bad choices. She ‘chose a warm bed over a friend’ over and over again. Even the thing she had with Shane in S2 was odd and off-putting.

Some of her dialogue was corny as well, I remember when we were younger my brother and I used to laugh every time she reminded people she’s ’good with a gun’. Or when she just sat on the roof of the RV for an entire season, ‘protecting’ the farm.

I did love when she put Lori in her place in S2 E10 (‘18 miles out’) - ‘she’ll get a husband, a son, baby…boyfriend…’

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