Line #15 YMMV/EmpressTheresa


1	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
2	** Some have suggested that Theresa is actually mentally ill and the whole story is really a product of her delusions. They tend to back up this theory by pointing out that her claims that thousands of assassins are targeting her when they never show up and how she’s TheChosenOne are classic examples of schizophrenic delusions (persecution and grandeur, to be specific). Theresa also mentions having a schizophrenic relative, and people who have schizophrenic family members are much more likely to develop schizophrenia than the general population. This would also explain the book's ''many'' plot holes and inaccuracies.
3	** Several have suggested that HAL is either the Holy Spirit or Lucifer (for the whole [[LightIsNotGood light bringer]] thing).
4	* AngstWhatAngst: Theresa is more annoyed than terrified when she is about to be blown up by an atomic bomb.
5	* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The added scenes in the revised editions of the book that serve as Norman's way of railing against "trolls" (in this context, his detractors) are this, having no purpose in the narrative other than to attack critics.
6	* BileFascination: About half the reason why the book is so infamous. Nearly any in-depth analysis regarding Empress Theresa eventually becomes pointing out numerous issues with the prose, typos, or plot/character problems.
7	* ClicheStorm: The plot can be summarized as follows: " A [[BeautyEqualsGoodness beautiful]], [[IncorruptiblePurePureness virtuous]] [[PluckyGirl young girl]] becomes TheChosenOne, finds love with [[NerdsAreSexy an intense, manly physicist]], is rejected by everyone, but can't be killed, and saves the world multiple times." Oddly enough, Boutin was trying to avert this. One of the book's main selling points on the official website is that it's not like other novels. He also explains that the action doesn't begin until the fourth chapter because it would be cliché to put a flashy, exciting event (read: the hook) on the first page.
8	* DelusionConclusion: Some readers have suggested that the whole book is actually the delusions of a paranoid-schizophrenic Theresa, backing this up by pointing out that she herself mentions having a schizophrenic relative, and people with schizophrenic blood relatives are far more likely to develop schizophrenia than the general populace.
9	* DesignatedHero: Theresa is still treated as an ideal and heroic figure in-universe despite putting the planet under threat of starvation, destroying the North Pole, cursing an innocent lawyer with being unable to use motor vehicles, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking breaking the dress code in a French restaurant]], etc. etc.
10	* FourthWallMyopia: Practically an aversion - Theresa appears to display strange knowledge of things without cluing into the reader ''how'' or ''why'' she knows them.
11	* InferredHolocaust:
12	** By the end of the story, the Earth's axial tilt is shifted, the oceans have their temperature increased, the North Pole is blown up, and there is no longer winter nor nighttime. Theresa's actions would have logically killed off countless plants and animals.
13	** Theresa never warns people about what she's going to do, no matter how much of a danger it'd pose. This is most egregious when she puts the entire world into a 600-year deep sleep, including people on a plane who went to investigate what was going on.
14	* {{Narm}}: As noted on the main page, the ShoutOut to ''Literature/{{Pollyanna}}'', which has the titular character lose the use of her legs after being hit by a car, and said car is driven by a Middle Eastern "terrorist". While it's possible that it was supposed to be [[{{Bathos}} intentional]], considering the other tropes listed on this page, it's more likely this.
15	* OvershadowedByControversy: Discussions of this book will almost inevitably heavily involve the real-life antics of its author, Norman Boutin, particularly the online drama he was/is involved in. Norman is fairly infamous amongst reviewers and websites that mention the book for responding to criticism of the book in a variety of hostile ways (quoting Literature/TheBible, outright attacking the character of critics, dismissing their reviews and them as people, or just straight quoting his own characters as if it is a TakeThat moment to his detractors).
16	* SciFiGhetto: Despite being a story about a girl who becomes the host for an alien being that grants her superpowers, and involving such scenarios as all wind stopping, the Earth's axis being messed with to create infinite summer and the entire world being put into a 600-year-long stasis, the author is very adamant that this is not science fiction as he for some reason is openly disdainful of it and fantasy. As such, the work is listed as "Contemporary Women" on Amazon.
17	* TooBleakStoppedCaring: Reviewers have pointed out that many people will find it difficult to get into the book since it is extremely easy to read virtually every character as immoral or stupid.
18	* TookTheBadFilmSeriously: To an extreme degree. Despite the work's ''many'' flaws and questionable choices as detailed on the main page, Norman Boutin was absolutely convinced that he had written a classic work of literature, one destined for greatness, and refused to even consider the idea of the novel being anything less, starting fights that went on for ''months'' with anyone who saw it as anything but a masterpiece.
19	* UnintentionallySympathetic: The lawyer hired to face Theresa in court. She was just doing her job, but that doesn't stop Theresa from [[DisproportionateRetribution cursing her so that any motor vehicle she stepped into would be unable to run]]. And yes, the possibility of an emergency is brought up and dismissed, with Theresa implying she'd use violence if she tried to trick her that way. And as far as the story tells, the curse was never lifted.
20	* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Theresa in spades. Everything she does massively screws up the Earth, she ruins the careers of a lawyer and a politician because they did things she didn’t like, and barely puts in a 6-hour schedule for ''saving the world.'' Despite this, the book treats her as perfect in every way.
21	* {{Wangst}}: Theresa's ''raison d'etre.'' Though described as "a catalogue of good personality traits", she tends to dissolve into tears, sulks, and "life is unfair" complaints when confronted with any problem.

Context YMMV / EmpressTheresa