don't get your fingers caught in my machine
Hrm.
I'm having the same problem with The Dark Is Rising on this second time around. And I figured out why, too. It's the distance that she creates between me as the reader and Will as my protagonist. Yes, he is perfectly ordinary to begin with and that's marvellous. But the way the magic manifests within him and the way he responds without knowing why pulls him further away from me and makes it very hard to keep identifying with him.
I haven't gotten yet to the part where he learns from the Gramarye but already I remember how sharply that repulsed me. I hated how he suddenly went through that huge learning curve and I couldn't experience it with him, couldn't learn and grow with him, know what he knows and see what he sees. As a reader, I deeply resented that. And, you know, I think the writer in me adds enough disapproval to that resentment to make for a very potent frustration.
Because really? I kinda fucking adore Susan Cooper. I mean, this is the kind of book I want to write. Clear elegant language with wonderful descriptions of nature, a brave protagonist, strong older characters to learn from, mystery and magic, brilliant baddies, and oh my fucking god the most amazing ambitious mindblowing building and layering of mythological symbolism and imagery that ... gah, kills me stone dead with awe and love. She is so fucking amazing, how she engages you on all levels from the emotional to the mythical.
So it's even more bloody annoying to find things that push me away. Makes me want to push back and whine "Stop doing that, Susan Cooper, you're BETTER THAN THAT!"
Which is why I made up my mind right then and there to make sure Arushka didn't do the same thing. Which is why I was so determined that the reader has to go through the education with her. And of course that created the double edged sword of making the education interesting enough to keep reading. We'll see. Proof in the pudding reading, I guess.
*sigh*
I do love the book. Did I mention? Even if I still can't figure out what decade Will comes from.
I have this gnawing suspicion there will be a Heyer purchase tomorrow. Even though I really should be saving my money for the Church gig on Sunday. What, going to Church on Sunday?! Holy fuck, what blasphemy.
I'm having the same problem with The Dark Is Rising on this second time around. And I figured out why, too. It's the distance that she creates between me as the reader and Will as my protagonist. Yes, he is perfectly ordinary to begin with and that's marvellous. But the way the magic manifests within him and the way he responds without knowing why pulls him further away from me and makes it very hard to keep identifying with him.
I haven't gotten yet to the part where he learns from the Gramarye but already I remember how sharply that repulsed me. I hated how he suddenly went through that huge learning curve and I couldn't experience it with him, couldn't learn and grow with him, know what he knows and see what he sees. As a reader, I deeply resented that. And, you know, I think the writer in me adds enough disapproval to that resentment to make for a very potent frustration.
Because really? I kinda fucking adore Susan Cooper. I mean, this is the kind of book I want to write. Clear elegant language with wonderful descriptions of nature, a brave protagonist, strong older characters to learn from, mystery and magic, brilliant baddies, and oh my fucking god the most amazing ambitious mindblowing building and layering of mythological symbolism and imagery that ... gah, kills me stone dead with awe and love. She is so fucking amazing, how she engages you on all levels from the emotional to the mythical.
So it's even more bloody annoying to find things that push me away. Makes me want to push back and whine "Stop doing that, Susan Cooper, you're BETTER THAN THAT!"
Which is why I made up my mind right then and there to make sure Arushka didn't do the same thing. Which is why I was so determined that the reader has to go through the education with her. And of course that created the double edged sword of making the education interesting enough to keep reading. We'll see. Proof in the pudding reading, I guess.
*sigh*
I do love the book. Did I mention? Even if I still can't figure out what decade Will comes from.
I have this gnawing suspicion there will be a Heyer purchase tomorrow. Even though I really should be saving my money for the Church gig on Sunday. What, going to Church on Sunday?! Holy fuck, what blasphemy.