I'm a little sad that there's no "Yes, I finished it for the nth time!" option. ^-~
I can't say one way or the other, but while this book mostly carries the feel of a medieval-esque world, there are moments that jar you and make you wonder.
Aye, definitely. The magazine throws me every time too. It's just so... unexpected and out of place in the rest of the book.
(Can I suggest you don't read The Line Between second? I did that and it nearly made me give up on Beagle's work. Tamsin, by the by, is lovely. I think you might be a little disappointed by the lack of ghost-cat in it, but if you're like me, you'll find it just right all the same. ^-~)
That out of the way... My introduction to this book was much like yours, only I think I found out it was a book sooner. My parents gave it to me when I was seventeen. The movie I'd watched and loved since I was about three years old.
I watched it in the old Dutch dub (which is gorgeous. The new one is rubbish.), but I could still tell which lines came directly from the book. (And that includes the more liberal translations of the butterfly's songs.)
It took me reading the book to realise just how long they stayed in Haggard's castle, though. I'm so glad that I know the book now. This is the third time I've read it. I'll admit it's lost a little of its shine, due to small niggly things like the magazine as you pointed out, but it's still a gorgeous book to read.
I had a fair few things that were on my 'must read in December' list, so I was a little afraid I wouldn't be able to fit the reread of TLU into the month after all, but I managed. ^-^
It was an odd experience this time around. I think I noticed more things that bugged me. (Which, yes, includes most of the songs/poetry. Mother Fortuna and the butterfly are exceptions to that. Both are far more closely related to the plot.)
As a question: did you think the book clarified some of the events in the movie? That was my experience, for all I can't think of clear examples right now. >> *rambleramble*
A question about THE LINE BETWEEN: did that throw you because of it being nothing but short stories, and perhaps you prefer novels, or did you just not like the stories?
I don't recall having any questions about the events in the movie. I'd thought about re-watching it for the sake of the challenge, and to compare and contrast, but I really didn't have the time and my hubby wasn't in the mood to watch it with me anyway (I think when we watched it on DVD it came close to tarnishing his memories of it as a kid), and it's no fun watching stuff by myself. :) So I can't really answer that question. I did like how the book expanded the world beyond what I knew from the movie, particularly in the example you gave of just how long they stayed in the castle. :) That was interesting to note, and more realistic in developing the love story between Lír and Amalthea.
I'm really glad you got a chance to read it again, though. I'm not sure if or when I'll re-read it for myself, but it'll be a while down the road.
The short answer is: I didn't like any of the stories (save Two Hearts).
The long answer is more complicated. I never connected to the stories, never felt that same magic and essence that makes TLU such a beautiful book.
Part of that is down to bias. I find it very hard to get into first person, even when it's as well written as it is in Two Hearts and Tamsin, and most of the stories are in that pov. I really, really wish I could just chalk up all my reaction to that bias, but I can't. A large part of it, but not all. If it were, by rights I should have disliked Two Hearts and Tamsin just as much and I don't. *ruffles hair* I'm sorry I don't have too many details for you. It's been a while since I read the anthology and the burbling I wrote when I'd finished it isn't really helping me narrow down the other reasons (without risking prejudicing you incredibly).
Mmmm... "Expanded the world" perhaps that's just the words I'm looking for in trying to express myself. I really liked the depth given to the story and the world. (Also, I guess I just have a weak spot for prophecies. The story works perfectly without Hagsgate, but there's more tragedy and depth once you realise that Lir had to die in order for the unicorn to fight the Red Bull. That's something you can easily miss in watching the movie because it's not present as clearly.
I hope it'll retain it's magic when you do get a chance to reread it! ^-^
Re: THE LINE BETWEEN: fair enough. That's exactly what I was poking for, to be honest. :) I've got no issues with the first person POV, so I'll be in good shape. :)
And thanks for explaining what you meant. I can what you mean now, with the prophecy and Lír having to die and all. Good stuff. :)
In that case, you're probably going to be in at least decent hands with it. ^-^ (Most of the time, anyway.)
To be honest, I don't think I really noticed the necessity of some of the events until this read-through.
Conversationally, my favourite scene from the movie is the one where Schmendrick is tied to the tree. In contrast, it's one of my least-liked scenes in the book. (I love and adore the butterfly, though. And the scenes with Molly and Lír in the kitchen and Amalthea talking to Molly and the unicorn turning into a girl and and and -- you get the idea.) D'you have any scenes that stand out similarly?
The tree scene in the movie was one of those scenes that REALLY freaked me and my hubby out, because until we were adults, we never realized how sexual that was. I can see why it took that direction, based on the book, but I'm still weirded out by it. :)
Book-wise, the scene where Schmendrick dreams of the unicorn and then they all wake up to realize they all dreamt of her, that was lovely.
I had too many other reading commitments for December, so I just read this book this month. I saw the movie a few times when I was a child, but I never read the book and I couldn't remember the movie very well, so it was a mostly new story to me. I don't remember having a melancholy, bittersweet feeling when I was a child watching the film, but I did upon finishing the book. Maybe it's because I'm older now which often makes a much-loved story from childhood seem a lot different when I revisit it.
I loved Beagle's writing style and will definitely be reading more of his books in the future. And I loved the cat too!
Do give his Tamsin a try if you can find it easily available! That's got two cats in it. ^-~ (It's also one of the best-executed first person narratives I've read. Which I'm sure doesn't mean as much as it might.)
(I'll cease being a commercial now. I promise. But... Cats!)
I definitely plan to, but I've had a hard time finding his books used (I mostly buy used books or swap them). I have most of his books wishlisted though.
Glad you could read it, even if it wasn't for December! Definitely understand what you mean about missing the bittersweet feeling as a child. As an adult, I could really understand the nuances.
I can't say one way or the other, but while this book mostly carries the feel of a medieval-esque world, there are moments that jar you and make you wonder.
Aye, definitely. The magazine throws me every time too. It's just so... unexpected and out of place in the rest of the book.
(Can I suggest you don't read The Line Between second? I did that and it nearly made me give up on Beagle's work.
Tamsin, by the by, is lovely. I think you might be a little disappointed by the lack of ghost-cat in it, but if you're like me, you'll find it just right all the same. ^-~)
That out of the way... My introduction to this book was much like yours, only I think I found out it was a book sooner. My parents gave it to me when I was seventeen. The movie I'd watched and loved since I was about three years old.
I watched it in the old Dutch dub (which is gorgeous. The new one is rubbish.), but I could still tell which lines came directly from the book. (And that includes the more liberal translations of the butterfly's songs.)
It took me reading the book to realise just how long they stayed in Haggard's castle, though. I'm so glad that I know the book now. This is the third time I've read it. I'll admit it's lost a little of its shine, due to small niggly things like the magazine as you pointed out, but it's still a gorgeous book to read.
I had a fair few things that were on my 'must read in December' list, so I was a little afraid I wouldn't be able to fit the reread of TLU into the month after all, but I managed. ^-^
It was an odd experience this time around. I think I noticed more things that bugged me. (Which, yes, includes most of the songs/poetry. Mother Fortuna and the butterfly are exceptions to that. Both are far more closely related to the plot.)
As a question: did you think the book clarified some of the events in the movie? That was my experience, for all I can't think of clear examples right now. >> *rambleramble*
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I don't recall having any questions about the events in the movie. I'd thought about re-watching it for the sake of the challenge, and to compare and contrast, but I really didn't have the time and my hubby wasn't in the mood to watch it with me anyway (I think when we watched it on DVD it came close to tarnishing his memories of it as a kid), and it's no fun watching stuff by myself. :) So I can't really answer that question. I did like how the book expanded the world beyond what I knew from the movie, particularly in the example you gave of just how long they stayed in the castle. :) That was interesting to note, and more realistic in developing the love story between Lír and Amalthea.
I'm really glad you got a chance to read it again, though. I'm not sure if or when I'll re-read it for myself, but it'll be a while down the road.
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The long answer is more complicated. I never connected to the stories, never felt that same magic and essence that makes TLU such a beautiful book.
Part of that is down to bias. I find it very hard to get into first person, even when it's as well written as it is in Two Hearts and Tamsin, and most of the stories are in that pov. I really, really wish I could just chalk up all my reaction to that bias, but I can't. A large part of it, but not all. If it were, by rights I should have disliked Two Hearts and Tamsin just as much and I don't. *ruffles hair* I'm sorry I don't have too many details for you. It's been a while since I read the anthology and the burbling I wrote when I'd finished it isn't really helping me narrow down the other reasons (without risking prejudicing you incredibly).
Mmmm... "Expanded the world" perhaps that's just the words I'm looking for in trying to express myself. I really liked the depth given to the story and the world. (Also, I guess I just have a weak spot for prophecies. The story works perfectly without Hagsgate, but there's more tragedy and depth once you realise that Lir had to die in order for the unicorn to fight the Red Bull. That's something you can easily miss in watching the movie because it's not present as clearly.
I hope it'll retain it's magic when you do get a chance to reread it! ^-^
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And thanks for explaining what you meant. I can what you mean now, with the prophecy and Lír having to die and all. Good stuff. :)
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To be honest, I don't think I really noticed the necessity of some of the events until this read-through.
Conversationally, my favourite scene from the movie is the one where Schmendrick is tied to the tree. In contrast, it's one of my least-liked scenes in the book. (I love and adore the butterfly, though. And the scenes with Molly and Lír in the kitchen and Amalthea talking to Molly and the unicorn turning into a girl and and and -- you get the idea.) D'you have any scenes that stand out similarly?
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Book-wise, the scene where Schmendrick dreams of the unicorn and then they all wake up to realize they all dreamt of her, that was lovely.
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I loved Beagle's writing style and will definitely be reading more of his books in the future. And I loved the cat too!
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(It's also one of the best-executed first person narratives I've read. Which I'm sure doesn't mean as much as it might.)
(I'll cease being a commercial now. I promise. But... Cats!)
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