book post written in post-finishing-book consternation

[jade_sabre_301]

The Graveyard Book, by Neil GaimanA baby arrives at a graveyard. Mrs. Owens, one of the graveyard's inhabitants, sees the ghost of the baby's mother, and promises to take care of the dead woman's son. He is assigned to the guardianship of a graveyard denizen with the ability to step into the outside world, and spends his days learning from ghosts

Comments

[andromeda3116]

I think I was a Junior, when I read AQotWF, and I admit, that was probably my favorite book of that year (not my favorite thing we read; but as that was the Crucible and not, strictly speaking, a book, well) but that wasn't because it was so great, just that I really hated everything else we read except, as I said, the Crucible which rocks my socks off and will continue to do so for, um, ever.

I like that it was viciously, uncompromisingly realistic but at the same time, that ultra-Shakespearean "everyone dies" ending is just depressing. And I get it, WWI was hideously depressing and even when it was over the depressing still didn't stop because reparations and Stock Market crashes and the subsequent election of Hitler as Chancellor of Germany... On the one hand, it excellently captured the futility of WWI, but. I agree with you -- it's a Classic Novel of Literature Meant to Make You Feel Bad About Everything.

I have not actually read Of Mice and Men. I think we were supposed to read it my sophomore year, but a big hurricane swept through that year and knocked us out of school for almost a month (aside: we were in the middle of Julius Caesar when Katrina hit, and when we returned to class, my teacher said, "We don't have time to finish, so let me sum up: Everyone but Marc Anthony dies. The end. Next book!" I kind of loved her a lot.) Anyway... Yeah.

<3

[andromeda3116]

Also, I want to hug Neil Gaiman for being such a good writer. I think the ultimate compliment I could ever receive would be for Neil Gaiman to read something -- anything! -- I had written. I kind of want to grow up to be him.

Aside: have you read Good Omens? Please tell me you've read Good Omens. If not, you must.

[jade_sabre_301]

THE CRUCIBLE I want to see it performed so badly (er, performed well, my want is bad), but yes, fantastic.

YES EXACTLY apparently if you read the other two novels he wrote about post-WWI trauma there is eventually some happiness, but that would require reading two more novels. The realism is FANTASTIC, but I just about lost it when Kat died. (And I knew Kat had to die, and it was worse because I was closing the book because I had to do something else and my eyes flicked over the page I hadn't read yet and THERE IT WAS so I knew even MORE that it was coming and yet and yet.) But when Paul died I was like HOW IS THIS EVEN NECESSARY. Except it is. But um one book like that is enough for me, thanks.

OF MICE AND MEN: THE WORST, MOST DEPRESSING NINETY PAGES YOU WILL EVER READ IN YOUR LIFE. EVER. It is a shame because I hear other Steinbeck novels are good, but just like, I cannot bring myself to pick them up. Between Of Mice and Men and The Pearl I just have no desire to give him another chance. (P.S. best summary of Julius Caesar EVER.)

P.S. YES TO NEIL GAIMAN, like for him to read it and be like, I enjoyed that--it wouldn't even have to be like, THIS IS BRILLIANT or even THIS IS REALLY GOOD--just to have him enjoy it--gah gah gah. Also her blog seems to be down right now, but Robin McKinley squeed about Neil Gaiman and it was adorable.

YES I HAVE. Actually, that's what my dad and I listened to as we drove across the country in August. I first read it back in high school, AND I LOVE IT, IT IS GENIUS. (The paragraph about how Crowley maintained his house plants got me through the first week of my job, omg.) <3<3<3 :D