Thanks! I was going to say that it's really not all THAT bad...but then I remembered how much Borders is like my home country, the tribe's native land, the one place...I mean I could literally feel my nerve endings healing when I hung out there. I NEVER expected to find a commercial place that made me feel that way. And now it's going
( ... )
*hugs* We only have one, monopolizing bookstore chain up here in Canada, and I'm not fond of it, but I have gotten in the habit of using the Zellers diner as a place to overcome writer's block, and I worry what will happen to it when Target buys out the chain.
Oh thank you! And * hugs back * cause you've having the suckiest day. I read your three latest posts. Yipes! I have noisy neighbors too. We've got pests now because someone bought in infested furniture * sigh * and I'm just tired
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Ugh, I'm so sorry about the pests. Bedbugs are a growing issue in my city, and with a lot of changeover in roommates recently, I'm getting jumpy about what people might bring in.
I really enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, in the sense that I loved the experience of reading it. The style and academic conceit charmed me. As with a lot of books, however, I was much more interested in the side characters than the protagonists, which lessened some of the effect of the ending for me (although made it better in other ways). What sort of mixed feelings did you have about the book
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Ugh, I'm so sorry about the pests. Bedbugs are a growing issue in my city, and with a lot of changeover in roommates recently, I'm getting jumpy about what people might bring in.
Thank you. It's ridiculous and I'm ready to scream!
I really enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, in the sense that I loved the experience of reading it. The style and academic conceit charmed me.
Me as well. That's what made me pick up the book and start reading.
As with a lot of books, however, I was much more interested in the side characters than the protagonists, which lessened some of the effect of the ending for me (although made it better in other ways). What sort of mixed feelings did you have about the book?
I suspect the side characters you liked were Vinculus and her version of Snape, Childermass,lol. I liked them too. Childermass is fascinating. As for my mixed feelings, I have several annoyances with the book.
1. She never really seems to explain the nature of magic in that world or why it left.
I suspect the side characters you liked were Vinculus and her version of Snape, Childermass,lol. I liked them too. Childermass is fascinating.I do love Childermass; I always love characters in genre fic who know the rules of the genre they're in. I also liked Vinculus, and honestly, I would have read a whole novel about the Stephen Black and Man with the Thistledown Hair subplot
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I do love Childermass; I always love characters in genre fic who know the rules of the genre they're in.
Intriguing. How so?
I also liked Vinculus, and honestly, I would have read a whole novel about the Stephen Black and Man with the Thistledown Hair subplot.
I...wasn't thrilled with Stephen Black. It was a thrill for me to see a character of color. But I just felt she didn't develop him well at all. He felt 2-dimensional to me - as did the thistledown man actually for the same reason as I mentioned. She doesn't explain the nature of the magic. But hey I'm willing to be convinced otherwise =^) Or at least hear a good counterargument.
I actually liked the ending...but I can see how it felt like a cheat, and for me, my love of the ending made me retrospectively a little less happy with the beginning and middle. That is to say, I loved the meta twist of it - the revelation that this was all part of the Raven King's spell, and that the detail with which we'd been immersed in the story of Jonathan Strange was nothing but academic
( ... )
I like that Childermass has a sense of fantasy narrative. All through the text, while everyone else is stumbling into their roles, he's the only one who acts like he's actually read faerie stories.
She doesn't explain the nature of the magic. But hey I'm willing to be convinced otherwise =^) Or at least hear a good counterargument.*g* Well, you know, I didn't love this novel for being original, because the truth is there's (deliberately, I would think) not a lot of original elements in it. Rather, it's about the synthesis to me. It's the British mythology, the Austen, the Patrick O'Brian, the Peter Wimsey... To me the Stephen Black/Man with the Thistledown Hair worked because it was essentially fanfiction of faerie stories, taking the original tale and subverting it with both the realities of race and class and the real-life knowledge of how those stories were often used to explain mental illness in the past
( ... )
I like that Childermass has a sense of fantasy narrative. All through the text, while everyone else is stumbling into their roles, he's the only one who acts like he's actually read faerie stories.
Interesting point. I never looked at him that way. He struck me as the only one who actually had respect for the Raven King and actually BELIEVED in him. Maybe that's similar?
*g* Well, you know, I didn't love this novel for being original, because the truth is there's (deliberately, I would think) not a lot of original elements in it. Rather, it's about the synthesis to me. It's the British mythology, the Austen, the Patrick O'Brian, the Peter Wimsey... To me the Stephen Black/Man with the Thistledown Hair worked because it was essentially fanfiction of faerie stories, taking the original tale and subverting it with both the realities of race and class and the real-life knowledge of how those stories were often used to explain mental illness in the past.
Hmm, intriguing...I guess the novel did strike me as original because of the
( ... )
On the (marvellous) subject of books: Patrick O'Brian was the author of the Aubrey/Maturin series of books, which were set during the Napoleonic war. Great stuff, and the movie based on the series, Master and Commander, was really good too.
If Pratchett's Discworld isn't your speed, I'd actually really recommend his Nation, which is about the nature of religious belief and colonialism, and which is certainly silly in parts but also had me sobbing like a baby within the first thirty pages.
I've actually been on an Atwood kick myself, lately, trying to read more Canadiana. Have you read any of her other stuff? I recently read The Robber Bride and the The Blind Assassin and just adored them both.
On the (marvellous) subject of books: Patrick O'Brian was the author of the Aubrey/Maturin series of books, which were set during the Napoleonic war. Great stuff, and the movie based on the series, Master and Commander, was really good too.
Hmm, I've heard of Master and Commander. I'm not a big fan of the Napoleonic period but I'll look it up on IMDB
If Pratchett's Discworld isn't your speed, I'd actually really recommend his Nation, which is about the nature of religious belief and colonialism, and which is certainly silly in parts but also had me sobbing like a baby within the first thirty pages.
I'll look it up on Amazaon. I have to admit though, when it comes to what I read, I'm like one of those awful little children who pokes at the filet mignon on their plate complaining that it's not a cheeseburger and can I have some ketchup, lol
I've actually been on an Atwood kick myself, lately, trying to read more Canadiana. Have you read any of her other stuff? I recently read The Robber Bride and the The Blind Assassin and just
( ... )
In that case, if I can press Pratchett's suit, his Witch's Abroad and the aforementioned Lords and Ladies are quite good. But then, as established, I am a huge fan of good meta and I love stories about stories.
I have to admit though, when it comes to what I read, I'm like one of those awful little children who pokes at the filet mignon on their plate complaining that it's not a cheeseburger and can I have some ketchup, lol
*laughs* I'm a picky reader too. I once entered into a book exchange with a friend in which we sent off our favourite books for each other to read, and I grew more and more embarrassed as I continued to flat out hate everything that was sent to me. I have very particular squicks and my friend's favourites just happened to hit them.
In that case, if I can press Pratchett's suit, his Witch's Abroad and the aforementioned Lords and Ladies are quite good. But then, as established, I am a huge fan of good meta and I love stories about stories.
Hmm, I didn't know Pratchett did fairy tale related stuff...* plans a trip to Bor- I mean Barnes and Nobles ( spares a tear for Borders * sigh *) *
*laughs* I'm a picky reader too. I once entered into a book exchange with a friend in which we sent off our favourite books for each other to read, and I grew more and more embarrassed as I continued to flat out hate everything that was sent to me. I have very particular squicks and my friend's favourites just happened to hit them.
Oh isn't that awful? I always feel SO bad when that happens, like I'm being a snob...or the little kid trying to plop some ketchup on filet mignon, lol.
Oh isn't that awful? I always feel SO bad when that happens, like I'm being a snob...or the little kid trying to plop some ketchup on filet mignon, lol.
Exactly. I had that friend insist, insist, insist that I was going to just love a certain Sarah Waters book that she loved, and this was finally going to be the book we agreed on. This got built up for weeks, and when I finally read it...not only did I hate it, but I felt like I had just spat on the thing. But, different strokes for different folks, right?
Yeah. ...I suppose regular, non-bookish folk don't get upset over things like this, lol. But I do. It makes it hard for me to follow someone's recommendation cause I know I'll hate it. That doesn't happen as much with fan fic though. I mean I'm not a huge Minerva fan or femme-slash fan so when I get lots of femme-slash Minerva-centric recs, I feel bad that I can't read and give feedback cause I know I'll be either bleh, or won't like it. Same for threesomes. And I feel bad that I can't support folk who write it or rec it =^/ I run into the same problem whenever anyone suggests Stephen King. He's a good writer, but I can't read him, lol. I'll be hiding under the bed if I do!
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I really enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, in the sense that I loved the experience of reading it. The style and academic conceit charmed me. As with a lot of books, however, I was much more interested in the side characters than the protagonists, which lessened some of the effect of the ending for me (although made it better in other ways). What sort of mixed feelings did you have about the book ( ... )
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Thank you. It's ridiculous and I'm ready to scream!
I really enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, in the sense that I loved the experience of reading it. The style and academic conceit charmed me.
Me as well. That's what made me pick up the book and start reading.
As with a lot of books, however, I was much more interested in the side characters than the protagonists, which lessened some of the effect of the ending for me (although made it better in other ways). What sort of mixed feelings did you have about the book?
I suspect the side characters you liked were Vinculus and her version of Snape, Childermass,lol. I liked them too. Childermass is fascinating. As for my mixed feelings, I have several annoyances with the book.
1. She never really seems to explain the nature of magic in that world or why it left.
2. She builds up this storm over the ( ... )
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Intriguing. How so?
I also liked Vinculus, and honestly, I would have read a whole novel about the Stephen Black and Man with the Thistledown Hair subplot.
I...wasn't thrilled with Stephen Black. It was a thrill for me to see a character of color. But I just felt she didn't develop him well at all. He felt 2-dimensional to me - as did the thistledown man actually for the same reason as I mentioned. She doesn't explain the nature of the magic. But hey I'm willing to be convinced otherwise =^) Or at least hear a good counterargument.
I actually liked the ending...but I can see how it felt like a cheat, and for me, my love of the ending made me retrospectively a little less happy with the beginning and middle. That is to say, I loved the meta twist of it - the revelation that this was all part of the Raven King's spell, and that the detail with which we'd been immersed in the story of Jonathan Strange was nothing but academic ( ... )
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I like that Childermass has a sense of fantasy narrative. All through the text, while everyone else is stumbling into their roles, he's the only one who acts like he's actually read faerie stories.
She doesn't explain the nature of the magic. But hey I'm willing to be convinced otherwise =^) Or at least hear a good counterargument.*g* Well, you know, I didn't love this novel for being original, because the truth is there's (deliberately, I would think) not a lot of original elements in it. Rather, it's about the synthesis to me. It's the British mythology, the Austen, the Patrick O'Brian, the Peter Wimsey... To me the Stephen Black/Man with the Thistledown Hair worked because it was essentially fanfiction of faerie stories, taking the original tale and subverting it with both the realities of race and class and the real-life knowledge of how those stories were often used to explain mental illness in the past ( ... )
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Interesting point. I never looked at him that way. He struck me as the only one who actually had respect for the Raven King and actually BELIEVED in him. Maybe that's similar?
*g* Well, you know, I didn't love this novel for being original, because the truth is there's (deliberately, I would think) not a lot of original elements in it. Rather, it's about the synthesis to me. It's the British mythology, the Austen, the Patrick O'Brian, the Peter Wimsey... To me the Stephen Black/Man with the Thistledown Hair worked because it was essentially fanfiction of faerie stories, taking the original tale and subverting it with both the realities of race and class and the real-life knowledge of how those stories were often used to explain mental illness in the past.
Hmm, intriguing...I guess the novel did strike me as original because of the ( ... )
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If Pratchett's Discworld isn't your speed, I'd actually really recommend his Nation, which is about the nature of religious belief and colonialism, and which is certainly silly in parts but also had me sobbing like a baby within the first thirty pages.
I've actually been on an Atwood kick myself, lately, trying to read more Canadiana. Have you read any of her other stuff? I recently read The Robber Bride and the The Blind Assassin and just adored them both.
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Hmm, I've heard of Master and Commander. I'm not a big fan of the Napoleonic period but I'll look it up on IMDB
If Pratchett's Discworld isn't your speed, I'd actually really recommend his Nation, which is about the nature of religious belief and colonialism, and which is certainly silly in parts but also had me sobbing like a baby within the first thirty pages.
I'll look it up on Amazaon. I have to admit though, when it comes to what I read, I'm like one of those awful little children who pokes at the filet mignon on their plate complaining that it's not a cheeseburger and can I have some ketchup, lol
I've actually been on an Atwood kick myself, lately, trying to read more Canadiana. Have you read any of her other stuff? I recently read The Robber Bride and the The Blind Assassin and just ( ... )
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In that case, if I can press Pratchett's suit, his Witch's Abroad and the aforementioned Lords and Ladies are quite good. But then, as established, I am a huge fan of good meta and I love stories about stories.
I have to admit though, when it comes to what I read, I'm like one of those awful little children who pokes at the filet mignon on their plate complaining that it's not a cheeseburger and can I have some ketchup, lol
*laughs* I'm a picky reader too. I once entered into a book exchange with a friend in which we sent off our favourite books for each other to read, and I grew more and more embarrassed as I continued to flat out hate everything that was sent to me. I have very particular squicks and my friend's favourites just happened to hit them.
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Hmm, I didn't know Pratchett did fairy tale related stuff...* plans a trip to Bor- I mean Barnes and Nobles ( spares a tear for Borders * sigh *) *
*laughs* I'm a picky reader too. I once entered into a book exchange with a friend in which we sent off our favourite books for each other to read, and I grew more and more embarrassed as I continued to flat out hate everything that was sent to me. I have very particular squicks and my friend's favourites just happened to hit them.
Oh isn't that awful? I always feel SO bad when that happens, like I'm being a snob...or the little kid trying to plop some ketchup on filet mignon, lol.
Reply
Exactly. I had that friend insist, insist, insist that I was going to just love a certain Sarah Waters book that she loved, and this was finally going to be the book we agreed on. This got built up for weeks, and when I finally read it...not only did I hate it, but I felt like I had just spat on the thing. But, different strokes for different folks, right?
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