why'd you take a powder last night?
Finished The Bell at Sealey Head (and, yes, I finished The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter first).
While I don't think I'd ever characterize McKillip's writing as heavy, this was certainly a much lighter book than usual. I guess charming would be the best way to characterize it. It also has bits and pieces of her other books: the small town on the sea with a maid and an inn and a visiting magician all come from The Changeling Sea, the dual worlds like Ombria in Shadow, and Judd has a lot of Morgon in him. My favorite book of hers is Song for the Basilisk, and I think that the humor here is similar to the humor there. They even have a similar examination of the expectations of class and family, although I definitely think Song is a deeper, darker book. (And they both have ravens! Or, I guess it is crows in The Bell at Sealey Head.)
Also, the romance is kind of front and center here. There's usually a romance, but it's not usually so straightforward or focused. It's secondary to the goals of the characters. (Usually, those goals are things like staying alive.) I don't mind, because I would read McKillip writing about the life cycle of cockroaches or something - with illustrations, even - and Gwyneth and Judd are freaking adorable. They are brought together by their love of books!
A little color fanned across her cheekbones; he recognized, in her eyes, the cupidity of another whose reason was lost to books. (101)
"Miss Blair," Judd said finally, huskily.
"Please call me Gwyneth." Her voice sounded strange, oddly breathless. "You used to. When we were children."
"Gwyneth."
She felt the sound of it run through her. "Yes. That's better. What did you ask me?"
He put his ale mug down in a patch of wild iris. "To come for a walk with me along the cliff to look at the waves."
"Yes," she answered softly. "That's what I thought I heard." (199)
See, charming!
Money well spent. It's probably not my favorite McKillip, but I genuinely had fun reading it.
I wish she did book signings. :(
Finished up Veronica Mars today. I am so sad all over again. Plus, I watched the S4 pitch. It just made me want Brendan and Veronica to team up and fight crime. That would still be the best tv show ever.
While I don't think I'd ever characterize McKillip's writing as heavy, this was certainly a much lighter book than usual. I guess charming would be the best way to characterize it. It also has bits and pieces of her other books: the small town on the sea with a maid and an inn and a visiting magician all come from The Changeling Sea, the dual worlds like Ombria in Shadow, and Judd has a lot of Morgon in him. My favorite book of hers is Song for the Basilisk, and I think that the humor here is similar to the humor there. They even have a similar examination of the expectations of class and family, although I definitely think Song is a deeper, darker book. (And they both have ravens! Or, I guess it is crows in The Bell at Sealey Head.)
Also, the romance is kind of front and center here. There's usually a romance, but it's not usually so straightforward or focused. It's secondary to the goals of the characters. (Usually, those goals are things like staying alive.) I don't mind, because I would read McKillip writing about the life cycle of cockroaches or something - with illustrations, even - and Gwyneth and Judd are freaking adorable. They are brought together by their love of books!
A little color fanned across her cheekbones; he recognized, in her eyes, the cupidity of another whose reason was lost to books. (101)
"Miss Blair," Judd said finally, huskily.
"Please call me Gwyneth." Her voice sounded strange, oddly breathless. "You used to. When we were children."
"Gwyneth."
She felt the sound of it run through her. "Yes. That's better. What did you ask me?"
He put his ale mug down in a patch of wild iris. "To come for a walk with me along the cliff to look at the waves."
"Yes," she answered softly. "That's what I thought I heard." (199)
See, charming!
Money well spent. It's probably not my favorite McKillip, but I genuinely had fun reading it.
I wish she did book signings. :(
Finished up Veronica Mars today. I am so sad all over again. Plus, I watched the S4 pitch. It just made me want Brendan and Veronica to team up and fight crime. That would still be the best tv show ever.