neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
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Post by neh on Jun 19, 2007 15:26:50 GMT -5
Hehehe, ok - i'm hurrying! I'm hurrying! I promise to let you know the second i'm done with the first one, and i'll begin hunting down the second. Hand over heart!! And yes - i agree that the criticisms i've read about Gemma and the girls being "too modern" for their context is actually nonsense - it may seem that way initially but Bray is in fact conveying that a time period doesn't necessarily dictate how a person thinks and feels internally, and that these feelings are universal and timeless to anyone that age. I think it's a very refreshing look at the Victorian age to be honest; it seprates what is expected from what it is desired beautifully and suddenly nothing seems quite so foriegn from then til now.
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
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Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Jun 20, 2007 10:58:42 GMT -5
It's nonsense. Regardless of the time period they are GIRLS!! Adolescent girls... And forgive me but the only two that have been "acting up" are Felicity and Gemma. Gemma has been living in India for the last 16 years away from all English decorum and restrictions while Felicity is well... a wild child!!
" think it's a very refreshing look at the Victorian age to be honest; it seprates what is expected from what it is desired beautifully and suddenly nothing seems quite so foriegn from then til now. "
Definately agree with you Neh!! AGATB allows you take on Gemma's world as if it was your own rather than segregating the character's world with your own!! It allows u to feel every beating heart and all the tension and scandal!!
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
|
Post by neh on Jun 20, 2007 16:12:02 GMT -5
Ok, you just beat me in the poignant descriptions! That's very true and beautifully worded! And i have to confess, there's something very refreshing about having a 'wild child' like Felicity in that type of context... you wouldn't initially expect anything beyond a shallow gossiping cow (and of course she's more than this anyway) and in fact, she's a bit of a horny chicken! hehe
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Jun 21, 2007 18:21:19 GMT -5
Awww!! Thanks! What you said about Fee is so true... She's daring while the other girls scurry around daring to walk over the edge she just casually leaps over it!
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
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Post by neh on Jun 22, 2007 7:14:16 GMT -5
Yes, she does indeed. Just talking of her in that makes me think in terms of the film plans and casting, and how they'd need to work to find actresses who can capture the multi-faceted natures of all 4 girls, all the good and all the bad and all the bits in between that confuse or perplex. They need to trust and let the audience both love and hate these characters, and then hopefully it transfer as an interesting film derived from a very interesting novel. And has anyone already mentioned how apt the term "a great and terrible beauty" is for Pippa???
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Jun 24, 2007 18:27:18 GMT -5
I just love the Title itself!! It is so paradoxical and at the same time it is so true....When something is that beautiful it is also extremely precious and beautiful and vice versa...By the way do you think they will EVER make that movie????i wish they would cast already i'm dying here... OKAY time to pester you;:::::::Did you finish??FINISH!!!(screeches loudly so people stare and throw each other dirty looks you can read their thoughts"Ummm...crazy much??"
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Jun 24, 2007 18:28:42 GMT -5
Just read ur post...SORRY!! Guess you finished Huh! Okay time to bother you did u get Rebels Angels!!! Hurry Hurry!
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
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Post by neh on Jun 25, 2007 21:45:25 GMT -5
Yes, i have finished AGATB. And I found RA, don't worry, and i am about 12 chaps in. Calm down, dear, calm down. All is good. Feel free to fire questions at me concerning the 1st book.
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
|
Post by neh on Jun 25, 2007 21:45:51 GMT -5
Yes, i have finished AGATB. And I found RA, don't worry, and i am about 12 chaps in. Calm down, dear, calm down. All is good. Feel free to fire questions at me concerning the 1st book.
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pageturner37
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 118
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Post by pageturner37 on Jun 27, 2007 11:11:34 GMT -5
I just started the first book. I'm only on the third chapter but i am really enjoying it. the only thing i don't like a bout it is that its written as if its happening as Gemma is telling the story. I don't know what that is called..I guess present tense, but other than that i love it.
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
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Post by sagedautumn on Jun 27, 2007 17:34:36 GMT -5
yea, the thing that i had problems with in the 2nd book is that it started out with Kartik as narrator which was weird. I liked him more as an enigma rather than have access to his thoughts....What do u guys think??
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
|
Post by neh on Jun 28, 2007 1:24:20 GMT -5
I think it was a little cruel because it left me, for lack of a better term, thirsty for more narrative given from his POV and it never came. It would have probably worked better if he had been left an enigma as you say, sagedautumn, but then i suppose Bray wanted to find an original and intriguing way to open the second installment. Plus, this way we are made privvy to info that Gemma is not and this certainly ups the intensity of the plot for us readers.
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Jun 28, 2007 9:48:29 GMT -5
that's true......did u meet the dashing Simon yet??
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
|
Post by neh on Jun 28, 2007 18:18:30 GMT -5
Yes, but i find Kartik much more interesting. Simon is the Raoul to Kartik's Phantom, the Gaston (sort of) to Kartik's Beast, the safe, good-guy to Kartik's possibly dangerous enigma... and i always opt for the latter, in fiction at least, hehe!
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Jun 29, 2007 9:24:07 GMT -5
I feel like (and this is only a feeling) but whenever I read parts of Simon within RA i feel like that there is so much more to him than Libba is letting on!! He came in so suddenly within the book and leaves just as adruptly. I really feel like he is hiding something. And then of course is the whole "I like mysterious women" kind of thing...What the heck is up with that??? Also Libba draws him out to be too much of an outlandish dick....I definately think that there is something up with him....But what could it be...I have no idea
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