- So, there is one thing I’m dying to discuss. Did anyone watch Sherlock last night? Because O.M.G. It was fantastic. I loved the way they took the Reichenbach Falls story and made it so. much. more. (Many apologies to Sir Arthur, but they made Moriarty an actual character? And stuff? Instead of a cardboard cutout villain? Yeah.) Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott acted the hell out of that final scene. And Martin Freeman. Dude made me cry. I am so glad season 3 has been commissioned. I just hate I have to wait so long to see it come back! And also, I really wish they did more than 3 episodes at a time!
Did you see it? What did you think?
Also, I really need to read the second half of my Sherlock collection.
- I’m reading Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and it’s all Nymeth’s fault, and I’m sure she’s quite happy about. It is all kinds of excellent. I’m only about a fourth into it, but already I feel confident enough to say get your hands on it. You will not regret it.
- I’m listening to Peter & Max by Bill Willingham, his novel set in the Fables universe. This is my first time rereading it and, since it’s Wil Wheaton reading it and he’s my new favorite reader, it’s official now, I’m loving it even more than the first time I read it.
- Earlier this month I read Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman for a readalong with Carl over at Stainless Steel Droppings, for the Once Upon a Time challenge. I kind of cheated because I already finished the book! I just couldn’t help myself, as is usually the case with really good books. I couldn’t put it down.
The discussion starts today and here are my answers to the first round of questions.
1. What do you think of our two villains thus far, Messrs. Croup and Vandemar?
They are deliciously creepy, aren’t they? I instantly identified them as an extremely evil incarnation of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. They are positively nightmarish. I mean really nightmarish. I think I had a bad dream about them just the other night. I, um, got kind of wrapped up in the story….
2. Thus far we’ve had a small taste of London Below and of the people who inhabit it. What do you think of this world, this space that lies within or somewhat overlaps the space the “real world” occupies?
Gaiman managed to make it feel so… plausible…so completely believable, that there are people, and places and times that just slip from memory, disappear from sight, but are still so completely there. It felt real, to me.
3. What ideas or themes are you seeing in these first 5 chapters of Neverwhere? Are there any that you are particularly drawn to?
I messed myself up with this question, since I already finished the book. I can’t even remember what I was thinking in the first 5 chapters, except trying to identify characters and motifs from Alice in Wonderland.
I love Emily’s answer to this question, which was something I hadn’t really thought of before – how Gaiman turns the typical fairytale story a wee bit on it’s head.
4. We’ve met a number of secondary characters in the novel; who has grabbed your attention and why?Hunter. She is SO KICK ASS. I would love to know more of her story, the story before Neverwhere that is.
I also loved Old Bailey, with all his birds. I love how he is part of London Below, but lives above it all on the roof tops. He almost feels a little “God-like” in his perch and his help. He definitely feels like a friend you want to have in your pocket, despite his oddness. And the Marque de Carabas…what a delightful puzzle he is.
5. As you consider the Floating Market, what kind of things does your imagination conjure up? What would you hope to find, or what would you be looking for, at the Market?
I pictured a huge, magical, mysterious flea market type thing, where you can LITERALLY GET ANYTHING. I’d love to see the book section. I like Carl’s idea of being able to find lost worlds by authors I love.
6. If you haven’t already answered it in the questions above, what are your overall impressions of the book to this point?
I LOVED IT. One of my favorite Neil Gaiman books now and I’m kicking myself for taking so long to read it.
Definitely check out Carl’s answers to these questions. He loves Neverwhere and brings a LOT of insight to the novel. I love discussing novels like this; it really ups my enjoyment and appreciation of a great book. TTFN!
