Niantic Meet-up
Aug. 4th, 2007 07:54 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefApologies to all for not posting this sooner, but it was all work, work, work for me this week. I never even got the pictures downloaded 'til today, and that's the quick part. So...
The Book Barn, where the meet-up was set to happen, is actually six buildings full of used books and cats, lots of cats. There are also places to sit, at least one pond, a playground and goats. It's definitely a place I'll go back to, because it was way too much for me to deal with in one trip. However, since I got there an hour early due to extreme time paranoia, money was spent. (Albert Payson Terhune, Walter Farley, Gerald Durrell, some books about zoos - because I volunteer at the Bronx Zoo - and yet another copy of Black Beauty, because I have issues.) Megan was running several hours late, but she had my cell number and called to keep me posted. She also told me that Charlotte would be there, and possibly a third person. I found Charlotte at 3:30, but neither of us ever found the third person, though I know she was there at some point, because she'd also asked at the register for Charlotte. Since we had time to kill, Charlotte went off with her family, and I drove around and explored the area, then went to a nearby diner for a snack. She and I met back up and chatted for a while, and then Megan appeared, walking across the lawn and looking completely recognizable (thank heavens) from the pictures in the books and here on lj.
I forgot to notice what time she arrived, but probably around 5:30/5:45, and though she had her hungry (and probably bored) family with her, she stayed and talked until 7:00. I hope Charlotte will chime in and add details, because I know I'm not remembering everything by a longshot, but really, we just talked a lot about books. Other people's books, mostly, which I realize in retrospect seems kind of strange, but I, at least, just didn't have any brilliant questions to ask. Because I found Megan's books (via a friend to whom I'll always be grateful) via my interest in fantasy, rather than YA, there was a lot of talk about books and authors I didn't know. (Hence my hope that Charlotte will fill in details.)
Random memories:
Megan tends to like endings that are endings vs. vague drifting-offness or unsettled issues.
I'm not the only person in the known world who hasn't read beyond the first few Harry Potters. Megan hasn't, either.
Megan is The Curse of Bookstores. She used to work at several, and after she quit, they all closed.
We talked about Alan Garner - author of Thursbitch and The Owl Service, among other titles - at some length.
Megan's a big fan of Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond books, and talked about how Lymond himself is just so flashy that you can't help liking him, even though he does some terrible things. I 'fessed up that I tried reading The Game of Kings and found it impenetrable, but Megan said there's now a companion book that explains a lot of the obscure references and things, so I may actually try again.
I was deeply saddened to hear that Megan had tried to read George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" and been put off by the huge cast of characters and length of the books. (Also, she didn't start at the beginning, and I can't even imagine how confusing that must have been.) So, Megan, if you're reading this, I'm pushing for you to try again, because one of the best things about Martin's world is that so many of the characters are varying (not just from each other, but at different points in the story) shades of gray, like Lymond and like real people. And if you like Lymond, I think you'll love Jaime (though not, I warn you, right away - in fact, you'll probably join everyone else in hating him at the outset).
Eventually it was time for Megan to feed her family, but she generously signed books for us and posed for pictures, which Charlotte's husband took. They came out rather dark, so I had to enhance the brightness on the computer, so if they look a little off color-wise, that's why.
From left to right: me, Megan, Charlotte.
ETA: I suspect Megan thinks our earring fixation is very weird, but...sideways silver ovals, thicker at the bottom, and inlaid with what looked like mother of pearl. (Sorry. Unless I can say something like "silver giraffes," I'm not very good at describing jewelry.)
The Book Barn, where the meet-up was set to happen, is actually six buildings full of used books and cats, lots of cats. There are also places to sit, at least one pond, a playground and goats. It's definitely a place I'll go back to, because it was way too much for me to deal with in one trip. However, since I got there an hour early due to extreme time paranoia, money was spent. (Albert Payson Terhune, Walter Farley, Gerald Durrell, some books about zoos - because I volunteer at the Bronx Zoo - and yet another copy of Black Beauty, because I have issues.) Megan was running several hours late, but she had my cell number and called to keep me posted. She also told me that Charlotte would be there, and possibly a third person. I found Charlotte at 3:30, but neither of us ever found the third person, though I know she was there at some point, because she'd also asked at the register for Charlotte. Since we had time to kill, Charlotte went off with her family, and I drove around and explored the area, then went to a nearby diner for a snack. She and I met back up and chatted for a while, and then Megan appeared, walking across the lawn and looking completely recognizable (thank heavens) from the pictures in the books and here on lj.
I forgot to notice what time she arrived, but probably around 5:30/5:45, and though she had her hungry (and probably bored) family with her, she stayed and talked until 7:00. I hope Charlotte will chime in and add details, because I know I'm not remembering everything by a longshot, but really, we just talked a lot about books. Other people's books, mostly, which I realize in retrospect seems kind of strange, but I, at least, just didn't have any brilliant questions to ask. Because I found Megan's books (via a friend to whom I'll always be grateful) via my interest in fantasy, rather than YA, there was a lot of talk about books and authors I didn't know. (Hence my hope that Charlotte will fill in details.)
Random memories:
Megan tends to like endings that are endings vs. vague drifting-offness or unsettled issues.
I'm not the only person in the known world who hasn't read beyond the first few Harry Potters. Megan hasn't, either.
Megan is The Curse of Bookstores. She used to work at several, and after she quit, they all closed.
We talked about Alan Garner - author of Thursbitch and The Owl Service, among other titles - at some length.
Megan's a big fan of Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond books, and talked about how Lymond himself is just so flashy that you can't help liking him, even though he does some terrible things. I 'fessed up that I tried reading The Game of Kings and found it impenetrable, but Megan said there's now a companion book that explains a lot of the obscure references and things, so I may actually try again.
I was deeply saddened to hear that Megan had tried to read George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" and been put off by the huge cast of characters and length of the books. (Also, she didn't start at the beginning, and I can't even imagine how confusing that must have been.) So, Megan, if you're reading this, I'm pushing for you to try again, because one of the best things about Martin's world is that so many of the characters are varying (not just from each other, but at different points in the story) shades of gray, like Lymond and like real people. And if you like Lymond, I think you'll love Jaime (though not, I warn you, right away - in fact, you'll probably join everyone else in hating him at the outset).
Eventually it was time for Megan to feed her family, but she generously signed books for us and posed for pictures, which Charlotte's husband took. They came out rather dark, so I had to enhance the brightness on the computer, so if they look a little off color-wise, that's why.
From left to right: me, Megan, Charlotte.
ETA: I suspect Megan thinks our earring fixation is very weird, but...sideways silver ovals, thicker at the bottom, and inlaid with what looked like mother of pearl. (Sorry. Unless I can say something like "silver giraffes," I'm not very good at describing jewelry.)
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no subject
Date: 8/5/07 12:54 am (UTC)Sorry. I can't believe you were able to even talk to her -- I would have stammered incoherently the whole time.
And may I say you look fab? Haven't seen you in a while and you look way fit and svelte. I'm so jealous!
Thanks for the report!
no subject
Date: 8/5/07 01:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/5/07 01:44 am (UTC)The Book Barn (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/checkers65477/Megan%208-1-07/book_barn.jpg)
Waiting (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/checkers65477/Megan%208-1-07/waiting_at_book_barn.jpg)
Talking about books (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/checkers65477/Megan%208-1-07/Megan_and_Patrick_and_Nutmeg.jpg)
(If these are ginormous or messed up, let me know. They didn't want to behave.)
saturday
Date: 8/5/07 03:04 am (UTC)mwt
Re: saturday
Date: 8/5/07 05:52 pm (UTC)Hey, I could have zoomed in on earrings, but restrained myself. Zooming = bad.
Re: saturday
Date: 8/5/07 06:30 pm (UTC)reprobatishgood company :PRe: saturday
Date: 8/6/07 08:38 pm (UTC)Shall I describe how cool and dry it is here in New Mexico? Megan, there's still time to come out before we leave on the 15th! The mountains are calling you...
-Philia
Re: saturday
Date: 8/6/07 08:39 pm (UTC)-Ph.
Re: saturday
Date: 8/6/07 10:29 pm (UTC)No, no, you looked absolutely fine. Any pink tinge is just due to me brightening things on the computer. Or maybe a reflection from my rather violently raspberry shirt.
no subject
Date: 8/5/07 05:02 am (UTC)*stares*
*stares*
SIX BUILDINGS? FULL OF BOOKS AND CATS??
*suddenly finds herself plotting a roadtrip to find this most awesome place of awesome*
Oh, yeah, and seeing Megan was cool too, I'm sure. XD
Sounds like you had a great time! Nice report! *plots*
no subject
Date: 8/6/07 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/7/07 04:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/5/07 11:00 am (UTC)This is so exciting!
no subject
Date: 8/5/07 12:49 pm (UTC)~Feir Dearig
no subject
Date: 8/7/07 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/5/07 07:23 pm (UTC)admittedly I don't live in a city and the nearest city is only a city because it has a cathedral...¬¬
i would love to meet megan in london, but this would involve a 3 hour journey....
no subject
Date: 8/5/07 07:43 pm (UTC)*SQUEE*
We should so have a Sounis reunion in Niantic
All three of you look cute as can be. Thanks so much for posting!
no subject
Date: 8/6/07 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/8/07 12:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/8/07 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/5/07 10:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/6/07 02:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/6/07 09:49 pm (UTC)So, who is doing a post about the Boston meeting? Someone?
a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/6/07 10:18 pm (UTC)Possibly in deference to my husband, who was only on page 15 of The Thief and didn't know if Gen was a boy or a girl, we didn't talk too much about the books themselves. A few things did come up, however--Megan apparently made a very conscious choice not to create a Celtic Twighlighty setting; she has never been tempted to use the word "lambent" in any of her writing, likewise "curiously wrought;" she got one fan letter from a person profoundly moved by Gen's likeness to Christ (disturbing), no one has bought the film rights, and, most importantly, there is a fourth book being written, albeit slowly, and she has written another short story.
It was so so nice of Megan to stop and meet us during a distasteful road trip, and it was one of the most enjoyable hour and a halves of book chat I've ever had. It was made so partly by the fact that Megan and my husband seemed to get along well--I felt a bit like I was introducing one of my college friends or that ilk to him, so it was pleasant to see them discovering favorite authors in common.
As well as signing my own copy of K of A, Megan also very kindly signed a random children's book for my son, who is still quite chuffed about it.
Thanks again, Megan, if you happen to be reading this!
Re: a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/6/07 10:27 pm (UTC)Re: a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/7/07 01:13 am (UTC)Boys just don't seem to understand what a wedding or marriage is. I recently had an arguement with a 6year-old boy, whom I was playing Playmobile with, who wanted to do a wedding but couldn't understand why the groom couldn't also be the best man/ring bearer/flower girl and bride.
Maybe the kid just read the end part with Gen and Eddis talking cordially and thought that was a marriage?
Re: a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/7/07 01:15 am (UTC)Re: a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/7/07 01:44 am (UTC)This is terrific news.
Re: a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/7/07 02:01 am (UTC)mwt
Re: a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/7/07 02:09 pm (UTC)Re: a few more Niantic comments
Date: 8/7/07 02:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/10/07 10:39 pm (UTC)Thanks for the detailed post & comments; it sounds like a fabulous time in a fabulous place!
Sounds like you all had a great time
Date: 8/20/07 11:18 pm (UTC)-- nj_librarian, mommy of a bitey baby