Introducing Me
Aug. 5th, 2006 11:25 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
nutmeg3.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
queensthiefI feel so strange about doing this ("Look at me! Look at me!") but...
I only just discovered these books, thanks to the urging of the same group of friends who introduced me to George R.R. Martin, Lois McMaster Bujold and Diana Wynne Jones, so how could I not listen? I devoured all three in one giant rush, and now I'm already cranky (in a kind, understanding-of-the-author way) that there's no fourth book already waiting for me. Guess I'll just have to go back and reread.
I'm an editor in real life, so I was very interested in the way MWT used completely different approaches to point of view for each book. I still miss Gen's first-person narration, even though I know it wouldn't have worked for the two later books. It was tricky enough to keep from revealing his true parentage, etc. in The Thief, and I truly was blindsided at the end. (Which doesn't happen very often, so I absolutely love it when it does.) One reason I want to reread is to see what clues I missed the first time through.
I think Queen is my favorite of the books, in large part because I'm a big ol' sappy romantic, and watching Gen and Irene deal so differently - and so perfectly for them - with their feelings and the consequences of those feelings and their actions was such a joy as a reader. I'm still haunted by Irene's recollection of the amphora (?) she broke when she was young and Gen's calm defense of her right to cut off his hand, and the way so much happens between the lines. (I'm reminded of the way the romance develops almost unnoticeably in Sarah, Plain and Tall and is all the more powerful for that.) The perfection of the moment when they speak their love and she believes him...
OK, enough blathering from me, but I do have two questions.
1) Why is this list named after Sounis, who's plus or minus the enemy, and not Attolia or Eddis, if you were going to go with a place/ruler name?
And much more importantly, 2) What is this earring short story for Disney Adventures (whatever that is) and where can I get a copy?
Anyway, I'm really glad to have found this comm. It's definitely going to help with the withdrawal.
I only just discovered these books, thanks to the urging of the same group of friends who introduced me to George R.R. Martin, Lois McMaster Bujold and Diana Wynne Jones, so how could I not listen? I devoured all three in one giant rush, and now I'm already cranky (in a kind, understanding-of-the-author way) that there's no fourth book already waiting for me. Guess I'll just have to go back and reread.
I'm an editor in real life, so I was very interested in the way MWT used completely different approaches to point of view for each book. I still miss Gen's first-person narration, even though I know it wouldn't have worked for the two later books. It was tricky enough to keep from revealing his true parentage, etc. in The Thief, and I truly was blindsided at the end. (Which doesn't happen very often, so I absolutely love it when it does.) One reason I want to reread is to see what clues I missed the first time through.
I think Queen is my favorite of the books, in large part because I'm a big ol' sappy romantic, and watching Gen and Irene deal so differently - and so perfectly for them - with their feelings and the consequences of those feelings and their actions was such a joy as a reader. I'm still haunted by Irene's recollection of the amphora (?) she broke when she was young and Gen's calm defense of her right to cut off his hand, and the way so much happens between the lines. (I'm reminded of the way the romance develops almost unnoticeably in Sarah, Plain and Tall and is all the more powerful for that.) The perfection of the moment when they speak their love and she believes him...
OK, enough blathering from me, but I do have two questions.
1) Why is this list named after Sounis, who's plus or minus the enemy, and not Attolia or Eddis, if you were going to go with a place/ruler name?
And much more importantly, 2) What is this earring short story for Disney Adventures (whatever that is) and where can I get a copy?
Anyway, I'm really glad to have found this comm. It's definitely going to help with the withdrawal.
Welcome!
Date: 8/5/06 08:02 pm (UTC)Re: Welcome!
Date: 8/6/06 01:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/6/06 05:31 am (UTC)We're getting so many new people lately...perhaps I'll create a special new people directory to introduce them to our lovely little fandom. (I like to organize things...haha)
Anyway, your thoughts match most of mine to a T. (A tee?) I personally loved how the ending of The Thief came totally out of left field for me and changed the story so much. And actually, I think it gets better with subsequent readings because of those clues you pick up.
I also loved QOA, and would probably say it was my favorite of the series, but for rather different reasons. I completly loved the angst factor of the book. The gut-wrenching scenes make me squirm. In a totally good way. :)
As for your questions:
1.) I don't know, but that's a really good question! ...Rowana, you wanna field this one?
2.) It's a short story that MWT wrote for the Disney-whatever magazine. It takes place when Eugenides is about 10, and is adorable and has very cute illustrations. (Featuring Stenides with bulging muscles.) If you'd like a copy I could certainly email it to you, if you'd like. The file is a .pdf and is about 1.5 mb, so if you'd rather I didn't email it, I could put another Yousendit link up. (I think our last one has long since expired.) Just let me know which way you prefer. :)
no subject
Date: 8/6/06 09:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/7/06 12:20 am (UTC)And Peggy's sending me a Word version of the story, but I'd love to see it with the illustrations. I'm fine if you want to e-mail it (nutmeg3@livejournal.com) or I can do yousendit.com, whichever is easier for you. Thank you. :-)
no subject
Date: 8/9/06 01:03 am (UTC)Just heard about this
Date: 8/30/06 05:41 am (UTC)Thanks in advance.
no subject
Date: 8/6/06 10:31 am (UTC)I agree completely about 'The Thief' and 'Queen of Attolia', you're right about the way so much develops between the lines. *scribbles down 'Sarah, Plain and Tall' too*.
I'll answer 1 again, so everyone else knows too: you'd have to ask Eddis, my reclusive co-mod.
We're glad you found us too. :)
no subject
Date: 8/6/06 03:01 pm (UTC)I was just going to say that. :)
I think Thief makes an even better reread. You aren't surprised at the end, of course, but it is so much fun to look for the clues and see how Gen led us astray without really lying to us. What is so amazing to me is that the book can be read on many different levels. It's a children's book, much more so than the other two. And it has the huge twist ending. But you can read it on a much deeper level and I think that is why so many adults and young adults love it as well. It is so cleverly written that I still notice new things about it every time I read it.
QoA is my favorite, too, by a squeak. For both the romance and the angst.
An editor--wow. How cool.
no subject
Date: 8/6/06 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/7/06 12:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/7/06 12:37 am (UTC)And editing is cool. I still sometimes pinch myself that I'm part of bringing books to people. You are, too, I think, yes? A librarian?
no subject
Date: 8/7/06 01:40 am (UTC)I'm very leery of epics. They make me seriously crazy. Give me a lush lyrical McKillip any day. I'll have to think carefully about Martim.
Patricia McKillip
Date: 8/7/06 03:55 pm (UTC)I love Patricia McKillip! Especially her older ones, and even more especially "Forgotten Beasts of Eld" and the Cygnet books. "Lyrical" is the perfect word for her
no subject
Date: 8/9/06 01:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/7/06 12:34 am (UTC)Sarah is the first (and best, imo, though I love all three) of a trilogy (also made into three excellent TV movies) set in Kansas (?) in the early 1900's. You can read it in a heartbeat, and it's one of the most moving, perfectly told tales I know.
(Sorry for going on so long, but I love to be a book pimp.)
no subject
Date: 8/7/06 03:59 pm (UTC)Sounds like something Aragorn would have sworn to, in Lord of the Rings.
no subject
Date: 8/9/06 01:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/8/06 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/9/06 01:08 am (UTC)Icons
Date: 8/9/06 02:05 am (UTC)*deep curtsey*
Re: Icons
Date: 8/9/06 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/16/06 08:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8/16/06 08:48 pm (UTC)PS - I have to confess it was QoT talking endlessly about Martin over the course of many lunches and then giving me the first book that was the real tipping point there. But you were my Miles tipping point, so it all evens out. :-)
no subject
Date: 8/17/06 01:25 am (UTC)She didn't point me Miles-ward, though, so I may get some points on that... YAY!
no subject
Date: 8/17/06 01:46 am (UTC)