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Fri, Oct. 1st, 2004
Fowler, Karen Joy - The Jane Austen Club
Fri, Oct. 1st, 2004 10:05 pmI actually starting out not really wanting to read this. It wasn't because of the book itself, but rather, Fowler goes into Jocelyn's past, and there was just too many date-rape-esque situations and uncomfortable sexual situations for me. It didn't feel exploitative or anything, but it was extremely uncomfortable reading. Luckily, the sob-story tendencies died early on. I knew I fell for the book when it gets to:
"Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had read The Mysteries of Udolpho and God knows how much science fiction -- there were books all over the cottage -- but he'd never found the time or the inclination to read Pride and Prejudice. We really didn't know what to say."
Tee hee hee.
I think my favorite chapter was the one on Grigg and his childhood growing up with three (very cool) older sisters and reading science fiction. I only realized Karen Joy Fowler also wrote sci-fi when I saw a few discussions on her new short story (or something) that prompted discussion at Worldcon. Also, I loved that Grigg went to cons and read Ursula K. LeGuin and the like. And bonus points for the gratuitous mention of Buffy ;).
There is probably a lot more to say on the meta-ness of the book, on Sylvia pondering how she would feel as a character in a book, and other circumstances like that, but in the end, I was just bowled over by the book love. I loved how the five ladies held Austen in such regard, how they made her a part of their lives, and Grigg's initiation into the Jane Austen club.
Links:
-![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sophia_helix's review
-buymeaclue's review
-tenemet's review
"Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had read The Mysteries of Udolpho and God knows how much science fiction -- there were books all over the cottage -- but he'd never found the time or the inclination to read Pride and Prejudice. We really didn't know what to say."
Tee hee hee.
I think my favorite chapter was the one on Grigg and his childhood growing up with three (very cool) older sisters and reading science fiction. I only realized Karen Joy Fowler also wrote sci-fi when I saw a few discussions on her new short story (or something) that prompted discussion at Worldcon. Also, I loved that Grigg went to cons and read Ursula K. LeGuin and the like. And bonus points for the gratuitous mention of Buffy ;).
There is probably a lot more to say on the meta-ness of the book, on Sylvia pondering how she would feel as a character in a book, and other circumstances like that, but in the end, I was just bowled over by the book love. I loved how the five ladies held Austen in such regard, how they made her a part of their lives, and Grigg's initiation into the Jane Austen club.
Links:
-
sophia_helix's review-
buymeaclue's review-
tenemet's reviewMoore, Terry - Strangers in Paradise (vol. 01-07)
Fri, Oct. 1st, 2004 10:18 pmI really didn't need another comic to read, but I have ended up addicted to this one anyway, which boasts of having no superheroes, no magic, no fantasy, none of that. Instead, it's the story of a relationship between two women, Katchoo and Francine, who have known each other since high school, and David, the guy who is slowly working his way into both their lives.
The first book (The Collected Strangers in Paradise) isn't actually very good. Francine feels too much like a typical Bridget-Jones type girl; she's a little too pudgy, cute, adorable, and utterly horrible with men. Katchoo reads like a typical man-hating lesbian, and the entire storyline of Francine being dumped by Freddie and Katchoo's subsequent rage on her behalf is a little over the top and cliched. But the characters develop more in the second volume (I Dream of You), in which we find out more about Katchoo's mysterious past and how it threatens to reach out and destroy her present. I think the bit on her past reaches a little more into superhero territory because it does feel larger than life, more so than we expect. But it works dramatically, and I ended up falling very hard for the often bitter and hurt Katchoo and her unrequited love for Francine, along with the basic decency of David and his hopeless crush on Katchoo, and Francine, who is nice and sort of silly and someone I would like to know in real life (along with David).
It's a very weird love triangle that luckily has been played out well so far, and I like the bond between Katchoo and Francine the most. It's easy to see why people end up falling for Francine, and refreshing, given that she is a little overweight. I really like the art -- Moore isn't scared to draw his women like real women without silicone breasts (except Casey, who actually has silicone breasts). Francine has a double chin and a stomach; she actually looks her weight. But she's adorable and very pretty all the same.
There are other side characters who make frequent reappearances, like Freddie, Francine's scummy ex, and Casey, his bouncy wife, who are played more for outright humor.
The moments between David and Katchoo, David and Francine, and especially between Katchoo and Francine and the delicate line between love, friendship and lust are done very nicely.
The first book (The Collected Strangers in Paradise) isn't actually very good. Francine feels too much like a typical Bridget-Jones type girl; she's a little too pudgy, cute, adorable, and utterly horrible with men. Katchoo reads like a typical man-hating lesbian, and the entire storyline of Francine being dumped by Freddie and Katchoo's subsequent rage on her behalf is a little over the top and cliched. But the characters develop more in the second volume (I Dream of You), in which we find out more about Katchoo's mysterious past and how it threatens to reach out and destroy her present. I think the bit on her past reaches a little more into superhero territory because it does feel larger than life, more so than we expect. But it works dramatically, and I ended up falling very hard for the often bitter and hurt Katchoo and her unrequited love for Francine, along with the basic decency of David and his hopeless crush on Katchoo, and Francine, who is nice and sort of silly and someone I would like to know in real life (along with David).
It's a very weird love triangle that luckily has been played out well so far, and I like the bond between Katchoo and Francine the most. It's easy to see why people end up falling for Francine, and refreshing, given that she is a little overweight. I really like the art -- Moore isn't scared to draw his women like real women without silicone breasts (except Casey, who actually has silicone breasts). Francine has a double chin and a stomach; she actually looks her weight. But she's adorable and very pretty all the same.
There are other side characters who make frequent reappearances, like Freddie, Francine's scummy ex, and Casey, his bouncy wife, who are played more for outright humor.
The moments between David and Katchoo, David and Francine, and especially between Katchoo and Francine and the delicate line between love, friendship and lust are done very nicely.