As I write this, I'm listening to the first part of the new radio play of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and, well, James McAvoy, right? Swoon. Anyway, this week, I would just like to share a couple of the brilliant quotes I've come across in my reading so far. I'm marking pages with little post-its and it looks like a study guide. I'm learning so much about story structure and writing and, thankfully, Fire and Hemlock.
"I think the reason that the heroic ideal had, as it were, retreated to children's books is that children do, by nature, status, and instinct, live more in the heroic mode than the rest of humanity. The naturally have the right naive, straightforward approach. And in every playground there are actual giants to be overcome and the moral issues are usually clearer than they are, say, in politics."
"Books, like dreams, let you have your experience and reject it too."
"But adults are handicapped by terminal assumptions about what goes with which genre. If they think I am writing, fantasy, then my belligerent witches must go on a quest armed only with swords and spells and either on foot or horseback; and if what I am doing is to be science fiction, no one aboard my starship is allowed magic, but only scientific principles not altogether yet proven, such as an ability to travel faster than light. Does nobody find these unspoken assumptions absurd?"
"A book should conclude satisfactorily; to leave the ending for the next volume is cynical (and annoying for readers)."Spending time with a master of her art,
K
I found the many things she had to say about the constraints of the publishing industry very interesting. It's something that, as a reader, I never really think about, but the way publishing works certainly does control what sort of stories are put out for public consumption. (Although maybe this is changing now with the internet, ebooks and self-publishing.)
ReplyDeleteI am going to listen to the first part of Neverwhere this afternoon. So much good stuff was happening yesterday that I couldn't squeeze it all in! Hope that the later edition of howlalong went well. Looking at the hashtag, it looks like you all had fun. :)
There's a lot that I don't think about as a reader, including the crafting of the story. I guess I'm just happier living in the story and not the process. Still, it's interesting to learn about, isn't it?
DeleteThe first part of Neverwhere was awesome. I can't wait to hear more! And the howlalong was great both times. I had zero issue watching it twice in one day. :)
this sounds like an amazing read, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely take a look at it. There's such a variety of essays that you'll find something to enjoy, if not everything.
DeleteI just found this in my library and squealed aloud. I can't wait to start perusing it!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! You're going to love it. It's so, well, Diana.
DeleteI am excited to read this too! I've been trying to figure out whether I wanted to buy it electronically or physically or both. I feel like realistically it's going to end up being both, but I'm slightly resisting that because it feels spendthrift. :p
ReplyDeleteYou're probably going to want to mark it up so get whichever format you like to do that in most. Then you can get the other one later. Problem solved!
DeleteI am loving these quotes! I need to read this book for myself!!
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