tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post9166566379867092099..comments2024-03-07T11:38:48.622-08:00Comments on We Be Reading: Fragile Things Group Read: Four Fragile ThingsKristen M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02335598194501733541noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-81998341005755945632011-09-20T17:22:13.673-07:002011-09-20T17:22:13.673-07:00Tracy - I read this collection as my first Gaiman ...Tracy - I read this collection as my first Gaiman but I think that I like the stories better now that I'm more familiar with his writing style and subject matter and all of that. I think you should wait too.<br /><br />Erin - I think you will be hit or miss on these but if you like his novels, you should at least try them!<br /><br />Kailana - I think I'm wrong too. ;)<br /><br />Dooliterature - Agreed! I think it would be a ridiculously dark story but it seems like there is so much to explore.<br /><br />Carl - I might have to get the audio of these stories and at least listen to some of them! And true, Forbidden Brides is a smart story. I just didn't love it. And I think that your order for Closing Time makes much more sense! I thought he took the picture and then met the boys which made no sense at all. I'll have to go back and read the story again, paying attention to time frames. A really interesting group of stories this week!<br /><br />Bookswithoutanypictures - That would definitely be fun. :)<br /><br />Emily - Well, I'm glad I wasn't alone! The Castle of Otranto was so hilariously awful. I wonder what you'll think!Kristen M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02335598194501733541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-12790169449594404962011-09-19T08:31:34.119-07:002011-09-19T08:31:34.119-07:00I meant "Forbidden Brides" not "Sev...I meant "Forbidden Brides" not "Seven Brides." Confusing my story titles here!Emily Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13971084813206845680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-2553280678776019532011-09-19T08:29:41.404-07:002011-09-19T08:29:41.404-07:00I'm maybe beginning to understand Closing Time...I'm maybe beginning to understand Closing Time a little better now that I've read others' thoughts, but I found it as confusing as you did. <br /><br />I loved that he mentioned The Castle of Otranto in Seven Brides, because I'm reading that for the R.I.P. challenge. And the Poe references were great. I'm very glad the story didn't stay in the attic.Emily Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13971084813206845680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-9629703584508580002011-09-18T18:41:58.025-07:002011-09-18T18:41:58.025-07:00I think that Forbidden Brides would have been the ...I think that Forbidden Brides would have been the most fun to write. Getting to deliberately write something that satirizes itself... I can picture writing it while being all "Buahahahaha!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-19305648008968873772011-09-18T14:35:48.251-07:002011-09-18T14:35:48.251-07:00You ought to hear Gaiman read The Hidden Chamber. ...You ought to hear Gaiman read The Hidden Chamber. He does so with the calm, rational voice you mention and that makes it all the more chilling.<br /><br />I would disagree with you about The Forbidden Brides, I do think it is a brilliant gem. Not only does it show how terrific a grasp Gaiman has on the tropes of gothic horror, but it is also an interesting study on the idea of being a writer and what a person dreams they would write vs. what they might actually be better at and ultimately enjoy more. <br /><br />Your description of Flints, "that sends cold tingly sensations down your arms and spine", is so true. You can almost picture yourself having a similar experience and being chilled to the bone by it. <br /><br />I didn't find the whole drawing of the knocker that mysterious because the way I read the story is that he drew the picture after the adventure. He goes to steal the picture after the school is closed then recounts an event that happened to him while the school was open, the inference being that the drawing was a result of what had happened to him. It would tend to stick in his head, after all. LOL!<br /><br />It is a mysterious ending because we are not sure if the boys got out and were the boys referred to at the end or if they were just the sons of the father who had lived at the house originally and was doing nefarious things in the playhouse. But that is part of what makes it extra creepy, the not knowing quite for sure. It isn't perfect, but I feel shook up by it every time I read it which makes it perfectly satisfying for me. I like it when author's can stumble a bit in execution and still deliver on the emotional level. I'd love to see what Gaiman could build from this. Or would I? *shiver*Carl V. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948764216438379394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-64849019314454073852011-09-18T12:37:57.761-07:002011-09-18T12:37:57.761-07:00I would definitely be interested in seeing what Ga...I would definitely be interested in seeing what Gaiman could do with Closing Time if he considers it a preliminary sketch for something. I liked it quite well as it was, but I'll never say no to a little more Gaiman, that's for sure. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-89398311676850582932011-09-18T08:42:09.071-07:002011-09-18T08:42:09.071-07:00Okay, I thought I understood the last story, but n...Okay, I thought I understood the last story, but now that I have read a couple different posts, I am not thinking I am right any more... I think I have to go read the story again!Kailanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136262232046813471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-12313227258976793122011-09-18T08:34:14.195-07:002011-09-18T08:34:14.195-07:00I only skimmed your post, since I may read these a...I only skimmed your post, since I may read these at some point and am very spoiler-sensitive! I've really enjoyed Gaiman's novels, but I'm not always a huge short story fan, so I'm not sure how these would work for me.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11429588794754369453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754919688510890076.post-59906246454390918262011-09-18T01:16:23.978-07:002011-09-18T01:16:23.978-07:00These stories certainly sound intriguing - I now h...These stories certainly sound intriguing - I now have my second pure Gaiman book, <i>Neverwhere</i> to read at some stage - think I need to read more of his longer novels before I tackle the short stories.Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03070070360087765540noreply@blogger.com