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Mar. 3rd, 2015 11:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chocolatepotYou know, after seeing pictures of Lily James at the Cinderella premiere, I think I have to put her on the list with several Mad Men actors of "people who look better in period clothing". Or really "in the clothing of a specific period" as I don't think eg January Jones would suit the 1920s. But you know? She's undeniably beautiful, but there's something about her Downton wardrobe and hairstyles and hats that go with her face perfectly. Or I'm just mostly used to seeing her in them so when she's totally moderned up it's weird. Either or.
Which I just finally read, after being reminded of it by the tv adaptation - I watched the first part and then decided no, you have to read it first, you'll find the ending more satisfying reading without knowing what happens than watching without knowing what happens, probably.
- Quite a few things rang a little Harry Potter bell - not like deliberate callbacks but just a bit of "ah, that was something that she clearly cared about." Like, her loathing of the Dursleys is clear in every page of TCV (take THAT, stupid headcanon about Harry's Horcrux making them evil!). Barry having been charismatic, friendly, and a necessary prop for his friends reminded me of James. The way all of the adult characters think about the past, the way they were treated growing up, etc. especially with regard to Cath, Terri, and Krystal - I've always felt that the closeness of the personal histories in HP set it apart from other (YA esp.) fantasy fiction, where the distant past is usually more relevant. The interest in social networks and near-total lack of interest in romance, too.
- In light of the previous, I now really want JK Rowling to write some more mature HP fiction, which I know will never ever happen, but ... I mean, she can do dark and fucked up, how about some stuff from Sirius or Snape's perspectives? What about a less shiny version of Harry's childhood? I'm a lot more sympathetic now to people who write MWPP swearing and smoking all the time, I can tell you that.
- Also in that light, people arguing that her personal morality is really simplistic look ever more hilariously off.
- Regarding TCV itself, I'm torn about the ending. On the one hand: kind of overblown, Victorian-style sentiment, you know? On the other, well, it does seem somewhat likely. Maybe it's just the way it was handled, I don't know.
- In all honesty, this read more like Jane Austen to me than any of the published Austen fanfiction. Yes, it's modern, and it's pretty dirty, but the strong commentary on human behavior and the bright light shined on almost every character's flaws are what's really important about Jane Austen's writing IMO.
My thoughts are apparently mostly about Harry Potter, nobody is surprised.
Which I just finally read, after being reminded of it by the tv adaptation - I watched the first part and then decided no, you have to read it first, you'll find the ending more satisfying reading without knowing what happens than watching without knowing what happens, probably.
- Quite a few things rang a little Harry Potter bell - not like deliberate callbacks but just a bit of "ah, that was something that she clearly cared about." Like, her loathing of the Dursleys is clear in every page of TCV (take THAT, stupid headcanon about Harry's Horcrux making them evil!). Barry having been charismatic, friendly, and a necessary prop for his friends reminded me of James. The way all of the adult characters think about the past, the way they were treated growing up, etc. especially with regard to Cath, Terri, and Krystal - I've always felt that the closeness of the personal histories in HP set it apart from other (YA esp.) fantasy fiction, where the distant past is usually more relevant. The interest in social networks and near-total lack of interest in romance, too.
- In light of the previous, I now really want JK Rowling to write some more mature HP fiction, which I know will never ever happen, but ... I mean, she can do dark and fucked up, how about some stuff from Sirius or Snape's perspectives? What about a less shiny version of Harry's childhood? I'm a lot more sympathetic now to people who write MWPP swearing and smoking all the time, I can tell you that.
- Also in that light, people arguing that her personal morality is really simplistic look ever more hilariously off.
- Regarding TCV itself, I'm torn about the ending. On the one hand: kind of overblown, Victorian-style sentiment, you know? On the other, well, it does seem somewhat likely. Maybe it's just the way it was handled, I don't know.
- In all honesty, this read more like Jane Austen to me than any of the published Austen fanfiction. Yes, it's modern, and it's pretty dirty, but the strong commentary on human behavior and the bright light shined on almost every character's flaws are what's really important about Jane Austen's writing IMO.
My thoughts are apparently mostly about Harry Potter, nobody is surprised.
