Masterclasses
Apr. 17th, 2016 02:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alobearThe second book in my Masterclass Project was Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. Interestingly, I wasn't so much in awe this time around, and could actually spot some flaws! Quite a few important action scenes don't take place actually on the page and are just reported by characters later, which is an odd way of going about things. There are a couple of aspects of the world that suddenly appear out of nowhere a significant way through the book and are either vitally important (a bit deus ex machina) or fairly pointless (so why bother?), which should either of have been introduced earlier on in some way or not included at all. And there's quite a worrying attitude to crime and punishment that I'm not sure I agree with - the late-stage reveal of the details on one character's past crime is abrupt and shocking, but does not allow for the possibility of rehabilitation despite clear regret and remorse, which seems odd.
But still, the writing is glorious, the world-building is magnificent, the characters are complex and engaging, and the plot is screamingly bonkers but utterly compelling. I selected the book for the descriptive detail, and it didn't let me down - Mieville is a master of employing all the senses in his descriptions, usually to quite unpleasant effect, and the sense of place is also very strong, with the city being very much a character in and of itself.
In other media, Dave and I decided to preface our viewing of the recent adaptation of Trollope's Doctor Thorne by watching the 1982 adaptation of The Warden and Barchester Towers, retitled The Barchester Chronicles. It turned out to be excellent, not least because it pitted Nigel Hawthorne as Dr Grantly against a young Alan Rickman as the deliciously odious Obidiah Slope. Wonderful stuff.
Lastly, Disney provided a masterclass in merchandising at the SSE Arena yesterday, where mum and I went to see Disney on Ice. Flashing and whirling wands, coloured ice drinks in fancy cups, child-size character costumes, hats, balloons and much more were absolutely everywhere. The show itself was tremendous fun - though, oddly, the highlight was the unexpected addition of bearded pirate women ice dancing to Gilbert and Sullivan during the lengthy Peter Pan section (it was all a bit Monty Python, and very entertaining). There was a tenuous plot of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy going on a world tour that took them through The Lion King, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid and, of course, Frozen, and it was all very well staged. Say what you like, but Disney know how to put on a show.
But still, the writing is glorious, the world-building is magnificent, the characters are complex and engaging, and the plot is screamingly bonkers but utterly compelling. I selected the book for the descriptive detail, and it didn't let me down - Mieville is a master of employing all the senses in his descriptions, usually to quite unpleasant effect, and the sense of place is also very strong, with the city being very much a character in and of itself.
In other media, Dave and I decided to preface our viewing of the recent adaptation of Trollope's Doctor Thorne by watching the 1982 adaptation of The Warden and Barchester Towers, retitled The Barchester Chronicles. It turned out to be excellent, not least because it pitted Nigel Hawthorne as Dr Grantly against a young Alan Rickman as the deliciously odious Obidiah Slope. Wonderful stuff.
Lastly, Disney provided a masterclass in merchandising at the SSE Arena yesterday, where mum and I went to see Disney on Ice. Flashing and whirling wands, coloured ice drinks in fancy cups, child-size character costumes, hats, balloons and much more were absolutely everywhere. The show itself was tremendous fun - though, oddly, the highlight was the unexpected addition of bearded pirate women ice dancing to Gilbert and Sullivan during the lengthy Peter Pan section (it was all a bit Monty Python, and very entertaining). There was a tenuous plot of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy going on a world tour that took them through The Lion King, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid and, of course, Frozen, and it was all very well staged. Say what you like, but Disney know how to put on a show.
