SOS: Flowers in the Attic; Stardust; some Oscar Wilde

[lavivi]

Another much-delayed SOS. *winces*

• Flowers in the Attic:  Firstly, I must say that I love the cover to pieces.  I do.  I have made icons out of the cover.  Now, as for the book itself - it has been quite a while since I have read a book so badly written, it is true.  It was written in first-person narration, but that is no excuse, really - the dialogue and actual actions were all excessively dramatic and unrealistic.  Oh, especially the dialogue.  Perfectly ridiculous.
  So, there is the question now why I was never tempted to toss it aside, or really had to force myself to keep going, and even why I stayed up really late some nights because I didn't want to put it down.
  There was definitely a v. romantic element to it all - besides the whole relationship between the brother and sister, obviously.  But I was v. anxious to see what would happen to them, especially between Christopher and Cathy - yes, I was rather looking forward to a certain scene and how it would come about. 
  
  
• Oscar Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays:  Ooh, I've wanted to read Oscar Wilde for ages (still want to read The Portrait of Dorian Gray) and a most wonderful friend gave me this book of his plays.  I finished it in very short order.
  First, there was Salomé, and that was v. interesting.  The beginning threw me off because it didn't seem to be...good...but I assumed that, like Shakespare, it was meant to be acted rather than read.  But it did get more interesting toward the end.  Especially the very end.
  Then there was Lady Windermere's Fan, and ooh, that was really good.  I liked how it started off so humorous and light but turned out to be so very serious.  Extremely well done, v. touching too.  Now for a quote:
  
  Dumby: Good-evening, Lady Stutfield.  I suppose this will be the last ball of the season.
  Lady Stutfield: I suppose so, Mr. Dumby.  It's been a delightful season, hasn't it?
  Dumby: Quite delightful!  Good-evening Duchess.  I suppose this will be the last ball of the season?
  Duchess of Berwick: I suppose so, Mr. Dumby.  It has been a very dull season, hasn't it?
  Dumby: Dreadfully dull!  Dreadfully dull!
  Mrs. Cowper-Cowper: Good evening, Mr. Dumby.  I suppose this will be the last ball of the season?
  Dumby: Oh, I think not.  There'll probably be two more.
  
  Lastly, The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.  Hee, yes, it was v. light and trivial, as he said.  Entertaining; I liked the way it turned out and everything fit together; but I actually think I like Lady Windermere's Fan more.
  After reading both of the last two, I was left with a certain, educated impression of the high Victorian social class that I quite appreciated.  Was intriguing.
  
  
• Stardust:  My first (of what will surely be many) Neil Gaiman book!  Was extremely impressed with just about everything about it - from the writing style to the plot and the characters.  The plot, especially, left an impression as being practically flawless - everything woven together exactly right, with the introduction of all the players and how they are each finished off.  I loved how the love was there, but it was understated and so simply done; and how everything wound down.  I was afraid at first that it would be melodramatic and cliche and Sue-ish after all, but then he did it in such an amusing manner, it was perfect.  The humor, too, was so simple.  But I've already recommended it to both of my parents, and to anyone.
  I was surprised, in the introduction, that it was originally set in a "real" place, in England, though it later made good sense.  I was also initially surprised by the description of the two sex scenes (well, only really surprised by the first, of course) - it just seemed like in that kind of fantasy book, it's really meant for children.  And then, of course, the single use of "fuck."  But I did love the introduction and how everything was set up.  Beautifully done.
  A couple quotes:
  
  First the light in the sky was no bigger than the moon, then it seemed larger, infinitely larger, and the whole grove trembled and quivered and every creature held its breath and the fireflies glowed brighter than they had ever glowed in their lives, each one convinced that this at last was love, but to no avail....
  And then -
  There was a cracking sound, sharp as a shot, and the light that had filled the grove was gone.
  Or almost gone.  There was a dim glow pulsing from the middle of the hazel thicket, as if a tiny cloud of stars were glimmering there.
  And there was a voice, a high clear, female voice which said, "Ow," and then, very quietly, it said, "Fuck," and then it said "Ow," once more.
  And then it said nothing at all, and there was silence in the glade.
  
  "Then," said Yvaine, picking her words with care, "you are not marrying Tristran Thorn?"
  "No," said Victoria.
  "Oh," said the star.  "Good."  And she sat down again.