Polka Dot Rock

Er, I went for a walk in my lunchhour and somehow ended up in a large bookshop chain. And bought ANOTHER book. Oops. But I do want to read it (was looking at it last week), and it's half-price AND I had a

Glad you enjoyed On Beauty On the graphic novel front, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a good graphic novel to read after Maus, I reckon.

Dobbin from Vanity Fair is another of my favourites - he's such a lovely and noble guy. Even if he does spend most of his life moping over a drip

I've been a naughty little scamp this afternoon and ordered from Amazon So The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, The Big Fat Bitch Book and The Tenderness of Wolves should be winging their way to me... Soon.

I think it's also interesting that Spiegelman appears to portray 'himself'/Artie in a similar manner to Vladek, in that there are times when he isn't particularly likeable. One of the most powerful scenes in Maus, I feel, is the moment when I think Vladek's mean streak is further complicated by the 'allowances' Artie (and, as a consequence, the reader) make on the trauma he has gone through. Yet Artie, and we as readers, are frequently infuriated by his behaviour - particularly when it contradicts what he has experienced: I think Maus is an especially important novel, in terms of addressing the awkward situation of the generation of children who were born to survivor parents.

Y'know, I've read it at least three times and I've NEVER noticed the fish! Gah! I'm sending my essay on Maus off to my (future) course tutor - she wants to read a couple of my final year essays

In this particular case, I do think she wrote the women better than the men. Saying that, I thought Reggie was a really interesting character, as he really could have been a stereotype, but the conclusion gives him more depth and I think you could understand what Viv saw him in. It was great to read about people that don't get regularly discussed in fiction (such as WWII's civilians and non-combatants) or have largely been ignored in history (until recently), such as gay women. Helen and Julia were really distinctive, individual characters but I liked that Sarah Waters also didn't ignore the mid-20th century 'butchies', like Kay and Mickey, and handled it sensitively and without explanation. Perhaps the problem with Duncan wasn't so much that the women were written better, but they were more vividly written and had a more interesting narratives...?

I finished The Night Watch last night. Really enjoyed it, definitely one to re-read in the future I thought the 'backwards' narrative worked extremely well, actually enriching the story rather than simply being a 'gimmick'. I thought the characters were hugely convincing, and quite endearing. Although, I didn't really warm to Duncan that much: I think he reminded me too much of Billy in Lilies (Fridays BBC1), so I was probably a bit exasperated of following two similar characters at the same time. Am probably going to start on The Girls tonight, although I did pick up William Boyd's Restless on my lunch break , since it was half price and I had my gift vouchers. I also bought The Crimson Petal & The White (finally). After being free of Book Need/Greed for a few months, I feel ravenous again! After reading an interview, I really want Stef Penney's The Tenderness of Wolves as it's out in paperback, which surprised me!

Was it because it was so good, they named it twice? That sounds like a real full-on degree! The work you must've done!

Hey Emma, I've just realised that we graduated at the same time! Where did you go and what did you study? (Manchester Uni and English & American Literature for me). Graduation seems soooo long ago...

I'm going to start it tonight Really looking forward to it. And it will be accompanying me on a long train journey to Bristol and back at the weekend.

Hello! :006:I haven't been able to get on the forum as much this week as I've been quite poorly, started my new (and v busy!) job and my back has been playing up. Oh, and my internet connection at home is down Great! It's very sad tho' as I'm really missing being on here It's a bit of a life line, in some ways. And I won't be on this weekend, as I'm visiting my friend for the weekend (although I'm not sad about that, lol). But I shall return! Properly... How are you doing tho'? Glad you're enjoying Maus! x x x x

Ooh I'm near the end now (1941) and you've just made me even more intrigued! Can't wait!

That's all right - it was an interesting bit of writing I thought I'd share I didn't know that about RL Stine tho! Is he an actual person as well as a brand?

What's The Bronte Project - Jennifer Vandever? I haven't heard of it... Is it to do with the actual Brontes, as I am a bit of a Bronte fan *goes and stands on a rock, looking wistfully into the distance, with wind swept hair*

I like tatoos that mean something. I don't have any, but if I did, I always think I'd like to have "There By The Grace Of God". But I think that might look weird, as I'm not actually a Christian. Or believe in any God. So I might get a teensy bit fed up of explaining to people

Oooh pretty... What made you decide to have the tatoo from it?

Hey Paula Is that the Stephen King series? I really want to read this graphic novel that's just come out: Fluffy by Simone Lia. It looks amazing!

Ooh what's the course, Sugar? I'm intrigued!

Yay! I'm glad you're liking it Maggie O'Farrell's one of my favourite writers and reading Esme was one of my highlights of 2006.

I went to Auschwitz I and Birkenau (Auschwitz III) in 1999, and the reports of what some of the soldiers did were... just awful. It was what happened to some of the children there that was so horrific. (The following isn't a spolier as such, I just covered it was it might be a bit distressing for some people to read).

Yes, definitely. I think the 'backwards' narrative is really interesting in her case: do you think she seems to be suffering from Post-Traumatic Shock in the first part? At what point did you click with it, btw?

I've found Lolita and Franny and Zooey! Hooray! I spent all day sorting out which books can be sold and given away, and there they were. As well Salinger's short-stories collection For Esme - With Love and Squalor, which I forgot I had so that was pleasing. Still really enjoying The Night Watch: the twists in the plot are brilliant, and the ambulance scenes are amazingly depicted. It's so easy to forget how brave the women volunteers were during WWII. Happily, I'm also loving John Mullan's book. It's so easy to read and accessible. It's a great 'back to basics' that also teaches you alot. And after years of people trying to explain to me what the Perfect Present tense actually is, I finally understood it last night!

Hello again! Just thought I'd share a few of my thoughts thus far, particularly regarding the use of 'animals' in Maus. Spiegelman has suggested that he used animal-figures as to 'cartoon' the Holocaust with human would have brought a whole heap of problem upon the creation of Maus: i.e. how realistic/detailed should the characters look, did they look like the people they were meant to portray etc. It's certainly true that by depicting every character as a particular animal, it takes the pressure off both Spiegelman and the reader by remembering who's who. He also plays with the concept, as you'll see as the book progresses... What has proved controversial since Maus' first installment is Spiegelman

Ooh yay, I'm also reading it I'm really enjoying it too. Odd question, but do you have a particular favourite yet? I really look forward to Viv's 'turns' but I'm dying to know more about Kay. It's so beautifully written too - and so easy to read!