Mary's comments (member since Jan 15, 2009)

Mary's comments from the Endicott Mythic Fiction group.

One of the things I learned reading this is that I don't think I have the tolerance for kids' books that I might have had as a child. I felt like the first 50 or so pages of the book were just a series of unexplained wonders and for a while that was wonderful, but after that, I kept trying to see patterns and failed. Anyone else?

Kay, it would be great if you could post with any books you do find which don't cast women in that light but do have them as inspiration. I'd really love to read something like that. Thanks for articulating it that way.

I haven't had a chance to look at the interview but is anyone else finished with the book?

I'd call my overall reaction "a pleasant surprise". (This was my first book by Mieville.) What did other folks think?

I'll play again this month. Hopefully we'll get some more responses towards the end :)

I was really enjoying this, interesting time/place, wonderful details, page-turning plot, until the moment it became clear that the woman-as-muse was the source of all evil in the story. I just didn't appreciate the way the archetypes shut down the fluidity of the story. If it had been one painter and one woman, a personal connection between them, I might not have read it as almost a moral but the fact that she had done this many times elevated it, in my opinion. Did anyone else feel this shift?

Additionally, I didn't understand why Samantha came back to him at the end. It made for a nice tidy ending but her motivation was what? Does anyone else understand that?

Well, I'm finished. Anyone else? Is it okay to mention spoilers in the discussion?

I'm interested and have requested a copy from my library.