A Feast for Crows to The Color Purple
Umm...
The Color Purple to Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty
Umm...
Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty to Fables: Vol. I
Umm...
Fables: Vol. I to A Second-hand Life
Umm...
A Second-hand Life to O Pioneers
Umm...
O Pioneers to Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Umm...
Eats, Shoots & Leaves to Dirty Secret
Umm...
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Introductory notes with (GoodReads Buddy) Brianna on WICKED
So, sorry for the delayed response. I was running on three hours of
sleep on Friday and crashed as soon as I got home from work. I also
finished the book super early (Tuesday) so we'll have to ramp up the
speed on the next part. The next section is a bit longer (64-178 in my
copy) but I figure we could set Wednesday as the next check-in date. Let
me know in your response.
A few thoughts:
I was very impressed by the prologue. It started the story off with the characters readers are most familiar with and chalked up all the bad things we've heard about the witch to gossip. Super effective.
Baby Elphaba's hijinx remind me of those of the Addams Family kids. I loved every crazy thing she did, especially at meal time (though maybe that's because I'm a bit hungry). I dare say she's got some pretty tolerant taste-buds. Ugh.
Nanny was also a favorite character, if just for her kleptomania (31) and dripping sarcasm. Case in point:
Now for a few discussion topics:
1) Examine the relationship between Frex and Melena.
Frex was initially attracted to Melena for her beauty and for her "efforts to overcome" her privileged background (7). Melena was drawn to Frex for his intensity (9) and sexual prowess (32). Seems like pretty weak reasons to get married...though I suppose it could have been an arranged marriage to link the houses (knowing little about Munchkinland society I couldn't say how those things work). What are your thoughts...and why do you think they stay together as their relationship deteriorates? Do you think Frex is blind to her adultery or just indifferent?
2) The day of Elphaba's birth, Melena hears "sound without melody--like dream music, remembered for its effect but not for its harmonic distresses and recoveries" (8). What do you think this signifies?
Melena's expectations for the future perhaps -- the musical equivalent of "words without action"? Or maybe it's Elphaba's legacy as given to us by other tellings of this story: moving the plot along without any real backstory? If the question marks weren't clear enough, I could use some help on deciphering this idea -- not to mention linking it to Nanny's words to the infant on page 25 ("You've been dancing in the womb, I see....I wonder to whose music?").
3) Nanny gives several theories for the atypical child (see page 31). Why do you think Elphaba is so different?
First off, can I just say [without any disrespect to rape victims] HOW THE HELL DO YOU SLEEP THROUGH ELF RAPE?!? While I find it hard to relate to Melena's "forgetfulness" regarding the whole situation (though I suppose one could refer to selective amnesia resulting from traumatic experiences), I'm going to go with the hypothesis of elf sperm. [Now THAT'S a fun quote to take out of context.] She's a pretty promiscuous chick and considering how big a role magic plays in the world of Oz, I choose a combination of "Miracle Elixir" and Mr. Wrong. I DO like Nanny's quasi-prophetic idea that Elphaba came out green and gnawing off fingers because she couldn't possibly compete with her parents' expectations.
4) Discuss the Clock of the Time Dragon and the role it plays.
It provides both a beginning -- of Elphaba's life, of the family's alienation -- and an end -- of the marriage, of Frex's religious authority, of happiness in Oz. I won't say too much, as I'm not sure how familiar you are with the series, but the conditions surrounding Elphaba's birth remind me of one in Game of Thrones. (I can elaborate if you would like.)
5) Compare the various religions represented and the followers of each.
So we have Frex's would-be-Calvinism, Nanny's mysticism, Little Turtle's glass blowing, Melena's Little Turtle worship, and whatever the Time Dragon is touting (secularism delivered as in drama's rebirth during the Middle Ages). As I've kinda overtaxed my brain with both the first version of this message and the one you're reading here, I'm going to let you kick off this discussion.
6) Think about the various responses to Elphaba throughout her infancy and how they create the witch she becomes.
I tacked on this question but won't go too deep into the extrapolation outside of a few things to guide you in your exploration of the topic. Think about the midwives who delivered the baby as well as the other characters' responses to her both initially and later on down the line. Consider the reactions to her first word (pages 54-5 in my copy).
In closing, I am more prone to understatement ("a few thoughts") than hyperbole...but I must say that I AM LOVING THIS BOOK.
A few thoughts:
I was very impressed by the prologue. It started the story off with the characters readers are most familiar with and chalked up all the bad things we've heard about the witch to gossip. Super effective.
Baby Elphaba's hijinx remind me of those of the Addams Family kids. I loved every crazy thing she did, especially at meal time (though maybe that's because I'm a bit hungry). I dare say she's got some pretty tolerant taste-buds. Ugh.
Nanny was also a favorite character, if just for her kleptomania (31) and dripping sarcasm. Case in point:
"The child is green" whispered Nanny confidentially. "You may not have noticed, being attracted by her charm and warmth." (49)
Now for a few discussion topics:
1) Examine the relationship between Frex and Melena.
Frex was initially attracted to Melena for her beauty and for her "efforts to overcome" her privileged background (7). Melena was drawn to Frex for his intensity (9) and sexual prowess (32). Seems like pretty weak reasons to get married...though I suppose it could have been an arranged marriage to link the houses (knowing little about Munchkinland society I couldn't say how those things work). What are your thoughts...and why do you think they stay together as their relationship deteriorates? Do you think Frex is blind to her adultery or just indifferent?
2) The day of Elphaba's birth, Melena hears "sound without melody--like dream music, remembered for its effect but not for its harmonic distresses and recoveries" (8). What do you think this signifies?
Melena's expectations for the future perhaps -- the musical equivalent of "words without action"? Or maybe it's Elphaba's legacy as given to us by other tellings of this story: moving the plot along without any real backstory? If the question marks weren't clear enough, I could use some help on deciphering this idea -- not to mention linking it to Nanny's words to the infant on page 25 ("You've been dancing in the womb, I see....I wonder to whose music?").
3) Nanny gives several theories for the atypical child (see page 31). Why do you think Elphaba is so different?
First off, can I just say [without any disrespect to rape victims] HOW THE HELL DO YOU SLEEP THROUGH ELF RAPE?!? While I find it hard to relate to Melena's "forgetfulness" regarding the whole situation (though I suppose one could refer to selective amnesia resulting from traumatic experiences), I'm going to go with the hypothesis of elf sperm. [Now THAT'S a fun quote to take out of context.] She's a pretty promiscuous chick and considering how big a role magic plays in the world of Oz, I choose a combination of "Miracle Elixir" and Mr. Wrong. I DO like Nanny's quasi-prophetic idea that Elphaba came out green and gnawing off fingers because she couldn't possibly compete with her parents' expectations.
4) Discuss the Clock of the Time Dragon and the role it plays.
It provides both a beginning -- of Elphaba's life, of the family's alienation -- and an end -- of the marriage, of Frex's religious authority, of happiness in Oz. I won't say too much, as I'm not sure how familiar you are with the series, but the conditions surrounding Elphaba's birth remind me of one in Game of Thrones. (I can elaborate if you would like.)
5) Compare the various religions represented and the followers of each.
So we have Frex's would-be-Calvinism, Nanny's mysticism, Little Turtle's glass blowing, Melena's Little Turtle worship, and whatever the Time Dragon is touting (secularism delivered as in drama's rebirth during the Middle Ages). As I've kinda overtaxed my brain with both the first version of this message and the one you're reading here, I'm going to let you kick off this discussion.
6) Think about the various responses to Elphaba throughout her infancy and how they create the witch she becomes.
I tacked on this question but won't go too deep into the extrapolation outside of a few things to guide you in your exploration of the topic. Think about the midwives who delivered the baby as well as the other characters' responses to her both initially and later on down the line. Consider the reactions to her first word (pages 54-5 in my copy).
In closing, I am more prone to understatement ("a few thoughts") than hyperbole...but I must say that I AM LOVING THIS BOOK.
WICKED - Prologue & Part 1
Wicked is my March "Buddy Read" on Goodreads.com. A few notes to aid discussion with my pal. :)
BEFORE THE READ
Consider other takes on the land of Oz. (See below for some accessible reference material.)
Consider the introductory quotations (Defoe, Tolstoy, Baum) and what light they shine on the story.
A FEW QUOTES
"Though Oz had given her a twisted life, hadn't it also made her capable?" (4)
"History crawls along on the peg legs of small individual lives," said Frex, "and at the same time larger eternal forces converge. You can't attend to both arenas at once" (9).
"...What a child, that sips blood even before its first suck of mother's milk!" (21)
[Regarding the wooden sparrow whittled for Elphaba] "Wet, it had greater life" (38) and "She is herself pleased at the half things...The little girl to play with the broken pieces better" (39)
"Typical male response to happiness...to predict its demise" (53)
"But when words are to speak in the air, actions must to follow" (57).
BEFORE THE READ
Consider other takes on the land of Oz. (See below for some accessible reference material.)
- L. Frank Baum's The [Wonderful] Wizard of Oz (1900)
- The Wizard of Oz film (1939)
- Tin Man (2007)
- Oz: The Great and Powerful film (2013)
Consider the introductory quotations (Defoe, Tolstoy, Baum) and what light they shine on the story.
A FEW QUOTES
"Though Oz had given her a twisted life, hadn't it also made her capable?" (4)
"History crawls along on the peg legs of small individual lives," said Frex, "and at the same time larger eternal forces converge. You can't attend to both arenas at once" (9).
"...What a child, that sips blood even before its first suck of mother's milk!" (21)
[Regarding the wooden sparrow whittled for Elphaba] "Wet, it had greater life" (38) and "She is herself pleased at the half things...The little girl to play with the broken pieces better" (39)
"Typical male response to happiness...to predict its demise" (53)
"But when words are to speak in the air, actions must to follow" (57).
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