Also -- this happened much more in the Emily books, but I've noticed it at least once in this collection -- I'm noticing how, in the stories set in the twenties, young people say "It's so Victorian" to mean "It's so old-fashioned." Which does make sense for the time period, but it seems like there are more layers of meaning to "Victorian" there than just old-fashioned. Something like sentimental, maybe. In the Emily books, Emily's teacher tells her that she uses far too many italics in her writing, and it's a Victorian affectation that she must avoid, and Emily, age 14 or so at the time, just doesn't know how she can convey just how deeply she feels about something if she can't do with italics. And later on, when Emily is getting married, and her elderly aunt kisses her on the cheek and says something like, "May happiness follow you," Emily comments, "It was very mid-Victorian, but I liked it." (Emily and her friends don't just call things Victorian, but early-Victorian and mid-Victorian and late-Victorian. I'm not certain exactly when the Emily books are set, but given the fashions and technology described, and the lack of any mention of anyone going off to war, I'm going to guess the twenties.)
Xander ,'Dirty Girls'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
I really wish there were a Montgomery wiki somewhere. These stories keep using characters or references from others of her books or stories, and I can never keep them straight.
Emily, age 14 or so at the time, just doesn't know how she can convey just how deeply she feels about something if she can't do with italics
Ah ... life before emoticons.
I really wish there were a Montgomery wiki somewhere.
Oh, yeah, that would be useful.
Just saw on Twitter that L.A. Banks (Leslie Esdaile) passed away this morning. I wrote copy for a bunch of her Sasha Trudeau books. Sad.
Hey Amy, I was just coming in to post that. There's a fund for her daughter, and to help pay the medical bills. I have the information, if anyone wants, I can pass it or post it.
gasp! you have to go to Buenos Aires to visit.
Wow, my editor just told me that William Sleator died.
(I googled but haven't found an official story or obit yet, but she read an announcement from his publisher, so I'm assuming it's true.)
I haven't read him in ages but used to adore him, especially Oddballs, his collection of stories about his family that I always assumed was an autobiography, though Wikipedia calls it a "semi-autobiographical story collection." Anyway, it's a great book, and I totally idealized Sleator and his weirdo parents and siblings. Sad to know that he's now gone.
Wow, my editor just told me that William Sleator died.
Oh no! I really liked some of his books when I was a kid. And I know someone who was pen-pals with him for years.