River ,'Jaynestown'
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."
P-C, it is a weak point in the plot, but I handwave it with the theory that Coodger and Dark's carnival may trigger laughter, but it's the screamy, uneasy type of laughter, the laughter that comes from being unsettled but wanting to hide it. While the laughter that defeats Mr. Dark is the full-fledged, open hearted laughter that comes from understanding the ridiculous nature of existence and being delighted by it.
Hi, my name is Jilli, and I have a lot of feelings about this book.
Yeah, I guess I can buy that, although it sure seems risky! The whole "defeat them with laughter and happiness" is something I've seen before in other stories, but it just didn't make as much sense here (and I had to roll my eyes when Charles KILLED MR. DARK WITH LOVE and then they BROUGHT JIM BACK FROM THE DEAD WITH LAUGHTER). Still, that scene with the smile on the bullet was FUCKING AWESOME.
For me, the The whole "defeat them with laughter and happiness" trope is a reaffirmation of don't maintain an "ironic distance", don't be concerned with being "grown-up" and oh-so "cool, but embrace everything wholeheartedly! Be enthusiastic, be willing to look like a crazy fool, know that there are horrible awful things that happen and still allow yourself to feel and wonder.
Huh. I just realized that what I really want out of life is to be part of a carnival like Coodger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show, but with Charles Holloway as the ringmaster. Still spooky, still unsettling, but with heart and unbeatable optimism.
(Note to self, call dad tonight.)
I loved that essay! And this is partially me.
Suggested book-buster reads: Whatever you like, but buy a Kindle.
I am so a book-buster! I love the analogy to Lennie from "Of Mice and Men".
I am a Delayed Onset Reader #1 Bookophile with Sleepy Bedtime tendencies.
I have Sleepy Bedtime tendencies, which can be bad if I'm reading my Nook or Palm, because I fall asleep and drop them on my nose.
I fall asleep and drop them on my nose
You read with the device held in the air the whole time? My arms would die.
well, the arm is braced on a pillow, then I drift off and I lose my grip, then bonk.
Yeah, I am so lazy I want to figure out a way to make my nook flip the pages automatically at certain intervals. Then I could have it propped outside the covers and keep my arms underneath.