(no subject)

[cleolinda]

All right. Have finished American Gods. Don't quite know what to think of the epilogue in Reykjavik and all yet, but okay--sign of a good read, that you keep thinking about it. Highly recommended.

Here's how dumb I am: Vladimir sends me this copy from Zagreb late last year, as previously mentioned, and I get to Neil's autograph--as you will recall, Vladimir is Neil's Croatian translator--and I go, "Huh. Cat eyes. Random. Okay." Yeah. So I'm taking a break from reading to eat dinner (yes, I try to read books in as few sittings as possible; it's just a compulsion I have), and I'm talking to Vladimir on IM, and he says, "What'd Neil draw in your book again? I think I remember..."

"Uh... cat eyes?"

"No, it wasn't cat eyes. Go check again."

"Well, I'm pretty sure it was eyes, but whatever, and one of them is OH MY GOD."

ODIN!



And seriously, it is a great book. It's the kind of book that--well, put it this way: I read Lolita and I love Lolita, but I read it when I was about eighteen and it seriously messed up my writing style--for a while I was obsessed with crafting little Fabergé egg sentences instead of actually telling a damn story. Nabokov can do that to you--I think the way Vladimir put it was that his style is "overbearing," in terms of being an influence. Gaiman is the kind of writer who makes you want to put the book down and lock yourself in front of the keyboard for a few hours. He makes you see all kinds of things that are possible to do as a writer, and makes you want to try and see if you can do them. It's not a style he has that you want to copy--it's a complexity of character and story that you want to live up to. It made me want to sit back down and hammer away at Black Ribbon, where Nabokov just made me want to write what was, in my hands, nothing but exquisitely phrased whining (bless). I had the same reaction to Gaiman's Stardust, too--his writing makes you feel brave enough to try your own things out. Can't quite explain it any more clearly than that. And really, I think that's the kind of writer I'd want to be. Not necessarily the writer who sells the most or the writer with Harold Bloom's seal of approval (and never the twain shall meet on that one, trust me), but the writer who makes people want to read, and makes people want to write.

Comments

[shoukinkasegi.livejournal.com]

Nothing like getting a book signed by the man himself. NG's a fan's author. Not snobby but not overbearingly friendly either. And he's always tired (jetlagged?). I love how he squibbles. For the Vess-illustrated Stardust I gave to my baby sis as a birthday present he drew a girl and Mona Lisa-smile moon and star with a gold ink pen. He roxxxorz (: That autograph/drawing on your AG is awesome.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Ooo, I have that copy of Stardust. It's awesome.

Sadly, of course, I've never been within 100 miles of Neil--my book was autographed in Croatia while he was on his book tour and Vladimir was interpreting for him. He had just finished translating AG a few weeks before that--actually, he just finished translating Endless Nights.

[shoukinkasegi.livejournal.com]

That Vladimir. He's an awesome fella ain't he (:

[paperandglue.livejournal.com]

Who's Odin?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Norse god--big character in the book. It was one of those things that didn't mean anything to me until I'd read halfway through it and checked the front again.

[paperandglue.livejournal.com]

I forgot about Odin having only one eye. I thought maybe it was a personal joke or something until I did.

[eclectica.livejournal.com]

Ah, I love Neil Gaiman's writing, too! I've read American Gods, Stardust, and Good Omens. (Btw, am I just imagining it or are they making a movie out of Good Omens?)

[shoukinkasegi.livejournal.com]

Well......... there's this (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=good+omens+being+made+into+a+movie%3F&btnG=Google+Search).

[eclectica.livejournal.com]

Uhm, yeah, I know. Thanks for the link, though! ;P

[shoukinkasegi.livejournal.com]

Sorry, no foot-stepping intended. Would be nice though - if they can make Harry Potter flicks, why not GO? (There is that Narnia (http://www.m3ntalcontraband.com/journal/archives/000488.html) movie in production last time I heard.)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been keeping an eye on that one for the Digest (http://www.dailydigest.net) (which, yes, is going to be updated. Eventually. Shhh). I think extras casting is starting up, actually.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, last time I heard, but they'be been trying to get that off the ground forever. But they, Hitchhiker's Guide the to Galaxy is getting made--Good Omens could get made too.

[sprunkle.livejournal.com]

Lucky you for having an autographed book. I'm going to read some of his fiction after I've worked my way through the Sandman library on the cheap. But since it has your seal of approval...
Shallow note: I think Neil Gaiman's kinda hot. It's the leather jacket.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I would not disagree with you on that. ;)

[edda.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're quite right about Neil Gaiman. He does make you want to write. And you are definitely in that good-read, gotta-see-what-happens-next category.

And I SO want to fly down there and break into your place and grab that book and run cackling into the night with it clutched to my chest, but as it would make future LJing kind of awkward, I'll just gawp at the picture.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

NO! IT'S MINE, HOR! Awww, that's so sweet of you to say.

[edda.livejournal.com]

Heh.

[kaytethinks.livejournal.com]

Your name is Lauren? NOT cleo, linda, or any variation thereof.

I am officially moronic. *sheepish* Note to self: don't take things so literally.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've apparently fooled several people unintentionally, so don't feel bad--it's a little outlandish, but--like, you can look at a lot of people's usernames and go, oh, that's from Tolkien (or whatever), that's not her real name. "Cleolinda" comes from the St. George and the Dragon myth. Long story how I came by it, but I ought to post it... (Jones isn't my real last name, either.) ;)

[kaytethinks.livejournal.com]

:) Alright, I don't feel so bad then ;) But yeah, you should post about it, hehe.

[thelxepeiakat.livejournal.com]

I read Gaiman's Wolves in the Walls for the first time today. Loved it, and Dave McKean's illustrations are wonderfully haunting. After reading your post, I have to add his not-for-children novels to my already very long reading list. I'm feeling the need to be inspired to write. Apathy is beginning to sound more fun than writing. Oh, and he really is hot.

[edda.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is. Oh, yes he is.

Just to ask--whatg's your icon a pic of? I'm guessing it's a brooch from an archaelogical find or somesuch, but what culture/era/particular significance? ("Posited as King Arthur's nappy pin, date unknown, East Wales.") It looks totally cool.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

It looks like Auryn from The Neverending Story to me. I love that movie. :)

[thelxepeiakat.livejournal.com]

It's actually the Auryn from The Neverending Story(a medallion the childlike empress gives to Itreyu...if you haven't seen it), one of my all-time favorite movies. Sad to say, I've never read the book.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

The book's awesome--Michael Ende's the author. I randomly found it in a bookstore one day and bought it on impulse. The movie actually only covers the first half of the book--I was unfortunate enough to see the sequel on cable, and if I recall correctly, the sequel does take a stab at the second half. A very, very bad stab.

Neverending Story

[deoridhe.livejournal.com]

In my universe, there was only one Neverending Story movie and the last five minutes didn't exist. ^_^ The second and third movies were never conceived of, much less made. ^_^ I adore the book.

[idan-cohen.livejournal.com]

That's Gaiman for you. Just reading his blog inspires you. I think he and Pratchett are in some sort of nefarious inspiring cabal.

[(Anonymous)]

Vladimir here - still with no LJ account of my own, solly.

Actually, I have a dirteh sekrit to admit. Cleo's (Lauren's) autograph could have been vastly more complex had Neil had time to devote to it... I think I gave him about 20 different books to sign for myself and most of my friends, so he chugged away at his hotel room coffee table while I watched *can't say what* on his laptop... This was just as he was getting ready to leave for the Frankfurt Book Fair, and he was about three times more jet lagged than usual, but (bless) he didn't even look at me funnily when I grinned and gave him the pile of books. Admittedly, he usually draws larger things in larger editions, and Lauren's copy is just the UK paperback.

Having observed him signing his stuff over that weekend, it became quickly obvious that Neil has a designer drawing for each title... Like, a variation on Odin for AG (eyes, or the whole portrait, depending on available space & time), a mouse for Coraline, a comicbook text bubble with "Mind the Gap!" for Neverwhere, that moon and falling star for Stardust, etc. And there was a guy who brought him all 10 collected issues of Sandman once, and he signed them all, but I frankly can't remember what he did. For vol. IV, Season of Mists, I got a v. pretty drawing of Loki. But the most awesome autograph of his that I've seen is in my editor's copy of Endless Nights - it's done in silver marker on black, and features a full-figure drawing of Morpheus/Daniel that's just so simple and so striking.

I think Neil decides what do do for each book as part of his regular postproduction - and it's such a nice touch. I've never seen him decline to add that bit, however reduced, to an autograph. He doesn't have to do that, and sometimes you can tell he barely has the strength to hold his pen, but he chugs along merrily regardless.

Neil roxors. That I know for sure ;)

[(Anonymous)]

Vladimir again. Sorry, just one more thing.

Neil was asked - not by me - about Good Omens getting made, now that it had fallen through once. And he said to keep your fingers crossed for Brothers Grimm, because if that turns out to be a hit, Terry Gilliam will regain his footing with Hollywood - and hopefully make Good Omens next. Neil was v. proud of the script and the collaboration with Gilliam, and it just seems the whole project clicked for both of them - and it fell through because of a ridiculous budget-cutting decision (it wasn't going to be v. expensive anyway).

So no, it's definitely not a dead project.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

He just wrote Believe! in mine. But he did draw a mouse in Coraline. :)

[coloredvision.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, I found your journal because ... MY HED IZ PASTEDE ON YAY.

But as for Neil's writing making one go "I need to be writing. Right now." It's so true.

And I'm so jealous of your signed copy.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hell, I'm jealous of the fact that Vladimir was the one present when it was signed. I didn't even get to meet Neil!

American Gods

[deoridhe.livejournal.com]

You have a signed copy of American Gods??? *proceeds to envy you silly* I adore Gaiman, with an utterly illogical love that usually I reserve for animals and deities. If he wrote a version of the New York Phonebook I would try to read it. His blog is hysterical, too; I just wish the syndication worked better so I could have it on my friends list and not get spammed everythree days.

As for his take on gods and their Avatars... I'm still thinking about it. We discuss it at our Blots (Asatru religious ceremony) occassionally. I'm not sure how I feel about the concept religiously speaking, but story wise it was fantastic!

Re: American Gods

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

You know about the sequel, right? Anansi Boys? I think Vladimir said that Neil told him the first couple of chapters, but he's keeping mum. Grrrr.

Re: American Gods

[deoridhe.livejournal.com]

Aie! No I didn't.

OMG OMG OMG...

I want!

Re: American Gods

[lwood.livejournal.com]

*cough*

It gets better.

In a recently-released hardcover anthology of short stories/novelettes/novellas/wtfever entitled Legends III, you'll find a direct sequel to American Gods that not only features our good friend Shadow, but also:

o Reveals the name on his birth certificate
o Has a go-round with several characters of Germanic mytho-literary persuation. Yep, we have one of the huldrefolk, we have Grendel, and then! Grendel's MUM!
o And! A cameo from Mister Wednesday.

Go. Read. Is good.

One of the other things we wonder about, here among the heathens in the heart of the Granola Bowl (the SF Bay Area) is this:

When Mister Wednesday and Shadow go to San Francisco and meet Ostara in the Haight, Neil has clearly done his homework. It's clearly the Haight, complete with A Generic Coffee House. But, we note with dismay, Wednesday then proves to Ostara that the local pagans are complete idiots.

Dammit, that looks bad for the home team! This is almost as bad as calling mead sour diabetic piss!

Of course, we console each other, had that conversation all happened, say, in a random coffeehouse in... Berkeley... or Oakland... or Alameda... just across the Bay, well, the chances would've been a bit higher that not only would someone have bloodydamnwell known the etymology of the word Easter, but... well. That someone might've done a double-take at a one-eyed fellow, hale and hearty in his late middle-age, with a worldtree tietack, asking very interesting questions.

Anyway, the conjecture then goes, did Gaiman know that the Haight would be less likely to have a walk-by heathen? Or even a more clueful non-heathen pagan?

If Gaiman knew, did he then set it up that Mister Wednesday knew, and therefore set the whole thing up in the Haight to make sure he'd win the bet?

Just something we like to ponder.

Cleo, what leads you to thoughtfully re-chew the scene in Reykjavik, if you don't mind a drive-by commenter asking?

-- Lorrie