| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/23/2005 : 12:26:19
*the book*
pending any major objections we have this, the plus side being if it sucks we can blame Carolyn hehe.
Observatory Mansions
Edward Carey
amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/033039116X/qid=1114427772/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/026-0201291-4056441
amazon.com second hand copies: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/0375709231/ref=dp_olp_2//102-0805396-6300937?condition=all
Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. |
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kathryn |
Posted - 01/02/2006 : 08:07:52
Bump. Shiner? Anybody?
I got some heaven in my head
|
| kathryn |
Posted - 06/03/2005 : 10:04:02
We should rotate choosing the next book. I nominate shine picks next.
 I still believe in the excellent joy of the Catholics |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 06/03/2005 : 07:54:04
quote:
Originally posted by shineoftheever
i think carey intended the readers to fall in love with the characters at the beginning as though they were these "waxwork" type caricatures of themselves (read, exciting and lovable like celebrity) and then as the story unfolded they became human (read, ordinary) and so we are expected to rejoice in their 'wonderful ordinariness'.
damn. i love that quote, i think i'll make it my signature for a while.
Like the quote I previously posted;
"We looked at eachother, at those fellow residents who had told us their memories, and we thought - Is that all? Is that all that you are? Is that you? Ah, well if that's you, then you're not so remarkable anymore. I know your story now, there's nothing else for me to know and quite suddenly I don't know what to say to you. In truth, I find you a little dull, you shouldn't have told me everything, you should have kept something back to keep my interest alive. But now that I know everything about you I suddenly find myself unable to talk to you any more. I prefer to keep silent."
__________
Don't believe the hype. |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 06/03/2005 : 03:48:34
You raise a good point sir, who's up for the next book, and do we want to take it in turns to chose one as well?
I hope that I will live to see you undress |
| shineoftheever |
Posted - 06/03/2005 : 00:18:41
so what's the next book peepholes?
The waxworks were an immensely eloquent dissertation on the wonderful ordinariness of mankind. |
| shineoftheever |
Posted - 06/03/2005 : 00:12:12
i think carey intended the readers to fall in love with the characters at the beginning as though they were these "waxwork" type caricatures of themselves (read, exciting and lovable like celebrity) and then as the story unfolded they became human (read, ordinary) and so we are expected to rejoice in their 'wonderful ordinariness'.
damn. i love that quote, i think i'll make it my signature for a while. |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 06/02/2005 : 12:58:47
gosh shine! I'm going to read it again I think.
I still feel let down about francis' change, it was too cheap and too sudden, like sir rock says, from one extreme to another is a sudden jolt for me, and I kind of liked weird francis.
Those observations are interesting, I think the human models stopped because they got in automated ones which were cheaper. The Anna observation is clever, I'd not thought like that, I guess as a materials restorer her sight was her life so it does seem as her life ended theirs began. I kind of liked the Orme ambiguity, I imagined an old family struggling to keep up with the modern world and having things slide that way.
Interesting...
I hope that I will live to see you undress |
| shineoftheever |
Posted - 06/02/2005 : 01:20:56
all in all quite enjoyable, i'm glad francis survived and stopped wearing gloves(positive message that you can get over your hangups/fears). carey is a great character writer, very unique individuals and very descriptive oratory. liked most characters despite their negative characteristics, didn't quite get the dog-lady though.
favorite quotes:
Young, beautiful horses of girls clopped their high-heel hooves. pg 35
The waxworks were an immensely eloquent dissertation on the wonderful ordinariness of mankind. pg 140
The present is the killer of memories. pg 173
But Mother's indifference to Father's death soon helped me to realize that no one was suffering as much as I was, and that when I thought we I really meant I. pg 250
Glove people are magical people, wearing gloves, monitoring everything you touched, was like floating above the world, watching everybocy in it, watching all the suffering, always observing it, but never touching it. pg 311
some random thoughts.
was the porter the personification of observatory mansions? tearsham park/observatory mansions was not a happy place, it was empty (the porters chest), did the button francis stole from the porters uni represent anything?
as anna lost her sight the others were given theirs back.
would have liked to learn a little more history of the orme's. carey is a bit ambiguous as to what degrees of neglect and urbanization caused the original tearsham park/observatory mansions change. i mean, he definitely implies neglect on francis' fathers part but what about his father?
why did francis get fired from the waxworks? i can't remember if they said it was because they stopped using human models or not. |
| Sir Rockabye |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 18:11:06
Completely forgot about this thread. I had a question all prepared, but I sort of forgot it. I think it went a little like this: (Keep in mind I finished the book some time ago, so my facts might be a bit skewed)
When that lady arrives (you know, the one with the glasses) to Observatory Mansions, and is responsible for everyone remembering, Francis is angry. He makes a huge effort to return things to the state they existed in before her arrival. However, once that girl (the one whose name has escaped me) starts to illicit a change from his parents (his mother gets out of bed, his father starts doing stuff as well), Francis makes an effort to aid this change? Whats the deal? Why this sudden role reversal on his part?
You run all kinds of red lights except the ones on the street.
When you run out of exits you can always count sheep. |
| shineoftheever |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 18:05:34
i'm finished, comments to follow later, what's the next book?
 You can go eat a decroded piece of crap! |
| Newo |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 05:39:47
The porter wasnīt anything but a cipher, just a peg to hang a plot from. I will read it again though, I figure if someone put a couple years thoughts and feelings into a book youīre not going to absorb all in one sitting. Thanks for the recommendation Carolynanna, and Tre for recommending the recommendation.
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "itīs not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 00:35:09
Until the shift I have to admit I was feeling very smug about remembering this recommendation, nah fuck it I still feel smug, so thank you Carolyn for suggesting it because despite the fact the ending felt out of kilter with the rest of the book I think I would read it again, I thought his writing style charming and I was so excited by the book when I started reading it (geeky? maybe? care? no!) because it really draws you in and gets you involved in this little abstract world , I loved the charecter dialogues and some of the descriptives (again when I have had sleep I'll reference this properly) were ace.
It is just such a shame that he seemed to run out of steam at the end, the happy ever after didn't suit the story, maybe a less standard (like wilhelm says.. darker) sort of happy ever after would have worked.
There were a couple of times (on the train yesterday) that I laughed quite loudly at some of the dialogues or observations, odd looks a go go!
Brian, I actually got another one of his boks out of the library at the same time that observatory mansions arrived, I left it at home though can't remember the name of it. uurgh....
What did you guys think of the porter? he seemed too random to me, not developed enough to be interesting but apparantly pivotal. I had a problem with his alleged obsession with those who are loved shown by the attepted assault and alleged elevator murder, I think that these were dealt with a bit to briefly for me to be interested in it.
But overall, I did like the book a lot and am looking forward to this one I have at home (about twins.. I'll look it up) and would happily pick up a Carey bok again.
I hope that I will live to see you undress |
| offerw |
Posted - 05/25/2005 : 23:11:09
I enjoyed Observatory Mansions very much. Like most of you I was very impressed with the first half of the book. I had been reading mostly biographies and straightforward fiction for the past few months, I loved the odd characters and the strange place they lived in. Reminded me of Delicatessen a bit.
The change in the book came about as some of the characters started opening up to Anna. I would have enjoyed it if Anna was the one to be changed by the people and place surrounding her, the book could've gotten darker instead of the nearly pleasant way it ended up.
wilhelm |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 05/25/2005 : 13:47:32
OK I am ready to post! Being slow because of my weary exam brain, I too loved the book until the shift, I resented that characters I felt I'd been delicately aquainted with were dismissed quite flippantly, Buggs death lacked drama, twenty moving on seemed pointless, I liked the ramblings of francis' parents, although I thought as soon as francis 1 was revealed it was a little obvious what the "object" was, I liked the way the anna-francis relationship evolved, but the cruelty shift back to nothing back to baby making was weird, and I felt out of place.
I thought there was a delightful intensity about the characters, fathers obsession with the micro and macro, mother and the y fronted bastard, the porter (who I thought was a dumb and unevolved charecter) and his cleanliness... but by the end it was so watered down, how can francis go from intensity to normal like that? like pht, happily ever after.
I got more, I have to digest a couple more things and I'm real tired, but I think the ending lacked, I'mnot sure how I feel about dying with his exhibition, but he should never have lost the gloves.
I hope that I will live to see you undress |
| kathryn |
Posted - 05/25/2005 : 10:11:33
So is there a consensus that he should have perished with
his ego-identified exhibition?
I still believe in the excellent joy of the Catholics |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 05/24/2005 : 12:35:42
quote:
Originally posted by Broken Face
i also thought the ending was a disappointment - especially becuase it would have been fitting for Frances to die with his exhibition, as it was the culmination of his life's work, and since it would be destroyed, it would be only right for him to go with it.
Particularly because I don't think he could've talked himself into taking off his gloves. If he did not take off his gloves he probably would've died with the exhibition.
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 05/24/2005 : 12:32:45
Like I said before I tend to keep track of quotes I like/find amusing or intriguing so heregoes;
Francis:
"It was still possible to see some of us half-wax-half-human dummies about the streets, walking dolefully through the city, pausing to look with envy at some statue or pillar."
About Claire:
"She had created for herself an alternative time frame called fiction."
About the porter:
"But white was not possible. White does not last. White, he wondered - probably - are you a myth?"
Francis when he found out everyone was meeting without him:
"(Who cares about Bugg?) I did, Francis did. I raised my hand in the school classroom of Peter Bugg's mind. Please sir. Sir! Sir!"
Francis after they moved his gloves about:
"There were fingertips poking out from the cups of her bra. My gloves were feeling Miss Higg's breasts."
I liked this passage:
"We looked at eachother, at those fellow residents who had told us their memories, and we thought - Is that all? Is that all that you are? Is that you? Ah, well if that's you, then you're not so remarkable anymore. I know your story now, there's nothing else for me to know and quite suddenly I don't know what to say to you. In truth, I find you a little dull, you shouldn't have told me everything, you should have kept something back to keep my interest alive. But now that I know everything about you I suddenly find myself unable to talk to you any more. I prefer to keep silent."
On TV:
"But this instrument of noise is designed to keep us silent."
Francis on Alice:
"Indeed, Mother was a fine-looking woman when she took the time to smooth out her ugliness."
Francis on Anna after she went blind:
"So I felt guilty and sad. So I let her come. So I felt disgusted by her."
Hehe, now we can all psychoanalyse why those quotes would stand out to me.
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
| Broken Face |
Posted - 05/24/2005 : 11:40:52
I felt that the book really shifted once people started dying. Bugg's death was the only one i felt was really useful to further the story along. i also thought the ending was a disappointment - especially becuase it would have been fitting for Frances to die with his exhibition, as it was the culmination of his life's work, and since it would be destroyed, it would be only right for him to go with it. this person who rarely spoke and was truly fearful of relationships to have a child seems to be too far of a stretch for me to believe. overall though i really enjoyed the book though, and would like to read more of Carey's work (if there is any)
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
|
| kathryn |
Posted - 05/24/2005 : 10:53:35
Me too, Carolyn. The evolution of Bugg (the name alone sends shivers up my spine!) was one of my favorite things. I love how
Carey subtly hinted at big bad things, leaving much to his reader's imagination.
Yeah, having a kid/the happy ending struck me as a disappointing way of putting a bow on it. Too much
of a Hollywood happy ending. At least it was a relief
that it wasn't a boy.
I still believe in the excellent joy of the Catholics |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 05/24/2005 : 08:23:50
Well there definitely was a shift. I'm not sure I liked the shift either.
I can't buy someone so afraid of relationships and closeness moving in with someone and having a kid. I almost thought it would be better if he'd died with his exhibition.
Overall I really liked it, I thought some of the symbolism was too easy though.
One of my favourite parts was in Peter Bugg's suicide letter to Francis, he adds the PS. Do you know where Chiron is? Hehe, good stuff.
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
| Newo |
Posted - 05/22/2005 : 12:04:38
You put it succinctly Kathryn, healing psychic wounds. Way I felt about the caretaker/murdered tenant strand was I was already involved in Francis' life and loving every word of it so it seemed rather cheap when it did come in, especially so when he'd already had my full attention. It didn't help that I'd just finished a William Gibson novel I felt the same way about, in that it starts out with wonderful sympathetic characters then throws in standard plot devices towards the end. Perhaps with a more conventional writer I wouldn't mind the conventions but this Carey fellow is a talented one so I don't think there's any excuse for throwing in prefabricated structures among characters that already breathe. It makes me feel as though I'm at a dinner party having lively conversation and then somebody seats a mannequin next to me and makes me talk to it.
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "itīs not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
| kathryn |
Posted - 05/22/2005 : 10:46:25
Owen, I didn't think it fizzled out. I thought he sustained
control of the writing and plot all the way thru. I didn't mind
his relying on conventional literary methods (spooky caretaker, etc.) because of the unfolding drama of the child's psychic wound. Which brings me to this question:
If you had to summarize the book in one sentence, what
would you say it's about?
I still believe in the excellent joy of the Catholics |
| Newo |
Posted - 05/22/2005 : 09:03:41
I liked the chapter headings, they reminded me of silent movies.
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "itīs not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
| Sir Rockabye |
Posted - 05/22/2005 : 07:35:11
So has I.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do. |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 05/22/2005 : 06:15:13
sorry guys, yeah go ahead, I'm in full on exam mode right now so completely forgot about this, I'll be back tomorrow (after the last exam) but go ahead! I know K's finished it also.
 I joined the cult of Tape/ Because you can't rewind CD with a biro |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 05/21/2005 : 18:15:50
Are we allowed to discuss yet then?
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
| Broken Face |
Posted - 05/21/2005 : 13:32:26
i am
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
|
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 05/21/2005 : 09:02:23
Is everyone finished?
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
| Newo |
Posted - 05/20/2005 : 02:10:13
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "itīs not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
| Kirk |
Posted - 05/19/2005 : 05:25:47
quote:
Originally posted by Newo
Agh so for me it was one of those books fizzled out after a wonderful beginning, Iīd heartily recommend the first 190 pages and then it was so conventional complete with spooky old caretaker, suppose itīs original if you havenīt seen Scooby Doo (or read John Fowlesī The Collector) and something explodes at the end yawn fucken yawn. What a waste of a great opening.
Yeah..stick to Oprah's book club, instead.
..-. .-. .- -. -.- -... .-.. .- -.-. -.-
 rock over london, rock on chicago
Why the Hell would you use the color 'beige' for your text? |
| Newo |
Posted - 05/19/2005 : 04:07:08
Agh so for me it was one of those books fizzled out after a wonderful beginning, Iīd heartily recommend the first 190 pages and then it was so conventional complete with spooky old caretaker, suppose itīs original if you havenīt seen Scooby Doo (or read John Fowlesī The Collector) and something explodes at the end yawn fucken yawn. What a waste of a great opening.
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "itīs not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
| kathryn |
Posted - 05/16/2005 : 11:41:16
Thursday's fine with me. I'll be reading Dr. Seuss until
then...
I still believe in the excellent joy of the Catholics |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 05/16/2005 : 11:30:25
Thursdays good for me!
Thanks Owen, suspect I might have to resit that one though, mental blocks are a bad bad thing
I joined the cult of Tape/ Because you can't rewind CD with a biro |
| Broken Face |
Posted - 05/16/2005 : 06:25:47
just finished it this morning - i can't beleive they were all aliens!
psych
i'm up for discussion whenever. lucky for me everyone else was slow in getting the books, as i was about 50 pages from the end on thursday, and then didn't get a chance to read at ALL this weekend.
-Brian
If you move I shoots!
|
| Newo |
Posted - 05/16/2005 : 04:09:59
If Thursday suits Tre and the rest of you all, thatīs fine by me. Best of luck in the exam Tre.
--
"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "itīs not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
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