I Live Your Dream

[shanmonster]

Yesterday was relaxing, albeit not according to plan. I'd been looking forward to going kayaking, but once I arrived at the dock, I found out they weren't allowing anyone on the river because the wind was too high. I know I've been out in harsher winds, but I was stymied. Damn.

So I went off to watch Gormenghast with zero_design. The show isn't entirely in accordance with the novels, but that's to be expected. I was a little surprised to see the humanizing attempt made at the delicious Steerpike. I'm not sure what to make of that. It is very different from the monstrous character of the books. It's a little like what happens to Hannibal Lecter in the last book/movie, with the delving into the character's poor, sad past. Also, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is far too pretty a boy for the narrow-shouldered, crimson and white-faced demon of the books.

Afterwards, I went back home to prepare for my evening meal. I was completely covered with tufts of white cat fur (appropriate enough considering the cats of Gormenghast), so I had to get changed. f00dave is allergic to cats. So I slipped on a black dress and together with zero_design, snowy_kathryn, and f00dave, took a jaunt outdoors to make a run to the grocery store. As I walked ahead with f00, I heard laughter behind me.

I turned around. "What?"

Zed and Kathryn laughed and said, "Nothing!"

"My dress is see-through in the sun, isn't it?"

"Is it ever!"

So yes, I was striding through Fredericton bare-ass nekkid. I live those ubiquitous nightmares of appearing in public nude.

Comments

[sidruid.livejournal.com]

i got turned on to gormeghast when i was a kid and loved the novels, the library had to bring them in from a distant location for me and i read them as soon as they showed up (like kids today and potter). I saw only a few pieces of the recreation, enough to know i didn't want to spoil my memories of the book.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I didn't find the BBC version took away from my reading at all, although the vision of Gormenghast (the building) in my head is far more grandiose than the one on the tv screen. That can't much be helped, though, I suppose.

[baba-studio.livejournal.com]

I love that Gormenghast version. You know, bizarrely (but isn't life?) I once briefly employed one of Mervyn Peake's grand-daughters. She turned out to be unnervingly like Lady Fuschia - sort of good-looking but big and awkward and totally disconnected to reality - and we had to gently tell her we couldn't carry on, she didn't in fact seem too fussed by this.

Anyway, yes, we use the DVD for visual inspiration - and I can forgive the sexier interpretation of Steerpike, it kind of works.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Peake's granddaughter was like Fuschia? Interesting! I find that character to be some sort of supergoth.

And the BBC Steerpike is pretty darned sexy.

[baba-studio.livejournal.com]

She was incredibly clumsy (to the point where it seemed impossible) but also oddly touching - I think in some way Peake must have been projecting some family characteristics. I wonder if he was like the (older) Lord Groan himself?

I have adored Mervyn Peake for years. Have you ever read the one (heavens, can't remember the name) about the man who turns into an angel? It's an incredible story - in fact I must read it again if I can track down a copy of the book.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

This is my first time reading anything by Mervyn Peake. I'd like to check out more of his stuff, though.

[xypharan.livejournal.com]

Were you wearing panties? I've noticed that lots of girls use the term "naked" when in fact, they still have panties on.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Nominally. It was a thong.