The Horse of Flame by Josepha Sherman
Triple
combination that is responsible for killing the demon. I like how the husband and wife must come
together and work together to defeat the demon.
She gets captured but is not the
typical maiden in distress. In fact, her
husband is helped and aided by her. The
minor supporting characters have good detail.
This especially true when the women go to the stop their men from
fighting and Ludmilla’s remarks about
the situation. Noticing how quickly they
rush into the forest. Elena who is more
the dumb simple bimbo that people take her is not as crafty as Ludmilla but is
not dumb.
Many
nice touches in this novel.
12/20/2000
Shadowsteed by Richard A Knaak. (reread)
Characters
and plot seem too stock. Unable to get
close to characters.
12/22/2000
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter (reread)
Description of loose tiger, “It came out of the corridor like orange quicksilver, or a rarer liquid metal, a quickgold. It did not so much run as flow , a questing sluice of brown and yellow, a hot and molten death” (111).
It is
interesting that the most touching scene in the book is he description of the tigress
when Mignon dances with her mate.
The most
interesting part of the novel deals with the question of reality vs.
fantasy. The story of Lizzie and Mr.
Nelson at the beginning of the novel versus the one at the end. Which is the more valid excuse – religion or
political rights? Either would ruin the
mood. But Fevvers wings are the reality, however, her virginity is the
fact. A twist? While the non virgin aspect is really no
surprise. It is slightly more of a surprise
to declare her wings as fake. Fevvers
herself gets caught up with this reality vs fantasy. She loses herself in her fantasy. Was the sword he talisman in reality or just
a story that she herself believed in?
Lizzie is not totally distrustful of Walter because he might take away
Fevvers but because Fevvers might lose herself in marriage.
But
Lizzie herself fi as caricature of an Italian mother. Can see Estelle Getty playing her. But while Lizzie is for woman’s rights, she
still use the transitional female accessory – her handbag. She can’t even excuse anymore because of the
absence of the handbag. Is the bag
Lizzie, or is the bag that powerful a symbol to Lizzie?
But all
the characters are fantasy and reality.
Walter who start out as possibly the only one real characters, turns to
be real only at the end of the book. Mignon
who starts out as a slut is really a
lady. While the princess loses her
ladylike qualities and use some foul langue.
The clown becomes instance well the insane loner becomes a man. The only who does not seem to change perspective
is Col. Kernay. He just seems to become
more manly, gradually. But that was laid
down early in the book. But the pig
changes. She becomes more human while
he, not becoming animal, but somewhat less human. Almost capitalist greed. As if he represents Fevvers’ baser money
grabbing instincts. Fevvers matures to recuse Walkers is the only time that she
acts romantic without measuring or thinking about money. Is it a complete coincidence that the Col.
Leaves around the same time?
The
Strong Man himself changes from beast to man.
The apes automate their human master who degrades himself by drink. Constant use of fantasy and reality. Nothing is truly at it seems.
It is
the Siberia that contains magic. While
the tigers disappear in the wild and mirrors.
For the tigers to be the reflections of the real tigers.
The mirrors perverted them somehow, a shattered reflection of real
tigers. While London and St. Petersburg
are fragmented reflections of real cities.
Theme
comes early one the use of the clock and the reader slowly being to understand
how Lizzie and Fevvers were able to play that trick on Walters.
Performance
vs. realty
Fevvers seem
to only stop performing in the third section of the novel. When the white landscapes takes the ability
from her. The place that people see as
something to be painted takes the paint from her. Stories represent the theme as well. With the freakshow and the hidden life of the
brothel girls. It is hard to get to know
the characters.
Quest
for self.
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