Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Were these photos taken OF Lewis Carroll or BY LC? Howso disturbing?
  

    
Mary - Excellent! We need to find a way to meet all as a group! How is
Thursday for people?

Dodge, they were photos taken BY LC. There were only 50 or 60 photos
on display of he had taken around 3,500 of them... mostly of little
girls dressed up in various costumes... some of them a bit
provocatively.
  

    
erm, make that "on display, BUT he had taken"
I know you would have figured it out, but I hate typos
  

    
Glen: New Zeeeealand!  Hope it's utterly fabulous.  I thought it was
magical and gorgeous when I went at 14.  Will you see both islands?  Of
course, if I went now, I'd wanna do the LOTR pilgrimage sites.

Neil: Best wishes for a speedy, successful trial.  And... "Banksie"???

Mousey, et. al.: Those LC photos do sound disturbing.  I've always
found the rumors of his alleged fascination with the original "Alice"
scary.  I wonder what the public reaction in SF to the exhibit is?
  

    
Because I loved his writing. I always tried very very hard to ignore
the tales of how he came to write the Alice stories. The friendship
with the two little girls of an unrelated single male teacher in a
boy's school who loves children. I've tried to maintain in my head that
those were more innocent times and it's perfectly possible for the
sitch to be totally innocent. I've worked, through the years, on never
reading an actual biography on Lewis Carroll. For fear I might read
between the lines as I did a Benjamin Franklin biography that
maintained that BF, while traveling around Europe and not seeing his
wife at all the last X numbers of YEARS (like more than a decade) and
being friends with all the flirtatious females of various courts, never
once strayed at all. And the child he put through school who was the
daughter of one such female friend of long standing was not his. He was
just helping out. Yes. Indeed. Totally innocent. Sigh. I fear I live
in times where we know that people have been people for centuries. It's
hard to maintain the delusion. 
  

    

Dodge - I'm with you re Ben Franklin...until the DNA evidence proves
otherwise, as in the case of Thomas Jefferson.  *evil grin*  

I enjoyed reading Lewis Carroll before the curtain was drawn aside on
his personal life and I honestly can't say that the unsavory
revelations have diminished or affected my love of his work.  Not being
a huge fan of biographies, I can see where it might not be a bad thing
to miss out on the dark side of certain authors whose work one
admires. But just as readers aren't required to investigate the
background or history of writers, they also shouldn't feel guilty about
having enjoyed some individual’s work after a horrific revelation
about that person.  

Mind you, this is not to say that you’re not appalled when you read or
hear about these things, but as you said, people have been people for
centuries with all the good, bad and ugly our history implies.
  

    
The new Miyazaki film "Spirited Away" (aka Sen to Chihiro) makes me 12
kinds of happy! I'm all squeeeeeeeee-y. Saw it Saturday. Have now
(against my better judgement 'casue, dude, rent, ya know?) ordered the
subtitled DVD, soundtrack, and next payday, getting a stuffed pink
mouse named Boh that is so cute, y'all will die. DIE, I tell you. he's
pear-shaped, 8 inches tall, and I want to hug him and love him and call
him George.

Dan: Thursday is fine by the me part of the people! Drop me email?
Also, where in Chicago are you, exactly?
  

    
This is the reason I often don't like meeting my fave tv and movie
stars. I remember back in my Star Trek days meeting some of them and
often it was a let down. With the main exception of Mark Lenard
(Sarek). The man was warm and pleasant and sexy sexy. I was standing
there with a camera in hand and he came and shook my hand and I was so
stunned by his charm I forgot to take a picture. Sigh.
  

    
"Spirited Away" is wonderful.  I had the opportunity to see it in Japanese
with English subtitles at the SF Film Festival a few months ago.
  

    
Comics Buyer's Guide is apparently covering the trial.  Newsarama link
is here:

http://161.58.84.234/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000202


Credit where it's due goes to Ninave on the newsgroup, who posted the
link.
  

    
In an odd bit of synchrnicity, I sent to see some colleagues do a
staged reading of a new play called "Alice Underground", which does a
bit of exploring of the relationship between Lewis Carroll and Alice
Liddell... it makes a point of the photos, actually. Having seen some
of the photos in question only 24 hours earlier, it was particularly
unsettling to see the actor playing Carroll squirm on the witness stand
before a court of his own characters.

According to the authors' research, there's evidence that Carroll
asked Alice's parents for permission to marry her when she came of age,
and was refused because of his lack of social standing. It seems the
age of consent at that time was ... 12.

On other stuff... I'm hoping to see Spirited Away this weekend.

Also, The Fear Project, featuring my new short play Pinch opens this
Thursday. I am equal parts excited and terrified.
  

    
Stagewalker--break a pen (well....what does one say to the writer?) 
Thursday would be less good for me, but can be arranged with enough
forewarning.  Yay!

I love that Tara makes Steinbeck references  ;-)

Pamela--thanks for the link! 

Oh, and that should have been "How the Marquis Got His Coat BACK" in
my last post.  I, too, hate typos.
  

    
Well, I'm almost home, (staying with the boi's sister in GA.) the car
blew a radator (sp?) hose but duct tape rules and fixed it until we
could get here. It was a lovely, wonderful, fun vacation and all is
well.

"Jinx is more Neil Gaiman than Neil Gaiman!"

:blinks a few times:
Ummmmmm,....no,.....I'm just more Neil Gaiman then someone who made a
test thinks :eg:

I'm sleepy and whatnot,....

Jinxie who's going back in a year
  

    
Dodge - I met Leonard Nimoy earlier this year. Actually, I'm pretty
damned impressed by him. He's what seventy-something? And he just took
up photography seriously and is doing a good job of it. He's not
exactly the most chatty person out there, but he was quite pleasant to
talk to - then again, the boy had a story to share with him, so that
probably helped...

Ooh, there's a cute ratty on Buffy right now!

squeaks, can't talk, watching Buffy...
  

    
Squeaks- I actually thought of you when I saw that cute Ratty on
Buffy:) Good episode. 

re Louis Carrol- I hadn't read that he was going to marry her...I
wouldn't doubt it though. I remember reading something about his diary.
It was a few years ago so I don't remember all the details, but there
were pages missing. Pages that no one has found... I find that highly
interesting. There's something about famous geniuses and young
girls..like a theme. There's Edgar Allen Poe and Virginia Clemm. He
seemed to really love her..but..eeeewww. I'm so glad that women have a
say in things now (in some countries at least) We can stop men from
doing silly things like defiling young girls and fucking goats in the
street. Weee. I love LC's work and I always will. It's hard not to
think of the real Alice, though. Human curiosity and all that. It's
said that when she became a woman, she severed all ties with him.

***
Leonard Nemoy sounds so cool. I've met three famous people (besides
Neil). I talked to Rob Zombie on the phone when he was on Pirate Radio.
This was before he was really famous, but I admired him. I was 14 and
didn't know what the hell to say. So I asked him if his hair was real.
Then I was like, "doh!" But he was really, really nice and he said
that, yes, his hair was real and then started asking ME questions.
There was Mark Lanegan from Screaming Trees. He was nice also. It was
a pretty quick conversation. 
Then Kevin from Prick. I met him in a bar here in Cleveland. He was
very, very sweet and talkative. We were both pretty drunk. We had a
pretty long and fun conversation though. He told me that I have David
Bowie eyes. I dont know what that means, but I took it as a compliment.

So I've had good luck with celebrities so far, I guess. 

eeek. I'm rambling. There was a reason I came here and now I forget.
Oh well. this is long enough anyway. 

Danw- break things:)

Neil- I hope the trial is going well. From what I've read, it seems
that it is. *keeps fingers crossed*
  

    
Erynn.
David Bowie has two differently colored eyes - it's what makes him
look so odd. Back before I was told that, I couldn't figure out what
gave him that wierdness look in Labyrinth - I'd never been a fan of his
music before that. Do you have?

I never met Leonard Nimoy though I've seen him speak from a distance.
I met George Takei. A Hoot. The guy who played Checkov on Star Trek who
later played a Psi Cop on Babylon 5 whose name escapes me - has the
worst hairpiece I've ever seen. He is so SHORT. And I think what did
not impress me with him is the fact that for him, it's just a JOB. He
finds fans so boring. I also had to deal with Majel Barrett. SHUDDER. I
try to not say really bad things about people I've met but she is case
in point on the not wanting illusions destroyed. I also, though, met
Grace Lee Whitney, Janice Rand in the Star Trek series and she was a
real joy. Love that actress. Met James Doohan. He got very drunk and
made a pass at my 15 year old stepdaughter. Met William Shatner. Ick.
I've never made much of an effort since my Star Trek fandome days to
meet my fave celebrities. 

I must admit though, having read the postings with Neil here and over
in the ones I go to for Terry Pratchett. I long to meet both of my fave
authors. They're so nice it seems. If they ever come down anywhere
within driving distance of me, I'll go. If I ever have the money to go
to where they are signing books, I'll go. Neither happens very often.
Sigh.
  

    
Jinxie: So happy you had a loverly time, automotive mishaps
notwithstanding.  Where did you go?

Erynn: The fact that Alice severed all ties with LC when she was old
enough to choose leads me to believe the worst.

This subject always makes me think of Gene Wolfe's short story--I
think it's called "A Solar Labyrinth" (from Storeys from the Old
Hotel)--which he seems to think that few people "get," but which
creeped me out so badly that I had to stop reading the book for a
while.

I've met quite a few celebrities, living and working in L.A.  It seems
to me that the circumstances dictate about half the nature of the
meeting, and the choices of the people involved make up the other half.
 The same person who might be utterly charming at a signing may not be
nearly so pleased to be accosted while dining out for their
anniversary dinner (observed with Nicholas Cage).  Not that anyone here
would do that.  But anyone who's tired, bored or just "overdone" will
have bad moments.  And I don't recommend meeting nearly anyone
"Hollywood" while actually *working* in Hollywood.  There's something
about the whole dysfunctional, enabling nature of the beast that brings
out the worst in people.  On the other hand... celebrities I've met
who were just lovely, in varied circumstances: Neil, Orson Scott Card,
Robert Jordan, Dustin Hoffman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Pierce Brosnan, Johnny
Rutherford, and the entire crew of the space shuttle Endeavor.  (The
list of people who behaved badly shall remain unposted.)

Biggest regret for "almost-seen" celebrity: Michael Baryshnikov.  He
was doing a show while I was working at Wolf Trap Opera House in D.C.
one summer, and *everyone* else got to see him walk around the hallways
in dancewear but me.  *sigh*
  

    
Squeaks - also thought of your furry little friends while watching
Buffy. Unfortunately I have this sneaking suspicion that it may have
wound up in Spikey's stomach. My condolences.

Pamela - back in 1991 or so my entire mother, father, and both older
brothers went out to L.A. for a museum induction or something for my
granfather (he used to race cars in the 50's) Being the youngest they
stick me at home only to come back with photos of them smiling and
laughing with Nic Cage, Charlie Sheen, and Jay Leno who were attending.


First time I thought seriously about running away from home.

Neil - best wishes on the trial. Having witnessed drawn out court
proceedings before, I'm glad you're at least finding this one
interesting. :)

Dodge - what is it with Star Trek actors and bad toupes? 

I've met Majel Roddenberry a few times in L.A. She's been very nice
although a little on the flakey side. Never did get to  meet any of my
favorite Next Generation actors but maybe in the future. :)
  

    
re <1551>

Dan, 

For many moons I wanted to open my own book shop as well. After having
worked for a large independent in HS and college, I went on to manage
a small used shop for a friend while teaching community college English
after grad school. It was a wonderful experience, but it really clued
me into the economies of scale that are at work in the independent book
business. I concluded that initially I would need a lot of money I
could afford to lose in order to make a proper go of it. Just recently
I've become friends with a guy out in Fairfax CA who opened up a small
new/used shop three years ago that includes a cafe. He told me that
he's managing to make a little bit of money now. I believe Gary
originally had a partner, but no longer. Anyway, the name of the shop
is BookBeat and it's on Bolinas Rd. in Fairfax. Its story gives me
hope. 

I like the idea of a comics shop too and agree that opening a coffee
house might be an easier go in that you can distinguish your product
(brew really good coffee!) to a greater extent initially. 


And now for something completely different. I just finished Neverwhere
and am curious as to whether or not we might see a second novel with
the central characters of Door, Richard, and the marquis?
  

    
oops, my post was initially in response to <1521> not 1551!
  

    
Pammy went to the House of Mouse, had a lovely time and should be
scanning pics tomarrow. It was lovely.

Barrett, I've managed a large comic shop and it takes just as much
money if not more to run it as a used bookstore or an indie bookstore.
Th problem with having food there is product damage.

Jinx who just found out her almost nephew is a budding comic geek! :)
  

    
Tracey, I believe my initial post agrees with you. 
  

    
Erynn - yeah, the play posited that the pages that were missing were
about him asking for permission to court and being brutally shot down
by her parents, and then told to get lost. No one really knows, of
course.

Dodge - your Trek experiences made me chuckle. An ex-gf of mine grew
up in the area that Shatner has bought property, and apparently
everyone who lives in that area hates him. Just goes to show that being
famous doesn't equal being greatly loved.

and I would highly recommend making the drive next time Neil is in
town. He's as nice in person has he is online.
Well, except for that time he beat me with a large sturgeon.
... or was that in a dream?

Pamela - It's so hard to know how much was authorial license, and how
much was taken from her resource material, but there was a letter that
Alice wrote to her husband, saying that "that odd Mr. Carroll was about
the other day. He really is such an odd little man"... the way it was
expressed throughout the play, Alice thought that Carroll lost interest
in her when she grew up because she never knew about the proposal he
had made to her parents, and his subsequent banishment from her home.
Again, it may have all been authorial license... but I thought it was
an interesting take on it.

Thanks for the desires to break things. I pretty much wanted to after
the first Dress-Full Tech rehearsal on Tuesday. Fortunately last
night's Final Dress rehearsal was about 80% suck-free! I figure we can
work the bits that still suck an hour or two before the show and then
we can do this bit of weirdness without embarrassing ourselves.

I'm working on a Pinch website, so interested parties will be able to
see pics, read the script, and lots of little extras about what it all
means. Those of you who read an early draft will find lots of changes
(things added, things abandoned, things clarified) in the final
product.
  

    <scribbled by dfowlkes Tue 3 Jul 12 10:14>
  

    
Dodge- Nope. Both eyes are blue. That's why the comment confused me. I
think he meant well.

I got Tori tickets this morning. Yay! 
Also ordered the limited edition cd from cdnow. Yay! Yay!

Got a depressing rejection letter from a magazine i admire and had
high hopes for. Boo!

(the just day can't be perfect, can it?)

Danguy slipped- Yeah. *wonders how everything is going*