"a very nice fictional young man"

[eldritchhobbit]

The Independent just interviewed A Series of Unfortunate Events author Lemony Snicket. When asked what he thought of Harry Potter, he replied:

Harry Potter seems like a very nice young fictional man. If I were in the habit of befriending fictional people, I'd be happy to make his acquaintance, but the trouble with fictional friendships is that you tend to find yourself sitting in a café talking excitedly to an empty chair. After several hours, the staff will probably force you to leave, even if there are still uneaten madeleines sitting on your plate, all ready to be covered in strawberry jam. Normally, if you were being treated unfairly, you could count on a friend to help you, but a fictional friend - even one with fictional magic powers - will probably just stand there with a confused and fictional look on his or her face.

Definitely quote of the day material, I thought.

I keep trying to conjure a convincingly calm and non-fictional look for my own face, but somehow I don't think it's working.

Comments

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

ROTFL! That is great. I can't wait to see the movie tomorrow.

[estellye.livejournal.com]

To which I can only respond...LOL!

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

I have actually requested the first few lemony snicket books as xmas presents - have been wanting to read them ever since ppl started saying they were 'nasty children's books'. it's like they want to make me read them more. :)

even tho I've never read them, I think of the lemony snicket books as the bohemian, sarcastic group in the corner of a smoky pub, while the HPs are the nice kids having milk and cookies on someone's porch...

[estellye.livejournal.com]

Fungus_files said: "I think of the lemony snicket books as the bohemian, sarcastic group in the corner of a smoky pub, while the HPs are the nice kids having milk and cookies on someone's porch..."

This is such a wonderfully visual description. I shall be quoting you!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I can't wait, either. It should be great! :) You'll probably see it before I do - it may be late weekend for me - I hope you enjoy it!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Isn't it funny? :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Exactly - its perfect reverse psychology! :)

even tho I've never read them, I think of the lemony snicket books as the bohemian, sarcastic group in the corner of a smoky pub, while the HPs are the nice kids having milk and cookies on someone's porch...

LOL! That totally reminds me of the French nihilist kid in the South Park movie who was always dragging on his cigarette... I don't know about that, but I do know they were very wise to avoid a direct movie competition by spacing them out as they have. If a smackdown had come to pass, it couldn't have been pretty from either direction!

All I kept thinking as I read was that, unbeknownst to me, I suppose I've spent a good portion of my life talking excitedly to an empty chair. :)

[kangeiko]

I keep trying to conjure a convincingly calm and non-fictional look for my own face, but somehow I don't think it's working.

*tilts head to one side*

Well... if you sorta squint...

Also - Lemony Snicket? Still not seen it. My eeevil flatmate told me to meet her at the cinema for we were to see it, and then she shoved me inside and all of a sudden we were watching Blade Trinity. I was conned, damnit, conned!

[sneezythesquid.livejournal.com]

I know that's how I've spent most of my life. At least you're getting paid to do some of it now. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

*tilts head to one side*

Well... if you sorta squint...

LOL! :)

I was conned, damnit, conned!

Well, at least you were shoved into a sci-fi/fantasy film, and not, you know, Christmas with the Kranks. (Not that there's anything wrong with that! *wink*) I haven't seen A Series of Unfortunate Events yet, either, but I definitely plan to within the next few days. If I don't get conned by anyone, that is!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! Some of my best conversations have been those kind! :)

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

thanks, estellye. : )

it may be a completely misguided conceptualisation of them as haven't read any lemony snickets yet, but we shall see... I'm rather keen to see the flick as the set design looks gorgeous.

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

and what articulate, animated, thoughtful conversations that chair would've been privy to! :)

have you seen team america, A? have read mixed reviews. and must admit that I have to be in the right kinda mood to respond to messrs parker and stone.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You're much too kind! :) Really, the empty chair is looking longingly at passersby and trying vainly to shriek "Shoot me now, people! She's the thing that wouldn't shut up!" LOL!

I really enjoyed Team America, though I'm a fan of South Park as subversive political satire anyway. I didn't like the film quite as much as South Park movie, but it really was on point in many ways. My favorite song from the film starts like this:

"I miss you more than Michael Bay missed the mark
When he made Pearl Harbor
I miss you more than that movie missed the point
And that's an awful lot, girl
And now, now you've gone away
And all I'm trying to say
Is Pearl Harbor sucked and I miss you..."

The rock sections bashed the left, the country/western sections bashed the right, and all the while a lot of good genre cliches were sent up in style. I can't ask much more from my mean humor. :)

Lemony

[(Anonymous)]

I love the Lemony Snickett books. I collected them all when they first came out. His voice is so unique and funny ... way, way, WAY too good to leave to just the kiddies. For some time, I was convinced (and am still not enitirely unconvinced) that Lemony was Dean Koontz writing under a pen name. The books have the same sort of lovely sarcasm and sublime wit as his "Santa's Evil Twin" book of a couple of years back. You should check out Koontz's new one, A -- called "Life is Good" and Dean is the editor. It's actually written by Trixie Koontz, his dog. Some of the dog zen observations are a scream. You'd love it.

Dodger

Re: Lemony

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a hoot - thanks so much for the recommendation! :) I agree with you about the Series voice being much too good to leave to the kiddies, as well.