Lewis Carroll, James Herriot, A cross-stitches, etc.

[Aberforth's Goat]

> Do we, perhaps have other Lewis Carroll fans in our
> midst?  Although very different from HP, there are
> similarities. Vaguely similar playfulness from the two
> authors.  I'm quite a fan myself.  Dedicated myself to
> memorising Jabberwocky and The Walrus and the
> Carpenter in my teens.

Hmm. I suppose it's about time I gave LC another chance. My parents bought
me a copy of Alice when I was nine or ten - and told me it was a lovely
fantasy story about Kings and Mirrors and Magical Rabbits and Adventure
Galore. I read it - according to that interpretive grid - and thought it was
the dumbest book in history. It's still on my shelf, so maybe it deserves a
second chance ...

[Have you all also ever ruined your enjoyment of a good book by reading it
according to the rules of the wrong genre? (Could it be that we do this with
HP occasionally?) I suppose children are particularly at risk - and
particularly with such tricky books as Alice. (Perhaps the next step in
perverse literary enjoyment  is to *intentionally* read books according to
the wrong set of rules ... )]

At about the same time my mother tried to convince me to read James Harriot,
which she billed as a beautiful book about a wonderful man who loved taking
care of cuddly animals - or somesuch. Since I'd just had my LC experience, I
refused. Fortunately, someone gave me a copy years later, and I discovered
the hilarious James Harriot *I* know and love.

Baaaaaa!

Aberforth's Goat (a.k.a. Mike Gray, who, btw, thought David's post was
hilarious - all the more because it stumped him! - and is afraid his
outburst could be taken as real outrage. Who would also be curious to know
how Sister Mary managed the miracle of decoding it!)
_______________________

"Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that may not have been
bravery...."