1. Chapter 6 begins with Richard chanting the mantra, “I want to go home”. How do you feel about Richard and his reactions at this point to the unexpected adventure he finds himself on?
I feel sorry for him. He’s been thrust into a very dangerous situation without knowing anything about it and just because he wanted to help Door. He’s lost his whole life because of that act of kindness.
But then at the Ordeal of the Key it seems that his meeting with Door and all the rest are “meant to be”; that fate or a higher power has arranged the whole thing. Unfortunately, I don’t really care for that type of story.
2. The Marquis de Carabas was even more mysterious and cagey during the first part of this week’s reading. What were your reactions to him/thoughts about him as you followed his activities?
He clearly had his own agenda. The world of London Below isn’t a happy place so it felt to me that the Marquis’ plotting has to be something sinister. And then Door’s father calls him a monster and in Door’s memories we see the Marquis doing something which I interpreted as slavery or perhaps pimping.
3. How did you feel about the Ordeal of the Key?
I didn’t remember it from my previous reading so it was a surprise. I didn’t know what to expect. It seems very fitting and fairy tale like, especially when combined with the previous tasks, of fighting skill and wit. The Ordeal itself is also fitting for Richard who is being torn between Above and Below, and is constantly pointing out that people and events around him can’t exist even though they do. It’s also easy to see how Richard could fail the test by relying on “common sense” that London Below doesn’t really exist but it’s instead insane hallucinations. Unfortunately, the Ordeal is also very convenient test for him. So it’s great that it ends with Richard finding the bead and is starting to really believe in the Below and the people in it.
4. This section of the book is filled with moments. Small, sometimes quite significant, moments that pass within a few pages but stick with you. What are one or two of these that you haven’t discussed yet that stood out to you, or that you particularly enjoyed.
Near the start of this section in the British Museum Door explains to Richard that the people in London Above simply don’t see the people in the London Below. Yet, Richard was able to see Door before he became one of the people from Below.
The discussion between the Marquis, Croup, and Vandemar when we realize that the Marquis isn’t going to betray Door.
Oh, and the monster in the Gap was great!
May 29, 2012 at 3:32 pm
The whole mind-the-gap part was awesome. It made me wonder if something similar would happen in the DC metro.
May 30, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Probably
May 29, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Hmmm…I’ve never seen a “meant to be” aspect of the story, certainly not a higher power one.
I think the Ordeal is a situation that is tailor made for each individual who goes into it, drawing from something personal and deep within them. So it would have been different had it been Door or Hunter. For Richard it keys in so closely with what he is currently going through, this idea that perhaps he is actually going mad. Love that the bead is the final thing that helps him make a decision and reject the urge to end it all.
May 30, 2012 at 6:06 pm
“So it would have been different had it been Door or Hunter.”
Yes, I agree. It seems that the friars have awesome magic to arrange it. Or maybe it’s the Key that arranges the trial? Is it mentioned somewhere?
May 29, 2012 at 7:38 pm
OH! I’d forgotten about that creeping monster in the gap! That was totally cool! And I loved how Hunter just nonchalantly yanked Richard back from the gap and the clutches of the monster! Glad you mentioned this … it was such a short scene!
May 30, 2012 at 6:11 pm
I really enjoy the small moments where Hunter is being awesome.
May 30, 2012 at 2:33 am
It is interesting that Abovers don’t see Door and Richard unless they force an interaction. Yet Richard saw Door – perhaps because no one in his posh life really saw him (not Jess or his coworker friend and his family is dead).
May 30, 2012 at 10:57 am
I certainly think there is an argument to be made that Richard was slowly falling through the cracks in his own life which is why he saw Door. There is also an indication from the prologue and from other parts of the book that Richard sees and cares about the homeless. He gives his umbrella away to the lady in the prologue, gives a coin to the beggar on the way to the restaurant.
May 30, 2012 at 6:10 pm
“Richard was slowly falling through the cracks in his own life which is why he saw Door”
I didn’t think of that. I agree that Richard cares about the homeless from the start. So instead of this being a “meant-to-be” story, the story happens because of these two factors. Thanks!
May 30, 2012 at 5:54 pm
I didn’t think of that. It’s a good point.
May 31, 2012 at 1:09 am
I hadn’t noticed the correlation between Richard’s tendency to insist that ______ doesn’t exist and the Ordeal. It was a very fitting ordeal for him, then!