#blue castle

[blekitnyzamek]

I like to think about myself as a really kind person. But right now I only want to laugh. (And cry)

Let me present to you ✨THE BLUE CASTLE: Graphic Novel - Volume I✨

This cover is just screming to me. To look away from it. But I just can't. Sometimes I'm alured by this kind of shit. I need to dig deeper. Come with me on this spectacular journey.

We''ll see about that. This rich imagery and cinematic depth.

Why...?

I will not copy-paste whole creator's note, it's all in the free sample. But let me show you this pitch video:

Why^2??

Now i should feel sad that I bully 65yo woman on the internet... But no. It's still AI crap. Born though hundreds of wasted litres of water and thousands of robbed artists. And as someone who had his academic dive into narration of shoujo manga: illustrations don't do the trick of their own. There is also panelling. Consistency. Some emotional flow unable to achive by collaging random slop in Canva.

Even Maud was AI-ed...

Maud is redhead, Ewan is senior, even when he was only 4 years older than Maud, they all live on Green Gables... Strong start with cradted with intention illustrations.

Splendid idea with Anne and Valancy living back-to-back.

That's exactly how writing in journal works.

I- I...

At least in this version we have a year??? Hooray????

NO I DON'T WANT TO BE A CREEP. And this dog, I can'ttttt

I love this vision that after whole read someone would like to put some notes at the end of the volume.

Now I need some antidote. Please, @bluecastlecomic, come back to us, we need you more than ever <333

[smallerplaces]

"She knew the ugliness of that room by heart—knew it and hated it."

Valancy's room is such a compendium of obsolete Victorian trends, banished upstairs to a space nobody cared about.

Top left: The very engraving of Queen Louise of Prussia! As a beautiful 17-year-old, Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz enchanted the future King Frederick William III of Prussia. By all accounts, Louise was a paradigm of feminine virtues, while also serving as her husband's chief political advisor.

Top right: A sample of yellow floor paint, used to cover and seal pine floors. Linseed oil and ochre paint formed a durable, washable finish. Softwood floors upstairs are not a surprise for a respectable but not wealthy family like Valancy's.

Bottom: 1875 "Moy" burgundy wallpaper; Victorian shell box; Victorian beaded pincushion. Many of us today would probably find these quaint and charming, but from about 1910 into the mid-1970s, they would have been seen as intensely outdated and shoddy.

Here, for contrast, is a light, cheerful, up-to-date 1920s bedroom, courtesy of Armstrong Linoleum. I've seen similar looks promoted as early as 1906.

And here...

an old chromo of a puppy sitting on a rainy doorstep. That picture always made Valancy unhappy. That forlorn little dog crouched on the doorstep in the driving rain! Why didn’t some one open the door and let him in?

...is a probable inspiration for that chromo, since this painting was widely reproduced. Note the title, as it's on-theme for Valancy.

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, There's No Place Like Home, 1842.

Blue Castle, chapter 1

[allfortheloveofabook]

I'm reading from the Blue Castle manuscript, and I really enjoy how LMM has Valancy start to name her relatives in a more casual way; "Cousin G" (or "Uncle B" earlier in Chapter 8)

It's a shame it got changed, it feels like another tiny rebellion on her part

[bluecastlecomic]

Previous |

So we've come to the end of what I've decided is Part 2! I'll be taking a couple months to build up a buffer of pages going into Part 3, especially because since starting this project, a lot of my circumstances have changed - mainly that I'm working full time again and I don't have as much time to dedicate to this project as I used to have. That said - this puts us past the halfway point of this project!

Regardless, I'll be back as soon as I can be. I want to finish this project before moving onto new projects, so don't worry, this won't be left unfinished!

To everyone who's commented/liked/reblogged: thank you so so much! It's really really helpful and encouraging to see people respond positively to this project, especially on days when I'm particularly frustrated.

Go to Start | Start Part 2

[specificpollsaboutbooks]

Famous Authors, Lesser Known Works

Semifinal

The Blue Castle (L.M. Montgomery) VS Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams)

The Blue Castle

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

Show results

Voting ended onJan 31, 2025

Lucy Maud Montgomery is better known for Anne of Green Gables

Douglas Adams is better known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

"Apparently, this book was revised from an unused Doctor Who story, and once I learned that, I couldn't unsee it. The Hitchhiker's Guide series might be funnier, but I think this book and it's sequel are cleverer. They almost have to be, considering the theme of the interconnectedness of all things! Also, the book is nothing like the recent TV series "adaptation.""

[kehlana-wolhamonao3]

Polish cover of Blue Castle - I love that the artist clearly read the book!

[alwayschasingrainbows]

Valancy Stirling is the most relatable of L.M. Montgomery's heroines, I think.

Not many people can have Emily's talent, Pat's sensitivity, Anne's charm, Rilla's courage or Kilmeny's beauty.

But many people, just as Valancy:

have insecurities,

go through a time when they feel unloved and unwanted,

are afraid to offend someone,

find it difficult to voice their opinions,

rely on their sense of humour to survive,

have their own "blue castle",

hope for a "dustpile of their own".

Valancy is just a girl. A woman with insecurities, hopes and dreams.

She teaches us that there is a courage in each one of us, even though sometimes we cannot find it.

She teaches us it is possible to find friendship, love and happiness in every situation.

She shows us that something seemingly destroyed might yet blossom - just like her rosebush did - and turn out to be exquisite.

[klcthebookworm]

January - The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

My first running across a mention of this novel was in Code: Safe Word a Megamind fanfic by setepenre_set. I was intrigued enough by the quotes and the connected characterization to put it on my "read that someday" list. After all, I had been gifted most of the Anne of Green Gables series (a few books were skipped in the box set) and I would reread some of them quite often. I was gifted a copy for Christmas by a Canadian friend (thank you @jedidryad), and stuck it in the "to be read" pile for an entire year.

Less said about my lack of reading during 2024 the better. I finally cracked the "to be read" pile. Now, I didn't make a good choice over not stopping the reading while in bed waiting to get sleepy, but the book was excellent. I can see why it is a beloved story and Valancy finding her inner strength and happiness is inspiring. But woof, her family of origin are horrible, small-minded narcissists! And it was a bit hard since I'm currently dealing with my own family issues. However, the skewering Montgomery gave these character through Valancy was enjoyable and cathartic. I also found it amusing that the year date could not be uttered in the narrator's voice to keep the book from being dated and we have the fashion and certain background women labeled as "flappers," which sorry does date it.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to rereading it when my personal family drama is more calm.