The Isola Bisentina on lago di Bolsena is my version of this- there’s even a dining room cut into a cliff Bond villain style and 12 chapels. Utterly magical. Until 20 years ago it was owned by the mystically named Don Giovanni del Drago who was even better than his name.
Have you read any of Mircea Eliade's and Ioan Culianu's novels? Some of them give the same feeling of 'enchantment and a curse' that you describe; some even have buildings that disappear in the morning, never to be found again, together with their inhabitants. Lovely work.
Thanks for the tip on the silent L – nice to know English isn't the only one. Hard to believe folks would walk around calmly talking with so many Ls without a qualm in the past.
Le Grand Meaulnes also changed my life. Until reading Alain-Fournier's poignant, lyrical novel, I had the feeling most teenagers have at one point or another -- that no one understands or dreams like us. The Lost Domain has never strayed far from my imagination since.
Gormenghast is witty but quite dark and very English. Don't get me wrong: I'm fond of Mervyn Peake's style, but it is quite different from Alain-Fournier's, whose only novel this was (he was killed in WWI) and it feels very much like a first book, full of reckless idealism and romance. Have not read the Golden Compass.
Lovely places, lovely storytelling. I'm blown away and in my vivid imagination I remembered some old movies and comics with similar atmosphere...Dead of Night is one of such movies where reality and illusion are intertwined and the protagonists often don't know what is real. The comic is The Phantom, who was a fictional hero fighting for justice and who was able to use illusions to play tricks on his opponents minds. Oh, and the lake description reminds me of the cartoon Ruben Brandt, Collector from 2018. I highly recommend it.
Dead of Night is a classic -- an anthology horror film with some of England's best actors of the day. The Ventriloquist's Dummy, with Michael Redgrave, is probably both the best-known and most effective of the stories, but all are worth watching. This film clearly influenced Rod Serling, as several concepts from Dead of Night turn up in the Twilight Zone.
Musée océanographique in Monaco (but only when approached from the sea facing front via a tunnel) gives me that feeling of staring at something that messing with my mind. And photos of sculptures or shipwrecks or air crafts resting on the bottom of the sea. I can feel something palpable going on in my brain - the real life surreal. Also google 'torpedownia gdynia'. Approaching anything located at sea by boat, realizing how enormous and terrifying it becomes up close is my idea of daylight nightmare.
I agree about the MOM. The rusticated facade merging with the rock, the frieze inscribed with the names of expedition ships, not people! That place has vibes.
The Isola Bisentina on lago di Bolsena is my version of this- there’s even a dining room cut into a cliff Bond villain style and 12 chapels. Utterly magical. Until 20 years ago it was owned by the mystically named Don Giovanni del Drago who was even better than his name.
Have you read any of Mircea Eliade's and Ioan Culianu's novels? Some of them give the same feeling of 'enchantment and a curse' that you describe; some even have buildings that disappear in the morning, never to be found again, together with their inhabitants. Lovely work.
will do! Any specific recommendations?
Thanks for the tip on the silent L – nice to know English isn't the only one. Hard to believe folks would walk around calmly talking with so many Ls without a qualm in the past.
Absolutely perfect.
Thank you. It owes much to Tania’s edits and suggestions.
Well great job Tania! Really terrific. Who doesn’t love a (possible) ghost story?
You and Tania need to collaborate on a novel or two or more. Full stop!
Le Grand Meaulnes also changed my life. Until reading Alain-Fournier's poignant, lyrical novel, I had the feeling most teenagers have at one point or another -- that no one understands or dreams like us. The Lost Domain has never strayed far from my imagination since.
How do you feel about the Golden Compass series or Gormenghast (sp) ? I mean is Le Grand Meaulnes in the same league, another?
LGM is completely different, short and romantic.
Gormenghast is witty but quite dark and very English. Don't get me wrong: I'm fond of Mervyn Peake's style, but it is quite different from Alain-Fournier's, whose only novel this was (he was killed in WWI) and it feels very much like a first book, full of reckless idealism and romance. Have not read the Golden Compass.
Lovely places, lovely storytelling. I'm blown away and in my vivid imagination I remembered some old movies and comics with similar atmosphere...Dead of Night is one of such movies where reality and illusion are intertwined and the protagonists often don't know what is real. The comic is The Phantom, who was a fictional hero fighting for justice and who was able to use illusions to play tricks on his opponents minds. Oh, and the lake description reminds me of the cartoon Ruben Brandt, Collector from 2018. I highly recommend it.
Ruben Brandt: will watch, thank you!
Dead of Night is a classic -- an anthology horror film with some of England's best actors of the day. The Ventriloquist's Dummy, with Michael Redgrave, is probably both the best-known and most effective of the stories, but all are worth watching. This film clearly influenced Rod Serling, as several concepts from Dead of Night turn up in the Twilight Zone.
Musée océanographique in Monaco (but only when approached from the sea facing front via a tunnel) gives me that feeling of staring at something that messing with my mind. And photos of sculptures or shipwrecks or air crafts resting on the bottom of the sea. I can feel something palpable going on in my brain - the real life surreal. Also google 'torpedownia gdynia'. Approaching anything located at sea by boat, realizing how enormous and terrifying it becomes up close is my idea of daylight nightmare.
I agree about the MOM. The rusticated facade merging with the rock, the frieze inscribed with the names of expedition ships, not people! That place has vibes.
Ooohh Spooky……Love it !
What lovely visions to start my day! Thank you!