Just wanted to know if anyone has read the book 'Charlotte Sometimes', by Penelope Farmer. This book was the inspiration for The Cure's song Charlotte Sometimes.
This is probably in my top three songs by The Cure.
The book is essentially for younger readers, but explores the life of a young mentally disturbed girl.
For those wanting to know more.. it is available through Amazon, and around the world.. if you can find it.. or in second-hand bookstores.
I would love to hear other's reviews on this topic!
Thanks for the tip, I'll look for it. Charlotte Sometimes is also one of my favorites...
I remember someone telling me years ago that the song was about a child of Robert's who had died just a few weeks after she was born... Wonder where they came up with that??
I read 'Charlotte Sometimes' a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. You're right Scatcat, it is for younger readers, but I still loved it and found it a great escape from boring train rides to and from work.
From memory, it's about a young girl who spends her first night at boarding school and wakes up the next morning as someone else and transported back to World War II. It then covers her trying to get back to modern times and her own life. It's a lovely fantasy. (Gee, Robiola I'd never heard that theory about the song before...wow)
I absolutely adore the song too (was actually listening to the version on Paris this morning) and think it captures the spirit of the book perfectly - beautiful and dreamy. I also think The Empty World, from The Top, contains references to the book as well (I seem to remember the line, "stiff as toys and tall as men" was a quote from the book?)
And having said that, I'm off to find my copy of the book to see if I've remembered it all correctly! :smth001
I think charlotte sometimes must be my favorite cure song but its too hard to choose!
I read this book many many many years ago (well maybe not that long ago im only 17!) but i read it in primary school in about year 5 i think.
But i really enjoyed it - its about charlotte who goes to boarding school and each night swaps between her own life and that of Clare who lived a long time before, i can't exactly remember how long now, and they write letters to each other and eventually charlotte gets stuck in the past which is about the time of world war 1 and then she has to get back.
Its quite good but i like the song better even though i read the book first.
I should read it again but im already reading about 5 books at the moment!
Quote from: robiola on November 12, 2007, 20:02:22
I remember someone telling me years ago that the song was about a child of Robert's who had died just a few weeks after she was born... Wonder where they came up with that??
this rumour ? About a baby thatRobert and Mary had, died .. surfaced again after the release of 'A boy I never Knew' was played in Mexico.. I would like to get to the truth.. scatcat the ultraslueth!! . will seek out information! :smth023
But many interviews point to 'Charlotte Sometimes' book as being the inspiration for the song... hence the (some might say appalling video) in an apparent mental assylum.
If I uncover anymore facts, I will post here.. ;)
~edit~.. Mary was working as a kind of social worker, at the time, with mentally 'disturbed' patients, and intellectually challenged children.
Quote from: scatcat on November 13, 2007, 13:45:53
But many interviews point to 'Charlotte Sometimes' book as being the inspiration for the song... hence the (some might say appalling video) in an apparent mental assylum.
If I uncover anymore facts, I will post here.. ;)
I for one would
certainly say it was appalling... Yech. But I'm not doubting that your explanation is the right one, the "dead baby" rumor always sounded a bit fishy to me...
Quote from: robiola on November 12, 2007, 20:02:22
Thanks for the tip, I'll look for it. Charlotte Sometimes is also one of my favorites...
I remember someone telling me years ago that the song was about a child of Robert's who had died just a few weeks after she was born... Wonder where they came up with that??
Oh God, it's terrible!!! :( I've never heard about this...I hope they're just rumors...
The plot of the book is very interesting, I'd like to read it! :smth001
Anyway I think the video of this song (one of my favourites, as for you) is inspirated to the novel...
Hello everyone. I just found this interesting link. It's Penelope Farmer's blog of when she met Robert Smith.
http://grannyp.blogspot.com/2007/06/cured-climaxed.html
Take care. :smth001
Quote from: LuvURobert on November 13, 2007, 18:32:51
Hello everyone. I just found this interesting link. It's Penelope Farmer's blog of when she met Robert Smith.
http://grannyp.blogspot.com/2007/06/cured-climaxed.html
Take care. :smth001
Well, that takes care of the speculation, doesn't it... Thank you!
And Lady, I hope you mean the
song is one of your favorites and not the
video, because as Scatcat was saying, the video is terminally bad... At least I think so!
Quote from: robiola on November 13, 2007, 18:49:55
Well, that takes care of the speculation, doesn't it... Thank you!
And Lady, I hope you mean the song is one of your favorites and not the video, because as Scatcat was saying, the video is terminally bad... At least I think so!
Of course, I was talking about the SONG...but I don't completely agree with you and scatcat about the video...I like it, I've always appreciated every cure's videos, 'cos I find them very original! ;)
QuoteWell, that takes care of the speculation, doesn't it... Thank you!
You're welcome! ;)
p.s. I also love the song, hate the video.
Quote from: Lady on November 13, 2007, 18:55:15
Of course, I was talking about the SONG...but I don't completely agree with you and scatcat about the video...I like it, I've always appreciated every cure's videos, 'cos I find them very original! ;)
I like most of The Cure's videos, but I was so looking forward to seeing this one precisely because I love the song so much, and the first time I did see it (years and years ago) I remember being really disappointed. Just one tiny disappointment against all the wonderful things The Cure have made me feel -- I can take it. :-D
Quote from: LuvURobert on November 13, 2007, 18:32:51
Hello everyone. I just found this interesting link. It's Penelope Farmer's blog of when she met Robert Smith.
http://grannyp.blogspot.com/2007/06/cured-climaxed.html
Take care. :smth001
thanks LuvU..!! excellent research. :smth023 VERY interesting I may say. :rocker
I read 'Charlotte Sometimes'.
It is not a book I would normally choose to read.
But from the start it was intriguing, not to mention that one of my earliest recollections of the Cure 'brainwashing' from adults came from this idea from a book.
I could not put the book down, until i had completely finished.
It is a great read. Not heavy, not literary challenging, just a story about a girl, in an institute, lost in time.
I totally recommend it.
For all ages.
:smth023
Quote from: mirai sometimes on March 05, 2008, 17:10:31
having read the book gives you a much great appreciation for the song. even though it is a book for children, it still has a charm to captivate adults.
penelope's blog entry is amazing.
I totally agree!
Even though i am 13 years old, my interest is way above children's books.. I mean harry potter is just a bore :roll:
I am into Homer, Dumas, Tolkien (all his books), and I am currently reading Gorillas In The Mist, by Dian Fossey. ( the movie was inspirational. ) :smth023
this books is sooooo amazin
so easy to read
so soft
it's perfect
yes, a beautifully written book: impossible to put down until the end...
and always wanting more from Penelope Farmer..
:smth023 the song, the book, resonates .... 'Charlotte Sometimes' is my most favourite song.. and I adore the book. I love to read it over and over again!
:smth020
I agree with you, it's an amazing book.
Got it a few weeks ago (from amazon, there are still some copies left, if you're serching for somewhere to buy it). As some of you said, I couldn't put it down until the very end!
It is supposed to be a book for children, but I think the ideas it suggests are incredible. Although it is not a masterpiece of the genre, since while reading somehow I felt that something was missing (but goes very close to that point, imho), there are so many incredible points that allow you to think on what makes an identity, on a mind alienated from its usual environment and how differently it can develop in such strage situation...and that's only one of the themes you can find in that book.
I felt that Robert was terribly inspirated by this book, and it seems true, as Penelope Farmer states in her blog, in the link LuvU has posted in this thread.
And, yes, there's a line that states: "stiff as toys but tall as men", and it is a description of a nightmare Charlotte had, or maybe that has not been a nightmare, who knows...
Have you read the book Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer?
I have. It is pretty and sad. I love it.It made me cry :smth049
:smth061
Quote from: nadia-domingos on March 31, 2009, 17:58:14
Have you read the book Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer?
I have. It is pretty and sad. I love it.It made me cry :smth049
:smth061
there's a thread for the book here, have a look:
http://curefans.com/index.php/topic,4284.0.html
*edit: topics merged.
Just stumbled upon this topic! I have a copy and read it every now and then... (in between looking for new books to buy!!) The first time I read it I was immediately struck with the similarities to the song, some of the lyrics are taken right outta the book... and the video is very appropriate. I was interested to read someones take on the book as Charlotte being mentally disturbed (?) I forget whom said that - but I had never thought about it that way. Interesting. :smth023
the book's amazin =)
Quote from: ~*CherryRed*~ on April 23, 2009, 07:05:30
Just stumbled upon this topic! I have a copy and read it every now and then... (in between looking for new books to buy!!) The first time I read it I was immediately struck with the similarities to the song, some of the lyrics are taken right outta the book... and the video is very appropriate. I was interested to read someones take on the book as Charlotte being mentally disturbed (?) I forget whom said that - but I had never thought about it that way. Interesting. :smth023
hey there Cherry.. I think on the 'blurb.. or introduction somewhere I read this. I may have mentioned it, although upon reading this book, it is apparent that the main character is not 'mentally disturbed' , although it is still questionable and it is up there for discussion ( being a fictional book ) , I came to the conclusion through the book, which, although it seems quite simple reading, found this book quite multidimensional, leaving open to interpretation, about the main characters and their personal journeys.. ( I don't want to give too much away, or influence potential readers out there!!)
:smth023
I heard there was a video for this song (although some say it isnt good) I have not seen it and have looked on Youtube for it but found nothing. Can anyone help me find the video for this amazing Cure song? :smth100 I also look forward to reading this book. :-D
Quote from: skellington on February 11, 2010, 03:54:04
I heard there was a video for this song (although some say it isnt good) I have not seen it and have looked on Youtube for it but found nothing.
I was surprised to read that you didn't find the video in YouTube, but it's true, they took it away :?
Anyway, hopefully there's dailymotion :P
The Cure - Charlotte SometimesTry our new player (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x25rq3)
wow thanks for the link. :-D I actually liked the video. Although I think the Cure should have had a bigger role instead of standing there like stalkers. It was very artistic. Thank you so much! :smth023
I just borrowed the book from my library. Plan to start reading it over the long weekend! :-D