Guardian Readalong wrap-up

[trobadora]

We've reached the end of our Guardian novel readalong, extras and all! A million thanks to everyone who participated in the discussions, and especially everyone who made and hosted posts. *twirls you all*

Of course all the previous posts are still open for comments, and you don't have to read the existing comments to jump into the discussion anywhere, at any time. So don't hesitate! But let's take this week to look back at our readalong:

Volume 1
prologue, chapters 1 & 2 | chapters 3 & 4 | chapters 5 & 6 | chapters 7 & 8 | chapters 9 & 10 | chapters 11 & 12 | chapters 13 & 14 | chapters 15 & 16 | chapters 17 & 18 | chapters 19 & 20 | chapters 21 & 22 | chapters 23 & 24 | chapters 25 & 26 | chapters 27 & 28

Volume 2
chapters 1 & 2 | chapters 3 & 4 | chapters 5 & 6 | chapters 7 & 8 | chapters 9 & 10 | chapters 11 & 12 | chapters 13 & 14 | chapters 15 & 16 | chapters 17 & 18 | chapter 19

Volume 3
chapters 1 & 2 | chapters 3 & 4 | chapters 5 & 6 | chapters 7 & 8 | chapters 9 & 10 | chapters 11 & 12 | chapters 13 & 14 | chapters 15 & 16 | chapters 17 & 18 | chapters 19 & 20 | chapters 21 & 22 | chapters 23 & 24 | chapter 25 & epilogue
Extras: Sage 1 & Sage 2 | The Mountain Spirit | Pocket Dimension

Questions:
Was this the first time you read the novel, or a reread? Did you read the official translation, the fan translation, or a Chinese version (which?) - and do you have any thoughts about the differences between versions? What do you like best about priest's writing?

What were your favourite moments or scenes? What are you most confused by? If you could change one thing about the novel or its worldbuilding, what would it be? What stands out as most different from the drama? Do you have different favourite side characters in the novel vs. the drama?

ETA: Which detail surprised you the most (either because you didn't know, or because you had forgotten)?

(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, or to talk about completely different things!)

(Also, sign-ups are open for the drama slo-mo rewatch and for Guardian Wishlist! Come and join the fun!)

Comments

[china_shop]

Oh, and the side character question is interesting because the canons are so wildly different but my favorite side characters are in fact the same - Wang Zheng and GCC. :D

That's so cool! Do you like the same things about them in each canon? :D

[facethestrange]

That's such a fun question, I've never thought about it. :D Yep, it's definitely the same thing about GCC - he's this permanently terrified neurotic cinnamon roll who is trying SO HARD and doing SO WELL, it's wonderful. ♡♡♡

But re: Wang Zheng, I feel like I probably wouldn't have noticed her as much in the novel if it weren't for her drama version, who is just THE CUTEST?? :D ♡ Like, I adore her face and smile and voice and general vibe to pieces, and in the novel it also says that she always looked spaced out, so that was apparently enough to be my fav too. :D (Even though it also says that her hair is black, lol.) That said, I do love novel Wang Zheng's conversation with Zhao Yunlan about both of them having shitty fathers, and the scene at the end where she asks about the mountains, so I would have liked her even without the drama version, but maybe not as a main fav. (And the thing I like less is that she's meaner to Sang Zan than in the drama, at least until the Pocket Dimension extra where their relationship finally feels like its drama version, at least to me. :D That's probably another thing Priest took from the drama - Zhao Yunlan is not the only one who got softer. :))

(This made me finally get a Wang Zheng icon btw. :D :D Though I'll probably end up making one from either the popcorn scene or the 'making fun of CSZ being a fanboy' scene because they're my favorite ones. :D)

[trobadora]

Like, I adore her face and smile and voice and general vibe to pieces

Awww! I really like her too, especially how she's often somewhat offbeat, like when she's defending Lin Jing from ebing fired ... by listing how many times he was late or slacked off at work, LOL! She's a delight.

That's probably another thing Priest took from the drama - Zhao Yunlan is not the only one who got softer. :)

Yeah, I really hope that's what happened!

And more Wang Zheng icons are always of the good. :D

[china_shop]

I really like her too, especially how she's often somewhat offbeat, like when she's defending Lin Jing from ebing fired ... by listing how many times he was late or slacked off at work, LOL!

Ha, yes, she's very good at being sweet and irreverently rude at the same time. :D

[facethestrange]

"Awww! I really like her too, especially how she's often somewhat offbeat, like when she's defending Lin Jing from ebing fired ... by listing how many times he was late or slacked off at work, LOL! She's a delight."

Hee, YES exactly, she has no filter but in such an adorably unique way. :D ♡♡♡

[china_shop]

Yep, it's definitely the same thing about GCC - he's this permanently terrified neurotic cinnamon roll who is trying SO HARD and doing SO WELL, it's wonderful. ♡♡♡

*hearts him so much*

But re: Wang Zheng, I feel like I probably wouldn't have noticed her as much in the novel if it weren't for her drama version, who is just THE CUTEST?? :D ♡

That's so interesting. Funny how one canon informs the other, even when they're so different. :D

(Awww, yay icon!! :D)