ask-arthur-parnassus

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

If there was a movie made about your life who do you think should play you? And who should play Linus?

Good Gracious.

I have been putting off answering this question because I, quite genuinely, don't know how!

When participating in the pastime of "fan-casting", I tend to consider looks and temperament. When it comes to looks, I nominate Caleb Hearon. Easily. Unfortunately, I think I may be romanticizing the age-specific features of my dear husband there. And he is not British.

Alternatively when we consider temperament, I have seen David Tennant and Michael Sheen tossed out a bit (I assume you are looking for this answer considering your username) and I have to be honest, I cannot imagine David Tennant as blonde. Also, I find myself hesitating to mention these actors considering my personal feelings around a certain author they are associated with, whether or not this is a fair hesitation.

So please let me know how you would cast me and Linus! I recognize it's difficult for me to find an answer from where I'm standing, as I can only see myself as me.

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

Oh my goodness!!! 🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛

Mr. Parnassus lives in my head rent free at this point.

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

😊😊😊

this man is hilarious i rarely had so much fun reading a book

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

How are you and the children doing?

Thank you dearly for asking!

I don't check the computer very often, but when I open it to asks like this, I can't help but smile.

We are all doing as well as we can be. Some days are better than others, of course, but I would say on average our days have more ups than downs. When I was a much younger man I proclaimed that I would never be a father. I couldn't see myself ever having enough bandwidth to parent, and I considered myself too broken to impart anything positive on a child. As the years passed and I grew and healed, my icy feelings towards children thawed. I don't know if you know this but before living on the island I worked at a primary school in the city for some time, and seeing how intelligent, inquisitive, and tenacious our young can be was an inspiration and a half! These children Linus and I have, they make me grateful every single day that my mindset was untethered.

My writer extraordinaire, Sal, flourishes with each passing day. The worlds he holds in his mind... I know only a fraction of what he sees is translated onto the page, but it's enough to blow us away. He has gotten very into children's fantasy as of late, and has been reading to the girls at bedtime. He recently showed me a short play he wrote, about a strained relationship between a child and their parents. It had a tragic ending, and I cried. His future is so bright.

Talia has started down the path of mad scientist. She is mildly obsessed with cross-pollination, and believes she can Frankenstein together different flora to create... something. At first her goal was to create the tastiest fruit out there, but then she was trying to create the LEAST tasty fruit, and then I think she got fed up with Lucy's 'fruit' jokes and moved on to vegetables, and then she learned that vegetable is a culinary distinction and as far as gardening goes doesn't actually mean anything... so I'm not sure what she's doing in those flower beds. It's sure to be devious, though. I can count on Talia to be devious.

Linus, my wonderful Linus. Where to start?

Love is... unlike anything else. Love is him bringing me a mug of Earl Grey in the morning because he's an earlier riser than I am. Love is him covering my eyes during the suspenseful parts of horror movies. Love is a kiss on the temple during the hard days, a reminder that this argument or this struggle is temporary. Every day, I wake up and I thank the universe for sending me Linus. I have had loneliness and I have had companionship and I much prefer companionship. I much prefer Linus.

So in short, and without wanting to risk 'jinxing it', things are going quite well.

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

Hey Arthur, you seem to be a sock connoisseur. Any particular favourite designs for socks you got or would love to have?🧦

I DO fancy myself a sock connoisseur!

A mystical author has been sending me socks from overseas once a month for several months now... they are so comfortable! And the designs... absolutely gorgeous. They are awe inspiring.

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

Oh my goodness gracious save me from this desolate hell

Surely the four slices of cheese pizza I had in town today will have no negative effect on my lactose intolerant body.

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

Surely the four slices of cheese pizza I had in town today will have no negative effect on my lactose intolerant body.

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

Caliope knocked over a vase of Talia’s fresh spring tulips today, and proceeded to play with the petals, and it was a mark of her growth (no pun intended) that she didn’t trap the poor cat in a tree like last time but instead went to sit in her room to “cool off” for a half hour. When she came back she said that although Caliope’s behavior was unacceptable, she was willing to forgive her.

Needless to say, my heart was bursting with pride while Linus gently told off the purring creature. As our family grows, it evolves. With every bright moment in our home, a piece of the child phoenix I once was heals.

🧡 Arthur

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

Words I have been told (by Linus, the Children, and Zoe) that I overuse:

- An incredibly non-exhaustive list -

Delightful

Lovely

Gratuitous

Spectacular

Truly

Wonderful

Pleased

Serendipitous

It is not lost on me that all of these words are positive in nature. I would argue that this is inherently a good thing. I hope you all find yourself using positive words over and over again until your husband and adopted children are begging you to expand your horizons.

🧡 Arthur

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

One of the best moments, truly. 💙

“You silly, delightful man. There is nothing to be sorry for. You fought for us.” - Arthur, THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA by TJ Klune

Here is my contribution to Our Favorite Scene Zine latest edition, which compiled over 20 artists’ interpretations of the reunion scene from THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA. This book was my first inroad to TJ’s staggering body of work, and remains one of my comfort books at times when my faith in humanity is challenged, or when parenting two smarty-pants gets particularly hard. 😅 From the outset, I wanted to focus on the kids’ reactions to Arthur and Linus’s reunion, because love is something that children inherit from their grownups, and that joy multiplies as they grow up in safe and accepting spaces. I hope you like how it came out. 💕

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

Delightful response!

🫵👋

- @ask-arthur-parnassus

[ask-arthur-parnassus]

He does, I’ve seen it.

this is how I picture linus baker writing his reports btw