Dreaming after Midnight (#4) Shadow

Shadow (from  Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley)

“ I like that about art, that what you see is sometimesmore about who you are
than what’s on the wall. I look at this painting and think about how
everyone has some secret inside, something sleeping like that yellow bird.”

[separator]

What do we know about Shadow?

His real name is Ed and he is what I would call a night-artist, the one that leaves his marks on the walls and makes you wonder what’s his story.

Pros:

#1: He can see the world in a better light and he shows it to us through his paintings:
[cite]“ I was nothing inside but light and color.”
“I spray the sky fast. Eyes ahead and behind.
Looking for cops. Looking for anyone I don’t want to be here.
Paint sails and the things that kick in my head scream from can to brick.
See this, see this.
See me emptied onto a wall.”
[/cite]
#2: For him, art is a state of mind:
[cite]“Her words are paintings, and I’m painting them on the wall in my head as she talks”[/cite]
#3: He has messy hair, but who doesn’t these days in YA stories?
[cite]“I liked that he had hair that was growing without a plan. A grin that came out of nowhere and left the same way.”[/cite]
#4: He makes girls dream about him:

  • as Shadow:

[cite]”I imagine what shadow looks like: paint spattered clothes, a face that’s got a million ideas running underneath it” [about Shadow][/cite]

  • as Ed:

[cite]”Every time he looked at me I felt like I’d touched my tongue to the tip of a battery.[…]
I had nothing in common with a sheddy like him, but a girl doesn’t think straight when she’s that close to electrocution.”[about Ed][/cite]
#5: He’s so cute when he’s in love:
[cite]“She’s still smiling like she’s thinking something you want to hear”[/cite]
#6: Now seriously, wouldn’t you want to see him driving a pink love van?
[cite]”Tell me this isn’t the getaway van.”
“Don’t worry. It’s better than it looks.”
“It looks like a pink van with Free Love written on the side in huge letters”
[/cite]

[spacer]

Cons:#1:He has some troubles with written words, that’s why he chooses to speak through his art.
[cite]“ Art like that doesn’t need words”[/cite]
#2: He is known for ruining big time the first date with the girl he loves, but we can definitely give him a second chance, right?
[cite]”You say pretty much whatever’s in your head, don’t?
It’s better than saying nothing, which is what you said on our date.”[/cite]
[cite]“ You grabbed my arse. [Lucy]
You broke my nose. [Ed]”[/cite]

[separator]

So, why Joseph Gordon-Levitt?

  • I like his goofy attitude
  • He has that troubled kind of look
  • He reminds me of Heath Ledger who would have been my first Shadow boyfriend choice.

See all my Book Boyfriends here!
Happy midnight dreams, girls!

20 thoughts on “Dreaming after Midnight (#4) Shadow”

  1. Oh shadow/Ed is so lovely, this is one of my favourite books mainly because of him.
    Those quotes are making me remember how much i love Ed, i may need to do a re-read!

    Reply
    • I liked him too.
      These days I look with different eyes at the graffiti-walls, trying to find some hidden messages, but I usually end up by sadly realizing that they are only scribbles, and the people that did those drawings are not Shadow, LOL

      Reply
  2. I love the way you’ve listed the pros and cons. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Graffiti Moon, I can’t wait to read it. JGL seems like the perfect pick for Shadow, he’s so adorable!

    Reply
    • Thank you, I’m glad you like the pro/cons thingy – it’s my way of bringing something new to my book boyfriends.
      As for Graffiti Moon, it’s a lovely read, I’m sure you’re gonna like it as well 🙂

      Reply
    • I like Joseph too and I think he fits the character.
      When you decide to read Graffiti Moon let me know, I am looking forward to seeing what you think of it 😉

      Reply
  3. I’m a huge fangirl of Joseph Gordon-Levitt! I just watched 50/50 and I swooned and cried the whole time. He’s a great choice for Shadow. I have this book sitting on my shelves at home, I just need to get to it.

    Love the way you set up your MBB post! Thanks.

    Reply
    • I still have to see 50/50 because I still don’t feel like wanting to cry and I’m sure it will make me, but I liked Joseph in some other movies. As for Graffiti Moon – it’s not really the story that will get to your heart (which is sweet and cute nevertheless) but the writing which I loved to pieces. I really hope that you’ll like it too 🙂

      Reply
  4. WOW! I love JGL…he is so cute! I haven’t even heard of this book, but I’m pretty much about to go download it immediately…Thanks for the post! I love it!

    Reply
    • The book is amazing, or so I think – I loved it a lot, it’s one of the best reads in 2011. I hope you’ll enjoy it as well.
      Happy reading and let me know how you like it! 😉

      Reply
  5. This post is amazing.
    And yes!
    I love Shadow so much.. I love this quote:
    “I liked that he had hair that was growing without a plan. A grin that came out of nowhere and left the same way.”
    You’ve made me want to reread this book again and have another crazy adventure 🙂

    Reply
    • I love the writing and I have so many favorite quotes that I can’t decide to only one.
      I loved how Ed described his artwork (as well as Lucy) – they were both really passionate and talented and sometime I felt like I could really see their work.
      Every time I pass a glass shop or a graffiti wall I think about them. This is the beauty of this book.. it stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it.

      Reply
  6. This post is fabulous!! I absolutely love it!! I love how you have pro’s and con’s as well 🙂 Very unique. The actor is just far too cute for words though, lol 🙂

    My Book Boyfriend was a little late being posted, so if you have time check mine out 🙂

    Reply
    • I don’t think so.. I looked on his IMDB page and nope, that movie is not there. He played with Ledger in “10 things I hate about you”, but he was such a kid back then. The last movies I’ve seen with him were “Inception” and “(500) Days of Summer”. Only in pictures he resembles Ledger though.

      And BTW, I loved Ed too ;))

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Discover more from Reading After Midnight

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading