The Gothic Novel Book Club <Hiatus> discussion

This is where we will discuss Shadow of the Wind!

Happy Reading!

Got my copy in the mail today!!

Just got my copy today, too.

I have to track down my copy. It's either on the bookshelf, in a chest in my living room, in a stack on the floor under my desk, in a box in the garage.....etc, etc LOL!

LOL...I hear you Michelle. I've got books stacked everywhere.

Oh, the troubles of the book lover. :)

Well, turns out I already had a copy and didn't need to buy it. Darn it all. I'm willing to send it to the first taker if anyone is interested. It's a trade paperback.

Su wrote: "Well, turns out I already had a copy and didn't need to buy it. Darn it all. I'm willing to send it to the first taker if anyone is interested. It's a trade paperback."

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have done that more than once.

I'm still so disorganized from my recent move (okay a year ago :) ) I used to have my TBR pile and my already read shelves neatly separated...now everything is hopelessly mingled. I guess that means I just had too many books waiting to be read.

Oh and, of course, I didn't save the receipt which is why I'm offereing the book to the first taker.

Did you buy it in a store or online? Maybe they would let you return it for a store credit?

I bought it in the store but the receipt is long gone.

I always take mine to my local buy, sell, trade store when I can't get the store to credit me back the money. I lose my receipts all the time.

I'm trying to finish up another book but am planning on starting this one on the first, even if I'm not finished with the one I'm working on.

Su wrote: "I bought it in the store but the receipt is long gone."

I'm usually pretty vigilant about saving receipts, but they are in the same state as my books - all over the house, in piles and envelopes, I mean everywhere lol!!!!

LOL, Michelle, well, at least you save them. I should remember to just stick them right in the book. Trinity, can I ask what you're reading? After all the talk, I decided to picck up Bellman & Black again. I'm on page 74 and really like it this time. I think the trick is, you just can't read it right after The 13th Tale and expect the same type of book.

Su wrote: "LOL, Michelle, well, at least you save them. I should remember to just stick them right in the book. Trinity, can I ask what you're reading? After all the talk, I decided to picck up Bellman & Blac..."

I am reading The Blade Itself. My second love is fantasy and it is really good. For some reason I keep coming across books that switch POV and I usually don't like them but this one is good. I also enjoyed The Winter People, so I am learning they aren't all bad :)

I've got a fantasy novel coming up on my tbr pile too. Hounded ....he's a new to me author that I found online. As for multiple POVs, I like them...I like to read 'em and write 'em. But of course it has to be done welll to work.

Fantasy was all I used to read many years ago, and sometimes I get the urge again, I just don't want to commit to some gargantuan series with 10 or 15 books of 1000 pages each. Are there any good stand-alones in the genre? Does fantasy have any of the Gothic characteristics? - it seems to be a common interest here.

Most High-Fantasy is centered around political intrigue. As far as a dire and creepy atmosphere The Blade Itself fits the bill, but when I think Gothic, I think wicked suspense. Something creepy that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I asked in a discussion what others thought and it seems "the creepy factor" is what we all tend to be drawn to. Urban-Fantasy might be more up this groups alley. I'm not sure. That's why I like allowing nominations for BOTM. I want your input on what we choose.

As for stand alone Fantasy, I just don't think they exist. However, Dragon Bones would be a quicker read and I believe there are only two.

Also, Robin Hobb writes trilogies... all in the same world but it's better than 15... That's usually what you find, authors of Trilogies or epicly long series.

Joe Abercrombie
Anthony Ryan

Thanks Trinity for the ideas, and that's a good term - "epicly long series"!!

I know what you mean about the series Michelle...I'm in the middle of Game of Thrones, A Feast of Crows. Some series, like this one, are just too good to pass up.

For gothic fantasy try Mervin Peake - Titus Groan and Gormenghast. No High-Fantasy trappings or anything you'd expect from most books in the fantasy section but it is set in a very imagined world. Is all about the characters and the setting (a creepy sprawling castle) and is very gothic and descriptive.

It was intended to be a longer series following the life of the central character, Titus Groan, but the author died during the writing of book three (which was published posthumously). However Titus Groan and Gormenghast fit together as a single narrative and since book three starts a new section of the protagonists life, the pair work well as a 'stand alone' without it feeling unfinished.

So, I've just really delved into the novel but it has me wondering, what book started your love of reading?

For me it was The Bean Trees. Odd for someone with a love of fantasy and Gothic lit, I know but this was the first novel that made me realize I LOVED to read and it was assigned to me by my high school Women in Lit teacher. I had always read before but for some reason this book made me feel, made me want, moved me in a way I just can't explain.

This is a tough question because I can't remember ever not reading. I think I was born with a book in my hand, my first job was even at a library at 15. I think maybe the first book that made me want to actually be that character was Harriet the Spy, the one that intriqued me the most was probably And Then There Were None, and the one that sparked my imagination was The Hobbit ...oh, and of course, it was Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt that introduced me to the gothic world.

OK, I have to say this... While I am loving the story I am finding the writing quite pedantic. Is anyone else feeling this way?

Are you talking about Shadown of the Wind, Trinity? I havven't started it yet.

I am. I don't want to turn you off to reading it but it's one of those things that begins to grate on my nerves after a while.

OK, just going to be completely honest. I did not like this book at all. So sorry. We won't all agree on every novel and that's cool. I just wanted to be honest.

That's a bummer. So far I'm only about 60 pages in, so I can't say anything yet.

And I only just started...page 7. Maybe I'm way off but so far it has a Harry Potter feel...I'm sure that won't last, like I said, I'm only on page 7. Sorry you didn't like it Trinity. You've got me curious though because I really like the opening.

We all have different tastes so please don't take my word for it. Keep going.

Nancy wrote: "started re reading Shadow of the Wind. so far i am loving the lyrical style of writting.."

Me too Nancy, especially the wry humor of Daniel and Fermin Romero de Torres.

How is everyone feeling about The Shadow of the Wind?

I thought the second half was stronger than the first and it was interesting that the story became more alive when it switched narrator from Daniel to Nuria even though the stories strongest character, Fermin, was absent from that part.

Hmm, I haven't met Nuria yet. My reading has really stalled as I am on vacation for a week, and have been sight-seeing.

Gills wrote: "I thought the second half was stronger than the first and it was interesting that the story became more alive when it switched narrator from Daniel to Nuria even though the stories strongest charac..."

Fermin was the only reason I read as much as I did.

I'm still reading and enjoying. It is a slower read or maybe it's just that I don't have as much reading time lately. I haven't gotten to the narrator switch yet so I'm really behind.