All About Books discussion

Our 'spooky' readalong for October. When will you start?
And if anyone else would like to join: you're more than welcome to!

trovato il libro, ci sono anch'io!!!

My thoughts exactly! LOL.

OOps I've written in italian!!!!
Got the book! I'm in

Hooray!

LauraT wrote: "trovato il libro, ci sono anch'io!!!"

My Italian is rubbish but was that something along the lines of I've found the book?

I have the book already from the library, so I may start soon, unless I can renew it for a few more weeks.

I might start a bit early as well Shirley as none of other books I was intending to read have arrived at the library yet, and I think I'll finish Middlemarch within the next few days.

Well, I shall read it after I've finished Water for Elephants. Looking forward to it!

I won't be able of starting it before next week! Don't spoiler!!! ;)

You know me: I am the master of the spoiler-tool! ;)

Jenny wrote: "You know me: I am the master of the spoiler-tool!"

:)

Anyone else started this? I'm 32 pages in...

I wanted to but then realized that my Kobo-file for it won't open, so I've started The House on the Strand instead. How are you liking it so far? I will try to catch up with you soon!

It's a little strange, I'm not sure what's going on yet, but it's intriguing...

I'm liking it up to now - almost a third. It is REALLY strange, as Shirley was saying you don't understand where it's going to!!!

I'll be starting it soon, haven't got hold of a copy yet. I love how bizarre it sounds!

Finished this in my lunch hour today. Creepy.

I have some suspicions on who actually poisoned the family, but I'll have to see ...

Were your suspicions right Laura?

Finished it just now and thought it was WEIRD with many capital letters, yet very good, and cleverly constructed too. Just the right amount of keeping you guessing and feeding you information to save you from getting lost entirely or loosing patience. Still not sure if I completely get the psychology of it, especially the transformed behaviour of the rest of the village though I have a theory or two. But what I really want to know is: WHY??? It'll probably keep me awake (great thing though, to force the reader to kind of write the prequel to the book themselves?

Yap. But it was quite easy, wasn't it?
And yes, also in my opinion the main issue id WHY?
Why did it all start? and WHY didn't they do domething to alter the situation? Or Do it now ...

I think Merricat just decided one day, on a whim, to (view spoiler)[ poison her family (what I'm not sure about is why Constance got the blame - although she was the cook, anyone could have poisoned the sugar, and why not Merricat?) I think they offended her, and whereas a normal child would have a temper tantrum, she decided to kill them. I'm not sure of the medical term to describe Merricat - sociopath? - but she is obviously mentally disturbed. Both Constance and Uncle Julian live with the guilt and shame of the event, and Uncle Charles turning up brings things to a head, and Merricat decides to act. Once the fire is put out, the people turn into a mob and take out all their anger at the house and it's not until afterwards, when they realise the girls have barricaded themselves in, that they are filled with remorse and start leaving gifts, as they realise it is their fault that the girls will never leave the house. (hide spoiler)]

I love the chilling, creepy feeling you get, and to me it doesn't matter that (view spoiler)[ you guess it was Merricat all along - (hide spoiler)]in fact, it makes it more chilling. I wonder if this has been made into a film?

It would be interesting to see how they rend the "creepy feeling" you get all along

My copy just arrived today so I'll be starting it soon...really looking forward to reading it.

Shirley wrote: "I think Merricat just decided one day, on a whim, to [spoilers removed]

I love the chilling, creepy feeling you get, and to me it doesn't matter that [spoilers removed]in fact, it makes it more ch..."

My interpretation is very similar to yours Shirley, the only difference is that (view spoiler)[ besides the possibilitly of the neighbors feeling guilty, what also came to my mind was that people often have a little hunger for scandal and the pleasant chill it gives some people to hear about the drama in other peoples lifes, and to have a favorite object of despise and mockery. Sometimes a whole community defines itself over what they regard as 'the outsider' and there's some satisfaction in that almost. To me it felt like though some of them might in fact have felt guilty, others just felt submitted to boredom and bereft of their favorite topic of speculation and their object of hate, since after the latest scandal of the two sisters turning their house into a fortress there was no more fuel for speculation. (hide spoiler)]

I have ordered a copy. I hope it arrives soon so I can enjoy it over the weekend

Jenny wrote: "Shirley wrote: "I think Merricat just decided one day, on a whim, to [spoilers removed]

I love the chilling, creepy feeling you get, and to me it doesn't matter that [spoilers removed]in fact, it ..."

Yes, I do see what you mean, Jenny. I think there were those who were disappointed, because (view spoiler)[ they had now lost that bit of gossip and intrigue, now that there was no longer any contact with the sisters. But those that left the food parcels were the ones who continued to feel guilty, and yet they were also ashamed to be seen to offer charity, afraid of what others would think. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

Heather wrote: "I have ordered a copy. I hope it arrives soon so I can enjoy it over the weekend"

Really hope you enjoy it, Heather!

I just finished it, and as everyone else so far has said, I found it quite creepy - it's left me feeling quite strange and I think it'll be on my mind for a while. I think Jackson has crafted an exceptionally clever story, especially after reading the Afterword. I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy reading it (view spoiler)[after I realised Merricat had killed her family about a third of the way through (hide spoiler)] but I did, and I quite liked Merricat's bizarre narrative.

I know it's been awhile since everyone has read and discussed this book, but I just finished it yesterday. It was creepy, and I liked it. Does anyone know how old Merricat is supposed to be? I had a hard time with her character just because I was confused about her age. She was often called a child, but I don't think she's so young. (I just looked it up on Wikipedia, and it says she is 18. That clears some things up for me!)

I forgot to read the introduction by Jonathan Lethem last night. I usually save intros until after I've read a book, because I often find spoilers and I generally get more from it when I know what it's discussing.

(view spoiler)[I'm in agreement with everyone here, WHY was the family poisoned? If Merricat really is eighteen, then she would have been twelve when she committed the act. There was that one passage, Merricat's delusion, where the family is discussing how well-behaved and precious she is and how she would never be sent to bed without supper. So let's say that the poisoning was an act of revenge, but she loves Constance so she spares her. But the poisoning seemed to have ruined Constances's life, as the fire did just when Constance was considering the possibility that she could leave the house. It is obvious that she loves her sister, but she also seems to be keeping Constance as her prisoner. I did really like Merricat, despite everything. I hated Charles, and I loved Jonas. And the villagers were awful, but it turns out that they were right to be hateful towards Merricat. (hide spoiler)]

I really liked the book but I'm left with many questions! I will probably read The Haunting of Hill House next October.

It's funny, kristi because I only got to the book today. My copy took ages to arrive and then I had other things I was reading.

I really enjoyed this book. It was wonderfully bizarre, creepy and sinister. I have a few thoughts in addition to the ones already listed. (view spoiler)[ I also realised that Merricat was the poisoner about half way through the book. I wonder if Constance took the blame to protect her? I think she certainly seems sociopathic and it may not have been much that causes her to commit the crime. She is very impulsive throughout the book and deals with Charles in a strange way.

I wondered if Merricat started the fire to get rid if Charles? It certainly wasn't stated that this definitely happened but it would fit with her impulsively poisoning the family. Because of his pipe, Charles was an easy target. Ultimately Merricat got what she wanted; a place isolated from the rest of the world with just Constance and Jonas.

I think the villagers were guilty. There was clearly a mob mentality the night if the fire but afterwards they felt the need to make a small gesture if apology. Although anonymous, I can imagine it being discussed at church and hints made over who was giving the most. As they no longer saw Merricat they needed something to talk about. I can imagine an almost haunted house feel with kids daring each other to go near. Meanwhile the two inhabitants get a little bit madder each day... (hide spoiler)]

Overall this was a gripping, entertaining and quick read with lots to think about. A 5* read for me and one I would definitely recommend.

I've just finished reading this today. I enjoyed the story and agree with most of the comments above by everyone. Kristi, unfortunately I read the introduction to my edition first and it actually told me who done it! I can't believe that it contained such a spoiler and I am fed up of books doing this, I just don't understand why they do it. I'm making a rule never to read introductions again until I'm finished, grrr.

I'd also like to read The Haunting of Hill House, though it might have to wait until next Halloween for me too.

This book just showed up today as the Audible Daily Deal for only $2.95!
http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-T...

Wow, thanks for letting us know Kirsten!! I'll buy it as soon as I get home!

I'm envious. May have to buy it on Kindle, as I'm loving The Haunting of Hill House so! :D

Greg and Jean, I found this one enjoyable too and very similar in style to haunting of hill house. Just noticed I read it at the same time last year, I think Shirley Jackson is turning into my Halloween read.

That's a great tradition, but I'm not sure I can wait that long! Something tells me the next one is going to be around New Years Eve ...

Have to admit that I've already reserved The Lottery at the library, but that will probably be it until next year.

The Lottery is a really short little story Pink, I read it in one sitting. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it when you get to it.

That's why I reserved it Jenny, short enough to squeeze in with my other reads. I'll post my thoughts somewhere once I've read it.

Jenny and Pink, we read "The Lottery" in school in 6th or 7th grade I think (about 11-12 years old). We also watched a film short adaption in that class. Don't know if that was normal for the US curriculum or just that teacher. She was a bit rogue, especially for the area I lived in - hugely creative, a great teacher. She used it to introduce a free-wheeling discussion about cultural norms, whether or not they're fixed or changing, the possibly arbitrary nature of cultural customs and mores, etc. I remember feeling so excited by the discussion that I felt like the top of my head blew off, despite the fact that at that age I was too shy to participate. Sometimes I think of that teacher and hope she never got fired.

Anyway, "The Lottery" is a fascinating story. I'd love to hear your thoughts too when you're ready Pink and Jenny. I believe Shirley Jackson was inundated with death threats after publishing it. Really struck a nerve in the culture at large. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/bo...

Yet another I'm price-watching on Kindle...

Your teacher sounds truly inspirational Greg :) It's a shame you can't tell her. It's absolutely fantastic to hear these things from the "other side".

That's a good thought Jean! :) Now I have a happy, fulfilled life rich with friends and love, but those people who went out of their way to be kind to me back in my hugely chaotic younger years will always be special. When I have an opportunity to show that sort of kindness nowadays, I often think of those people and their impact on me, and it guides my behavior. A bit cheesy to say I know, but it's true. I wonder if I could get a letter to her through the school. Can't hurt to try!

Definitely DO, Greg! I can't stress that enough!

I'm in touch with nearly 50 of my ex-pupils through Facebook, and the messages I've had have moved me so much, and almost brought me to tears sometimes. You really do never know how much influence you can have on the people you come into contact with in your life. It is wonderful :)

And if you do manage to make contact I for one would love to have a sort of update ...