The Gothic Novel Book Club <Hiatus> discussion

Where we will discuss this month's BOTM.

I still haven't got my copy in the mail...

Finally got my copy in the mail!!!!

I was pretty much glued to it until I was finished. Can't wait for you to read it, Trinity.

I could not get into this book and gave up around page 80 (and I never give up on books!). Characters were barely distinguishable from one another and I could not stand the constant repetition of them falling, tripping, hitting branches etc etc. Randomly opened up a page near the end and they were still slipping on wet bark. Moving on to my next book swiftly!

Yes, they did that the whole book, indeed.. lol. You are funny. ..... But.. There was a reason why. So funny though when I think about it. lol.

Gills and Shaina, you are right, and I thought the woods repetition was endless as well! But eventually I thought that yes - that is the author's point. The "torture" of reading those scenes wore me down as it drove home the condition of the characters: the physical discomfort (wet, cold clothes, sore muscles, blisters), the emotional discomfort of being stuck with people you no longer have anything in common with and who are slowing you down, and more than anything the psychic discomfort of being terrified for your life.

I actually liked that element in part 1 more than in part 2 of the novel. Part 2 was filled with it's own types of torture, but the endless scenes of fighting nature and being lost in the woods scared me more. It actually made me a little jumpy around my own house (in the woods) for a little while, and when I would go for walks, I was actively scanning the underbrush like I'd never done before!! lol

Right. There was a point to it. The woods not letting them get anywhere... Clawing at them constantly, sapping their strength, making the injured weaker and harder to deal with in spirit and body. A never ending labyrinth of undergrowth and thorns. The forest not letting them out. Yes. That was the point. It wasn't going to let them out. It was trapping them. It was slowing them down very deliberately and building the dread and the suffocation.
The wounded/ less in shape became weaker and the others resented more and more. I hung in there because I saw. Decisions were coming and no choices were easy.

But gills was still funny.

Oh I love how you described it Michelle. I like your way with words. And omg ever since I read this book I have been so careful of underbrush and things too.

Yeah, I laughed out loud when I read Gills' comment too. Very good point Shaina about the forest having an intelligence and playing an active role in breaking down the characters. Part 1 had the man vs. nature theme, which caused man vs. man and man vs. self conflicts.

I am actually enjoying this one. Very engaging.

Good to hear, Trinity. The feeling of unease stayed with me for a long time after I finished.

Ok, I see the appeal of this one but I have to agree with Gills about the repetition. I feel like it had a "Yellow Wallpaper" intent to it. It was meant to get under your skin. While I didn't walk away with nightmares, I still found it to be creepy and mind-numbing in a good way. However, I was really unimpressed with all characters involved. I am one of those people who wants to connect with some character in some way. I think he tried with Luke but I just found him to be a whiny baby.

I must say, I didn't "connect" with any of them either... Other than the fact that I wanted to get out as badly as they did. Lol. Gills' comment still cracks me up.

Hmm. The more I think of it.. I like that comparison. Of the feeling kinda.. That Yellow Wallpaper feeling.

I love and hate that book. Lol

I gotta check out this Yellow Wallpaper reference, lol...

Oh do let us know once you have !

Yes, please!