Friends of Snuggly Books discussion

Four Windows. Four minds riding through derangement and beyond as clouds gather over the city of London. Four music students working hard to analyze a unique and extraordinary musical composition. From ‘The Night of the Electric Insects’ through the ‘Songs of Bones and Flutes’ to ‘God Music’ and the return trip, George Crumb’s ‘Black Angels’—noble; wicked; madness; ethereality. Listen and the sky turns yellow and lightning flickers like burning alcohol in the distance.

It's time to tackle Snuggly Slim no. 1, David Rix's musically-themed novella. Don't forget to keep the George Crumb musical accompaniment playing as you read...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5a2R...

This book is available on Amazon as paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/Suite-Four-Win...

But also as an e-book:

https://www.amazon.com/Suite-Four-Win...

This book is kind of like an avant-garde British version of The Breakfast Club. The first time I read it I was blazing weed and watching The Breakfast Club and got to the scene where the characters blaze (although they act more like they're on uppers), then I read this book and the characters blaze in this too. And seem trapped with each other. Characters sketched sharply and abruptly with no excess weight, almost skeletal or rawboned somehow like the music, always 'on edge'

I was rather driving blind with the 'high' final scenes of the story, not having much experience. But essentially it was the music that was the main catalyst here rather than the weed, which is in itself surreal. That's why I dared go down the bad trip road.

And one question. Who has listened to any other of George Crumb's pieces? To me, Black Angels is a bit of an odd one out in his works, being so exceptionally harsh and even creepy (though as I said in the story, that is partially dependent on the listener!). It is at the back of my mind to reference another of his works in a piece one day, but that would probably end up very different due to the different atmosphere of much of his music.

I knew nothing about George Crumb before your story introduced me to him. I really liked Black Angels and think your story highlights one of the most salient points about it, namely the ambiguity it engenders within the listener. It also brings up for me the idea of whether or not a (predominately) instrumental piece can suggest a certain morality--I put this down to the limit of music as sound: it can stir us, sure but it is always us grafting our own morality and emotions onto (or entwining them?) with a piece. Thanks David.

I also wanted to say that I will listen to more Crumb and am both happy and disappointed that Black Angels is something rather unique to his corpus.

Nancy, if you read this please post your well written review here. I think some might have missed it.

The question of music conveying morality is an interesting one and I think you are right that there is a limit on how directly you can convey such things when working with sound alone. But maybe that itself is what makes it so powerful. I like that undefined meshing with my mind and feelings! It seems more powerful and accessible than spelling things out in a factual philosophical statement, especially if it gets tied into specific belief systems.

I have been thinking similar thoughts about fiction writing, actually. Of course, fiction can convey ideas very directly, but it also seems capable of a much more nuanced and ambiguous approach allowing that same personal interpretation and connection. The trouble I have with directly expressing ideas is that literally any idea is contradicted and rendered farcical the moment I try and define it - there are instantly opposing thoughts, complexities, a universal grey blur. Fiction on the other hand, can explore the feelings that come to one in a given moment and under the given circumstances. One thread among an infinite number of threads, but one we can hopefully all draw on if we wish. To me, that's one power of fiction right there!

David wrote: "And one question. Who has listened to any other of George Crumb's pieces? To me, Black Angels is a bit of an odd one out in his works, being so exceptionally harsh and even creepy..."

I've listened to George Crumb's music and I agree with you on what you wrote about Black Angels. It is indeed a bit creepy and harsh. It's something different.

We'll be wrapping up our discussion of this book soon and moving onto others, so if anyone has anything else to say about it, speak now or forever hold your peace!