Z&R October Book Club discussion

Just started this today...

So, I've just finished this lovely and wonderful book and would like to share a passage that stood out and touched my heart as I read it.
This is when they boys are at the graveyard site in Mexico:

"Oh, strange, funny strange," whispered Tom.
"What?" said Ralph at his elbow.
"Up in Illinois, we've forgotten what it's all about. I mean the dead, up in our town, tonight, heck, they're forgotten. Nobody remembers. Nobody cares. Nobody goes to sit and talk to them. Boy, that's lonely. That's really sad. But here--why, shucks. It's both happy and sad. It's all firecrackers and skeleton toys down here in the plaza and up in that graveyard now are all the Mexican dead folks with the families visiting and flowers and candles and singing and candy... Oh, heck, Ralph."


This is so true and we should really celebrate the lives of the dead and honor them just like in this tale.
Sadness makes you forget the happiness.

I won't read your posts yet, Ziba, as I'm not too far into it yet. My migraine has gone so I can read a bit tonight. I love the writing! I love how dramatic it is:
"And the town was full of...
Boys."

Very poetic language at times too:

"The wind outside nested in each tree, prowled the sidewalks in invisible treads like unseen cats."

It is, isn't it? :) It's poetic and mystic and really cute.
I loved that last line you quoted, too.

Keep reading, hon, it gets better :) I'll hold my comments for when you're done.

Ziba wrote: "So, I've just finished this lovely and wonderful book and would like to share a passage that stood out and touched my heart as I read it.
This is when they boys are at the graveyard site in Mexico:..."

That's a lovely quote! Very thought-provoking indeed!

So, I didn't think it was scary at all, it was very intriguing, magical, educational. Lovely lyrical language.

Yeah, I don't think it was supposed to be scary in that sense, but then again it IS for kids so loosing a friend to mummies and gargoyles is pretty freighting I can imagine :)

It was really poetic and well written, I agree. It's nice with books like this that teaches you the origin of things but in a story telling kind of way :)

The most contemporary comparison would be Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone where they talk about Nicholas Flamel and the elexir of life.

Yeah, poor Pip! Love how Bradbury described him in the beginning. The boy sure was quick!

Haha!! Yeah.. and poor pip. And what a cute character name. I loved when they shouted his name, 'pip'!

Yes! I knew a bit about the origins of Halloween but the way he wrote it made it even more accessible. I've been fascinated by druids since I was a kid and I thought it was cool how he talked about them.

I really love 'educational' books like this you know, they don't make them like this anymore for the young ones :(

I know, right? When I was 5 I started reading Asterix and Tintin books, courtesy of my 18 year old aunt, and although I was slightly young for them they set me on this trajectory I'm on. They had so much educational info.

Oh, yes, I knew too, but I'm sure kids don't. Just like this Moundshound said, "do you know WHY you're dressed up as a mummy or a skeleton on Halloween". I used to hate history as a kid, I mean who didn't, but now I love it and this is a great way of teaching history without it being 'boring'.

lol, I was a weird kid coz I adored history from the start!
Moundshound, that was an awesome name, wasn't it? Thought he was going to be a baddie at first.

I know! I loved those books! I read them too and I think those books are a big part of our generation and us being and having this backpacker/nomad life where we explore and are curious and travel and all that! I'm seriously so glad and grateful to have grown up in the 90's :)

Haha, yeah me too! I was like, "kid's watch out" LOL

Amen to that! And yes, living in countries where we were the minority probably made us want to read more. I know I read lots of history, travel and adventure books when I was a kid. And the 90s were awesome!

Right? I mean, everything was better then, books, games, movies, tv - the whole nine yards! It sometimes freaks me out when I see what they show on TV for kids today. I mean, God bless Barney, right? lol, they don't come in big purple dino costumes anymore haha!

Haha! Our tv shows were the best! Our cartoons were 2D but they were a lot more interesting:)

They sure where :) Ok, so whats next on our reading list? Misery? :))

Sure! I probably won't be able to start reading it until the weekend though, I'm behind on my writing.

No problem, I'm reading Shirley Jackson right now and this weekend I'm going to my mom's (she lives in another city) so we'll stay in touch and see how far along we are but we'll probably do our recap on Sunday or Monday, right? Whenever we're ready :)

Sounds good! Which Shirley Jackson are you reading?

We Have Always Lived in the Castle :) It's really creepy haha! I like it so far. Let's see how it ends..

Oh yes, I really liked that one!

Oh, you read it? Cool. I'm excited, got a bit tired of King to be honest haha!

His Full Dark No Stars wasn't all that great and neither was Night Shift so I'm shifting gears these days

Ps. Just like I mentioned in my The Halloween Tree review, I gave it one extra star for the cover design on that book. So gorgeous, right? Don't know which edition you read but then one portrayed in GR is the one I have and I loved it :)

Oh yes, I really liked it and her other book, House on Haunted Hill. I can only take King in small doses.

haha, good! Me too :) People keep telling me to read HHH so I might squeeze that one in too, I'm utterly intrigued lol

But isn't it The Haunting of Hill House? LOL

LOL, probably is. I'm no good with names. I know it's short though.

Haha but that was a pretty long title if you ask me!

Anyways, don't matter! So you're writing this week? Do you have a schedule you keep to?

And I know that it has another title too, wish I could remember it.

The same book you mean?

I try to write regularly, something substantial at least three times a week (i.e. a page) but this week has totally sucked. I need to find some inspiration from somewhere!

Well, you've been moving and unpacking and all that, it's understandable. You just need to unwind and maybe get into the atmosphere of what you're writing about you know :)

Yes, the Haunting of Hill House.Or maybe I'm thinking of the movie adaptation that had a different name, I don't know now, lol!

Hahah, ok. I think it's the movie you're thinking about. Or maybe even a different movie..? I just google it now and it's a separate horror movie from 1959 :)

That's true! I'm just impatient because I really need to get all these thoughts out, you know? I'll try to unwind first though:)

Yes, do that. Maybe take a bath, or go for a walk along this beautiful beach walk in Ambleside Park in West Van ( my favorite place) or even English Bay downtown. You have so many great places to 'escape' to!

True! I was actually in Stanley Park yesterday and the day before yesterday. Lovely days:)

And I love Ambleside, it's been a while:)

I love all of Vancouver! You're a lucky girl to live in that city - enjoy it, take advantage of it :))

Ah man, you make me want to move back! I really miss it, it's such a great great city to live in!

I definitely do take advantage of it. Come back and visit:)))

That's good, do it a little bit extra for me :) I will, I definitely will and soon hopefully :)) Would be great to actually meet and hang out at VPL together haha!