Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

"A fast-moving, eerie...tale set on Halloween night. Eight costumed boys running to meet their friend Pipkin at the haunted house outside town encounter instead the huge and cadaverous Mr. Moundshroud. As Pipkin scrambles to join them, he is swept away by a dark Something, and Moundshroud leads the boys on the tail of a kite through time and space to search the past for their friend and the meaning of Halloween.

Enjoy!! I'm excited to read this one with you all!

I have placed this on hold at the library. I will be lucky to get it by Halloween.

Rosemarie wrote: "I have placed this on hold at the library. I will be lucky to get it by Halloween."

Hopefully the legendary luck of the Canadians will be with you.

Thanks for reminding me, Rosemarie, and I’m sorry you may not get it before Halloween. Each of the 4 branches in my library system has the book, and I just put one on hold. This October I want to make time for reading actual spooky books and start with some Bradbury. I’m excited about this one. I’ve heard it’s good!

I’m joining you for this one, I’ll start it a little later in the month.

I'm reading this next week. I can't wait to start it.

Hope you like it!!

What's everyone think so far?

I read this last week and enjoyed it quite a bit. I loved the history of Halloween ( it was new to me). I loved all the boys. The way it is written helped me picture everything so vividly. I also followed it up with an audible dramatised version read by Ray Bradbury ( it was free on audible for a day or two).

Still yet to start, sorry, I will get it read before the end of the month and I am looking forward to it.

Given "The October country" and this book, I deduce that October was Ray's favourite month.

I actually have The October Country on my kindle that I might read this month. The Halloween Tree is waiting for me. I still need to start it. I’m excited about reading it though.

I might pick this one up today.

My hold came in at the library. I'm going to start it later today.

Samantha, The October Country is a good choice for Halloween month.

I have read the first six chapters and Pipkin has just been swept away.
I am enjoying Bradbury's energetic writing style in this book. I do hope they can rescue Pipkin, poor little sick boy!

The book had a tendency to meander a bit but it all made sense at the end- which was great!

Glad you liked it Rosemarie!

I’m reading the book this evening and wow. It’s more exciting than I imagined. I wanted to read in going in with only the knowledge that it’s about Halloween and Ray Bradbury wrote it. The way he details parts of Halloween history by taking the boys back through time is so fun! Granted, some of the events the boys experience I could never deal with such as what Samhain does to them in England.

What did everyone think??

I wasn't sure at the beginning if I would like it, but it all came together at the end.

I really liked it, I’ve passed it on to my kids now to read. We never used to have a very big celebration for Halloween in the UK so I’d never really thought if the history behind it, it’s interesting how different customs get adapted through the ages and places.

I also enjoyed it. I read the whole book on a Sunday. The way he incorporated so many cultures’ traditions into the tale is fascinating. Good art in the edition I read, too.