The Tunnel Group Read - 2021 discussion

Here we can talk about the book in more general terms and avoid any 'spoilers' for those who are reading at a more leisurely pace.

Generally speaking, a tunnel is gonna be duggeth.

Fittingly I explored a couple of great tunnels this summer. This one scared the crap out of the kids. It was about 200m long and for the first 25m or so you couldn't see the light at the end.

Andrew wrote: "Fittingly I explored a couple of great tunnels this summer. This one scared the crap out of the kids. It was about 200m long and for the first 25m or so you couldn't see the light at the end. "

The book will also likely scare the crap out of kids.

Andrew wrote: "Fittingly I explored a couple of great tunnels this summer. This one scared the crap out of the kids. It was about 200m long and for the first 25m or so you couldn't see the light at the end. "

Looks like The Tunnel at the end of Shawshank Redemption lol

“Order of Insects” is one of my favorite short stories. I hope this gives me the structure to complete a book that has been tempting me and intimidating me in equal parts for a couple years now. I’m excited to talk with you all about it here/on twitter/wherever else.

John wrote: "“Order of Insects” is one of my favorite short stories. I hope this gives me the structure to complete a book that has been tempting me and intimidating me in equal parts for a couple years now. I’..."

Nice! I recently received permission to read that story on my podcast. The first story I read is by Joseph McElroy and shares some similarities with the Gass one: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849671

Hey all, looking forward to starting the Tunnel soon! Would you guys recommend reading any Gass before as a sort of primer or will it be alright to just dive straight into the Tunnel?

I read his debut Omensetter’s Luck and am going through “In the Heart of the Heart of the Country” (short story collection). I’d say if you have time to get through Omensetter’s Luck, do. It is short, but is very opaque and weird writing. I don’t think it is necessary to do a chronological reading of authors though. I jumped into Infinite Jest without any previous DFW. Doesn’t really matter.

Yes I don't think chronological readings are necessary either. I've had my eye on his short story collection so might pick that up. I saw people have posted lots of useful resources in the other chat so that's helpful.

Before ever reading Gass, I saw that some people think his nonfiction is better or stronger than his fiction. I wondered how this could possibly be true. Having read all of his fiction leading up to The Tunnel, I suspect they might be right, and it doesn't help that Gass didn't write much fiction, spending 3 decades on this one project. The Tunnel will help me form a more solid opinion about this side of his work.

Omensetter's Luck, judged as a debut novel, is quite good indeed, even if its tone and structure are fairly uneven. However, its best part is a Joycean section that owes itself to the brimstone preacher in Portrait of the Artist, so this novel in general didn't do much for me.

The Lonesome Wife novella is a curious failure. After writing a negative review of it, I later found Gass being quoted admitting as much.

I only really enjoyed one story in his Heart of the Heart collection. The rest were either mildly interesting or just plain boring.

While I'm sure reading these pieces will help with at least a scholarly consideration of The Tunnel, I don't think it's 'necessary', a subjective term at least in this case.

I just found out about this read along so I hope it’s ok I joined. I’ve read Omensetter’s Luck and Middle C but I’ve never been brave enough to dig the tunnel. My book will be here Tuesday. Can’t wait.

Amanda wrote: "I just found out about this read along so I hope it’s ok I joined. I’ve read Omensetter’s Luck and Middle C but I’ve never been brave enough to dig the tunnel. My book will be here Tuesday. Can’t w..."

Glad you can join us, Amanda. The Tunnel is certainly thick but together I think we can handle it just fine. : )

Could I get the link for the discord group please? I much prefer discord to GR for discussion.

Same for me please! Would appreciate the discord link.

Likewise, would love a discord link!

Here you go! https://discord.gg/2JVHHQGQ

:)

So is pretty much all the discussion on discord? Have never Used it before, but I suppose I can pick it up. Crickets here, or should I say grasshoppers

Andrew, yep. Discord is hopping. I’d never used it before either but it’s pretty easy to figure out.

I‘d also love to join the Discord server! :)
Unfortunately the link George posted earlier seems to be expired.

https://discord.gg/Hett3phw. Here you go my friend