The Bookhouse Boys discussion

We'll publish two episodes covering House Made of Dawn.
The first covering "Part I: The Longhair" will be posted on the 28th.
The second covering the remainder of the book will be posted on July 5th.

Started it today. No knowledge going in, so no expectations.

(I couldn't tell you why, but the handful of pages I've read has reminded me that I'd really like to try out a book by this guy for the group at some point: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_C...)

I'm not very far into the book, but the style is really intriguing me so far. I'm wondering whether this is going to be a character study about Abel in which we seem him plunge into newer and newer depths, or the story of him pulling himself up and metamorphosing into something new. He starts the novel at a fairly grim place, prologue aside.

Dave wrote: "(I couldn't tell you why, but the handful of pages I've read has reminded me that I'd really like to try out a book by this guy for the group at some point: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Cast..."
Have you read much Castaneda, Dave? I picked up the first 3 books at a Goodwill for a quarter each a decade ago. I enjoyed the shamanism (and the submersion into the culture and drugs that produce it) but felt like it needed to be taken with a big grain of salt. I got the impression or feeling that a lot of the writings and experiences were synthesized or were flat-out fictitious. That said, I did enjoy them and could see why they were cultural phenomenon when they were published.

I haven't read any Castaneda. My father had a bunch of his books when I was a kid and would talk about them all the time, so I feel like I know something about them, but, other than a nagging feeling in the back of my brain that I need to get around to them some day, I've never actually bitten.

The whole "reality vs. fiction" debate surrounding the books has me intrigued... I'm a guy who often wants to believe, but can't really bring himself to do so because the experiences described are so far outside the parameters of what I know to be reality (as opposed to a skeptic, who walks in saying "This is BS" and then either sets out to prove it or waits for the text to prove him wrong). Might be interesting to check out from the fact or fiction angle... we've talked about reading nonfiction, so why not start with a book that purports to be nonfiction but could very well be an almost entirely fictional account? :P

Dave wrote: "why not start with a book that purports to be nonfiction but could very well be an almost entirely fictional account?"
I'd be down for that experiment.

Matt wrote:"I'd be down for that experiment."

Me too.

And spoiler: I like this book so far.

Jason wrote: "Matt wrote:"I'd be down for that experiment."

Me too.

And spoiler: I like this book so far."
There's goes our heat. ;)

Matt wrote: There's goes our heat. ;)

Maybe... (*shifty*)

My impression of the first 20-odd pages: The wind blows, Abel has a bad dream, someone sees an eagle. The wind blows, Abel has a bad dream, someone sees an eagle. The wind blows...

:P

Oh, that's 'cause you're racist. ; )


I am not my book selection...I am not my book selection...I am not...

Dave wrote: "Matt wrote: There's goes our heat. ;)

Maybe... (*shifty*)

My impression of the first 20-odd pages: The wind blows, Abel has a bad dream, someone sees an eagle. The wind blows, Abel has a bad drea..."

...someone yanks a rooster out of the ground and beats it to smithereens over Abel's head...

Matt wrote: "Oh, that's 'cause you're racist. ; )

Not usually, but I do hate Native Americans (or "the bench-warmers of God's country", as mama used to call them). All that crying over litter... reach down and pick it up if it's bothering you so much!

Nah, I'll probably warm up to it, it's just already gotten to the point where my mind has started to wander a bit from the hypnotic rhythm of the prose. I've had to re-read several paragraphs, which, in the first 25 pages, usually isn't a great sign for me. But, I could just be having a crap day. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R-FZs...

Matt Dave wrote:"...it's just already gotten to the point where my mind has started to wander a bit from the hypnotic rhythm of the prose. I've had to re-read several paragraphs, which, in the first 25 pages..."
Seconded. I'm not thinking this is a good sign.

Jim wrote:"Seconded. I'm not thinking this is a good sign."

It's like Blood Meridian or The Road without the sudden, blinding violence. ;)

I'm enjoying the prose. After our last book I might have been a bit starved for imagery. Should be an interesting discussion after all.

Psst: Jim, you quoted Dave above, not Matt.

Jason wrote: "Psst: Jim, you quoted Dave above, not Matt."
Whoops. Fixed. Thank you, sir.

Jason wrote: "Psst: Jim, you quoted Dave above, not Matt."
I think he's got it in for me since the Hussainy rant. ;)

I've really got to start this book!

Jim wrote: Seconded. I'm not thinking this is a good sign.

I'll be interested to hear if/how your opinion changes when the plot starts to pick up (around 30 pages in). I would say how/whether my opinion changed, but... issa secret for the podcast! :P

Jason wrote: It's like Blood Meridian or The Road without the sudden, blinding violence.

This may be where I'm having my disconnect with the novel... (where's that little whistling guy?)

Blood Meridian was another novel met with near-universal acclaim that I had a really hard time getting through... and I agree with you on the several similarities in the two prose styles, Jason.

Matt wrote: I've really got to start this book!

I'm getting you a t-shirt that says that. :D

Dave wrote: "I'm getting you a t-shirt that says that. :D "
"Works for me."
"I love it when a plan comes together."
"Whachu talkin' 'bout, Willis?"
"Eat my shorts!"
"I've really got to start this book!"
You got a problem with me getting a craze going? Well, excUUuuuUUuuuse ME!

Yeah...that's what I thought. ; )

I just read the first 50 pages at lunch today, and while my mind, too, was set to wandering by the rhythm of the book, I am enjoying it so far. It's got an interesting beat and cadence to the sentences, and I find it really evocative. "The silence had awakened him", for instance, really stopped me in my tracks. Anyhow, that's just my two cents. Looking forward to more!

Doctorteeth wrote: "It's got an interesting beat and cadence to the sentences, and I find it really evocative. "
Sometimes I find this podcasting gag order very frustrating...and I wish I could give karma kisses.