Sandra’s Comments (group member since Jan 21, 2020)

Sandra’s comments from the The Obscure Reading Group group.

I’m enjoying all your comments. It seems to me that Jackson is writing from a writer’s notebook she may have kept of “possible odd characters.” Certainly there’s an abundance of bizarre people. What do you make of the way Jackson leaves the narrative and gives pages of details? For example pages 70-76 in my paperback edition—the story about Harriet Stuart. Isn’t this what beginning writers do, unable to find an integral method of incorporating the back story? Mind you, I am only on page 79 so maybe by the end of the first reading, it becomes clearer.

Yikes! $500? Yikes.

Hey, Ken. I just ordered your new book. Looking forward to reading it.

Yvonne! I saw that movie. Quite good I thought altogether a bit strange. But hey. It was about the Queen of the strange.

I got a kindle version as well as picked up a paperback copy today at the bookstore. I wanted to start reading, but I have several other books I am reading now.

Looking forward to reading this! Thanks, Ken, for your generous moderating skills.

It took me five seconds to choose. Well, almost.

Love reading these teacher comments. During inservice(yawn), I sometimes acted like one of my incorrigible students. Or I sat in the back of the room and read. I’m sure my administration sighed with relief when I retired.

I loved The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle! I haven’t read Chekhov for ages, but I loved my Russian Literature class in college. Dostoevsky was my favorite though.

So happy you’re all reading! Even in summer. I’m almost finished with “The 7 and 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.” Quite a challenge to my intellect. I’m not keeping up with the details and “clues,” but it’s entertaining. After that I have “The Salt Path” and “The Library Book” awaiting me!!

What is everyone else reading that you would recommend? Yes, Sara. I had read Ken and Laysee reviews of Stoner. That’s why I picked it up. This group is helpful in many ways.

I’m halfway done with John Williams’ novel “Stoner.” I see several of you have read it. I am truly enjoying it!!

Although I stopped reading this book at the halfway point, I have enjoyed all of your comments. I too read aloud to my children, my students, and my husband. They listened. But the experience of literature is so absorbing it never seemed to matter that they were not “reading.” My husband has read many of Shakespeare’s plays to me in the evenings in front of our fireplace. I love hearing his way of interpreting the character’s voices.

And yes, Darrin, I too thought “What’s the point?” while making my way through Calvino. I probably missed something by stopping early, but I had miles of books to go before I sleep. As we said in the 60s, (Yes, we really did) “Peace out.”

Yeah. Congratulations Ken. I just gave up and will probably read what others say about the second half.

Perfectly said, Ken.

What an interesting observation, Jan. I like it! I wonder again if “Leaning from a steep slope“ refers to the slope of creativity? Or maybe the risk a writer takes when publishing his work. I mean it is kind of like going into open water with the risk of sinking or falling from a steep slope.

Yes, but I did have the thought that perhaps he is writing this as a satire of literary criticism? “There are letters that promise further explanations, which instead are found in pages dated a week earlier.” He seems to be making fun of the attempt to analyze texts and the absurdity of authors producing clever texts to be critiqued—which of course is what he’s doing too. And so are we. All of the exegesis in the chapters following the supposed “stories” point to this idea, maybe? Just a thought.

Jan—To be honest when I got to the chapter about Jojo and his body being dragged all over the place, when I then jumped to the daughter Sibylle and a mention of crocodiles (?) and then was introduced to the wife (??)I think, Vlada... I was completely confused. I keep waiting for something profound or even some clarity to hit me, but it’s just not happening. In fact, even a plot isn’t happening. I honestly can admit I don’t know what it means and can’t seem to enjoy it the way you are. I envy you!!

But I love reading other readers’ comments.

Yes, Woolf’s language is beautiful, and the symbols and themes evolve into clarity, at least for me. I wonder if I would appreciate our book more if I could read it in Italian. Perhaps it’s beautiful? Certainly the title promises poetry, but I don’t find poetry in the text.

I would like to read what you wrote about the wren.

I like reading books that challenge social conventions. Dangerous books. Books that have been censored. Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 comes to mind. “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.”

I like reading books that experiment with style. For example, in college I enjoyed discussing James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist and V. Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.

But with all of these, I liked discussing the ideas.

So, I would like to know if any of you have discovered deeper meanings to discuss other than the unusual style and its purpose. I’m trying desperately to latch on to something to contribute (!)

Jan, I like the line “a wren in warm snow.”

So many great observations. I don’t know yet what I think. I don’t necessarily like books pretending to be novels that are attempting to be philosophical. Don’t get me wrong. I like discussing the ideas Calvino writes about, but usually in a close look at the characters and their behaviors. I agree with all who have said the prose delving into the varied reactions readers have to a book—choosing one, buying one, how to read one—quite interesting. I also agree with those who are frustrated: therefore, I am fence sitting.