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

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

I’m not sure what this book reminds me of, but since you asked I am more aware that it does make me think of something. Could it be an Oscar Wilde madhouse play?

I’m enjoying the general craziness of the situation, the general acceptance of Fanny’s vision of her father and the Apocalypse, and all of the various characters. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

That’s my plan too.

Duh! It was Yvonne. Ah, my eyes are deceiving me. Sorry Yvonne and Ken.

As Ruth mentioned, the kindle copy is available on the app so I think I will try it for my iPad. I prefer reading on the kindle paperwhite for visual reasons but hey, 99 cents meets the cost need.

I had planned to buy the inexpensive copy of The Sundial and read it on my paper white. Silly me! I bought it for 99 cents and discovered it’s incompatible with that form of kindle. Guess I could try reading it on my iPad but that’s so much less kind on my eyes. Not sure if I will go for the book from the library or read it on the iPad. Beware if you are planning on that cheap edition.

I want to read more of Jackson. I plan to join in. I’ll read my choice later, maybe next year.

So many choices but I found one rather quickly, one I really want to read.

I’ve been wondering about Klara and the Sun, Diane. I’ll be curious what you think of it in the end.

Darrin, I have that Chekhov story collection on my shelves. Another of my “someday” reads. I haven’t read much of his writing but know I want to read more. That other book sounds good.

Sandra, I enjoyed The Library Book, but haven’t read the other two books yet. Someday.

Ken, I was thinking of the “enforced” reading because of all the rain we’ve had throughout the month. I usually read indoors...allergies continue to influence my decision. I forgot about your Adirondack.

I’m reading my usual variety of books and have been thankful for some short stories that offer that interruptible haven when needed. We’ve had so much reading weather during July, I wonder what August will bring!

I do remember that of those I read, but then God was one of the quirky characters in a way too.

Oh, Home of The Floating Lily is a debut story collection I just started. It’s centered on stories of the lives of immigrants in Toronto who have come from Bengladesh. The stories are connected so far only by setting and some similarities in their life histories. This is a shorter collection than the Best of Hand.

Ken, the book I’m referring to is The Best of Elizabeth Hand. I will probably finish later tonight (this early morning) or Monday during the day. The stories are likely not for everyone because of the fantasy and occasional sci-fi elements, but for the large part, I’m enjoying it.

Ken, I thought I’d read something by Williams and I have, 99 Stories About God. This is a book of short fictions rather than short stories, with each work coming in at between a paragraph and about 2 pages. I did enjoy this collection quite a bit and rated it 4*. I did write a review for it (I received the book through NetGalley)

I read short stories periodically. And I read them in different ways. Some I do read continuously, especially if there is some common factor such as setting or recurring character(s). Others, where the stories are simply too individually powerful or emotional, I take a break between them.

I’m reading a collection of stories and novellas currently, and almost finished, where I hated the second story so much that I almost stopped completely. I went back a couple of days later and found I loved the next story. I haven’t disliked another story since then.

Macfarlane has been on my list forever, AJ. Glad to know you’re enjoying reading him.

And so do I.

Excellent comparison, Ken. This does seem like a competition of sorts, perhaps with himself, to see how long and how far he can keep it all going. Personally, I think he pushed just a bit too far, but I’m not an internationally acclaimed writer.

Oops... I neglected to comment here upon finishing the book. My feelings are mixed. I found some sections really good and exciting while others were confounding and still others seemed silly. Such is my rather uninformed view of this experimental novel. As I believe someone else said above, all this for a boy meets girl story!?!