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

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

Fasten your seat belts! (Here imagines the sound of a dozen or so *clicks*.)

If we hold hands and whistle in the dark, I think we'll get through. It may be value-added, or it may be fellow readers receptive to griping, but we won't know till we get there.

I'm looking forward to the fun!

Don't look now but the discussion starts in two weeks. I hope everyone's managed to find a copy of Calvino's book. I plan to start reading on the 24th or 25th.

Yes, I liked Dead Poets. Except for the ending. I'd have preferred more poets and less dead.

I posted the reading schedule for June, deciding the book was too small to break into three.

Rather, I went with breaking it in half at around 130 pp. a week. I think we're all up for it, but if that seems unreasonable to a majority of y'all, give a shout.

My copy of this book is 260 pp, so rather than assign 80-something pages a week for three weeks, I decided it would be more efficient to read and discuss in two weeks (approximately 130 pp./week).



Have read by June 1st for...
JUNE 1 -- JUNE 7 Discussion

[1} through the end of "Chapter Six"



Have read by June 8th for...
JUNE 8 -- JUNE 15 Discussion

"In a network of lines that enlace" through THE END

Sue wrote: "I remember seeing it in the theater too, Ken. It does seem like it was in the Middle Ages — my Middle Ages, I guess, when I used to go to the movies all the time."

Ha-ha. Even before Covid I avoided movie theaters. Except maybe the occasional matinee on a sunny day. You know, when the theater crowd is less than ten.

Sandra wrote: "Welcome, all new members. I can’t believe you haven’t seen The Dead Poets Society, Ken. I showed it in my high school poetry class each year and then we read our feeble attempts at poetry writing. ..."

Oh, no. I *did* see it, but only once. When it was first released in the theaters. I refuse to look up the year because I know it's back, back, back!

I try to hold off till the last week of the month because I know I only have to read around 1/2 for Week #1's discussion and I want it to be fresh. (My brain = somewhat stale.)

Welcome to the group, Nilanjana. And thank you for such kind words. I haven't seen the Dead Poets since it came out at the movie theater. I don't even want to GUESS what year that was.

Ginny wrote: "If there are any gamers out there, I found this. Think they have to give any credits for the title?
https://laurahunt.itch.io/if-on-a-win...

"

Interesting! I hope there's a connection -- as in a software developer who read Calvino's book and then got more specific with the numbers! My son is a big-time gamer. Me, not so much. OK. Not at all.

Tracey wrote: "This sounds exciting. I loved Invisible Cities and the Baron in the Trees. Look forward in discussing this book with a group."

Glad you'll be joining us, Tracey!

Sue wrote: "I have wanted to read this Calvino book for some time and now I have the perfect situation to do so. With this group, I will have all the support I might need if there are bumps in that road. When ..."

Danielle wrote: "This will be my first Calvino, too, although I think i have a novella of his upstairs. Looking forward to it. I hear good things."


Great, Danielle & Sue. Good luck finding your hidden Calvino's. And thanks for that bookfinder lead, Sue!

Yvonne wrote: "Sorry; maybe the part of that message about the Whale book and Mr. Ironmonger should have been moved to a different threaded message -- like, "between books" or something. Ken, should I restate it ..."

It's fine, Yvonne. I do think, however, that most any living author (unless wicked famous and established) would jump at the chance to be part of a book discussion about his/her book.

That said, I had a bad online experience with such an event years ago. The author's skin proved thinner than, brooking not even the slightest negative response and virtually rolling his eyes whenever a poster asked a question. Meaning: Speaking for myself only, I would not venture down that path quickly again.

Nick wrote: "I am on board for Calvino, as I have never read him before. He sounds a bit Borgesian, from my briefest of reading. On another front, I am a librarian in real life, and am hearing your complaints a..."

Libraries are the cornerstone of any town. It used to bother me no end seeing towns spend BIG BUCKS on athletic fields, stands, concession areas, etc., while their old and small library buildings fell apart.

Um, the mind first. Then the body.

Carol wrote: "Bionic Jean wrote: "Is inter-library loan any use for you, Carol?

I have this on kindle already, which I'd completely forgotten about! Is this a sign perhaps? So many of my GR friends seemed to r..."


I don't even know how to use the Audible and downloadable features at the library. Not sure if I can access any book in the State of Maine like I can with physical books but probably not.

Maybe I'll buy a used copy after all.

Bionic Jean wrote: "Is inter-library loan any use for you, Carol?

I have this on kindle already, which I'd completely forgotten about! Is this a sign perhaps? So many of my GR friends seemed to read it a few years a..."

I thought a few titles this round would prove demanding. Merrill's book-lengthed poem, for instance, and certainly Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra (I am always drawn in by philosophy, then sorely challenged).

Still, together we will prove a force. Calvino would be proud. Would? I think he's past tense, anyway.

Carol wrote: "“But then you go on and you realize that the book is readable nevertheless, independently of what you expected of the author, it’s the book in itself that arouses your curiosity; in fact, on sober ..."

I'm lucky in this case, as there are multiple copies in Maine's interlibrary loan system. I'll probably pick up the Everyman's Library copy, but if anyone knows anything about translations that are notable, don't be shy about saying so!

Good to see so many people are game to try this. I don't expect everyone who voted (38 -- a record!) to do so, but still, it doesn't take many waves to get out there and hang ten!

P.S. I added all of the other nominees to the thread dedicated to books that did not win but are worthy for individual exploring (or, as happened this time, for renominating in the future). Check it out. Lots of good titles. Thanks again to those who put so much thought into them!

Matthew wrote: "Huge Calvino fan too. Baron in the Trees, Ken, yes! A beautiful book. I've read this one too but am looking forward to the discussions all the same. Enjoy!"

Glad you're on board for a reread, Matthew!

Alas, GR limits titles of folders to 32 characters, and Italo Calvino's title is apparently too much for such stringent rules. Thus, the truncated title with my apologies.

In any event, anyone who wants to talk up Calvino or this book while avoiding spoilers is welcome to discuss such topics here.

Me, I've read two Calvino books but not this one. The most memorable was about a boy who climbs a tree to live in it but then never comes down. I mean ever.

Ah, Calvino. You expand the brain!