Traveller’s Comments (group member since Jan 14, 2015)

Traveller’s comments from the On Paths Unknown group.

Cecily wrote: "Traveller wrote: "Talking of the ministries, the Ministry of Love doesn't sound like a very, er.. loving place, or even a friendly place, does it? Does anyone find Orwell's obvious irony a bit in y..."

Yeah, the 'doublespeak' that is expounded more on later on in the book.

Re Winston's misogyny, note that it manifests itself before he admits to himself that he is in love with Julia. He has the same emotional stuntedness that the narrator of We has.

Cecily wrote: "Traveller wrote: "I do find the text quickly becomes rather preachy.."

If you think THIS is preachy, beware of 1984!"

Did you miss our 1984 discussion at the beginning of this year? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Actually, I didn't find 1984 overtly preachy, no. What did you find he waxed preachy about? Maybe let's discuss that in this thread? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... I could have sworn there was another thread for the ending, but maybe this one was it, so I have now named it accordingly.

...or if you feel it pertains to Fahrenheit, we can discuss here. :) How about in the next thread, since I'm starting to worry a bit about spoilers. On the other hand, we're probably throwing out 1984 spoilers like mad too. :P

Just in case there are people who want to move on to the next section, the thread for Part 2 is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thread for discussion of Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand

Reading and discussing this retro- speculative fiction, is reminding me of all the cultural events that I'd missed, and I realized that watching the movie Back to The Future was one of them - and that 2015 was the year it was set in! I must really make a plan to watch it for a few belly laughs.

Derek (Guilty of thoughtcrime) wrote: "Yes, but the two things are not exclusive. Dictators (and, unfortunately, politicians in general) take advantage of that kind of environment"

Indeed; just look at Donald Trump, although he is by far not the only one...

Hmm, I do find the text quickly becomes rather preachy. Which real person is ever, for example, going to say: "Do you know, I’m responsible. I was spanked when I needed it, years ago."

Ouch!

It's completely new territory for me; like the virgin snow!

Interesting concept about the walls of TV and the TV "shows" - it seems like some sort of interactive reality like our online world, which is quite amazing and prescient for a book published in 1953 when TV's were barely out, computers were something esoteric used by the military, and the internet was still a thought undreamed of.

It's one of the few animated movies that I would highly recommend to adults- and do try and watch it with someone who has a good sense of humor with whom you can share the fun! It's very snappy, and full of life and zest. (..and you will especially love it if you enjoy flamenco dancing).

[Apologies to Vandermeer readers for the off-topic...]

(This is my first time, btw.)
I'm also finding it a bit creepy; I'm finding the girl a bit creepy, like a ghost or something.

Cecily wrote: "OK, if this is about the first part, yes, it's a great opening, and it's a good bit of world-building, but this was the section where the poetic language, especially relating to moonlight and/or od..."

Oh, the lyricism started to allure me from where he walks past the spot on the pavement where it feels to him like somebody was there, already; and slightly further on I'm starting to think that the style actually reminds me a bit of Kawabata with it's poetic impressionism.

Also
They walked in the warm-cool blowing night on the silvered pavement and there was the faintest breath of fresh apricots and strawberries in the air, and he looked around and realized this was quite impossible, so late in the year.

and
He saw himself in her eyes, suspended in two shining drops of bright water, himself dark and tiny, in fine detail, the lines about his mouth, everything there, as if her eyes were two miraculous bits of violet amber that might capture and hold him intact. Her face, turned to him now, was fragile milk crystal with a soft and constant light in it. It was not the hysterical light of electricity but what? But the strangely comfortable and rare and gently flattering light of the candle.

Have you seen Puss in Boots? Funniest animated movie ever!

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "I'm on chapter five, I think, but I must confess that I gave in to evil impulses and sped read the rest to find out what happened. I have to finish the book the regular way as a good girl tonight a..."

Amy, all I have to say to you, is :

PS, how far are you with Finch, btw? I've never read Fahrenheit 451 before, so I'm going to do that first.

I suspect that through snippets in Finch, we might learn what happened during the Shift, and yeah, you are right, he doesn't like to spoonfeed his readers- you have to piece things together; but I think I prefer that to infodumping.

Phew, okay, that pretty much ended on a cliffhanger for me! :P

(Regarding the Shift, that is.)

I've started Finch, and it appears obvious that it starts off afterwards, so now I'm curious to get to it!

Right, so let's make this thread for "It was a pleasure to burn."

Speaking of which, the story starts off in a quite dramatic way, doesn't it?

PS. I certainly hope for his sake, that he was wearing gloves on his way down that pole - ouch!

Whitney wrote: "Traveller, I'm definitely more in your camp when it comes to the religions of Ambergris ...."

I'm not using spoiler brackets because I think I'm generally avoiding bigger spoilers by being as vague as possible; anyway: one knows at the start of COSAM already that missionaries are involved, and I agree that the missionary aspect is what linked Truffidianism to Catholicism for me as well. And I admit I had not read all the footnotes, but if what you said further in your post is the case, then I agree with that as well.

Of course, Catholicism is by far not the only religion to shout heresy; but I agree that Vandermeer's use of language certainly suggests Catholicism, for example cathedral instead of mosque of temple. I think "temple" would have been a more neutral choice, if he'd wanted to be neutral.

Sure, we'll have other threads. Since the book is shortish, do you think 3 will do?

Yeah, I wouldn't call 1984 exactly lyrical. ;P

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "I think I had the impression going in, from COSAM (due to the descriptions of the religious quarter there and several entries in the glossary), that Ambergris is a very multi-faith kind of place. ..."

Ah-ha! I admit that I had not given those the attention they probably deserve. Will have a look at them soon. :)

Another quote that relates back to our religion discussion:
"Given the presence of members of over one hundred contradictory religions and cults in the city, what prevents occurrences of holy war?

I might not have paid attention and missed previous references, but this is the first reference to so many religions and cults that I've picked up.