Cheryl’s Comments (group member since Nov 29, 2022)

Cheryl’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Random, brilliant, yes! I did enjoy them, too. Thank you so much!

Random mentioned Six Wakes... I know I've read another book... not too long ago... with a very similar premise... I think it had a sequel... I recall the hero (a guy) being sort of lower caste, or disposable, something like that... it was 'lighter' or at least less Literary than some SF.... Ack. Anyone know what I mean?

Not *too* busy I hope! :)

Of course I'm old enough that I've heard of Anthony often, including this book. But I've never read one of 'em. However, this intrigues....

I don't travel for pleasure, but on road trips to go see family I do as Kathi does - easier reads that I can dispose of when done. Paper. I still am not comfortable with ebooks. And unfortunately I can't hear audiobooks over road noise in this car. (I miss my 2010 Altima so much for so many reasons!)

I'm having trouble finding anything at all on my lists, and I don't think I can make time to add something new. I did find a recommendation from one of my sons (the one who understands my taste least well) for The Never-Open Desert Diner, by an Anderson, so I'll try that.

Uhura's Song is 'only' a star trek book, but I liked it. :)

Ronia, the Robber's Daughter. It takes place in a 'vaguely medieval' area much like, I imagine, Sweden could have been. And while I don't want to live in the fortress with the robbers, or in town and be affected by their predations, I'd love to live in the forest in the summer time. So lush, green, wild. Of course, I'd have to be 12 not 62!

True! I wish other people in the group were reading this; they're missing out!

Also can you guess why Spofforth is "the only black robot ever made?" I'm pretty sure Tevis wrote everything very carefully, thought things through the way a poet does, so things like this must mean something; what do you think?

Later on Bentley met that group of 'devout Christians.' Tevis is obviously not too impressed with organized religion. "They were willing to accept their stringent piety, and silence, and sexual restraints, all unthinkingly, along with a few platitudes about Jesus and Moses and Noah; they were overwhelmed, however, at the effort it would require to understand the literature that was the real source of their religion." ... "The God they worship is an abstract and ferociously moral thing, like a computer. And the compelling, mystical rabbi, Jesus, they have turned into some kind of moral Detector."

This is so relevant today it's scary.
"Whatever may happen to me, thank God that I can read, that I have truly touched the minds of other men."

I agree. A classic, excellent companion to other literary dystopias that are even older. I only gave it four stars (five, on my scale, is for books of more universal appeal and I honestly have nobody in my life to whom I could recommend this.)

In my review I say plenty, and definitely have some discussion questions:

"Reading is too intimate. It will put you too close to the feelings and ideas of others. It will disturb and confuse you."

"I am not interested in watching television shows; I only watch television."
---
Reread. I do think that I got more out of it this time. Shades of 1984 and Brave New World here, too. And the Bible - there was a very clear Snake and Fruit that started Bentley and Mary Lou on their, erm, adventures. Also Beauty and the Beast later on. Which reminds me - I do wish we'd spent a little more time with Spofforth.

And the title is up to the readers' interpretations... there's a lot of poetry in here and Tevis wants us to understand we don't have to be more educated than Bentley to appreciate it; poetry is often appreciated just fine for how it sounds, how it vibes, what images it provokes.

Pieter Bruegel *Landscape with the Fall of Icarus.* "I don't understand it: but I like the stillness of the rest of the scene. Except for that leg, which is splashing in the water. I might try to get some blue paint some day and paint over it." - Something to think about. I've always liked that detail in that painting, but the speaker wants to turn the masterpiece into a jigsaw puzzle illustration, I guess?

Interesting take on how artificial brains work: Spofforth "has a way of picking up on a conversation days after I thought we had finished with it. I suppose it has to do with the way his mind stores information. He says he is incapable of forgetting anything. If that is true why was it necessary for him to labor at learning things during his early training?" I don't know; do you??

(Little Red Hen: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Oh, and...
The Ant and the Grasshopper: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...)

I generally read retellings of classic & familiar folk and fairy tales. For example one of my favorites is The Little Red Hen, and I love The Little Green Witch... I love the different ending. (I have a Listopia of Little Red Hen variants and would love more votes and submissions.)

I also seek out retellings of Beauty and the Beast (looking for why the prince was cursed) and Jack & the Beanstalk (looking for why it's ok for Jack to steal from the Giant).

Some of my favorite retellings are of Andersen's The Snow Queen. I never did actually read the original before being enchanted by Breadcrumbs and The Raven and the Reindeer, though of course I was vaguely familiar with the premise.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. I love 'em.

I do look forward to it soonish. Once I start, it'll likely only take me a day or two to read.

CJ wrote: "... heat as symbolism for cruelty, apathy and oppressione..."

Huh. I never thought of that or recall being taught it, but it makes sense!

Ug. Glad you didn't die!

Usually by p. 50 I know if I'm enjoying or learning from it. If I'm bored, or frustrated, I look at others' reviews to see if readers say it gets better later or is worth the work. If not, I have no reluctance to put it down.

I do have to say I am more likely to push further along in book club reads. Especially, if I voted for a book, I feel that I owe the group to give it at least a very good try.

It's on my nightstand and I'm looking forward to it!

I've finally been able to read it. Overall I can say that I'm impressed, but I didn't really enjoy it very much. Especially the ones that took a strong stomach to get through, especially the last... what a note to leave us on!

I think that I 'enjoyed' All the Flavors the most.
But I cannot say that I enjoyed the book. I agree with most of Ryan's careful post... thank you, Ryan.

CJ, best wishes on your journey. My husband also is in Stage 4 and treatment makes no sense in his situation, so here we go.

Reading in the early day or late day?

Both. Especially in bed.

Buy a book or borrow from the library?

Borrow from the library unless it's Michael Perry or completely unavailable. Sometimes, rarely, I buy if it's a book I'll want to reread, like The Bees. I also use paperbackswap, interlibrary loan, and openlibrary/internet archive.

Would you rather read in an uncomfortable but quiet location, or a comfortable location that is noisy?
Um. The former. Generally I do not like noise, don't even watch tv. But the latter would work if it were, say, a commuter train, something I could tune out as not concerning me.

And, I still very much prefer paper books. I totally can do audio & ebooks, but would rather not.


1) Would you rather read fantasy or science fiction?

I like both and read a lot of both but I think if I had to choose I'd go with fantasy. I like inherent creativeness to it, there are no "rules" to follow.

Funny. I prefer SF because of the rules!

2) Would you rather read a stand alone novel or a series?

Stand alone, absolutely. Make your point and let me move along. Now, sometimes I fall in love with characters, but I still don't want to have to find and read each of several books in order. (I make exceptions for Becky Chambers loosely connected stories, and Star Trek novelizations.)

** My question for you-all: Dnf, or set aside for later?

I've tried to set aside, but I wind up never picking it up again. I've got a couple sitting on my nightstand right now that have been there far too long; they're just not calling me.