August 2015 Group Read #2; The Tom Piccirilli Memorial Read

[Jon Recluse]

Here is the thread for August's second group read, Tom Piccirilli's A Choir of Ill Children.

Remember to use spoilers.

Have fun.

[Latasha]

hi! I'm waiting on the library. I'm on the holding list.

[Kimberly]

Recently read, but I can't wait to discuss--so much in this book!

[Maxine Marsh]

I'm definitely in for this one!

[Quentin]

I had both of my picks win this month, which is rare. Looks like 2 very good books this time.

[Randy]

I got a bit of an early start on this one since I finished Summer of Night a few days ago. This book is trippy haha. I can't wait to see where it's going...

[Char]

Whoohoo! I'm glad the winner was a book I already own. :)

[Nate]

I got lucky - went to my library's digital site, and A Choir of Ill Children was sitting there available. Score!

[Quentin]

Wow. I've started this one, and all I say at this point is it's VERY original. I've never read a novel quite like this one. I'm not that deep into it yet, but it's anything but dull!

[Maxine Marsh]

Can't wait to start this one soon :)

[Char]

Me too. :)

[Quentin]

Wow. This is really far out there, but compelling. There's so much going on, and all of it's weird lol. Still very interesting though, and once you start reading it's hard to stop!

[Latasha]

I finally got it from the library so I should be starting one day this week or weekend.

[Kimberly]

Quentin wrote: "Wow. This is really far out there, but compelling. There's so much going on, and all of it's weird lol. Still very interesting though, and once you start reading it's hard to stop!"

Yes--that's exactly how I felt when I first started it!!

[Jennicem]

I finished this one about a month ago. My husband nick named it "A Choir of Fucked Up Shit". It was up there for me in the weird department but oh so very enjoyable.

[Quentin]

I don't think I've ever read anything this weird that I still liked so much. I guess because even though its far out, it hasn't totally lost me. Not many writers can pull this off, I'm impressed. They usually just totally lose the readers and leave them confused, but Tom is walking a fine line and doing it well.

[Kimberly]

Jennicem wrote: "I finished this one about a month ago. My husband nick named it "A Choir of Fucked Up Shit". It was up there for me in the weird department but oh so very enjoyable."

LOL! That actually sounds quite appropriate.

[Missy]

I just got my copy! Can't wait to start and join in!

[Justice]

I really can't wait to begin my memorial read for Tom but I've decided to wait until I finish the Brian Keene novel I already started. I've already chose a Piccirilli novel; The Midnight Road.
The Midnight Road

[Quentin]

I finished. My head is spinning. What a story lol. I'm going to hold my comments and give everyone else some time to finish, and also give myself time to collect my thoughts on this one. Never read anything quite like this one before. I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did.

[Jennicem]

I agree with you Quentin. I have never read anything like it before. Anyone have a suggest for another one by him?

[Char]

Jennicem wrote: "I agree with you Quentin. I have never read anything like it before. Anyone have a suggest for another one by him?"

Fuckin' Lie Down Already

The Walls of the Castle

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "Jennicem wrote: "I agree with you Quentin. I have never read anything like it before. Anyone have a suggest for another one by him?"

Fuckin' Lie Down Already

[book:The Walls of the ..."
Read THE WALLS OF THE CASTLE, but FUCKIN' LIE DOWN ALREADY is on my wish list.

[Jon Recluse]

Jennicem wrote: "I agree with you Quentin. I have never read anything like it before. Anyone have a suggest for another one by him?"

Headstone City

[Justice]

Quentin wrote: "I finished. My head is spinning. What a story lol. I'm going to hold my comments and give everyone else some time to finish, and also give myself time to collect my thoughts on this one. Never read..."

Wow, so it was really good I take it?

[Quentin]

I liked it, but I could easily see how some people would hate it. I think it's one you just have to judge for yourself because it's so different.

[Kimberly]

Quentin wrote: "I liked it, but I could easily see how some people would hate it. I think it's one you just have to judge for yourself because it's so different."

It is quite "different", but his writing is incredible and it's easy to lose yourself in.

[Leah]

Southern gothic here I come. Well, after I finish like 3 other books, but still on my way!

[Jeremy]

On to group read #2! I hope I like this better than Dead Sea--if not, at least it's short! :D

[Maxine Marsh]

Kimberly wrote: "Quentin wrote: "I liked it, but I could easily see how some people would hate it. I think it's one you just have to judge for yourself because it's so different."

It is quite "different", but his ..."

I just finished this one and all I can say is WOW! You're right Kimberly, I definitely got lost in this one, was fascinated for every second of this read.

[Randy]

Ugh, sorry guys, I just gave up on this one at 60% lol. It was becoming a chore to get through it. I didn't understand why just about any of the characters acted the way they did, why (minor spoiler ahead) are people stabbing people and breaking breaking arms over minor disagreements? I dunno... too much of the bizarre for the sake of the bizarre for me. Oh well, not every book is everyone. Switching to until next months pick

[Latasha]

I like this:
“The past can come back in a lot of different ways, chile. It don’t get old and wind up buried like people do. It can die and be reborn. Sins take on shape and peck at your face.”

[Maxine Marsh]

Latasha wrote: "I like this:
“The past can come back in a lot of different ways, chile. It don’t get old and wind up buried like people do. It can die and be reborn. Sins take on shape and peck at your face.”"

I totally highlighted that exact quote Latasha!

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "I like this:
“The past can come back in a lot of different ways, chile. It don’t get old and wind up buried like people do. It can die and be reborn. Sins take on shape and peck at your face.”"

Perfect!

[Jeremy]

I tore through this one--it was so strange! I'm not sure I'm particularly enlightened as to what happened most of the time, but it was still pretty fascinating.

[Quentin]

Jeremy wrote: "I tore through this one--it was so strange! I'm not sure I'm particularly enlightened as to what happened most of the time, but it was still pretty fascinating."

That was how I felt most of the time. I still enjoyed it though, which I thought was a testament to the writing.

[Maxine Marsh]

Magical realism southern gothic.

[Missy]

I'm up to chapter 6 and I'm only ending because its after midnight and I have work tomorrow. Although, a sick day might be in order (cough cough) so I can finish it. Lol

[Nate]

I had no idea what this book was when I began. I'd never read the author before, and I had no idea what this book was about. I think the not knowing has made this even more enjoyable. I have been more than pleasantly surprised to find a well-written southern gothic by an author with a nice backlog of books for me to pore through.

(view spoiler)[I must admit I was a bit put off by the conjoined triplets and sexual content to begin, but I have phobias about conjoined animal life. Even the unsavory subjects are savory due to Piccirilli's writing skills and voice. (hide spoiler)]

[Nate]

I just finished, and A Choir of Ill Children was amazing. I loved the mix of eldritch and human characters and how effectively characters were drawn in a way that made me doubt which was which. Couldn't get enough and sad to see this one go.

[Latasha]

I finally got through this book. I have no idea what I just read...

[Missy]

I'm on chapter 9 right now. I have so many questions. Just what or who is Eve? Who is the red haired woman? Is it Maggie? Will these questions be answered in the end?

[Shann]

I look forward to reading this. My library only had 'last kind words" and i loved it 4/5stars.

[Marc-Antoine]

Just starting now, should be a quick read...

[Marc-Antoine]

Just starting now, should be a quick read...

[Marc-Antoine]

Two chapters in and I have no idea what is going on...

[Marc-Antoine]

Two chapters in and I have no idea what is going on...

[Walter]

Waiting for a copy via Interlibrary loan. Will probably come in near the end of the month, but I'll get to it before the month is out, I'm sure.

[Marc-Antoine]

I'm several chapters into it now and this story is wonderfully disturbing, still not sure about everything that is going on, but I doubt you are supposed to be.

[Maxine Marsh]

Marc-Antoine wrote: "I'm several chapters into it now and this story is wonderfully disturbing, still not sure about everything that is going on, but I doubt you are supposed to be."

I've found all of Pic's work to be wonderfully dream-like. It really takes a while to digest all of it, but the feeling is there.