September Group Read: Like Trees, Walking

[Anastasia Kinderman]

For September we are reading Like Trees, Walking by Ravi Howard. I am currently waiting for my copy to come through ILL. Who will be reading along?

[Carol]

I'm in, waiting for my copy to arrive.

[Brina]

I have so much else to read :( but I filed to read at a later date.

[Anastasia Kinderman]

Brina wrote: "I have so much else to read :( but I filed to read at a later date."

Your comments will be welcome anytime!

[Brina]

Aiming for November g-D willing.

[Beverly]

I will be peeking in.
I read this book when it was first released in 2007 for one of my bookclubs.
It is an intense book in many respects - not in the least that this event took place in the early 1980s.

I know some of you like to follow up and read the historical account after reading an historical fiction reading.

This year I read The Lynching: The Epic Courtroom Battle That Brought Down the Klan which tells the account and the trial about Michael Donald's killing. This book is excellent narrative non-fiction and reads like a novel.

[Carol]

Thanks, Beverly. That looks great.

[Londa]

Oh my. I am going to get this book stat. I'm glad I peeked in. I have been wanting to read this book for years.

[Anastasia Kinderman]

My copy has just arrived at the library so I'll be starting it soon. Has anyone else started?

[Anastasia Kinderman]

Beverly wrote: "I will be peeking in.
I read this book when it was first released in 2007 for one of my bookclubs.
It is an intense book in many respects - not in the least that this event took place in the early ..."

Thank you!

[Anastasia Kinderman]

Just finished reading this book! It was definitely an interesting read. Who'll be joining in on the discussion?

[Carol]

My copy arrived yesterday, and I'm hoping to join in a couple of days after finishing my current book.

[Anastasia Kinderman]

Carol wrote: "My copy arrived yesterday, and I'm hoping to join in a couple of days after finishing my current book."

Alrighty!

[Anastasia Kinderman]

I find the title intriguing. Deaths as horrible and ugly as the one portrayed in the book really impact the people left behind. How symbolic do you guys think the title was of the content of the book?

Also what do you think of the idea to view things through the eyes of the son of a mortician?

[Londa]

Just picked my book up yesterday. I found the title intriguing as well. My first thought was of the swinging legs of a hanged person.

I'll be back with more thoughts as I get further along.

[Londa]

I did not notice it until the second time I opened the book, but there is a verse on the first pages from the Book of Mark. Underlined part in book.

The Blind Man at Bethsaida

22When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.

24 The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.”

I am still early in the book, but I guess it could refer to the way people in general see life through a blurred lens... never getting a true picture of reality until something/someone gives them clear sight.

[Anastasia Kinderman]

Londa wrote: "I did not notice it until the second time I opened the book, but there is a verse on the first pages from the Book of Mark. Underlined part in book.

The Blind Man at Bethsaida

22When they arrive..."

There is a lot of reflection in the book so that makes sense to me.

[kisha, The Clean Up Lady]

How symbolic do you guys think the title was of the content of the book?

Londa that was perfect the verse that you found in the Bible. The title is definitely symbolic. And that same metaphor can be used in today's society and everything that is going on in the media.

Also another passage in the prologue, "It took a few minutes for my eyes to get acclimated, but now I can see details in the darkness." I think it's no coincidence that the prologue starts off with a heavy topic about light and dark. I have a feeling this novel will be filled with metaphors and symbolism. And I'm gonna love it!

[Anastasia Kinderman]

kisha wrote: "How symbolic do you guys think the title was of the content of the book?

Londa that was perfect the verse that you found in the Bible. The title is definitely symbolic. And that same metaphor can ..."

How are you enjoying it thus far? It's a fairly short read, I think.

[Londa]

I have been enjoying it. It's not really a page turner yet though.

The fact that the narrator comes from a family of morticians is quite interesting. They have seen death in all of it's forms and yet this death is extremely hard on all of them.

I also like the struggle that he is having within himself about continuing the family business.

I took my book to work and left it there, so I won't be able to finish until next week.

[Londa]

kisha wrote: "Also another passage in the prologue, "It took a few minutes for my eyes to get acclimated, but now I can see details in the darkness." I think it's no coincidence that the prologue starts off with a heavy topic about light and dark. I have a feeling this novel will be filled with metaphors and symbolism. And I'm gonna love it! ..."

Details in the darkness.... yes that is quite telling.

[kisha, The Clean Up Lady]

It's going slow for me as well but still has my interest. I also find it interesting that we are getting to see morticians grieve.

[kisha, The Clean Up Lady]

"I had made more trips to churches for funerals than I had for worship, and each time I listened to the words the ministers used for death. Transition. Homegoing. Passing. But I had drained the last of the blood from the bodies that lay beneath the flowers. By my lights, dead was dead. I sometimes watched the still baptismal waters and waited for any sign of a spirit that could do the impossible, raise the dead simply by calling their names…..Each Sunday I bowed my head and said those words along with everyone else, like I was supposed to. Whenever the verse was spoken, I looked around the church and was reminded of how many people didn’t make it from one Sunday to the next, their names moved from the sick and shut-in lists to the funeral notices I would type. It seemed like those prayers were just a way of buying time, the faithful begging God to spare them from one Sunday to the next. Those final minutes of the hour of worship were the only time each Sunday that I said Amen."

This passage was very telling to me. How a mortician can constantly have their faith tested or loose faith altogether. What are your thoughts?

[Anastasia Kinderman]

kisha wrote: ""I had made more trips to churches for funerals than I had for worship, and each time I listened to the words the ministers used for death. Transition. Homegoing. Passing. But I had drained the las..."

I felt to some extent like it was an accurate representation. Sometimes people are just literally buying time.

The idea of telling this story from the perspective of a mortician was a pretty great idea, imo. I've never encountered that before. How many other people learned more about the trade than they probably wanted to know, lol?