November 2016 Group Read #1-Something Wicked This Way Comes

[Rachel]

I'm only on page like 37 but I wish I had bought my copy so I could underline or highlight lines that I think are really beautiful.

[SheriC]

Rachel wrote: "I'm only on page like 37 but I wish I had bought my copy so I could underline or highlight lines that I think are really beautiful."

I know! It makes me a little sad that I'll lose all my notes and highlights when I remove the library ebook. But I'm already 35% in, so I didn't want to wait on a purchased hardcopy. I'll have to save that for future re-reads.

[Char]

YES to you both, Sheri and Rachel!

The thing I love most about Bradbury is his beautiful prose. I'm listening to audio, but it's not Christian Rummel, it's someone else. A few times now, I wish I was reading in print and had me a nice highlighter. :)

[Heather]

I had found a copy of this at a used book store. Loving it. His prose makes me so happy even when it deals with more dark themes.

[Kimberly]

Char wrote: "YES to you both, Sheri and Rachel!

The thing I love most about Bradbury is his beautiful prose. I'm listening to audio, but it's not Christian Rummel, it's someone else. A few times now, I wish I..."

If I happen to be reading a physical book, I always have a notebook nearby to write down the quotes that I especially enjoy. This book had quite a few of them!!

[SheriC]

Kimberly wrote: "If I happen to be reading a physical book, I always have a notebook nearby to write down the quotes that I especially enjoy ..."

That's a great idea. I just keep a post-it note pad handy and tag all the parts I liked, so I can go back later. This book might require it's own pad.

[Kasia]

Kimberly wrote: "Char wrote: "YES to you both, Sheri and Rachel!

The thing I love most about Bradbury is his beautiful prose. I'm listening to audio, but it's not Christian Rummel, it's someone else. A few times ..."

Same here, I'm all ready on my 3rd little Moleskine reporter notebook :)

[Kasia]

Okie I finally started this gem, on chapter two, trying to sneak some reading at work since it's slow and quiet today.

[Nancy]

I checked it out from the library and around ch 40 someone's handwritten notes fell out of the book.

[Graeme]

LOL Nancy. Bonus.

I'm quickly gonna check my ebook to see if I'm that lucky...

[Kasia]

Im starting chapter 7, taking my time and enjoying the writing.

[Rachel]

i'm on page 107 right before the end of part 1 and (view spoiler)[that's so cool about the merry go round, i wasn't expecting that!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Adam]

Just started this one ^_^

[Monica]

I just started the second part and I'm enjoying it. Some quotes are really good like the very first of the second part, but I still have trouble sometimes because of the complex sentencens. No big deal though. The writing is quite dark at times and poetic.

[Kasia]

Monica wrote: "I just started the second part and I'm enjoying it. Some quotes are really good like the very first of the second part, but I still have trouble sometimes because of the complex sentencens. No big ..."

I have to slow myself down, I'm used to reading and thinking about other things at the same time, can't do that with this book.

[Monica]

Kasia wrote: "Monica wrote: "I just started the second part and I'm enjoying it. Some quotes are really good like the very first of the second part, but I still have trouble sometimes because of the complex sent..."

Yes! I agree. I feel better now :D

[Rachel]

This book has some sad lines in it :(

[Monica]

I'm really enjoying the story at the moment. I'm a little past half of thr book and have no idea what could happen at the end.

[Nora]

I am on page 111 and I am loving the adventure. When reading Ray Bradbury I always have to remind myself before I start that I cannot speed through it like I do so many others. His work is definitely meant to be absorbed slowly to really experience the beauty. Like many others have said I very much wish it was my copy so I could highlight parts for later. No worries though I already know I will be reading this book again.

[Rachel]

just reached part III!!!

[Rachel]

The scene in the library right before the beginning of Part III was so good.

(view spoiler)[I was so scared for everyone. The illustrated man is so creepy but really cool. I'm a big fan of tattoos and body art so i think he's my favorite freak LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Monica]

Yes it was! I'm at the same point.

[Quentin]

I just found something out tonight that I'm sure some of you know, but I never did. I happen to be reading a reprint of an old EC Comic, The Haunt of Fear, and it has an adaptation of a Ray Bradbury story called The Black Ferris. This was originally published I think in Weird Tales in 1948, then adapted for the comic in 1953. This story basically was used for the first 80 pages of Something Wicked This Way Comes. The boys names are Peter and Hank, but Mr. Cooger is there, as is a dwarf. Instead of a carousel, this story has a ferris wheel. Miss Foley is there too.

(view spoiler)[ The ferris wheel operates just like the carousel, as Cooger climbs on it, the dwarf runs it backwards and it makes him younger. In this story he just uses it to sneak into Miss Foley's house pretending to be an orphan to rob her. The boys find out, and when he gets back on the ferris wheel they attack the dwarf so Cooger just ages until he's a skeleton, and that's the end of the story. Of course, in the novel he survives and the story continues. (hide spoiler)]

I don't know what the odds would be that I'd just happen to read that story at the same time I'm reading the novel, but I thought it was something interesting I'd share with the group.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Quentin wrote: "I just found something out tonight that I'm sure some of you know, but I never did. I happen to be reading a reprint of an old EC Comic, The Haunt of Fear, and it has an adaptation of a Ray Bradbur..."

WOW! Cool.

[Monica]

I finished the book and really enjoyed it! (view spoiler)[ so as I gather, the smiles and joy killed the bad guys and Mr. Dark had like the other freaks trapped in his tattoos?? He was a very fascinating figure! (hide spoiler)]

[Latoya]

I'm late I should have read it last month but was reading to much classic horror:).

Stefan Rudnicki narrates :) .

[Latoya]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Quentin wrote: "I just found something out tonight that I'm sure some of you know, but I never did. I happen to be reading a reprint of an old EC Comic, The Haunt of Fear, and it has an adaptation ..."

Interesting :)

I already feel bad for the Dad.

[Rachel]

I finished the book tonight. :)

[Anthony]

I'm not digging the constant rambling of the author Ray Bradbury. I've heard people say they understand what he saying, but I'm not sure if anyone can understand a ramblers words unless you're the rambler himself. I get some writers want to be poetic, but this is getting a bit much. I'm six chapters in and..... Does it get better? I'm trying to give the book its due, because when he's not being weird, he writes good. But will it get better after chapter 6? Or should I expect the same?

[Rachel]

Anthony wrote: "I'm not digging the constant rambling of the author Ray Bradbury. I've heard people say they understand what he saying, but I'm not sure if anyone can understand a ramblers words unless you're the ..."

lol. I think the rambling increases... or at least stays the same. i enjoyed it, but some of it was purple prose-y.

[Rachel]

V wrote: "aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Quentin wrote: "I just found something out tonight that I'm sure some of you know, but I never did. I happen to be reading a reprint of an old EC Comic, The Haunt..."


The dad broke my heart. Especially when (view spoiler)[he's in the mirror maze seeing himself older. That was a cool scene though! (hide spoiler)]

I really liked one line from the book toward the end, when the dad says (view spoiler)["Good is evil to evil." (hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

Rachel wrote: "Anthony wrote: "I'm not digging the constant rambling of the author Ray Bradbury. I've heard people say they understand what he saying, but I'm not sure if anyone can understand a ramblers words un..."

Well ok. I bought the book on Amazon because of recommendations. I'll stick with it a little longer, but can someone recommend something great.....without the purple prose? Any suggestions, Rachel?

[Quentin]

Anthony wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Anthony wrote: "I'm not digging the constant rambling of the author Ray Bradbury. I've heard people say they understand what he saying, but I'm not sure if anyone can understand a ra..."

I know just what you're saying Anthony. I have the same problem with Bradbury and it always keeps me from really getting into the story. I get so caught up reading the prose, which is very interesting in itself, that I don't understand what he's trying to say sometimes and I get lost. I'm usually able to keep up just enough to finish, but his prose is a bit thick for me.

[Anthony]

Quentin wrote: "Anthony wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Anthony wrote: "I'm not digging the constant rambling of the author Ray Bradbury. I've heard people say they understand what he saying, but I'm not sure if anyone can..."
Yeah, I get it, people do like that kind of style, and there is no disrespect to those who do from me. I just think it's a shame, because every time I cut through the jurgen, there is a good story underneath. Lol, he should have wrote two versions.

[Anthony]

If I say people are like the shades of sand, and animals are like the scales of fish, waving the water. Seriously, who's going to know what that means? Unless you're in my own head, it will always be open to interpretation. No?

[Monica]

Rachel wrote: "V wrote: "aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Quentin wrote: "I just found something out tonight that I'm sure some of you know, but I never did. I happen to be reading a reprint of an old EC Comic,..."

I liked that a lot!

[Monica]

Anthony wrote: "If I say people are like the shades of sand, and animals are like the scales of fish, waving the water. Seriously, who's going to know what that means? Unless you're in my own head, it will always ..."
Hahaha yes, I think. I had the same problem, in fact this was me starting it a second time, But once I was able to focus on the story itself I enjoyed it more.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

It just takes so long to actually get to the story. It should not take a third of your book to set the scene.

[Tom]

SheriC (Portable Magic) wrote: "I've started the audio and am loving Christian Rummel's performance. But Bradbury's descriptions are so delicious that I want to stop and savor them, which is hard to do on audio. So I've downloade..."

That's become a common practice for me.

[Tom]

Out of curiosity, have recent events made it difficult to focus on audiobooks, or any book for that matter? I start listening to the story and then something is said and 'bang' I off thinking about what the future holds. As much as I love Bradbury's prose, his rambling style doesn't exactly keep me focused on the story.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I could not read for two days. Audiobooks were worse. I haven't listened to so much music for months.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

I found rereading old favourites was good. But I didn't pick up this one again until the weekend. I don't know about audiobooks. Mostly it was videogames for me.

[SheriC]

I was completely put off the audiobooks. After I finished SWTWC, I went through several DNFs before deciding to fall back on a reread. But I don't seem to be having trouble with regular bound books. Maybe because it's easier for my mind to get distracted and wander during audios? The brain has to be fully engaged when actually reading text, I guess.

[Rachel]

Anthony wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Anthony wrote: "I'm not digging the constant rambling of the author Ray Bradbury. I've heard people say they understand what he saying, but I'm not sure if anyone can understand a ra..."


hmm.... did you read harvest home with us last month?
or did you ever read Bird Box? I really liked them.

[Quentin]

I finished this one today. I did like it, but really not as much as I was hoping. I just have a problem with Bradbury's florid prose. I'm glad I read it though, as once I fought my way through the writing the story was cool.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For those of you who have seen the movie, how was it?

[Tom]

I finished the book last night. It had a very surreal, nightmarish quality to it. No wait, maybe that was the election I'm thinking about.

Seriously, I did enjoy it. There were times where Bradbury's reveries grew a bit tedious but either they decreased or my tolerance of them increased as the story progressed.

I watched the movie a couple decades ago and, if memory serves, it pretty closely followed the book.

[Tom]

Here is my review. Thank you to whoever suggested this great book.

[Anthony]

Rachel wrote: "Anthony wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Anthony wrote: "I'm not digging the constant rambling of the author Ray Bradbury. I've heard people say they understand what he saying, but I'm not sure if anyone can..."

No. I'm fairly new to the group.

[Monica]

Quentin wrote: "I finished this one today. I did like it, but really not as much as I was hoping. I just have a problem with Bradbury's florid prose. I'm glad I read it though, as once I fought my way through the ..."

I watched the movie from th '83 right after and although it is pretty faithful to the book I didn't really enjoy the cast for some main characters. They were not how I imagined them.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

And right when I sit down to get back to the book, guess who's Kindle is out of power.