December Group Read #1- The Willows

[Latasha]

The Willows won the poll! We will begin Dec. 1 and this runs until Dec.31. Please remember to use spoilers, page numbers and %. Enjoy and everyone have a wonderful and magical Christmas! This book is in the public domain so you should be able to find it for free. You can use this link or find it somewhere else if you prefer.
https://www.amazon.com/Willows-Algern...

[Marie]

I will be joining in on the read. I downloaded the book over a week ago, so I will be ready to go. This is my first group read and I am excited! :)

[Latasha]

Welcome Maria. I hope you have a great time.

[Marie]

Latasha wrote: "Welcome Maria. I hope you have a great time."

Thanks, Lastasha! :)

[Quentin]

I read this one last year so I won't be joining in but will probably check out the comments. I will say it's a good and creepy read! I think everyone will enjoy it.

[Tyler]

This is my first group read too, so excited ^_^

[Walter]

I've heard many good things about this one. Look forward to reading and discussing it with everyone.

[Tania]

Will try to join...it is a short story am I right?

[Imbunche]

I read this in August, so I will not be reading it again now, but I enjoyed it a lot, thought it was really creepy

Tania wrote: "Will try to join...it is a short story am I right?"

Yeah, it's a short story.

[Quantum]

Imbunche wrote: "I read this in August, so I will not be reading it again now, but I enjoyed it a lot, thought it was really creepy

Tania wrote: "Will try to join...it is a short story am I right?"

Yeah, it's a ..."

technically, it's a novella (17,501 - 40k), but yeah, it's substantially shorter than a novel. i'm at 58%

[Trinity]

We start December first, right?

[Amanda]

This is my first group read and I am super excited to start this book. It's downloaded and ready to go.

[Latasha]

Trinity wrote: "We start December first, right?"

yes, the read begins dec. 1 and you have all month to read it.

[Katy]

Latasha wrote: "Trinity wrote: "We start December first, right?"

yes, the read begins dec. 1 and you have all month to read it."

I read it earlier this year so I'll chime in from time to time. It was creepy.

Oh those boating trips...

[Kylie]

Quentin wrote: "I read this one last year so I won't be joining in but will probably check out the comments. I will say it's a good and creepy read! I think everyone will enjoy it."

Yeah, same. I'll be joining in with the other one though.

[Vicki Willis]

I have this one loaded on my kindle. Will be ready to start on Dec. 1!

[Walter]

I just read it, but will of course wait till December 1 to discuss it.

Interestingly enough, I read the link I've enclosed here in spoiler tags just prior to reading The Willows, a bit of serendipity so serendipitious one is tempted to wonder if it can be entirely explained by coincidence. Don't read it unless or until you've read The Willows, since the material relates to the story's plot: (view spoiler)[http://thechive.com/2016/11/22/creepy... (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

I like to re-read this one every year! I'll wait until December 1st to start--it will be so exciting to get in on a conversation with this one!!!

[Kimberly]

Walter wrote: "I just read it, but will of course wait till December 1 to discuss it.

Interestingly enough, I read the link I've enclosed here in spoiler tags just prior to reading The Willows, a bit of serendip..."

Walter--that was a great article! (view spoiler)[ Having read the WILLOWS at least ten times by now, I can really appreciate the "questions" it brings to mind as to how Blackwood originally conceived this tale. (hide spoiler)]

[cinnamonwitch]

Hey guys,

I'm glad this one was chosen as it was the one I voted for! This is my first group read and I'm looking forward to it :)

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane)]

Yipee! Love short horror stories.

[Joel]

Somehow I've never read this, so am looking forward to joining this one!

[Perry]

Read it before and looking forward to a refresher. :)

[Monica]

I don't read many short stories, but you guys made me very excited about this :D can't wait to start it!

[Dean]

I'll be dipping my toe in with this one also. I'm not reading NEAR enough so maybe this group and a few other Goodreads things will give me the kick in the pants I need. I'm into Head Full Of Of Ghosts right now so I'd better get at ''er. Wish me luck! (Motivation really)

[Aki]

I also just read this recently, so I'll just check in for comments. Might just re-read it, it is short but will wait until Dec. 1.

[Quantum]

Just finished! I enjoyed it. Looking forward to the discussion.

[Joel]

I read the first half of this on my morning commute, so I imagine I will finish it today. Great atmosphere and am greatly looking forward to the second half and the forthcoming discussion.

[Tania]

Took me an hour to find the right group and right post! But got it, going to start reading shortly :)

[Latasha]

Oh yeah! It's December. Let the reading begin!

[[deleted user]]

My first group read! Very excited to start!

[Lena]

Just started!

[Tania]

hmmm struggling a bit. the mature writing (as opposed to YA-type of books) is requiring a heck of a lot of concentration.

[Marie]

I agree with Tania - it is a struggle for me too as I am not use to the writing - I usually read books with a little more action - lol

[Lena]

23% in. The first few river obsessed pages were an absolute trudge but it's picking up.

[[deleted user]]

I'll be starting this in the next day or so. It's always nice when a group pick is "free."

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I'm gonna be reading this via audio. The whispersync was only $2.99 after getting the free ebook. Bargain!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Ugh, my Ipod is full! I'll have to finish a book first and will join in then (a week or so). Enjoy everyone!

[Quantum]

Lena wrote: "23% in. The first few river obsessed pages were an absolute trudge but it's picking up."

one does need to get in sync with the style of its day (1907). its style is closer to the present-day than say The Tale of Cthulhu.

[Kimberly]

So atmospheric! This is one that I could always "feel" like I was there, while reading.

[Latasha]

I'll start one day next week. Sorry it's a struggle for some of y'all. I love older stuff but I guess next time I'll have to take that into consideration. I've read this before but it's been ages ago.

[Latasha]

Yeah I know but I want everyone to enjoy it & have a good time.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "Yeah I know but I want everyone to enjoy it & have a good time."

Not every book or story "resonates" will all readers--that's what makes these discussions so interesting! Personally, if I had to pick one for my favorite short story of all time, it would be this one. In general--for the classic horror--I usually go with M.R. James. :)

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane)]

75% through now. Still waiting for it to get "horrorfying". And reading it is like wading through 2 day old porridge. Nice prose though.

[Latasha]

If I had to pick a favorite short story mine would be the dead valley but I do really LOVE Ambrose Bierce!

[Lena]

Best horror short story was Seventh - legit scary.

Thank you Randy - I found it because of your free kindle book lists!

[Marie]

John wrote: "There are some awfully long sentences, and by the time he finished with the river, I almost forgot he was describing a river. lol"

You got that right, John! lol

[Marie]

The first few pages felt like I was trying to walk through quick sand, but it is finally picking up a little speed and it is starting to get a little interesting, but nothing "boo" scary yet. I am halfway through.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I am at 50%.

O _ O

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane)]

Lena wrote: "Best horror short story was Seventh - legit scary.

Thank you Randy - I found it because of your free kindle book lists!"

Thanks for that link Lena. I've added it to my to-read list.