October Group Read #2, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.

[Bil]

Does anyone remember the movie. As usual, doesn't hold a candle to the book.

[Nisar]

Bil wrote: "Nisar wrote: "Amy wrote: "I finished this one last week. It was my first book by this author. At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like it; the writing style was not quite what I was expecting, bu..."

Could you please suggest other Bradbury titles that are worth reading?

[Nisar]

Bil wrote: "Does anyone remember the movie. As usual, doesn't hold a candle to the book."

Glad I haven't watched it then.

[Suki]

I just finished SWTWC, and I really enjoyed it-- it moved along very well and kept me glued to the book, but in the end, although I liked it very very much, I did not love it. A lot of the prose was sheer magic, especially when Bradbury was describing being young in the autumn in a small town-- that was when I felt as if I was really in the story. This was my first time reading the book, and I never felt that it really crossed over the line into being a horror story-- to me, it read more like a dark fairy tale, with Mr Dark in the rôle of the wicked witch who wore his familiars on his skin. Some of the comments in this thread talked about the Green Town series-- I am not sure why this book is counted in the series; it is very different from the other books. I haven't read Fahrenheit 451, but I certainly will add it to my list after reading the comments above. I am currently reading The October Country (4 stories in) and so far I'm really enjoying it-- the tone is very different from SWTWC, and every year around Hallowe'en I like to revisit The Halloween Tree, which is one of my favorite autumn reads. Even if I don't read the entire story every year, I always read the description of the Great Tree. The first 5 or 6 chapters of that book carry me right back to being young at Hallowe'en.

[Lisa]

Bil wrote: "Does anyone remember the movie. As usual, doesn't hold a candle to the book."

I do, but it's been a few years since I've last watched it. I don't remember being very impressed. I do think that Jason Robards was good in his role.

I think that Stephen King must have drawn inspiration from this book, particularly in writing Needful Things.

[Bil]

So much of what makes the book work is the language and that, of course, doesn't come across in the film.

[Venessa]

Oh man, I love this book! It's probably my favorite Bradbury book. I'd love to do a reread, but I've already got too much on my shelf for this month :( But I'm definitely going to reread it over the later holidays now that I've been reminded how long it's been since I read it :)

[Jamesboggie]

I just finished the book. (view spoiler)[What does the carnival get from attendees? I got the sense that the carnival used the offer of youth or age to trick attendees, and made them into freak. Somehow Mr. Dark then drained energy from there. Is that right? What is the symbolic significance? (hide spoiler)]

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

(view spoiler)[Feelings/emotions which are encouraged to run rampant from Evil, Fear, Death fuel the carnival, like in every political campaign. Kidding! No, not. Every one of us has dark sides to our Natures. We must work at either suppressing or channeling the Darkness, and encouraging the Good. Otherwise we join the carnival of freaks. (hide spoiler)]

[Vickie]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Yes, that's what I pretty much felt too. Laughter is good for the soul folks! I try to laugh every day. Give it a try, you'll live longer. :-D Enjoyed the book and glad I finally read it.

[Nisar]

Suki wrote: "I just finished SWTWC, and I really enjoyed it-- it moved along very well and kept me glued to the book, but in the end, although I liked it very very much, I did not love it. A lot of the prose wa..."

That's a spot-on review especially your opinion of SWTWC being more of a dark fairy-tale than a horror story.

I'll check out The October Country if I ever get the chance to.

[Nisar]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Ahh yes that's pretty much true.

[Bil]

Nisar wrote: "Bil wrote: "Nisar wrote: "Amy wrote: "I finished this one last week. It was my first book by this author. At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like it; the writing style was not quite what I was e..."

Fahrenheit 451 is top of the list

[Nisar]

Bil wrote: "Nisar wrote: "Bil wrote: "Nisar wrote: "Amy wrote: "I finished this one last week. It was my first book by this author. At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like it; the writing style was not quit..."

Any suggestions besides F451? Already read that.

[Bil]

Illustrated Man and Martian Chronicles. IMO they don't hold up quite as well as SWTWC but they are solid and interesting books that capture a certain time in the writing of speculative fiction.

[ElleEm]

Nisar wrote: "I've read up to location 2273 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I also felt that scene was one of the best in the book so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Nisar]

Bil wrote: "Illustrated Man and Martian Chronicles. IMO they don't hold up quite as well as SWTWC but they are solid and interesting books that capture a certain time in the writing of speculative fiction."

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check 'em out soon.

[Nisar]

ElleEm wrote: "Nisar wrote: "I've read up to location 2273 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Glad that someone else also feels that way! =D

[Jamesboggie]

I think age and life perspective are major themes of this novel. The kids want to be old. The adults want to be young. People are unwilling to accept their place in life with joy, so they become vulnerable to evil. Only Charles and Will accept their place, so only they make it out unscathed.

This book was inspired by a number of events at different points in Bradbury's life, and it seems they inspired self-reflection. I think Will and Charles are both author insert characters. Charles tells Will the things Bradbury wishes he had been told as a child.

[Nisar]

Jamesboggie wrote: "I think age and life perspective are major themes of this novel. The kids want to be old. The adults want to be young. People are unwilling to accept their place in life with joy, so they become vu..."

That's an on-point perspective. I also had the same feeling about Will and Charles being author insert characters.

[terrence]

i love this book ill be reading it with the group

[Lisa]

Jamesboggie wrote: "I think age and life perspective are major themes of this novel. The kids want to be old. The adults want to be young. People are unwilling to accept their place in life with joy, so they become vu..."

Great observations, very insightful.

[BenW]

While it not be my favourite novel of all time, the first three-quarters are way, way up there. It's just such a lovely book about language and aging. Even on a reread a few years ago, I'd go through a page, look at all the uses of language, put it down, and be filled for the day.

Although I'm going to dissent and say that the movie, while it follows along beat for beat until the finale in a fairly standard adaptation way, everything in the movie after The Library Scene is done better and still fits thematically.
(Although I'd say the book is more about sons and the movie tilts it to being more about fathers)

But that first three-quarters. Amazing.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

BenW wrote: "While it not be my favourite novel of all time, the first three-quarters are way, way up there. It's just such a lovely book about language and aging. Even on a reread a few years ago, I'd go throu..."

Agree!

; )