October 2014 Monthly Read: The Halloween Tree

[Char]

I just won a free audiobook of this this, so I'll be listening to this one. :)

[Holly]

It is a quick read......we could always double up and read two books this month. Although your point about pumpkin carving is a good one, I carve between 4 and 6 dozen every Halloween. I should follow Charlene's example and do audio books in October so I can carve & read at the same time.

[Ctgt]

@Holly-between 4 and 6 dozen?! We're lucky to get one done.

I just picked up a copy from the library yesterday.

(view spoiler)[ I enjoyed the scene when the boys discover the house.

The house was special and fine and tall and dark. There must have been a thousand windows in its sides, all shimmering with cold stars. It looked as if it had been cut out of black marble instead of timbers, and inside? who could guess how many rooms, halls, breezeways, attics.

With so many chimneys, the roof seemed a vast cemetery, each chimney signifying the burial place of some old god of fire or enchantress of steam, smoke, and firefly spark.

The planks, each tuned to an A or an F or a C, sang out their uncanny music as heavy shoes scraped on them. And if there had been time and it were noon, they might have danced out a cadaver's tune or a skeleton's rigadoon, for who can resist an ancient porch which, like a gigantic xylophone, only wants to be jumped on to make music?

For me, these moments capture a bit of the magic found in the imagination of a child. (hide spoiler)]

I'm also enjoying the spot illustrations.

[Gregor]

I'd like to join in. I just recently read this one and thought it was fantastic. Now, despite the title of this thread, this is the October read, right?

[Scott]

Since it is short, I am probably going to wait until it is closer to Halloween to start.

[Ctgt]

Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud

Love that name.

[Char]

Gregor wrote: "I'd like to join in. I just recently read this one and thought it was fantastic. Now, despite the title of this thread, this is the October read, right?"

Hi, Gregor! Nice to see you here. :)

[Gregor]

Has anyone both listened to and read this book? Your thoughts on both experiences?

I've only listened to it, and I'm sure my experience was different as a result. But, considering the subject matter and the target age group (kids of all-ages), it seemed the perfect way to experience it, like you're being read to as a child. Also, I think the writing, the use of language here, is just asking to be read aloud.

[Ctgt]

Gregor wrote: "Has anyone both listened to and read this book? Your thoughts on both experiences?

I've only listened to it, and I'm sure my experience was different as a result. But, considering the subject matt..."

I read the book but I did check Audible and they had two different versions but I wasn't thrilled with either of the samples I heard. Charlene, who narrated the version you have?

[Ctgt]

Randolph wrote: "Like that little rhyme he throws in there. "

Me too. I don't usually like that but it seemed appropriate for this story.

[Char]

Bronson Pinchot is the narrator of the version I have.

[Gregor]

Charlene wrote: "Bronson Pinchot is the narrator of the version I have."

Yeah, that's the one I listened to. I haven't listened to many audio books, but I thought he did a great job, especially with Moundshroud.

[Gregor]

Ctgt wrote: "Randolph wrote: "Like that little rhyme he throws in there. "

Me too. I don't usually like that but it seemed appropriate for this story."

I usually don't like that type of thing, either. But, like you say, it fits with THIS story just fine.

[Ronald]

It has been suggested that we read two books this month.

Maybe the group can considder Roger Zelazny's _A Night In Lonesome October_. It is recently back in print. The characters in the book are the heroes and villains from fantastic literature.

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Lonesome-...

[Char]

I'm just starting The Halloween Tree now. :)

[Holly]

The book reminds me of what it felt like to be a kid on Halloween. It was always my favorite holiday in childhood.

[Quentin]

Just finished this book tonight, really liked it. Bradbury basically shows both the history of Halloween and how its celebrated all over the world in really clever ways. It seemed a little deep for children but it really did take me back to my childhood and what Halloween was like for me back then. Bradbury's prose almost came across as stream-of-consciousness in parts, but he never crossed the line, instead did a good job of walking it and never quite making it too surreal to understand.

Overall I did like it, more for the general feeling it gave me rather than anything special that happened in the story. Like some others have said, for someone as into Halloween as I am, I am shocked I haven't read this one before now.

[Scott]

Well, this was alright. The writing was a bit fanciful, even for Ray. I liked the idea of giving all the "out-of-work" mythologies something to do.

[Char]

I'm about 3 quarters of the way through so far. I should finish it tomorrow.
What's with the sarcasm question? Are you referring to Bradbury's remarks regarding religion?

[Char]

I finished this today and I enjoyed it. I would consider it more of a dark fantasy YA story than anything else. I loved the vivid imagery of the tree and all the different places they visited.

Regarding the sarcasm question, I thought you were asking something you already knew the answer to. (view spoiler)[ Since that's not the case, I think I spotted a little sarcasm towards religion...especially when Moundshroud was sort of recapping everything...here were these people and then came the Romans and then came the Catholics. To me that seemed to be sarcastic in tone, almost as if to say, whatever religion or group of people is there, they will soon fall.
Then towards the end when they were talking about giving up a year of their lives, the tone seemed to turn religious again, talking about rewards and whatnot. So, I'm confused as to whether this is a pro religion story or an anti religion story. OR maybe, it's just a story.? (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

I think Gregor noted it at some point, but whatever, it happens.
I just realized that September's read for the HA group was still up. Whoops. :)

[Kirstin]

I really enjoyed this book. (view spoiler)[I have to say I was concerned for Pip and thought they would all come back to find out that he had died. I loved when they saw the Mexican celebrations and thought about remembering the dead. I also loved the idea of looking for 'The True Meaning of Halloween'. I think Dio de los muertos would be the best definition of that.

I also loved the history of the witches. when he explains that they were just knowledgeable people with no magic. Very sad. "Do you want to be a witch now?" He asks the boys. (hide spoiler)]

Over all, it was a great story, but it wasn't quite as magical as I was hoping for.

[Scott]

Kirstin wrote: "I also loved the history of the witches. when he explains that they were just knowledgeable people with no magic."

Oh yeah, that was a nice bit.

[Quentin]

Randolph wrote: "Overall I think the comments reflect that the book was okay but nothing spectacular or deep."

I would agree with that totally. I liked it, but it wasn't anything that blew me away.

[Holly]

As a pagan I was already well read on the subject of Halloween, Samhain, etc, so this book didn't have anything new in it. I did enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of the story.