The Croning by Laird Barron

[Jill]

Hi everybody! I just joined the group and would love to read this with you all. I've been wanting to give Laird Barron a try for a while now.

[Char]

Hello and welcome, Jill! We're glad to have you!

With buddy reads this is how it works:
Everyone can read at their own pace. Whenever you feel like making a comment, come on in, list first the percentage, page number or chapter number you're on, and then put your post within spoiler tags. (Directions as to how to make spoiler tags can be found above the box where you type, where it says (some html is ok)).
This way, everyone knows where in the book you are, and then they can choose to click and see your comments or not.
If anyone has any questions, just let me know.

We're going to have a great time with this book!

[Kristy]

I read this a while back and I loved it but I cannot even begin to tell you why.

This book made me feel like I dropped into some vortex outside of time and my recollection of it, now that I'm back in real, physical, time and space, is muzzy.

Maybe I love that it transported me.

Happy reading, everybody!

[11811 (Eleven)]

Kristy wrote: "I read this a while back and I loved it but I cannot even begin to tell you why.

This book made me feel like I dropped into some vortex outside of time and my recollection of it, now that I'm back..."

Well said. I'm still in that vortex. How does one escape? Can I sue Barron for premeditated vortexing?

[Kristy]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Well said. I'm still in that vortex. How does one escape? Can I sue Barron for premeditated vortexing?"

One day, you'll just wake up and things will be crisp again. You will feel like you're back in the 'real world' and you will not wish to sue Barron any longer. You will be grateful for the new perspective.

Until then, I recommend a vigorous head-shake when the creeps are too deep.

[Char]

Kristy wrote: "11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Well said. I'm still in that vortex. How does one escape? Can I sue Barron for premeditated vortexing?"

One day, you'll just wake up and things will be crisp again. You wil..."

Love your comments, Kristy. I'm now even more excited than I was.

[Kristy]

Charlene wrote: "Kristy wrote: "11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Well said. I'm still in that vortex. How does one escape? Can I sue Barron for premeditated vortexing?"

One day, you'll just wake up and things will be crisp ..."

I think you'll all dig it. :-)

[11811 (Eleven)]

Charlene wrote: "Kristy wrote: "11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Well said. I'm still in that vortex. How does one escape? Can I sue Barron for premeditated vortexing?"

One day, you'll just wake up and things will be crisp ..."

Kristy is a Shaman and I wish to subscribe to her newsletter

[Char]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Kristy is a Shaman and I wish to subscribe to her newsletter
..."

LOL

[Ctgt]

I'm about 1/3 in and it has been a slow burn so far but I am really enjoying the subtle things he is dropping in. I have some spots highlighted but I am at work now so I'll have to post them later tonight.

[Char]

I'm only 6% in, but I'm enjoying myself so far. I already had to consult my Kindle dictionary a couple of times. :)

[11811 (Eleven)]

Charlene wrote: "I'm only 6% in, but I'm enjoying myself so far. I already had to consult my Kindle dictionary a couple of times. :)"

You win. I spent more time on the dictionary than the book. Still, so worth the extra effort in this case.

[Nickronomicon]

Ok, I'll stop what I'm reading now and join. I can't resist reading along and talking it out with you guys. I've become a big Laird Barron fan. I don't always know what's happening or what he's talking about, but I like it!

[Char]

Nick wrote: "Ok, I'll stop what I'm reading now and join. I can't resist reading along and talking it out with you guys. I've become a big Laird Barron fan. I don't always know what's happening or what he's tal..."

I'm not afraid to say that I don't always know what's happening either, (not in this particular book so far, but in previous Barron books I've read), but I trust the author enough that all will be revealed, in time.

And welcome to our buddy read Nick! :)

[Kristy]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Kristy wrote: "11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Well said. I'm still in that vortex. How does one escape? Can I sue Barron for premeditated vortexing?"

One day, you'll just wake up and thin..."

Now I have to write a newsletter? This is seriously going to cut into my 'doing nothing' time as well as my 'nobody bug me' time. How'm I gong to get anything done?

:-)

[Ctgt]

So I'm reading the Kindle version and don't have page numbers but this comes from chapter 1.

Love this
(view spoiler)[A forbidding structure of granite blocks and carven pillars, the whole shot through with cracks from age and earthquake (a massive shaker had hit the region about ten years ago, according to the innkeeper-The Worm turned, he quipped with a sour grin) and covered in unwholesome nothern black mold and thorny vines.

A great hint at what might be coming. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Yep, loved that too. Vivid but not long winded descriptions. :)

[Jon Recluse]

Starting this tonight!

[Char]

Excellent, Jon!

[11811 (Eleven)]

Charlene wrote: "Yep, loved that too. Vivid but not long winded descriptions. :)"

Borderline poetry.

[Nickronomicon]

I almost got through chapter 1 last night, just couldn't keep my eyes open! I hate that!
Really interesting so far - the Barron version of Rumpelstiltskin isn't quite the way i remember it haha!
By the way, got an email from Night Shade Books today that Barron's Occultation is only $1.99 today!

[Kaisersoze]

Got Occulation! Thanks for the heads up, Nick. That's the benefits of poking your head in where it's not warranted ;-)

[11811 (Eleven)]

Nick wrote: "I almost got through chapter 1 last night, just couldn't keep my eyes open! I hate that!
Really interesting so far - the Barron version of Rumpelstiltskin isn't quite the way i remember it haha!
By..."

Good stuff. Highly recommended.


http://smile.amazon.com/Occultation-L...

[Char]

End of Chapter 2, but haven't read Chapter 2.5 yet. Or 19%.
(view spoiler)[ That was a strange episode with Don and his wife, Michelle. This little bit freaked me out: (from Don's POV): "When he managed to summon the strength to look, he beheld the wondrous sight of Ramirez levitating as if a puppet jerked off his feet by a string, then flying in reverse into the greater darkness of the cavern. He shrieked piteously and flailed with the torch and vanished." (hide spoiler)]
WTF? Chilling!

[Jon Recluse]

Nick wrote: "I almost got through chapter 1 last night, just couldn't keep my eyes open! I hate that!
Really interesting so far - the Barron version of Rumpelstiltskin isn't quite the way i remember it haha!
By..."

Really out-grims the Brothers Grimm, doesn't it?

[Char]

Yeah, it does!

I'm at the point today (19%), that I just want to sit down and immerse myself in this. Right now. Now now now.
Stupid work.

[Jon Recluse]

We should be paid to read......

[Nickronomicon]

If you figure out a way - let me know! My lunch break is about the only free time I have to read, and it's never long enough!

[11811 (Eleven)]

Jon Recluse wrote: "We should be paid to read......"

I'd like to fill out an application, please.

[Ctgt]

Charlene wrote: "End of Chapter 2, but haven't read Chapter 2.5 yet. Or 19%.
[spoilers removed]
WTF? Chilling!"

The end of that whole sequence was almost otherworldly.

(view spoiler)[It's very interesting how the whole idea of his wife being gone gets glossed over, then suddenly she's by his side with no explanation as to what happened or where she might have been. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Ctgt wrote: "Charlene wrote: "End of Chapter 2, but haven't read Chapter 2.5 yet. Or 19%.
[spoilers removed]
WTF? Chilling!"

The end of that whole sequence was almost otherworldly.

[spoilers removed]"

Yes, very strange. I'm sure we'll learn more about that later. ?

[[deleted user]]

I am reading The Croning.

[Char]

Great to have you, Clay!

[Char]

I'm at about 40%. (view spoiler)[ We're spending all this time with Don's family. I can't help but wonder how all of this is going to tie together? (hide spoiler)]

[Ctgt]

Charlene wrote: "I'm at about 40%. [spoilers removed]"

Agreed.
(view spoiler)[I was disappointed with the inclusion of the witch story for the same reasons. That whole scene seemed out of place with the rest of the story. I really hope this all comes back together somehow. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Good stuff. Highly recommended.
Occultation and Other Stories by Laird Barron

http://smile.amazon.com/Occultation-L..."

Thanks Eleven, I went ahead and bought it since it's such a good deal. I think it's only a few bucks more to get the audio version along with it, so I may do that too. I've been wanting to try one of those ebook/audiobook read/listen syncs.

I've only just started The Croning, but I'm really enjoying it so far. It's not what I was expecting, since my only previous experience with this author is The Imago Sequence. This has a lot more humor, which is not a characteristic I normally associate with Lovecraftian horror. Curious to see how the story develops once I'm past this fairy tale intro section (which I assume it does, judging from the book description).

[Robert]

Being that I'm not really a Lovecraft "fan" would I have a tough go with "The Croning" and other books by Laird Barron?

[Ctgt]

@Andy-I loved Imago. All I've read of Barron are shorts so that's why I was a little apprehensive about this book. Novel length stories don't always work for horror/weird tales, too hard to sustain the sense of dread/horror/discomfort. It can be done but it's hard to pull off.

[Char]

Bob wrote: "Being that I'm not really a Lovecraft "fan" would I have a tough go with "The Croning" and other books by Laird Barron?"

I don't think you have to be a fan of Lovecraft to enjoy Barron's work. Perhaps a little familiarity with the cosmic horror theme would help. I've only read The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All: Stories and The Light is the Darkness, so far though, so I can only speak as to those two volumes.

[Char]

Ctgt wrote: "Charlene wrote: "I'm at about 40%. [spoilers removed]"

Agreed.
[spoilers removed]"

That's the part that I'm on now.

[Ctgt]

Charlene wrote: "That's the part that I'm on now."

Damn. Sorry Charlene, I thought you were past that already. Hope I didn't spoil it for you :(

[Ctgt]

Bob wrote: "Being that I'm not really a Lovecraft "fan" would I have a tough go with "The Croning" and other books by Laird Barron?"

I agree with Charlene. I believe you could enjoy Barron without being a Lovecraft fan. There are plenty of shorts out there for you to test teh waters without a big commitment.

I did find this quote from an interview Barron did with the website unwinnable

“My mythology involves two major concepts: A) a conspiracy; almost nothing is coincidental; vast and malevolent forces manipulate events; humans are pawns; B) everything in the universe is mated with something else and it’s all traveling at tremendous velocity.

“Sooner or later these objects – planets, stars, bullets, people, whatever – intersect. There’s only fate. You can manipulate your trajectory to some degree, but sooner or later, you’re going to crash into something, or it is going to crash into you.”

[Char]

Ctgt wrote: "Charlene wrote: "That's the part that I'm on now."

Damn. Sorry Charlene, I thought you were past that already. Hope I didn't spoil it for you :("

No, you didn't. No worries! :)

[Ctgt]

A little off topic but Lovecraft-ezine is doing a live interview with Barron this Sunday.

Here's the link

Lovecraft-ezine live

[11811 (Eleven)]

Ctgt wrote: "A little off topic but Lovecraft-ezine is doing a live interview with Barron this Sunday.

Here's the link

Lovecraft-ezine live"

Totally on topic. Thanks for the link!

[Char]

Ctgt wrote: "A little off topic but Lovecraft-ezine is doing a live interview with Barron this Sunday.

Here's the link

Lovecraft-ezine live"

Cool, thanks very much!

I'm at about 50% and (view spoiler)[ We're off on another trip with Don in the past again. (hide spoiler)] I'm really failing to see how this is all going to pull together.

[11811 (Eleven)]

Charlene wrote: "Ctgt wrote: "A little off topic but Lovecraft-ezine is doing a live interview with Barron this Sunday.

Here's the link

Lovecraft-ezine live"

Cool, thanks very much!

I'm at about 50% and [spoile..."

This one was tricky which is why I rely on all of you to make sense of it for me. I know I liked it but I can't back that up with a "why?".

[Char]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Charlene wrote: "This one was tricky which is why I rely on all of you to make sense of it for me. I know I liked it but I can't back that up with a "why?""

That's happened to me before too. Usually, though, it's me disliking something for some reason I can't put a finger on.

[11811 (Eleven)]

Charlene wrote: "Usually, though, it's me disliking something for some reason I can't put a finger on. ..."

Equally tricky if not more so.

[Ctgt]

56%
Okay, I get it.