Literally Dead Book Club discussion
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What Moves the Dead
What Moves the Dead
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What Moves the Dead | the first 5 chapters
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Predictions are in, and I think this is going to be my first 5-star book of 2022. I'm hyped for it. But it got me thinking; what makes a read a 5-star for me? Considering I usually only have 1-2 per year. I wanted to break it down. The voice of the narrator gripped me from the beginning, and kan feels REAL to me. Easton's slight humor and narration style make me forget a writer is even behind the words. Often times the difference between a 4-star and a 5, is the ability of the book to be engrossing.
That being said, the writing has to hit. Anything that takes me away from the plot is likely to lose itself a star. Which is not happening in this novella at all. I was in from the beginning, and I haven't binged the whole thing because I'm trying to savor it as much as possible.
The environment, the vibes, the characters...it's exactly what I look for in a story.
I hope there is nothing in the second half to spoil the good vibes and that this is, in fact, a 5-star for me.
Since I knew this month's pick was shorter, I bought a collection of Poe stories to devour after. I thought it'd be more enjoyable to go into the novelle blind and explore the inspiration later.
how you are liking it so far. How has the setup been these first 66 pages?I'm listening to the audiobook narrated by Avi Roque. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked their style, but now that I'm settled into it, I do like the narration. The voice for Eugenia Potter is my favourite. The description of the setting, mood, and atmosphere are incredible.
I really liked this line:
“The mushroom’s gills were the deep-red colour of severed muscle, the almost-violet shade that contrasts so dreadfully with the pale pink of viscera. I had seen it any number of times in dead deer and dying soldiers, but it startled me to see it here.”
Are you reading this after The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe or do you think you'll give it a read afterwards to experience the novella's inspiration?
Yes, I did read that. So far I'm liking the pieces of the story that are exactly the same, and then the creativity that's been added. It's a great balance.
What are you enjoying?
Everything! Setting, characters, atmosphere... except what I'm not enjoying is the breaking of the fourth wall. It pulls me out of the story.
What do you expect to happen in the second half?
I expect something similar to the original story, but I am hoping for some changes to make it unique.
Hoping to update this comment as I go (if Goodreads allows it) but I just finished chapter 1 and this is exactly the book I’ve been looking for. Beyond excited for this book club discussion!Reading House of Usher afterwards.
I read Poe’s work before. Or to say, reread since I read it many years ago.I am predicting this will be a five star. So far, this is just my vibe.
Just pure perfection. T. Kingfisher and her use of words. She can describe things like none other. I am listening to the audio and I have rewound multiple times just to hear her say something.
This book thus far has been everything a Gothic retelling should be.
Atmosphere. Check. I don’t want to go to this creepy house on this strange lake. It’s definitely claustrophobic and just plain weird. Damsel in distress. Check. Did she put her feet in the lake? I just gotta know. I also love that Kingfisher also played with gender and the normal stereotypes to create this fresh world. The sublime. Check. Picturesque. Check. I just can’t get over it.
It’s also interesting that the setting is in Galatia. I did some wiki research into Galatia because I was curious what the significance was. Yeah, I still don’t know. 😅
Those are my thoughts so far. This is pretty much a favorite thus far this year.
I have enjoyed the setup of What Moves the Dead so far, but that has mostly been all it is. We have a lot of background and Kingfisher has started going in depth into the characters and setting, but the plot is very slowly creeping forward. I look forward to seeing what the rest of this book has in store. I have so checked out Fall of the House of Usher on Libby, so I’m looking forward to reading that after as well.
I did not purposefully read The Fall of the House of Usher beforehand, but earlier this year I read Edgar Allan Poe's Spirits of the Dead by Richard Corben. That was fun to see Corben's vision. I think I'll need to revisit Poe after I finish the book.I like that Kingfisher is playing with gender, and I like Easton's little asides.
I do hope that someone knows more about Galatia than me and can share that insight with the group!
I just finished the first 5 chapters, it definitely has the same sort of eerie feeling as the original Poe story in my opinion. So far it seems to be following the same sort of storyline just with added details and extra characters. And of course not a poetically written as Poe though well written still. I have no idea whether it’s going to follow the same set up as the original after this point, I’m hoping it does or it at least keeps up with the eerie feeling.
I'm really enjoying this so far—it actually follows Poe's story quite closely (at least for now), so it is a 'retelling' in the truest sense. Super atmospheric and vividly gothic—also I thought the setup for the protagonist is particularly unique.
I started this today and I'm already 50% through it. Love it so far.
I just finished chapter 5 and so far I think it is a very good retelling of Poe's story. I enjoy the gothic atmosphere and the characters but I would like more things to have happened at this point since it's a novella. I believe the author will keep the main story of The Fall Of The House Of Usher but with a few changes.
I'm reading the ebook and so far I like it. The pace is slow but after chapter 5 I can say it's getting creepy. I hope the second half will be more interesting.
I started this today and I am loving it so far. The characters and setting feel so vivid and I don't want to put the book down. I'm hoping that this one will be a 5 star for me. I haven't read the original story before but I'm planning to read it after I finish
I'm planning to read Edgar Allen's Poe The Fall Of The House Of Usher afterward to avoid any potential spoilers. I want to go into the story blind. So far, What Moves the Dead is the perfect novella for transitioning from summer to fall. It does kind of feel in-between, if that makes sense.
The author has a way with the prose. I like the inclusion of a non-binary character in this time period---though I feel like we're only given a vague idea of what year it is. I have a prediction about Madeline's character. I feel soooo uneasy. The sentiment snuck up on me.
I am enjoying this so far. I haven't read the Fall of the House of Usher yet, I didn't want to know too much going into this. I am finding the pace a tad slow at the moment but I like the atmosphere of unease.
I have not read the House of Usher yet so I went into this blind. I just finished chapter 5 and I will say I am enjoying it though more now that we are starting to get a build up to the plot. however, I made the mistake of reading Mexican Gothic at the same time, not realizing how similar they were going to be during the set up. *face palm* the lines are a bit blurred now so I might have to go back to the beginning after I finish Mexican Gothic.
As the novella is quite short and I have yet to read it, guided questions are a challenge, so just please let us know how you are liking it so far. How has the set up been these first 66 pages?
Are you reading this after The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe or do you think you'll give it a read afterwards to experience the novella's inspiration?
What are you enjoying? What do you expect to happen in the second half?