Sept/Oct 2010: Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury

[John]

I was also surprised by the distance between Mr. Halloway and his son. Will didn't seem to really know him, I think.

Many pages to go ...

[John]

Hey Barry,

I'm not great with the names of the short stories, as you can tell, but usually recognize the themes. That said, I used 'The Google on The Internet Machine' (lol) and don't recall reading a theme like an everlasting boy who goes from family to family ... aka "Hail and Farewell."

"Sound of Thunder" ... yes, that's the dinosaur hunting one for sure. Excellent story. One of my all time favorites.

Was "The Playground" the story of the kids and their digital playground where things can get dangerous? I like that one too for the callousness of children it conveyed. Not that all kids are that way, of course.

[Amanda]

Finished! I really ended up liking this book. I felt like Bradbury's writing was like a rich desert: luscious and indulgent, a rare treat to be savored and enjoyed. And as is the case with a rich desert, one also feels guilty after devouring the novel because you realize just how much of the day you ended up curled up on the couch reading (just a few more pages, I swear! Then I'll go make dinner, or pay bills, or work in the yard, etc.) So worth it though...so worth it!

I think I'm going to read King's The Dark Half now that I'm in the mood to be terrified and disturbed :D
Thank you, Barry, for the excellent choice!

[Jan C]

Wow, Barry, that's a real blast from the past- - Golden Apples of the Sun. I must have read that a century ago. Or, maybe it only feels that way.

[Jan C]

And of course we were reading by candle light (lol).

[[deleted user]]

My book finally arrived! Yay!! Will start this evening.

[[deleted user]]

Wow! What a great first chapter. Filled with foreboding and mystery. Love Bradbury's use of language and rhythm.

I'm going to wait a while before I read the comments above as I don't want to find a spoiler by accident.

I'm so glad to be reading this finally. I have been wanting to for centuries. Thanks Barry :-)

[Martha]

It gets better and that's all I'm saying. :-)

[LeAnn]

I read this book twice. First time I rushed through because it was our mystery groups monthly choice. I read it more slowly the second time and ruminated about it. I typically don't read books over and over but this mystery group has helped me see the validity in second or more reads. Bradbury's choice of words and descriptions are phenomenal. When I was younger, I was the one hiding behind her hands at the movies or the first one to scream so I wasn't sure this book was going to "hook" me. Bradbury's style definitely reeled me in. He made the sinister situation almost show the "beauty" of the plot. There is a constant comparison of the flip sides of a coin.. . the good/bad... hope/despair. . . aging/youth. Rereading it helped me to decide if I agreed or disagreed with group members comments. Great group and insights. I'm glad I read this with the Goodreads online book club. It increased my appreciation of this author's skill. Hats off to Barry for picking the book and to all group members for sharing their insights.

[Susanne]

I have collected my copy from the library a couple of days ago and, to be honest, I am having a difficult time to 'get into' the story. I find Bradbury's writing style somewhat distracting from the story line rather than emphasising it. I know it is early days (I am only on page 60) but already I am making excuses to pick the book up again. However, I shall persevere and, hopefully, I will have more positive comments to make :)

[[deleted user]]

Susanne wrote: "I have collected my copy from the library a couple of days ago and, to be honest, I am having a difficult time to 'get into' the story. I find Bradbury's writing style somewhat distracting from th..."

I'm having the same problem, Susanne and Barry :-( but I know it has to do with my difficulties with stream of consciousness type writing. The first pages were great, but it's making me very tired and confused trying to keep the plot separate from the emotions. I know that's the point, that they should be totally mixed together, but I'm having a tough time with it.

[Martha]

I am almost done with it and have struggled at times, too. Mine is an audiobook & has been difficult to stay focused. I recently read an audiobook of one of Raymond Chandler's and I felt the same way ... I'd rather have the book of this so that I can re read passages (I can back it up, but not the same). I need to see the movie again, too. I remember loving it. Anyway, I have enjoyed it to an extent, but want to get a copy of the book to hold & read.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it with you all and reading your posts!!!

[John]

I'm about halfway through Something Wicked now. I have to agree with the recent posts; this is a more difficult Bradbury read. It is more stream of consciousness at times and a bit more ... melodramatic ? ... than what I'm used to from him. Perhaps because it is a youthful-orientated tale.

Compare this to Farenheit 451 where the main character is a no-nonsense kind of guy, if I recall correctly, and the society around him is stripped-down and uninviting.

Also differs from the aforementioned Sound of Thunder.

It is interesting, but I do get a little judgemental on phrases like "Oh, gosh!" coming from a teenaged boy but it was perhaps a different time when Bradbury wrote it.

[Laura]

Just finished the book over the weekend, and have to say I loved it. My copy was from the library, but I am tempted to buy it since I can imagine reading it again.

Reading it at first was a little difficult, but I found that by not dwelling on the more verbose parts, I was still able experience the richly textured atmosphere he created. Some phrases, however, were definitely worth reading more than once. It didn't seem like stream of consciousness as much as bursts of descriptive flavor. (OK, that sounds corny, but I can't think of how else to describe it.)
Haven't seen the movie, but with Halloween coming up, I'll have to find it!

[Martha]

Thanks, Barry!! Loved your posts!! I plan to get a copy of the book & read it again. I want to savor his writing and it's harder to do in an audiobook.

[Martha]

Thank you for all you did to make this group read such fun!!
For now, I'm going to read some of his stories.

[KarenF]

I was a little late getting to this one. I had to wait for the fall weather and we had a weird hot September. But what a perfect October book it turned out to be. I loved the tale of Jim, Will and Mr. Halloway facing their fears and desires, even when their fears and desires are the same thing. The language was poetic and fanciful but to me the book read like a fairy tale (a real Grimm type fairy tale not a Disney princess fairy tale) so the language fit that feel. The characters felt like fairy tale characters as well, where they're more archetype or symbol than flesh and blood characters.

I'm going back to re-read the comments on this thread. So many interesting thoughts and comments that I want to digest. Thanks for the thought provoking read and discussion!

[Carol]

SPOILER ALERT.
I just finished reading Something Wicked. I finished it in 3 days, and I enjoyed the story. I did have some issues with the overly descriptive phrases at times, and at other times they seemed to add a great deal to the story.
Mr. Halloway is referred to being an "old, old man", but he was only 54 as I remember. I think that this is more how HE feels, and this affects his relationship with Will. He doesn't see what he has to offer him. He talks about being too old to run around with him.
I thought Bradbury may have used the surname Halloway as a reference to "saint". I remembered my Catholic school days and looked up the history of Halloween:
"The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween."
Mr. Halloway's actions in the story would make a case for the reference to All Hallows Eve or All Saints Eve. These actions change the way he feels about his age and his relationship with Will changes for the better as well.
I enjoyed that the way to fight this evil was to laugh and love. Did I miss what happened to Mrs. Foley?
Great choice of reading. I had never read this one, although I have read The Illustrated Man and Fahrenheit 451.
I was a huge Twilight Zone fan, and I enjoy all these stories for their strange twists and turns. I enjoy reading all your wonderful comments!

[John]

Barry wrote: "Stories from the Twilight Zone"

Cool insights, Barry. I'm a big fan of Rod Serling, Twilight Zone and Night Gallery.

Have you seen this interview of Rod by Mike Wallace way-back-when? It occurred right when Rod was just about to begin producing Twilight Zone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77SEuy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJSjso...

[Carol]

Thank you, John! Great interview! I live in Ithaca NY and I remember Rod teaching at Ithaca College and living on Cayuga Lake. His family still has the home here.
I didn't realize how much of a trailblazer he was in the world of television.

[Martha]

I keep thinking of episodes that I loved, but I always come back to the man (a banker, I believe) who loved to read. Am sure you know the one I'm talking about. What an ending!! As an avid reader all my life and a nearly blind one at that, I could really identify with him. Although I'm nearsighted & can read w/o my glasses ... the book just has to be really close!! LOL

[Susanne]

Oh, I am so sorry for being the odd one out. I have ploughed through another couple of chapters but I am really struggling. I will probably make a point of finishing the book as I don't like to give up half way through but, in my opinion, this is most likely going to prove to be a right drag. Maybe I am missing something? Sorry guys :) x

[John]

Ah yes, the banker episode of Twilight Zone was probably my favorite, besides To Serve Man. Monumental irony, lol.

Rod was The Man, for sure. Did he ever write that novel? He surely didn't need it to exercise his creativity. Barry, you have an autograph? How much do you want for it? :^)

Carol lived near Rod? Very cool.

Looks like our man Bradbury wrote for Twilight Zone: "... aside from Serling himself, who crafted nearly two-thirds of the series' total episodes, writers for The Twilight Zone included leading genre authors such as Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, Jerry Sohl, George Clayton Johnson, Earl Hamner, Jr., Reginald Rose, Harlan Ellison and Ray Bradbury. " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twil...


Suzanne -- this is a more difficult work of Bradbury's to Get Into, imo.

[Martha]

Barry wrote: "Oh yes Martha, I remember that one. Terrified me. Do you remember the scene where Burgess Meredith, as a bank teller lost in his reading while his customer waits, notices her finally and says "Murd..."

I went there already, Barry! Thanks. Loved the Twilight Zone!!!

[Connie]

Miss Foley wandered out into the field with the other freaks.

"Miss Foley, where are you? Mr. Crosetti! It's over! Be still! Quiet! It's alright. Come back, Come back!

But the wind was blowing their footprints out of the grass and they might run forever now trying to outflee themselves."

[Carol]

Connie wrote: "Miss Foley wandered out into the field with the other freaks.

"Miss Foley, where are you? Mr. Crosetti! It's over! Be still! Quiet! It's alright. Come back, Come back!

But the wind was bl..."

Thanks, Connie! I missed that and I was sure there was some resolution for poor Miss Foley.

[Michelle Hansen]

This book was incredible to me. The author grabbed me right from the start with his amazing descriptions. He can really paint a wonderful picture, which is such an important skill to have so the readers can have a detailed picture in their mind. To me, descriptions are what make a story. If you can't tell what is in the background, the story seems "dull" This was a very good story line, however a bit too much in the authors point of view, and I did not have a real connection with the characters. It was like watching a movie where you can't read the characters thoughts. Still a good book, and it kept me wondering what would happen next.

[[deleted user]]

Thank you, Barry, for choosing a book that so many people loved. And for being a great discussion leader with so much participation.

The conversation will remain open, so anyone who hasn't read it yet can join in at a later date.

ETA: Barry seems to have disappeared, taking his posts with him [image error], which means that the conversation is a little strange.

[John]

Did Mr. Dark steal Barry away? Spin him either forward into old age or backward into a child upon the diabolical carousel ...?

Strange.

Anyway, I am a slow reader of sorts. Not that slow when actually reading but limited in time with the job and writing et al. Just finished Something Wicked today and have mixed feelings. It was definitely the hardest story of Bradbury's for me to read, mostly because of the wild descriptions and almost stream of consciousness moments.

For me, this is a Young Adult book. Given the way the boys are portrayed. You'd think this was about the boys until 4/5 of the way through when morose Mr. Halloway becomes the focal point.

I didn't agree with the manner in which The Witch (two wh-itches!, pun alert) was

SPOILER ALERT


dispatched, as well as Mr. Dark, and how Will was resurrected. All that seemed too innocent but that was Bradbury's point, I suppose.

[Jan C]

I'm still reading it, but it is a re-read for me. I originally read it was still at home and in school.

I'm not reading it constantly either.

How can he take his posts with him?

[[deleted user]]

Jan C wrote: "How can he take his posts with him?"

When you delete your membership from the site you have the choice: you can leave your posts as they are, and there is "deleted member" instead of an avatar; or you can delete everything.

[Jan C]

Wow! That's pretty cold. He had some good insights and,it seemed, access to a lot of information about Bradbury that the rest of us didn't have.

[John]

Agreed. Barry had some cool insights. Wonder why the bail?