September Read: The Day of the Triffids

[Jason]

I'm starting this thread a couple of days early. Knowing my luck, I'll forget and then get skinned alive and left out for Aloha to find me. LOL

Our September themed read is The Day of the Triffids. It looks interesting to say the least. And I've heard nothing but great things.

While commenting, don't be afraid to tell us what you thought of the plot, characters, tension, favorite scenes/most hated scenes, etc.

Let's discuss!

[Aloha]

I am reading it, Jason. It is terrific so far. Great from the get-go. I can't wait to resume the book. Yes, I will skin you alive because once I'm done with this book, you know I will be itching to talk about it. I wrote abou tit but saw my mistake. LOL

[Jason]

LOL Aloha!

I will be starting this soon. I got this on audio, and have to finish listening to the one I'm listening to now. Should be pretty quick, though.

[The Pirate Ghost]

My review of "The Day of the Triffids" is posted. It's long, but, I hope interesting.

[Katy]

Read this one a while back. Really enjoyed the story.

[Aloha]

This is a really fun book to read. He has the right tone, too, not trying too hard, and not boring.

[Traci]

I read this at a time when I was reading alot of end of the world books. Liked the beginning, (view spoiler)[waking up anywhere but especially in a hospital and finding everyone gone would be terrifying. Plus being blind. Has anyone seen The Walking Dead? They used this as well. (hide spoiler)] I did get burned out, from the genre not just this book, of the whole humans are savages and that we'd quickly lose all humanity if the worse happened but looking around at the average person we probably would lose all civility. I recommend anyone who liked this to also read The Midwich Cuckoos.

[Cheryl]

I read this book many years ago and ended up re-reading it at least six or seven times since. I just find it so interesting and compelling and my absolute favourite of John Wyndham's books so far.

[Jason]

I started this last night. So far, it's pretty good. Interesting, too! But it felt familiar to me while I was listening to it. I knew that it was a classic, so I looked it up. The Day of the Triffids was published in 1951. You can really see how this one story influenced a wealth of movies and books.

[Aloha]

I really enjoyed the book. Wyndham has a really believable tone in writing about something fantastic.

[Jason]

I'm really enjoying Triffids. I'm about half-way through. I agree, Aloha, Wyndham does indeed have a really believable tone in writing the fantastic.

[Traci]

I liked that the characters behave in a way you can picture yourself or someone you know reacting the same. It brings down the concept of it to a personal level.

[Stephen]

Loving the book so far. Its very matter-of-factly dark right from the outset. Can certainly understand why Danny Boyle says that "28 Days Later" is just him ripping off Day of the Triffids.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Yes, it surely is. Wyndham's a smoother read too.

[Jason]

28 Days Later definitely went through my mind, especially at the beginning.

[Mark]

There are definite similarities in 28 Days Later. Wyndam wrote Triffids back in 1951. I don't recall when I first read it; likely in my teens in the mid-60s.

Stands up well. There have been several films made; and also a TV mini-series by the BBC. As I recall, the BBC production stuck closest to the plot. Some of Wyndam's other offerings are pretty good too; The Midwich Cuckoos, for instance. Another one they've filmed several times...Mostly poorly IMO.

[Stephen]

Just finished it. Reminded me a lot of 'Earth Abides' towards the end. Is there a forum for discussing it with spoilers?

[Aloha]

Stephen, use the spoiler tag. Click on the part that says "(some html is ok)" in the upper right of the comment box, and it will give you instructions on how to do spoilers.

[Bookcrazywoman]

Since everyone seems to be enjoying this book you
might want to check out Night of the Triffids by
Simon Clark. It continues the story 25 yrs. later.

[Stephen]

Thanks Aloha. Ill wait til a few more people say they have finished before getting spoilery.

Will look into Night of the Triffids Bookcrazyworm. Thanks.

[Suzanne]

I'm enjoying the book a lot so far. It keeps giving me flashbacks to all of the sci fi/horror shows I watched with my dad when I was growing up. And somehow, I believe I'll enjoy it more than "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes".

[Jason]

LOL Triffids is way better.

[Traci]

I shouldn't have looked here, now I have the song for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes in my head. I'd forgotten about that movie though. :)

[The Pirate Ghost]

And that sucking sound when they ate people... reminded me of a girl my brother once dated. We doubled and I was in the back seat. I thought a vacuum hose had broken loose. (They was neckin)

[Becky]

I actually really love this book, havent read it in years though. I'll have to go pick it up.

Has anyone here seen the BBC movie? Its absolutely awful. I mean Mystery Science Theater worthy, and the most horrible cacophony of a soundtrack ever.

But my draw jopped when I saw 28 Days Later, they used almost exact scenes from the Day of the Triffids movie. I was suprised they didnt get sued.

[Beezlebug (Rob)]

Becky, are you talking about the one from 2009? The DVD box cover was enough to turn me off of it. Looks like someone might be taking another crack at it though. Wikipedia says a 3D version was being considered and IMDB has a listing for one under development for 2013.

[Aloha]

That might or might not be interesting, compared to all the exciting action packed movies today. How exciting can trees be?

[Beezlebug (Rob)]

Aloha, if its going to be a 3D film I'm sure they'll add some effects of the Triffids' whip to make it entertaining. Or they'll follow the typical Hollywood plan and completely rewrite the story so instead of plants they are aliens (and it'll be set in Los Angeles or New York City).

[Aloha]

LOL. I would be curious how they'll work it out to turn it into an interesting 3D film. For some reason, I kept on thinking of the original movie The Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy came upon apple trees.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Wow, Al. That's a very interesting, and amusing connection. The Tree that throws apples and Triffids. I like it. Maybe there is a connection? Cept the tree didn't walk around.

[Becky]

No the one I am talking about is from 1981 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081850/)

There we go. Thats the right one! BBC and all! Apparently there was also one in the 60's, but I have not seen that one.

I remember that it actually stayed pretty close to the book, but the sound track was like somone passing out drunk on a piano. Just miserable.

The only reason I saw it, was because that night it came on between Red Green and Red Dwarf on Iowa-PBC. And thats how I spent my Friday nights in middle and high school, wathcing Iowa Public Tele with my parents :D

[Beezlebug (Rob)]

I think I'll avoid that one too. I love the cover photo on IMDB. I can't tell if the guy has a sci-fi gun or a weed sprayer.

[Becky]

I personally appreciate his well crafted faux beard.

[Beezlebug (Rob)]

That beard is the peak of 80's fashion. I can't tell but I bet thats a "Member's Only" jacket he's sporting too.

[[deleted user]]

I joined this group because I saw this discussion on one of my favourite books The day of the Triffids. I've read it twice now and it won't be the last time either. I think Wyndham's key strength is that he makes you care about the characters he creates and what happens to them. Another book that this strongly influenced was The Fog by James Herbert. It has the same rythym, the same momentum.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Joe wrote: "I joined this group because I saw this discussion on one of my favourite books The day of the Triffids. I've read it twice now and it won't be the last time either. I think Wyndham's key strength..."


I completely agree. There is a lot of things to like in Day of the Triffids, but it would all be for not if you weren't engaged in the the characters lives, hoping they found their way to a safe place.

[Jason]

I agree, too. Characters are important. Sometimes I can't continue a book if I hate the main characters. Other times, it's fun to hate them. It all depends on the story and the writer's ability, imo.

I also enjoyed the prose in Day of the Triffids. It wrapped me up in its arms and everything else in the world disappeared.

This the first book I've read by John Wyndham, and I'm very much looking forward to reading more.

[Aloha]

Me, four! Of the two monthly reads, I enjoyed Triffids much more than Revelation, although Revelation actually had more interesting details in its world building. But I don't care about the story in Revelation as much as I care about what happens to the people in Triffids. The writer's ability to draw the reader in is a big part of the book. If you can't get into it, you're not going to want to continue with the book, no matter how much anybody tells you how brilliant it is.

[Megan]

I just (finally!) finished Day of the Triffids, and did really enjoy it, although I can't say I thought the characters were particularly deeply drawn, and I wasn't particularly attached to them. I thought of all the characters, Susan was the most alive to me.

I found the book more interesting for the ideas and the exploration of what kind of societies would spring up in the wake of the events of the book, as it went through the various permutations, including a socialist attempt to take care of everyone, a heavily moralistic contemplative retreat, and even a neo-feudal society.