Mr. Y: Beginnings: Chp 1 - 4

[Andrew, Wound Up]

***Open discussion of chapters 1-4 below, no spoilers needed. Be sure you have read through chapter 4 before reading! Note: if this is your first visit to this topic I recommend you read this post about discussion ideas, then skip down and post your initial response, then read and respond to other people's posts.***

At the very least check in here when you finish chapter 4 and tell us if you are enjoying the book. I'll post specific discussion ideas below, along with some general topics we'll see repeated throughout the book.

Chapter 1 - 4 discussions:

1) Do you feel compelled to look up information about the avalanche of references made in the book? How far down the rabbit trails do you wander?

2) Would you drink the vial of clear fluid if you were Mr. Y? Would your decision change based on time and setting?

General Discussions:

1) Share your favorite quote(s) from this section.

2) Do you have a favorite or most intriguing character at this point in the novel?

Location reminder

If you are returning to this topic after having continued past chapter 4, here is a plot reminder:

Ariel has just lit a candle and is about to go on a date with Patrick. She is at the point in the book where Mr. Y has drank the fluid.

GO!

[Michelle, Overrun By Pets]

I developed an author crush within the first couple pages of Chapter 1. I love her descriptions, pace of story-telling and I am a sucker for a good conspiracy story. I also love it when authors meld make believe with real references and history. We went out to a lovely dinner the night I started this book and although I had a fantastic time, I couldn't wait to get back home to resume reading. The Samuel Butler quote at the beginning of Part One reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and I imagine this book will be a modern twist on the classic tale.

My reading-research habits have changed drastically since I started using my Kindle. I find myself linking to the internet much more frequently for references, people and concepts than if I were reading a physical book. I do not delve in to "rabbit holes" too deeply, although Andrew's quiz has warped the level of research for this book in particular. Normally I am a reference "skimmer", picking up on a few details or a point or two that catches my eye. One of my favorite research tools is Wikipedia and I especially like the old-timey odd pictures of people.

I suspect I would drink the clear fluid if I was Mr. Y. Andrew alleges that I am reckless at times (i.e. standing up frequently in a raft floating on the Rogue River) and I did relate to the book quote "When alarms sound I don't always run immediately." I do feel like this decision is completely based on place and time for me. If I was at the Jackson County Expo in 2012 and a carnie beckoned me into an inner tent, chances are slim to none that I am drinking what he is offering. If I was actually in the English circus/feak-show setting in the early 1800's I am all in.

I have a huge list of quotes that appealed to me for this section, however I will try to limit them to a few. "I was reminded of a music box from my childhood, a small, silver contraption, used primarily by one of my sisters as a church organ for the extravagant funerals of broken dolls and dead mice" - I love the description of ritual, pomp and circumstance children bestow on small events which are not so small to them. I especially like "Curiosity's crooked finger beckoned me further" when Mr. Y was investigating the circus, it fit perfectly for the emotion and setting. My last choice for this section is "Max always mumbles; not in a shy way, but rather as if he's telling you what it will cost to take out your worst enemy, or how much you'd have to pay to rig a horse race" - what a great insight into a character in a singular sentence.

My favorite character is Professor Saul Burlem, since I can't stop thinking about his disappearance. I feel like Mel Gibson in "Conspiracy Theory" trying to connect, the railway tunnel below the Newton Building, the collapse of the Newton Building, the disappearance of Saul, and the box of books in the secondhand store (are these Saul's books?). Also, there are always "hot buttons" for me with descriptions of characters. I am always suspicious of persons in gray suits, exponentially so when there are more than one. Also, the persons who attended Burlem's speech at the conference "two guys who looked a bit like a pair of tax inspectors except for their almost white-blond hair" these definitely reminded me of "The Observers" from the TV series "Fringe".

[Andrew, Wound Up]

It's a crazy world that has me reading two books that feature "a book within a book" simultaneously. Am I actually reading four books at once? Scarlett Thomas' writing is so smooth (like a young man...?) and contrasts so sharply with the dense texts she references ideas from.

Rabbit Holes: Oh god. I hope you are all having some fun with the quiz. If so, you already know that I've been chasing too many rabbits! I strive to understand the basic concepts... but Mr. Y has such a scattershot that it feels impossible.

After a few hours in Wikipedia learning about Derrida, Deconstruction, and Différance I don't know if I can truly say I'm any more knowledgeable about anything. I think this quote can easily be applied to my feelings of inadequacy in this regard: A simple example would consist of looking up a given word in a dictionary, then proceeding to look up the words found in that word's definition, etc., also comparing with older dictionaries from different periods in time, and such a process would never end." (From the Wikipedia article on Deconstruction, in the section Illustrating différance.)

I have to be better about stopping myself, but that is made more difficult because I've been diving into the deep end without learning how to swim first.

Bottom's Up?: I certainly wouldn't drink ANYTHING from a carnie, even if it were free! When I try to step into Mr Y's shoes it becomes more complicated.

Am I Ariel, as she becomes Mr. Y during her reading? Yes, I think I am. I often let myself seep into the role of the protagonist, when that doesn't work I make myself the narrator. When embodying Ariel and reading Mr. Y I would answer "yes". Me/Ariel is less inhibited, more inquisitive, and quite derring-do than me.

When I try to disassociate myself from Ariel's perspective I think I would answer "no". In Mr. Y's shoes I feel hesitant of a trick, a robbery, even of being turned into an apparition for the next viewing!


Quotes: Too many to list here! "I feel like crying. There's something so sad about broken concrete." This thought of Ariel's helped bond a connection between us early in the novel.

"He said something rude about barnacles, and then punched Darwin in the face." No comment needed.

I want to put the whole section explaining Ariel's parents, but I'll settle for the end: "They taught me that everything you are told by anyone is a lie. But then it turned out that they lied too."

Finally, "It's not like this is the end of history. We're all wrong."

Character: Lumas. I'm really picking him out of a hat that includes Wolfgang, Ariel (of course), and Mr. Y. But, I picked him.

Overall: Loving the book. I sense mystery and intrigue around all the corners! Why did Burlem leave after talking to Ariel and what caused his disposition to cool? How badly will we yearn for the missing page? So much more...

Must get back to reading!

[Craig]

I look up everything! I hate not knowing what the author is referring to (Houdin, Houdini?).
I'm sure I would have thought twice about drinking the liquid...but then where would the story have gone?
The most intriguing character foe me so far is the doctor, followed by Burlem. Did he succumb to the curse?
Favorite quote to follow.