Contents of blog copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2023
I've been gone a while. I started reading fanfiction to escape and I got sucked in an abyss.

I have no idea if someone else is hosting similar challenges. I just grabbed some of what I have hosted before.

Here's to a happy year of great reading
Jan2023: Not much has changed. Writing a fanfiction now O_o as well as reading but I bought 7 new books in December and hope to get those read soon. Crossing fingers about adding challenges (late!)

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The Graveyard Book Discussion 1 (R.I.P Group Read)




R.eaders 
I.mbibing 
P.eril
VII

Group Read Discussion
Post 1



Hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings

Carl's post and linky is here.




October's group read is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.



Whoa. First off, the book is illustrated and chapter one starts off with two statements on two black pages with an arm holding a knife.

The first 10 pages are murder. Not a "we see blood" type of murder but a killer's satisfaction of how he left the bodies and the joy that there is one more left. "That only left one, a baby barely a toddler, to take of. One more and his task would be done." I can hear the smile in his mind as I read.

I absolutely love that the "baby, barely a toddler" snuck out of the house. The description of him climbing out of his crib, down the stairs and outside are priceless. "He was surprised when he hit the floor, but he did not cry out: if you cried out they came and put you back in your crib." How clever.

Chapter one is all about murder, the chase and rescue. The baby barely a toddler is given new parents and is renamed, Nobody Owens. He is given the Freedom of the Graveyard. That's right, capitalized.

Carl asks:
As we enter this discussion of the first three chapters of The Graveyard Book, one of the things I would especially like to hear about is whether or not you enjoyed being frightened as a child and alternatively, as an adult, what are your thoughts on the opening of this novel.
I watched scary movies that my parents would not have approved but as I got older, I did not enjoy them. Now? Not so much. I like the older, more suspenseful movies instead of the slasher movies of today but prefer explosions, laughter, and romance. um, I guess I'm not going to get all three in the same movie.

I've read Bag of Bones by Stephen King, didn't realize it was a scary book. Decided not to watch the show on television because it was too scary before I found out what book it was from. Go figure.

As for the 'story shape' and 'in which he wove in mythology and folklore and characters real and imagined'...sigh. I just want to enjoy a good book.

I liked the baby barely a toddler right from the start. Fell in love with Bod when he stepped between Scarlett and the drop-off. Silas is mysterious but seems like a good guy. I chafe at the restriction of never leaving the graveyard but I, as the reader, know the man with the knife is still out there "...he had not failed. Not for years to come."

I'm grateful to Carl for assigning The Graveyard Book as the group read. I don't believe I would have read it otherwise. After all, I have had Coraline for a year and haven't opened it! I do not know if this is what Carl was after, I haven't read chapter 3 yet, but here it is. Posted before I forget.

Happy Reading

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I also like the old suspense movies. I'm not generally one for blood and horror and violence, but I enjoy the *threat* of something horrible. I think it's why I like Hitchcock.

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In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Book Dragon's Lair. All books I review are either borrowed, purchased by me, given as a gift, won in some kind of contest, or received in exchange for an honest review.