They - Kay Dick - March 2022 Book Group discussion
13 watchers
Apr 2022
9:15am, 2 Apr 2022
1,044 posts
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Peregrinator
Thank you both - very conscious of having few tools of analysis, and a meagre literary hinterland for comparisons. Always interested to know what other people got out of reading a book. Goes off to worry about Star Wars..... |
Apr 2022
7:53pm, 2 Apr 2022
25,654 posts
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Serendippily
I really enjoyed this. I thought it very sparsely and vibrantly written. It reminded me of the chrysalids, published 1955, which I loved - the unease and the secret lives. And for a piece of dystopia it was petty rather than overblown, which is high compliment again, for the tendency to hammer the point is why I no longer read dystopia. I don’t usually bother with forwards but I’m glad I read this one for the times review “a fantasy sprouting from some collective menopausal spasm” which was intended as an insult, no doubt. I might actually get back in to this reading lark |
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Apr 2022
8:02pm, 2 Apr 2022
25,655 posts
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Serendippily
I also thought it went backwards in time and the fragmenting in the chapters was part of the isolation. After a brief bathtime ponder I have concluded there was something quite personal about this book for me and it reminded me of battling depression. So while giving a cheerful nod to all the negativity above, I loved this book.
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Apr 2022
3:34pm, 10 Apr 2022
12,871 posts
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Little Nemo
I liked the idea of this book and it had lovely writing in parts but I think overall it was less than the sum of it parts. This was possibly partly my fault as I read it in fits and starts but it was probably also due to it originally being short stories that the author joined together. I had trouble keeping track of the characters and I couldn't work out if it was supposed to be chronological or not. A couple of the stories seemed quite repetitive. But some of the stories were great and genuinely chilling. I liked the exploration of resistance and quiet bravery, trying to save stuff for its own worth, and is it worth dying for art? I'm glad I read it as I think some of the themes/images will stay with me. I gave this book a 6. |
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Apr 2022
3:53pm, 10 Apr 2022
12,872 posts
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Little Nemo
Ahh, interesting that some of you think it went backwards. I did wonder if it was supposed to but I thought that some stories went forwards in time, or maybe I just struggled with all of it!
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Apr 2022
7:27pm, 23 Apr 2022
39,282 posts
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Night-owl
Finished the other day and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Still don't Was the narrator female at first I thought it was don't know what I had to re ask that question not sure I want to re read it I'm sorry probably in the minority but think it was beyond me |
Apr 2022
9:39pm, 25 Apr 2022
21,723 posts
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Columba
I wasn't keen, Owlie. I think I assumed the narrator was female. |
May 2022
6:20pm, 20 May 2022
6,182 posts
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westmoors
A quick read but felt it was a collection of shorts rather than a novel. Apart from the protagonist, characters only seemed to be in one chapter. Didn't gel with it at all.
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