Something Wicked This Way Comes Group Read NON-SPOILER Thread

Post comments on the book that are NOT spoilers here.

Great idea!

Still waiting for mine to arrive.

In case anyone wants some audio CDs of his stories, Blackstone Audio is offering versions at 20% off. Here is a link for "Something Wicked"

http://www.blackstoneaudio.com/audiobook.cfm?id=4599&bypass=con&utm_sour...

My book has arrived! Woo hoo! Will be reading tonight!

Still need to get the book.

Well, I just reread my old and battered copy for the umpteenth time in tribute to the great man. What always strikes me most about Bradbury's work and this novel in particular is the way his use of language transforms what would, in other hands, be quite a creepy YA/horror novella into something approaching a prose poem. For me, this actually detracts a little from the suspense and I almost always find myself skimming the last few pages. I don't mean that as a criticism of this wonderful book - it's because I'm not good at reading poetry in large chunks and I see it as a definite failing in myself. Despite that, I love SWTWC and have done so for over 40 years and I do hope any first time readers out there appreciate the beauty of it. Just open it at random and read any paragraph aloud for language that reverberates through the air like treacle-coated thunder.

First time reader here. Yes, the language is wonderful. I am not finished yet, but I am loving the reading.

>7 Booksloth: 'Treacle coated thunder' - what a great description!

Yeah, it's the word choices Bradbury made that do it for me. The combination of the mundane word used unexpectedly and realizing how perfect the choice is. I just started the audiobook now and already one jumped out at me. The description of the lightning rod salesman - wearing storm colored clothes.

#9 It's infectious - not the treacle-coated thunder, the slightly mauve-ish prose!

I've begun mine, and I like it, and I don't. The language is like poetry, I agree, open it anywhere and read out a passage, it is moving, and yet, the story is going nowhere! I am enjoying it, but only because I've given up on thinking about the plot and I'm just enjoying the writing. I find I can't read too much at a time.

Hang in there, MrsLee, the going gets a bit easier later in the book.

I had forgotten how much I adore the imagery in this book. :o)

Um... am I the only one still working on this? LOL

Nope, I'm reading it too, but I find it hard to read in one swallow. It's kind of like reading an epic poem that doesn't rhyme. I like it, but not in big swallows. I haven't gone to the spoiler thread yet.

And I'm still lurking here.

MrsLee ~~ I agree.

It isn't that big a book, but I kept finding reasons to stop reading and do something else. I finally made myself finish it, so I could go to the spoiler thread!

OK clamairy, you are alone now. :P I finished last night, even though I read until 1am the night before work. Then I tossed and turned all night. Don't quite want to blame the book, but...

It is chewy. Very chewy. And I can easily understand how the imagery would spawn nightmares and night-time tossings of the unpleasant kind.