RenoVous

  Today I will start Chapter 16. The one before was a paranoid fever dream, and it was a reminder of what the book is actually satirizing.   Stalinist Moscow: full of arbitrary arrests, disappearances, surveillance, and punishment of personal wealth. But even without knowing the background, it's a wild story, and I'm enjoying it very much.   One of my favorite scenes so far was after the "Parisian boutique" performance.  The way the devil toys with their greed, in many ways.... For those reading along, share your thoughts from whatever point you're at, or let us know what else you've been reading!

  I've started chapter 7. This is one of the weirdest books I think I've ever read, but it's certainly interesting.  I'm very on board with the supernatural elements.  Poor Ivan though. Sous mentioned a Russian movie - I found one that was filmed in 1994, shelved, and finally released in 2011.  And then another movie came out in 2024.  It is scheduled to open in the US tomorrow as a limited release. Even if you're not reading along, it was Book Clubbers that turned me onto this, so thank you!

  Much Ado About Nothing This has been a fun one.  I didn't read much on vacation, but I've made it into Act 4. I thought it was funny how much emphasis was on Don John, the bastard.   In station and behavior, though, turns out.  What he does to Hero just to piss his brother off....  While Claudio could probably fall in love equally fast with any other beautiful woman. I like the more joyous prank of getting Benedick and Beatrice together, and it's a believable match. But I love this line when she was disavowing marriage: "Adam's sons are my brethren; and truly, I hold it a sin to match in my kindred." Certainly witty, and dare I say, feminist?  It speaks to an equality, a rejection of subservience. And I appreciate that Benedick acknowledges his own hypocrisy as he falls for Beatrice: "When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married." Ha. Share your thoughts if you're reading along or have read before!!

  I was able to finish The Pit and the Pendulum  and I've started The Fall of the House of Usher . I'm no longer entirely sure I have actually read this, I believe I was just vaguely familiar with the tale. I added a fourth to read, but I'm not sure I'll make it. Ligeia  is one I've never even heard of. *** In other Halloween spirit, we did our pumpkins last night.  I have to show off the face my nephew drew. Boo!

  My sister is joining me again, this time for some spooky season Poe. We're going with: The Cask of Amontillado The Fall of the House of Usher The Pit and the Pendulum The first I've never read, the second a long time ago, and the third....I'm not entirely sure. The Girl Who Played With Fire  certainly had some elements of horror.  The real life sex trafficking kind, failures of government systems to protect its citizens.... Will you read-along, or do you have something else for the holiday?

  What timing!   My sister and I finished Othello  last night and today is the reason I chose April to start with. Shakespeare was born on this day in 1564.  This is assumed from church records that confirm his baptism on April 26, and it was customary to do so three days after birth. Anyway, I quite liked this one.  Iago was truly a villain, and Desdemona truly an innocent.  But it's Emilia I'm most unhappy with dying.  She was going to leave her awful husband, and I was rooting for it!  The analysis review suggested she was the play's conscience, and that tracks. Which leaves Othello, the fool, "to die upon a kiss."  He no longer deserved that, but it was well written.  I'm just glad he stabbed Iago too. "I bleed, sir, but not kill'd." "I'd have thee live, for in my sense 'tis happiness to die." Which Othello chose for himself.

I've made it through Act III, and what a mess Iago has created.  He is often considered one of the most effective villains in literature, a master manipulator. The plot of this is taken in part from Giraldo Cinthio's Gli Hecatommithi , but there Iago's motivations are driven by Desdemona's rejection, whereas in the play he just seems to hate Othello.  It's certainly not just about the position he wanted over Cassio, because he nearly had that after setting him up. I'm a little annoyed how easy it was for Iago to goad Othello, but such is the point, I suppose.  Insecurity, vulnerability, and stubborn male perspective. "They are all but stomachs, and we all but food.  They eat us hungerly, and when they are full they belch us." Emilia's husband Iago already treats her like garbage, so she's warning Desdemona that her honeymoon phase may well be over. And it all comes down to a handkerchief. Online Source Summary and Analysis We'll finish up b...

  Othello I'm not sure if I'll be able to start today, but tomorrow for sure. And my sister will be reading along with me as well this time! Online Source Summary and Analysis The play has recently been revived on Broadway, with Denzel Washington in the lead role. Playbill So we'll check in mid-month to touch base around Act III.

  Published on this day in 1843. I've seen many versions, from movies to stage, but I've never actually read it. Online Source

  This is what I plan on starting today, and I thought it might be fun to make it a read-along.  I was waiting for November as it seems to be a fall into winter kind of setting. We'll be going with Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's 1756 version, which greatly condenses Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's original 1740 novel. Online Source Beaumont reduced the cast of characters, and there is less detail of Beauty's exploration of the castle.  Villeneuve also devotes a large part of the story to the fairies, Good and Evil.  The Disney movie takes a bit from both, as well as some ideas from a 1946 French film. It remains my favorite Disney movie.

  Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as Petruchio and Katharina. One of the main reasons I started reading Shakespeare for myself was to know the origins of quotes in pop culture, such as "Kiss me, Kate!" in this instance. When they first met, I enjoyed their back and forth of witty insult and innuendo.  But now heading into Act IV, I don't like this guy at all.  Instead of matching her, he must overpower her, break her.  I don't see that being necessary, especially as she isn't railing against the marriage or anything. On the other hand, Bianca seems to have more power in her courtings.  She's aware of Lucentio's trick, (disguised as Cambio), and she's playing on Hortensio's desire.  She is about to "practice how to bride it" from the bedroom her sister was just taken from.  No wedding party for Kate. Summary and Analysis

  This year I've decided on The Taming of the Shrew. Over the years I've heard that the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You,  is loosely based on the story. So I'm interested to see how that compares and contrasts.  One article I read has already suggested the movie is a bit more feminist than the play, and that tracks. Introducing Katharina (Kat) as the shrew.  Petruchio (Patrick) as the suitor. Her sister Bianca, and suitor Lucentio.  There are others, of course, whom she cannot entertain until her older sister does. Their father, Baptista. As always, I have my  Summary and Analysis  for review ready. We'll touch base mid-month in case you're reading along!

  I have a book from my sister, and I picked up a few second-hand, but I haven't started anything yet. I came across a collection of short stories written by George Saunders. "Home" was up for a Bram Stoker Award in 2011. The title story is called "Tenth of December." The New Yorker Read along with me! "Escape from Spiderhead" was adapted as the film Spiderhead,  starring Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller. Wiki

  Online Source Study Guide I've had a slow start on my end, but from the onset we're dealing with fealty and feelings.  Titus is offered the position of emperor but he declines and aligns with Saturninus against his brother, Bassianus.  When Titus bestows his daughter, Lavinia, to the new Caesar, we learn she was already promised to Bassianus.   S shouldn't be mad though, because he's just fallen for the Goth prisoner, the Queen, Tamora.  But he does hold it against Titus, even after Titus kills his own son, Mutius, for protecting his sister.  He considers his sons treasonous. Tamora calms everyone down though and makes amends.  She quietly tells Saturninus that she will massacre them all, for him, and herself.  She had begged Titus not to kill her son Alarbus, but Lucius gleefully carried out the sentence. By Act II I realized the Moor, Aaron, is Tamora's lover.  Her sons, Chiron and Demetrius, are now in love with Lavinia as well....

  In the beginning of the month we mentioned  The Velveteen Rabbit  for a short read-along. I'm sure I read this once before a long time ago, but this time I cried more.  The sadness and the sweetness, it's different as an adult.  So today I'm looking for other short stories to finish out the year. I came across "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and since we've been traveling around some for the Christmas topics, I thought that would fit in nicely. Online Here's a classic.

  I find that my reading slows down this time of year - the cold, so we're not out on weekends as much, and with the holidays there are more get-together events. So I'm still working on The Haunting of America.   I've definitely learned some history so far, but I can't say it's presented all that interestingly.  This is often my trouble with non-fiction. Which means I'm more than ready for something new.  Eolone suggested The Velveteen Rabbit  and I found us an online source. Here The story was first published in Harper's Bazaar in 1921, and a year later it was released as a book. Two of the themes that have long resonated in storytelling is that of a toy that longs to be real, and longs to be loved.  Pinocchio was written in 1883, and Toy Story  was released in 1995. I'm also reminded of the Island of Misfit Toys, from 1964.  

  First up! Best Costumes! Janelle Monae Kerry Washington Girls of Riverdale. Latto Heidi Klum is currently in process for a later reveal. I've been watching 101 Scariest Movie Moments on Shudder, and here comes a spoiler: #1 #2 So good. As you know, we've also been reading ghost stories for the month. I haven't quite finished "The Horla" but I should today. A definite theme throughout these stories has been madness, which does often go hand in hand with ghosts.  There's always doubt in oneself, the questioning of others.... Share music, scenes, photos, tricks or treats!!

  Man-Size in Marble  by Edith Nesbit A not so spooky but fine enough ghost story.  Poor Laura. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman This one though, I'm not sure it really is a ghost story, but it was haunting.  I felt my anxiety rise as she lost her mind - how expertly written that was.  I had a sense of Lovecraft as I was reading, the insanity of "The Rats in the Walls."  So I thought it was interesting to find he had commented on the story, saying it "rises to a classic level in subtly delineating the madness." Previously there was mention of feminism in both of these stories, and they do both portray a woman who is treated as fragile and unable to handle themselves, with husbands who must tend to them.  Although I have a much more negative opinion of John in the second story.  I was seriously thinking he was gaslighting her. I went ahead with the next story, The Cigarette Case  by Oliver Onions.  Another fine ghost story...

  The Signalman by Charles Dickens What an interesting twist, set up in such a way that you did not see it coming. Next up is Man-size in Marble by Edith Nesbit Online Source Followed by The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Online Source And we'll check back again before the end of the month!

 I'm not totally into the James Patterson book I started reading, so I plan to hit the library soon. Being October, I may look for something spooky. I do have this Midnight Fright  collection from 1980 we might be able to work with for a read-along, if anyone's interested. The first one is "The Signal-Man" by Charles Dickens, and here we have a three story collection of his. Gutenberg Archive So I think we'll come back to Book Club closer to Halloween to discuss.  :-)