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Post by wireman on Mar 17, 2021 12:11:37 GMT
Today we will discuss A Short Guide to The City by Peter Straub from the collection Interior Darkness
Also, you can comment on the very short story Bar Talk if you like
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Post by wireman on Mar 17, 2021 12:27:15 GMT
A Short Guide To The City - I liked this one very much. If there was ever any doubt about who wrote the first 50 or 60 pages of Black House, this story should erase that doubt. This story reminded me of the introduction to Black House where the narrator seems to be flying over the city commenting on people, the different cultures and the secrets hiding in these places and cultures. The narrator gives hints that the viaduct killer could have come from any of these groups but the identity of the killer is not revealed. The Broken Span is a symbol of the city that the reader can interpret many different ways relating to the story and the separation of the different cultures.
Bar Talk - I liked the story but the ending was so vague, I don't really know what to make of it. Something shocking happened but I don't have a clue as to what it could have been.
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Post by edwardjohn on Mar 17, 2021 13:21:33 GMT
A Short Guide To The City - I liked this one very much. If there was ever any doubt about who wrote the first 50 or 60 pages of Black House, this story should erase that doubt. This story reminded me of the introduction to Black House where the narrator seems to be flying over the city commenting on people, the different cultures and the secrets hiding in these places and cultures. The narrator gives hints that the viaduct killer could have come from any of these groups but the identity of the killer is not revealed. The Broken Span is a symbol of the city that the reader can interpret many different ways relating to the story and the separation of the different cultures.
Bar Talk - I liked the story but the ending was so vague, I don't really know what to make of it. Something shocking happened but I don't have a clue as to what it could have been.
It reminded me a lot of Black House, like you said, especially how French Landing, like the city in this story, seems to be a pleasant town, but it has all of these secrets.
Bar Talk I liked, but like you said, Joe, have no idea what to make of that ending. I'm not the biggest fan of that type of ending, as most of the people here probably know when I talked about the ending at The Dark Tower on SKMB.  |
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Post by spideyman on Mar 17, 2021 19:53:42 GMT
"Bar Talk" Straub hints at something weird and shocking, then leaves us hanging. Yeppers!
"A Short Guide To the City", definite reminder of Black House. Easily fits into Gothic literature. Could see how the darker elements of the past affected the current events within each culture.
An interesting read. Wonder if the Broken Span is a link between reality and perception in the minds of the citizens.
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Post by spideyman on Mar 18, 2021 21:29:19 GMT
Any suggestions for the next group discussion?
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Post by wireman on Mar 19, 2021 17:10:51 GMT
Any suggestions for the next group discussion? How about some Poe? The Story of William Wilson.
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Post by spideyman on Mar 19, 2021 19:24:54 GMT
Any suggestions for the next group discussion? How about some Poe? The Story of William Wilson.
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Post by cat on Mar 24, 2021 17:22:07 GMT
I liked Bar Talk. I have no idea what to make of the ending, either. The woman took a chance and talked to the fatigue wearing man and everyone was shocked. Their speaking to one another then seemed to breathe some life into the other patrons of the bar, very briefly. I have no idea what happened but it made me sad. All these people spending time together, yet they are all definitely alone. Sad.
Did not like A Short Guide to the City. Well, maybe did not like is too strong but it seemed a whole lot longer than 10 or 11 pages. 😀 I agree it is very much like the beginning of Black House.
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