Chaos Reading discussion

2013 Group Read #6: Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

GROUP READ DETAILS
*Reading starts: As soon as you're able
*Discussion Starts: 25 August 2013
*On the day, I'll add a note to the title of this thread to let people know the discussion's started. In the meantime, people can stop by this thread to chat, and post some bonus material about the book- but please tag any spoilers until discussion opens please.

FACTS & TRIVIA
*Length: 316 pages
*First published: Feb 2011
*Author: Karen Russell (US)
*This is Russell's first novel. The book originated as a short story, titled "Ava Wrestles the Alligator".
*In October 2011, HBO announced that it was producing a half-hour television series based on Swamplandia! with Scott Rudin serving as executive producer.
* The Times named Swamplandia! one of the ten best books of 2011. The book was also named to the longlist for the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction, an annual book award in the United Kingdom for female writers. It was one of three finalists for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, though no prize was ultimately awarded. It was one of three nominees for the inaugural Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction (2012) presented by the American Library Association for the best adult fiction.

I'm also looking for volunteers to (read the book and) lead the discussion. I'm only 1/3 of the way through my kitten-squisher, so I don't know if/when I'll get to this. If anyone's interested, let us know. :)

Hi Ruby, If no one else is up for it I'm happy to help - don't want to be the annoyingly pushy newbie though :o)

Lee wrote: "Hi Ruby, If no one else is up for it I'm happy to help - don't want to be the annoyingly pushy newbie though :o)"

YAY! Thanks for volunteering, Lee! I've had a bit of a rough week, so there's no way I was going to get to this. I'm glad you're up for leading another discussion :)

no problem

Hi folks - just to let you know that it's now time to share your thoughts on Swamplandia!

So..... did anyone beside Lee actually read the book?

To get the ball rolling ......
I really enjoyed this spooky, slightly surreal, black comedy. The writing is quite beautiful at times and it's filled with unusual images and metaphors. one of my favourites is " There was the sun beaming down on us like a dim-witted Aunt".

I seem to be reading an awful lot of stories about strange dysfunctional motherless families with slightly mad fathers at the moment - and this is one of the more enjoyable ones that I have come across :0)

I must admit that I wrote the above before I'd quite finished the book and before it turned from a dark supernatural fantasy in to a horribly real nightmare.
No ones living happily ever after in this story. I'm going to have to wait a while now to sort out what my feelings are about the book as a whole

Was there ever any "discussion on this? That's what I thought!

Jane wrote: "Was there ever any "discussion on this? That's what I thought!"

If you've read it, please - discuss!

I did read this, but it was a few years ago, so with the book not fresh in my mind it will be hard for me to add much. I do remember really enjoying Karen Russell's writing but the novel fell a little flat for me. If I remember my main issue was I felt the novel kind of dragged when it followed the brother.