Books in the Freezer discussion

Thoughts about chapters 1-6 in Mongrels

Really liked all the werewolf rules that SGJ lays out, (the pantyhose especially is a winner). And the tales of his grandfather that seem frivolous, but are actually hiding some really messed up family history.

Jones said in an interview that the movie "Near Dark" was a large inspiration for how the werewolves live. Knowing that, it's hard not to see a little Severen in Darren.

I haven't managed to find a copy of Near Dark here in Australia, but after reading this book, I'm even more eager to track it down.

First off, bonus points for this story starting in Arkansas! My home state!

This is an interesting read for me. Without this group read I don't think I would have ever picked it up. Werewolves just aren't my thing. But I'm glad I did pick it up. I'm enjoying it so far!

And I'm enjoying the writing, although I find it a bit different. SGJ likes to write something a bit confusing but clear it up a page or so later. I've noticed that a few times. I'd read something and not know where it's going and then have it explained later. And he does it in a smart way. So, kudos to him.

And the story ain't bad either. Lots of explaining the rules of being a werewolf. I'm hooked so I'm looking forward to reading the remainder of the book!

You know, I'm not sure that I've ever read anything with werewolves in it besides the True Blood series. Oh, and Harry Potter I guess...

I'm really enjoying this so far. I feel like I've just dipped my toes into a story rich with werewolf mythology and there's so much more to discover. I'm kind of hoping the Grandfather makes an appearance in a flashback or something because I loved his stories.

Liking it so far, I have found the writing style different and in parts I’ve read a sentence and found myself re-reading it thinking wait!, what?.. But find it’s explained through reading on, but Tbh the writing style has kept me intrigued as to what is coming next, love the rules of the werewolf the panty hose rule especially.. who knew right? Ha

I agree with everyone about the rules. They're really interesting. I also don't think our narrator has been named yet, unless I missed it. I've enjoyed the different titles he's had for himself every other chapter- vampire, reporter and criminal. I love the love that Libby and Darren have for him too. Excited to go on.

Okay - I read the first section. Like everyone else I am enjoying the "rules" of werewolves in this universe. Werewolves are definitely not my favourite horror monsters (does anyone actually like them?), but I think the author does a good job of making them pretty interesting.

I don't tend to connect to southern/backwoods horror stories, so I've been reluctant to pick this one up. (I didn't really like Brother by Ania Alhborn or Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke either). There's nothing wrong with those kind of stories, but I think I'd connect to them more if I had a better understanding of the Southern US.

Also, I'm listening to this on audio. Is anyone else? I'm really enjoying the narrator/ I have an 40 minute commute (one way) every day right now which is helping me get through this one really quickly.

I agree with you, Rachel.

I finished chapter 1 in the wee hours this morning and thought it was great. Just the right amount of ambiguity around the grandfather and his odd stories and behaviour before getting to the meat (so to speak) of whats happening with this family. i find myself really caring for the characters as well which is great at this early point in a book

This novel has such a unique narrative style. I love how the protagonist explains the adventures and horrors of life as a werewolf and how lots of this information comes across as being ‘Darren flavoured.’ You can tell which stories he’s heard from Darren for sure! Love how you can really feel the adrenaline of the protagonist when he’s telling us about ‘shifting’ when driving. So skilfully done by SGJ. Although I’m a little worried the sheer inconvenience of being a werewolf is going to outweigh the excitement and adventure of it all...

Each of these early chapters reads like a separate story, building the world and characters up layer by layer. Already hard to put down!

I read SGJ's short story collection After the People Lights Have Gone Off a few months ago and there was a piece of this in there. So I had a little "introduction" to this book before I picked it up. Like everyone else, I am really enjoying the "rules" for the werewolves. I think this is probably the most unique werewolf story I've ever read. So far my favorite thing was the way the grandfather was described as being only 55 (I think it was?) but having aged so poorly because of all the shifting. There was a line about how they age like dogs. I really liked that.

I also find it interesting how this is a novel, but each of the chapters feels like its own contained vignette. Each of the chapters is a little window into the narrator's world.

I started this book last night and I am already a third of the way through it. I would not say it is going to be one of my favorites, but it is definitely interesting and it reads fast.

As I read this I keep comparing it to a film from about a decade ago called the Hamiltons. No spoilers but man it's tonally so close to this book. I loved that movie and I think I love this book but I am wondering how much is a nostalgia thing.

The main reason for this is because the book right now is so dang bleak. I mean there's no seeming way for this kid to be okay(if he wolfs out which is still ambiguous at the point I've read to.) I also wonder how unreliable our narrators are. I mean is being a werewolf this bad or is it that Darren and the rest of the family are making it worse because of how they live/act/never learn. Again, I'm bringing a lot of my own baggage to this but statements like "everyone winds up in jail" and Darren's risk taking (and grandpa's implied from before the narrator is born) just smacks so much of people in my life with substance abuse problems.

SDKalos wrote: "I also wonder how unreliable our narrators are. I mean is being a werewolf this bad or is it that Darren and the rest of the family are making it worse because of how they live/act/never learn."

This is something I have considered as well. Are ALL werewolves like this, or is this specific to the narrator's family? It's hard to know if their lives are so harsh because they are werewolves, or if that is a separate thing that the narrator, in his youth and inexperience, does not quite comprehend.

I actually like werewolves, Rachel. Lol. And I've got it on audio as well. It's a very humanizing side of werewolves that I don't usually love, I
I'm all about faceless monsters disemboweling you while you're camping, but I'm eager to see where this goes.

SDKalos wrote: "Again, I'm bringing a lot of my own baggage to this but statements like "everyone winds up in jail" and Darren's risk taking (and grandpa's implied from before the narrator is born) just smacks so much of people in my life with substance abuse problems...."

SD, my reading is very similar to yours. Being a werewolf IS very similar to being an addict. Look at how these people live - sneaking out of crappy trailer parks when they've caused enough trouble that the law is looking for them, or when the rent's overdue. Taking non-skilled temp jobs to barely get by. Having repeat abusive relationships, etc.

Our narrator is unreliable in that he's describing their world from the point of view of a kid who naturally wants to belong, and who naturally worships his uncle - the kind of guy most of us would sidle away from if we ran into him at a gas station. And, like his grandfather, the kid is frequently using a light tone to tell a darker story.

Sara wrote: "I read SGJ's short story collection After the People Lights Have Gone Off a few months ago and there was a piece of this in there. So I had a little "introduction" to this book befo..."

I loved After the People Lights Have Gone Off! It was what sold me on trying this book (and book club/discussion group). Brushdogs in that collection is so, so fabulous. It scared the hell out of me because the description of hunting on the Line (which I did with my father when I was about the narrator's age) is spot on, down to the atmospheric details that I could never have put my finger on. But Graham Jones gets all of them, like to the point where my memories started overlapping with his description and I thought I'd experienced some of what he wrote. Sorry, this was a bit of a tangent but that collection is amazing.

SDKalos wrote: "I loved After the People Lights Have Gone Off! It was what sold me on trying this book (and book club/discussion group)..."


Haha. Yes! I loved that collection as well. Some stories were better than others, but honestly I didn't think even one of them was bad. It is what originally sold me on Mongrels as well. I was intrigued and wanted more.

SGJ does have the ability to capture details in a unique way that I love. It isn't just the story he's telling, but also the way he is telling it.

Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) wrote: "Okay - I read the first section. Like everyone else I am enjoying the "rules" of werewolves in this universe. Werewolves are definitely not my favourite horror monsters (does anyone actually like t..."

I'm also listening to this on audio, Rachel. Apparently, there are two narrators. Wow! They sound so similar I honestly thought it was one. Or, maybe I haven't gotten to the second narrator yet? I don't know.

I've only read one short story by SGJ and wasn't a fan. I found it disjointed and confusing. Feelings are similar with this novel. Of course, I'm going to keep reading because I'm intrigued at where this will go. Hopefully, I'll understand along the way.

Not to sound morbid, but what the heck, right? I like the messiness of Libby's aftermath.

I’m a bit behind on having started this book, but I’m intrigued so far. I loved learning all the rules and I like the love Darren and Libby have for the boy. I don’t remember the last time I read a werewolf book, but I’m enjoying it so far!