Classic Trash discussion

This topic is for those who wish to discuss the book in progress. No spoilers please.

I am about halfway through and enjoying it. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't the southern gothic that this has turned out to be. But once I got used to the characters, I started liking it more. Although, I don't think India's relationship with her father would pass muster nowadays. I don't think it's creepy, but it could be read that way with modern sensibilities.

I am still waiting to get my copy from the library. Hopefully it will arrive this week.

I finished this last month and the India/Luker relationship was the thing that made me roll my eyes the most.

I couldn't tell if it was a deliberate exaggeration of New York artists, ignorance, or an embarrassing reminder of the '70s. I chose embarrassing reminder of the '70s, after watching Paper Moon one too many times.

That isn't to say I didn't like the novel. It had some nice details.

This is an interesting, raunchy style. I can see why Stephen King likes this guy so much. I feel like I’m reading a B-Horror movie from the 70s. That’s not a knock on this book: there was some great movie horror in that decade!

Yay, my book came in! I will post my thoughts as I read it.

I'm about a third of the way through. I liked the funeral and the knife and India's drawing. So far, Big Barbara is the most interesting character. The Third House is kind of creepy at Beldame. The pace is kind of slow, but maybe it pickes up later?

I like this in an Amityville Horror type of way. Not everything is explained and that’s sort of scary.

Cheryl, yeah it takes a moment for things to get put in motion, but then they really get going!

Adelaide wrote: " Although, I don't think India's relationship with her father would pass muster nowadays. I don't think it's creepy, but it could be read that way with modern sensibilities."

I think Luker is more of a 70's New York bohemian artist type, and acting accordingly with his daughter. He's being the "cool dad" and I didn't see anything creepy about it, just ill-advised.

I once worked with a woman in her 50s who had a grown son (20s). He and his wfe were dancers in a troupe in Ireland, and my co-worker was showing me pictures of his family there. One picture showed him lifting up his little girl (around 5 or 6) into the air. The girl was completely naked. My co-worker said she thought the photo was inappropriate, but that her son thought there was nothing wrong about occasional family nudity. All of those dancers are very bohemian like that, she said. So, I just put Luker's actions down to bohemian artist behavior.

I think we're less surprised by some of the shock (India drinking, knowing about Luker's sexual life) and less approving of Luker forcing India into an adult role so early. I don't think he wanted to be a father, so he's always treated her as a mini-adult.

I thought there may have been some subtle irony in Luker being so much of a stereotypical New York artist. Maybe we see him as someone from Alabama might see him.

I also thought the characters were drawn to Beldame because it recognizes and enforces their stagnancy. It's the comfortable place where nothing happens (ha). The only person who really changes in response to the outside world is Big Barbara, and once her reason for changing is removed, even she moves back to herself. Beldame hates change.

Tam wrote: "I think we're less surprised by some of the shock (India drinking, knowing about Luker's sexual life) and less approving of Luker forcing India into an adult role so early. I don't think he wanted ..."

Those are all good points!