Literally Geeky discussion

Have something to say about this book that just can't wait until the hangout? You've come to the right place.

I was a little nervous choosing S. I have a feeling it will be either completely loved or absolutely hated - no middle ground. I just hope the book's odd structure and presentation are more than just a gimmick.

I just bought this book as a Christmas present for my sister...I should've gotten myself a copy, too! I'll have to borrow it from her before the month is up!

I'm really excited for this one. It should be an interesting discussion. Now if the book would arrive, that would be handy...

I need to get this one

Anyone who likes S would do well to check out Italo Calvino's If On A Winter's Night A Traveller.

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

Has anyone figured how to use the code cracker and when? I'm on page 160. Should I have used it by now?

I think the decoder is supposed to be used with the footnotes, but I haven't figured out the pattern yet.

Yup. Confirmed. It's for the footnotes... but (view spoiler)[ like a lot of the gimmicks in this book... they do not add anything substantial (hide spoiler)].

Pale Fire, Vladimir Nabokov. People who liked this book may be interested in Pale Fire too. Pale Fire is a very fine book.

Hmm... ok. Would like to give it a shot, but right now my main concern is finishing on time for the hangout.

spoiler: not going to be easy... might have to pull a Lara.

Foucault's Pendulum (my ALL time favourite book of ALL TIME) is also a fine book, which people who liked S. may also enjoy.

FOR ALL TIME.

I don't know if this gets covered in the book, but here goes - I got a book on philosophy for my birthday on Sunday, and having a quick dip into it this morning following last nights Literally Geeky, I came across "The Ship of Theseus", a ancient thought experiment that Wikipedia tells us "raises the question of whether an object which has had all of its components replaced remains fundamentally the same object".

Quite aside from the synchronicity of it all, does this add/detract from the layered appreciation of S?

That's quite interesting. The only thing I knew about Theseus was about the Minotaur.
Is it a hint, that the Jen + Eric relantionship was a very good parallel to VMS + Filomena? Is it the same love?

Another interesting fact, is on John dies at the End, which we read on our group too is that the ship of theseus thought experiment is used too, in this case with an axe instead of a ship.

Still, in my humble opinion it doesn't add/detract anything from the book. they might be some connection, so more clues/hints.
Aaron researched more on other blogs he might have found someone talking about this, though.

p.s. Our next book, The Book of Flying features a minotaur. Is it a coincidence? Theseus and the minotaur? Can I be part of this conspiracy without even knowing it? Or do I actually know it, but I'm bluffing. :P

Interesting find!

Must be a reference to the identity issues of S - an amnesiac who was taken in by this group and made into a revolutionary.

I don't believe it helps solve any of the many mysteries in the story, but it's a neat bit of information nonetheless.

As regards Red's comments, I'd like to point you all to theory that S is a tribute/attempt at the Glass Bead Game. https://whoisstraka.wordpress.com/201...


... That is if you can bear to give any further time to this poor man's Kafka, all flash no bang, fiddly fiddly twaddle of a story.

Incidentally, The Glass Bead Game is another book I'd recommend.

@Aaron:

I think it's more of whoever's on the boat, there is always going to be an "S" fighting against bad guys. That's just my read of it.
S more than a character is an idea, and you can't kill an idea.
But i maybe talking gibberish here too.

So you enjoyed it then Ez?

.... Oh, I love having to work hard to be bored.

10/10 for effort.