Freeper Reading Club Discussion: Shane

Self | August 12, 2002 | PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

Okay, today is the due date for the first book discussion of the Freeper Reading Club: Shane. I picked this book as the leadoff book for several reasons. One is that it is a great short novel. I also picked it because it was a quick easy read and would be an easy way for folks out there to get used to reading book assignments for the reading club.

The next book is longer at 400 pages, The Electric Acid Kool-Aid Test by Tom Wolfe, although it is a VERY ENTERTAINING read. Remember, The Electric Acid Kool-Aid Test discussion is due September 9.

If you want to become a member of the Freeper Reading Club, just Freepmail me or post your request here and I'll put you on the Freeper Reading Club Ping List.

[WHATNEXT?]

O' parsifal - farcical.

[another cricket]

Maybe I'm missing it but I don't think there was a physical relationship

There wasn't, at least as far as I can see. The quote that I gave earlier came from the last part of the book. If words were unspoken I am pretty sure nothing else happened either. He is right about the sexual tension and that is all.

Pretty woman, good-looking guy, both a "bad boy" and a protector. Sexual tension would be a given. Given the character of both parties their not acting on it was also a given.

a.cricket

[Syncro]

"What was LSD like?"

_______ LOL...if I had time now I would tell you...as a matter of fact would like to write a story of my life...a lot of it about the hippie stuff LSD Haight-Asbury Santa Cruz Leary Baba Ram Dass (one of the guys with Leary and Alpert at harvard when LSD was legal)...Dean Moriarity Neal Cassedy Peter Dement Ron Bevert Leon Scotts Valley The Barn and the Dentist that was Dr Dement the light show guy who made the tooth with the star in it for Ken Keasy...lol he worked on my teeth with the Nitrous Oxide going full blast ... in the late sixties and early seventies...I had a co-writer but she seems to have jumped ship...lol

PS hve you finshed reading it yet???

About a quarter done. I just finished reading the part where the Tim Leary group in NY disdained the Merry Pranksters because they weren't serious enough. LOL! I guess Leary must have done a very quick U-Turn after that.

The Pranskters were VERY serious also...but competive to Leary's intellectual style...

A lot of infighting just like democrats...Osley (probably spelled wrong) the guy that supplied a lot of the acid in that era had problems with Leary as well..

All 0f those guys wanted to be "top dog" ....

Kesey also did a U turn...same reason as Leary to avoid prison...

More later...

I wish I could remember Baba Ram Dass's real name..it excapes me now do you know what it was?

[JulieRNR21]

Julie you are right, of course. You are taking the assignment seriously. Some are just having lots of fun at the GOOD student's expense.

Thanks for your support...but will the 'teacher' give me an 'A' on the assignment....LOL

[another cricket]

Some are just having lots of fun at the GOOD student's expense.

Ah come on, Parsifal keeps on dragging out sitting ducks for me to shoot. What am I suppose to do, ignore them? They quack so pitifully.

'Sides I already handed in my homework.

a.cricket

[summer]

A+ for you on leading this book discussion.

[JulieRNR21]

There wasn't, at least as far as I can see. The quote that I gave earlier came from the last part of the book. If words were unspoken I am pretty sure nothing else happened either. He is right about the sexual tension and that is all.

Okay we agree....I misunderstood. Sure there was sexual tension......that made it even more interesting and Shane's sacrifice more 'noble'.

[PJ-Comix]

No Jeb Bushes were harmed in the posting of these reviews.

[summer]

LOL... :)

[Auntie Mame]

One last comment: Looking back, the quaity of the writing was really superb at times. The fight scenes were brilliantly rendered. Better than the movies. No way could a movie convey a fight like this book did. And while the book could easily have slipped into a maudlin preachiness, and at times came perilously close, it never went too far.

[sinclair]

I enjoyed the book for entertainment reasons. It was a good quick read. However there wasn't near enough meat on the bones. Way too many questions as to why things happened the way they did and not enough depth to suit me. Almost every page alluded to things that were not sufficiently covered.

[PJ-Comix]

I wanted to kick off the Freeper Reading Club with a quick read so as to get folks used to reading books. Remember, a lot of folks might not have read a book in years and I sort of wanted to ease them into it.

The next assignment, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is longer and has more "meat" on it. Also, there is at least one Freeper (maybe more) here who actually was personally familiar with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. I would definitely like to hear their impressions when we do the discussion of that book. Also I would like to hear from ex-hippie Freepers who were familiar with that scene. Perhaps the book discussion could provide some interesting material for cultural/historical researchers out there.

[PJ-Comix]

See my reply #92. I will definitely want to read your impressions and recollections when we do the discussions of Wolfe's The Electric-Kool Aid Acid Test.

[sinclair]

"...I would like to hear from ex-hippie Freepers..."

Well you've found one. Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is sitting right here next to my keyboard and I will begin reading it shortly.

[Damocles]

Looks like I missed the first assignment. Please add me to the ping list for the upcoming books.

Thanks!

[PJ-Comix]

Well you've found one. Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is sitting right here next to my keyboard and I will begin reading it shortly.

Great! Maybe the discussion can be more than just a review of that book. Perhaps it could also be a look at that whole hippie scene with posts by those who were there.

I know this probably wouldn't happen but wouldn't it be GREAT if we could somehow get Tom Wolfe in on the discussion next month? Most likely it won't happen....But we will be discussing his book on the MOST POPULAR forum on the Net.

CALLING TOM WOLFE!!!

[PJ-Comix]

I just e-mailed Tom Wolfe's publishers, Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux about Wolfe's possible participation in the discussion thread about his book next month. They do have a program where you can request author's appearances. However, this would be even easier since Wolfe only needs to appear in Cyberspace.

I don't promise anything since I only sent in a request. But wouldn't it be INCREDIBLE if Tom Wolfe HIMSELF could participate in the discussion when we discuss his book next month?

Hey! Ain't this what the Internet is all about?!!!

[fone]

I read your orginal thread for this assignment but neglected to ask to be added to your reading club ping list.

Shane was a great book and a wonderful diversion. A teacher of mine years ago (decades? ;) would require that we include at least one new vocabulary word in order to receive a passing grade (I still look for them!) I submit:

Somnolence
(or a variation thereof, I've returned the book to the library) used when Bob was describing a sunset.

I'm sure checking out the Electric Kool-Aid Test will raise some eyebrows at our sleepy town library.

Good day to you sir! FRegards

[PJ-Comix]

You're now on the Ping list. And I think you'll really enjoy the next book assignment.

[fone]

Having grown up in the 70's it may be more like a trip down memory lane. No pun defended!