tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post7526467866102867615..comments2024-03-25T15:10:58.495-04:00Comments on Following The Thread: Literary Sewing Circle: Final Book Discussion Melwykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-29552077878758693542017-10-18T18:29:07.897-04:002017-10-18T18:29:07.897-04:00Would you like to go for a spin on the Merry-go-Ro...Would you like to go for a spin on the Merry-go-Round? Which direction would you go? Would you risk it?<br /><br />No, I don’t think I would like to go on the Merry-go-Round, at least not knowing what the consequences would be. I am in fact, going on a Merry-go-Round today with my two year old granddaughter and I am really looking for it. So, I think there is a child in all of us regardless of age, but what we are seeking is fun, and memories of fun. But I certainly don’t want to go forward fast, I feel my life is whizzing past me already. And I don’t want to go backwards and do it all again. I like this stage in my life!<br /><br /><br />Why do you think so many townspeople were drawn to the carnival? What are they seeking?<br /><br />I think for the same reasons as I gave above. We all want to remember our ‘fun’ days. <br /><br /><br />Ray Bradbury’s book is nostalgic, but can we still connect to that nostalgia? Do we experience the book as earlier generations of readers did?<br /><br />I think we can. I believe it is ageless – young teenagers wanting to be older. I can remember feeling that way oh so many years ago. <br />Interestingly, I do believe ‘childrens’ books in the years that this book was written did have children this age doing things so much older than their years. I am thinking the Milly Molly Mandy series, Arthur Ransom books – Swallows and Amazon series, many Enid Blyton books. There appeared to be so much more independence – not realistic. I haven’t really read many teenage novels these days, but the whole concept is a little different.<br /><br /><br />The male characters of the book, in the beginning at least, are all looking forward or back to a narrow sliver of time as the prime of their life. Why, in Bradbury’s nostalgic America, is maleness ripe for so short a span. <br /><br />I am not sure about this one. Looking back can mean looking back to a time where life was carefree, (for some). But we are also looking at a small section of society. Life is not fun for many, regardless of age or time in life, or period of time. Looking ahead teenagers may think they will have more control, more independence when they are older. Looking back, the older person may well be looking back to when they had less responsibility, less cares. Is there ever such a perfect time, or is it all in the imagination, all in our dreams? Maybe that is why we say ‘a narrow sliver of time’. <br /><br /><br />There are a couple of moments in this book that can be uncomfortable for a modern female reader……Will’s dad and his thoughts about that time of day (“a living death…), the immortality of women through their children and what is perceived as a carefree existence because they don’t have to worry about having any other accomplishments in life. <br /><br />In the 50’s & 60’s women were possibly still viewed by many men as having these traits. Maybe men felt that because they were considered the bread winner, that women were home and therefore carefree, and their role was primarily to bring up children, hence the concept of immortality of women through their children. <br /><br />Regarding the link between gossip and women, I believe this must have been the general feeling of that time. I remember recently going to an aircraft war museum and reading all the booklets and instructions the pilots and aircraft maintenance crews were given. In bold print there was clear instructions, never to talk to women about their work – because of the risk of gossip! I cannot remember the exact wording, but I was amused. It reflected the beliefs at the time when men had certain roles in life, predominantly ‘important’ work and that women could not be trusted to keep their silence.<br /><br />I wasn’t bothered by all of this in the book – I remembered I was reading a book written in 1962, which probably began inception in the 1950’s and by an author who clearly represented the belief system of that time. If the same book was written now, I would be very indignant if I thought the author actually believed all these concepts!!<br />Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18286531350427715397noreply@blogger.com