little big readalong

A readalong! I’ve never done one before, but Dolce Bellezza instigated it, and Tom from Wuthering Expectations declared he would join in, and I would love to reread this and discuss it, because it is such a rich and wild book... Little Big by John Crowley is perhaps not as widely known in Britain as it should be. It is:

the epic story of Smoky Barnable, an anonymous young man who travel by foot from the City to a place called Edgewood–not found on any map–to marry Daily Alice Drinkwater, as was prophesied. It is the story of four generations of a singular family, living in a house that is many houses on the magical border of an otherworld. (from the back cover)

This is a book unlike any other I’ve read, it’s hard to describe, but it’s beautifully written and now I’m thinking of it I think of sunshine and daydreams and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. If that seems like your cup of tea, then please join us in May! You can read more about it, and put your name down if you fancy, here.

Comments

[Lory @ Emerald City Book Review]

I would love to join in this but I have so many books to read in May...will keep it in mind. I avoided Little, Big for a long time -- it's one of those books that gets recommended so often that I had a prejudice against it. I adored it when I finally did read it, and it's definitely time for a reread. Will see what I can do.

[Bellezza]

How fun that this is your first read along, and it's my first time through this novel. I love how describe it, and you've only made me want to delve deeply into it all the sooner! I think I need to take a day (month?) off work. ;) I'm really looking forward to reading is together, with the other little band of readers joining in,

[Amateur Reader (Tom)]

"hard to describe" - this is going to be a challenge! But I guess that is why we bother to write at a book blog, right?

Very glad that you are joining in. It is going to be a good crowd.

[Caroline]

I'm so tempted to join. If only I hadn't singed up for another readalong + there's my own at the end of the month. But maybe . . . You make it sound so great.

[Helen]

Lory, how lovely that you're a fellow fan. Do join in! I have a feeling it's a book that is even better the second time round.

Bellezza, I am tempted to start now too! This is going to be such fun!

Hm, well maybe it's only hard for ME to describe, Tom, but yes, that is the pleasure and challenge of writing about books. I think it took me a while, when first reading it, to find how to read it, because it was so different from anything else I'd read.

Oh go on Caroline, join us join us! No pressure... :) But you would have lots to say about it, I'm sure.

[litlove]

I've heard a lot about this book and will be most curious to see what you have to say about it! I own a different title by the same author: The Translator. Which I can see heading back up the TBR at this rate.

[Helen]

I have a bad feeling that the readalong may end with me deciding I MUST read everything John Crowley ever wrote, with catastrophic consequences on the gallimaufry finances... I'd love to read your thoughts on The Translator.