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Discussion Group Read January 29, 2020---Late Returns by Joe Hill
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Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
Hmmmm - this is a really long 'short story' - cannot guarantee I will be here but maybe I will start reading it and see how it goes.
I can't make it later so here's my thoughts.
I loved this story. It took me right back to the days I was a kid and I walked up to the school parking lot to the bookmobile. Stepping from the heat of a sweaty, summer day into that tiny, dimly lit ice box of make believe. I can still remember the door opening and that cold air hitting me. I was stepping into another world. Many really. Just a stamp away on a card were all things giddy with possibility.
I had tears in my eyes by the time I hit page two.
This part of the book sums it up for me:
"It's quite common to enter a library and find yourself in conversation with the dead. The best minds of generations long gone crowd every bookshelf. They wait there to be noticed, to be addressed, and to reply in turn. In the library the dead meet the living...."
I love how Joe works in a Joe Hill, laborer, reference with the song by Joan Baez.
Just a side note of interest, to me anyway. When Joe Hill author first started writing, before everyone knew he was Stephen King's son, I found his work and started googling him, trying to find out more about this author. At that time, when you googled, all that came up was information about the labor activist Joe Hill.
Now when you google Joe Hill, it's all about the author. He's worked hard for that.
I also appreciate that he can give the side-eye wink at both sides of the political aisle. Snapshots of life and attitude.
Anyway, this book hit me particularly hard because I've discussed dying with people. I'll miss my sons and that I won't get to see their all.
And the only other things that tug at me, pisses me off, makes me sad, makes me scream -- NOT FAIR! -- is all the books I won't get to read, the movies I won't get to see, all the delicious food I won't get to taste, the smell of autumn and spring! I won't be here to hug anyone. To laugh at new jokes. To watch creativity in all forms. To try and make something of myself before it's too late. And it might be too late.
Joe's a writer who I believe doesn't really know how briliant he is. And maybe that's a good thing.
When my day comes, I'll be looking for the bookmobile. Driver, watch for me.
I loved this story. It took me right back to the days I was a kid and I walked up to the school parking lot to the bookmobile. Stepping from the heat of a sweaty, summer day into that tiny, dimly lit ice box of make believe. I can still remember the door opening and that cold air hitting me. I was stepping into another world. Many really. Just a stamp away on a card were all things giddy with possibility.
I had tears in my eyes by the time I hit page two.
This part of the book sums it up for me:
"It's quite common to enter a library and find yourself in conversation with the dead. The best minds of generations long gone crowd every bookshelf. They wait there to be noticed, to be addressed, and to reply in turn. In the library the dead meet the living...."
I love how Joe works in a Joe Hill, laborer, reference with the song by Joan Baez.
Just a side note of interest, to me anyway. When Joe Hill author first started writing, before everyone knew he was Stephen King's son, I found his work and started googling him, trying to find out more about this author. At that time, when you googled, all that came up was information about the labor activist Joe Hill.
Now when you google Joe Hill, it's all about the author. He's worked hard for that.
I also appreciate that he can give the side-eye wink at both sides of the political aisle. Snapshots of life and attitude.
Anyway, this book hit me particularly hard because I've discussed dying with people. I'll miss my sons and that I won't get to see their all.
And the only other things that tug at me, pisses me off, makes me sad, makes me scream -- NOT FAIR! -- is all the books I won't get to read, the movies I won't get to see, all the delicious food I won't get to taste, the smell of autumn and spring! I won't be here to hug anyone. To laugh at new jokes. To watch creativity in all forms. To try and make something of myself before it's too late. And it might be too late.
Joe's a writer who I believe doesn't really know how briliant he is. And maybe that's a good thing.
When my day comes, I'll be looking for the bookmobile. Driver, watch for me.
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...I can't top this...wouldn't even try....Deej, you paint so well on my minds palette.....but to echo your opening, I can remember when the old yellow dinosaur pulled into my neighborhood....as a lonely child, it was like going to a friend's house.....the crisp air chilled me after a reckless ride on my Schwinn to get there-and the smells?.....lawd, lawd, lawd....nothing, but nothing was better than that special book odor....this was a special homage to a mostly lost, small town treasure.....I too have seen the ghosts.....
Dana Jean - spot on. And I will chime in concerning remembering the bookmobile in youth. What a thrill to see it pull up and open a world of wonders. Every book was an awaiting adventure.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was a gentle , touching the heart strings story about books, ghosts, and needs of the readers. Special is a good descriptive word for this story. How special it was for the readers to find one book/ story before they died. Joe hit the mark with this story.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was a gentle , touching the heart strings story about books, ghosts, and needs of the readers. Special is a good descriptive word for this story. How special it was for the readers to find one book/ story before they died. Joe hit the mark with this story.
Beautiful! I had tears in my eyes reading THIS!
I too loved this story. I had the same quote as DJ that I was going to quote. It is a lovely story that takes loss and grief and all the what ifs and turns them into hope.
I have never been on a bookmobile or even seen one. I grew up in a town of less than 800 people. And not in town, but outside town on a farm. Some of my best memories are the trips to the library with my aunt (only 10 years older than me, she was my bestest best friend growing up). Summertime meant lots of work. And we all helped. But my aunt would bring me along with her to the library every 2 weeks during the summer. I can still smell the smell, walking in the front doors and going up the short staircase into the main part of the library. The thrill of not having to go to the "kids side" but getting to pick from wherever I wanted. Taking a stack of books out and not being able to hardly wait until evening chores were done and I could start one.
It was on one of these summer library trips, my aunt borrowed Pet Semetary. She said it was really good but way too scary for me. I was probably 11 or so. But I remembered the cover and a while later, (it was just before school started, I was starting 7th grade) I found a paperback copy at a garage sale. That was that. I was hooked. All because of a cat on a cover. So I owe my love for Stephen King and his stories to the library.
I wish I had gotten to peruse a bookmobile, too.
Side note...the library here where I live now, does not have that distinctive book smell. I wonder why? The books do. (Because you know I smell them.
)I really enjoyed this story a lot. Brought back some good memories for me, too, even if they aren't bookmobile memories.
Thank you for sharing your story cat in a bag . Books, libraries, memories-- we all share them.Beautiful! I had tears in my eyes reading THIS!
I too loved this story. I had the same quote as DJ that I was going to quote. It is a lovely story that takes loss and grief and all the what ifs and turns them into hope.
I have never been on a bookmobile or even seen one. I grew up in a town of less than 800 people. And not in town, but outside town on a farm. Some of my best memories are the trips to the library with my aunt (only 10 years older than me, she was my bestest best friend growing up). Summertime meant lots of work. And we all helped. But my aunt would bring me along with her to the library every 2 weeks during the summer. I can still smell the smell, walking in the front doors and going up the short staircase into the main part of the library. The thrill of not having to go to the "kids side" but getting to pick from wherever I wanted. Taking a stack of books out and not being able to hardly wait until evening chores were done and I could start one.
It was on one of these summer library trips, my aunt borrowed Pet Semetary. She said it was really good but way too scary for me. I was probably 11 or so. But I remembered the cover and a while later, (it was just before school started, I was starting 7th grade) I found a paperback copy at a garage sale. That was that. I was hooked. All because of a cat on a cover. So I owe my love for Stephen King and his stories to the library.
I wish I had gotten to peruse a bookmobile, too.
Side note...the library here where I live now, does not have that distinctive book smell. I wonder why? The books do. (Because you know I smell them.
I really enjoyed this story a lot. Brought back some good memories for me, too, even if they aren't bookmobile memories.
Volunteer for February 5th?
Unread stories left in Full Throttle are:
Unread stories left in Full Throttle are:
- By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain
- Faun
- Thumbprint
- Twittering from the Circus of the Dead
- You Are Released
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
Did we already do "Wolverton Station"?
p.s. I only got half way through Late Returns when Andy interrupted me yesterday but what I read of it was very good.
Yes, that has been read. The list above shows the ones we have not discussed yet. Would you like to pick one?
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
Well - I guess I will go through and have a look (I have the book sitting right next to me) - give me a few moments to look it over
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
I'd like to suggest "By the Silver Waters of Lake Champlain" (plus read the notes in the back about why he wrote this story)
Group read for February 5th approx 8PM eastern time
By the Silver Waters of Lake Champlain ---- by Joe Hill found in Full Throttle
By the Silver Waters of Lake Champlain ---- by Joe Hill found in Full Throttle
I love your descriptions. And it doesn't matter if it was bookmobile or the library, we all walk with the dead when we check out books wherever that may be.Beautiful! I had tears in my eyes reading THIS!
I too loved this story. I had the same quote as DJ that I was going to quote. It is a lovely story that takes loss and grief and all the what ifs and turns them into hope.
I have never been on a bookmobile or even seen one. I grew up in a town of less than 800 people. And not in town, but outside town on a farm. Some of my best memories are the trips to the library with my aunt (only 10 years older than me, she was my bestest best friend growing up). Summertime meant lots of work. And we all helped. But my aunt would bring me along with her to the library every 2 weeks during the summer. I can still smell the smell, walking in the front doors and going up the short staircase into the main part of the library. The thrill of not having to go to the "kids side" but getting to pick from wherever I wanted. Taking a stack of books out and not being able to hardly wait until evening chores were done and I could start one.
It was on one of these summer library trips, my aunt borrowed Pet Semetary. She said it was really good but way too scary for me. I was probably 11 or so. But I remembered the cover and a while later, (it was just before school started, I was starting 7th grade) I found a paperback copy at a garage sale. That was that. I was hooked. All because of a cat on a cover. So I owe my love for Stephen King and his stories to the library.
I wish I had gotten to peruse a bookmobile, too.
Side note...the library here where I live now, does not have that distinctive book smell. I wonder why? The books do. (Because you know I smell them.
I really enjoyed this story a lot. Brought back some good memories for me, too, even if they aren't bookmobile memories.
Some books have that smell, but I think we're losing that. Not too long ago I bought a new book that was so old school book smell, it surprised me!
Library books do have a smell. Probably a combination of ink and paper and sweat and food and cigarettes and booger pickin'. I wrote an Op Ed once on the amount of cigarette ash I found inside a book and alerted the person who had the book before me that they better dash to their doctor post haste because they probably had a tumor the size of Billy Barty in them. bwhahaha!
you got it. every book an adventure!!
well said. "for a lonely child, going to a friend's house." Perfect.