It Grows On You, SKMB Reading and Discussion Group, 9.12.14

[VultureLvr45]

Not quite as good as some other stories in the collection, but overall not too bad! (Especially weird at the end with the woman leering at them and pulling up her dress to expose herself - now what was THAT all about?)

Sorry - just had to throw in one more image - I think I am quite visual and like to picture things about a story

I'm Visual as well Neesy. It was really a complex story to me; Maybe I am over thinking it, but the story was about death. Fast, slow, insidious,and continually moving towards death. It was about the death of a town, of men, of relationships, of innocence, of hope.

 

[morgan]

I also thought it strange about the poor woman giving birth to a monster that died only six hours after its birth. Poor Cora

It has been said that Stephen King wrote another story later on about a weird house called Rose Red - does anyone see any similarity here between this one and Rose Red? (I have not read Rose Red yet).

Once again, it's been too long ago to remember!

 

[morgan]

I'm Visual as well Neesy. It was really a complex story to me; Maybe I am over thinking it, but the story was about death. Fast, slow, insidious,and continually moving towards death. It was about the death of a town, of men, of relationships, of innocence, of hope.

Extremely well said! I get a little lost when there are so many characters in a very short story. I keep flipping back the pages and thinking, "Who was that again?" But the theme was crystal clear!

 

[VultureLvr45]

Never read Needful Things or Rose Red yet (also forgot about the gem in the back of the book). I liked the old guys hanging around together, sense of camaraderie.

 

[Neesy]

Everyone who ever owned that house seemed to have bad luck - one couple had a son who had an accident playing with a rifle. It did not kill him but he went blind, then they moved away.

Cora (wife of the first owner) fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Then Joe (who was now a widow) lost almost an entire herd of cows due to meningitis.

I am trying hard to find something good to say about this particular story but overall it is just very strange and bizarre.

The descriptions of cancer are rather eery as well. Perhaps it is because he saw his Gramma slowly die of cancer when he was younger?

 

[VultureLvr45]

Extremely well said! I get a little lost when there are so many characters in a very short story. I keep flipping back the pages and thinking, "Who was that again?" But the theme was crystal clear!

You're too generous Honey... Everything initially from his descriptions felt so 'dry' and 'used up'. There was indeed a ton of description. Made me feel a bit nostalgic for Pennsylvania. People there used to want to know every single detail of an event, and sometimes when I go back now, I just want to the 'old timers' to 'cut to the chase' or 'give me the bottom line'.

 

[morgan]

Never read Needful Things or Rose Red yet (also forgot about the gem in the back of the book). I liked the old guys hanging around together, sense of camaraderie.

SK writes these old guys and the way they relate to each other extremely well. I seem to remember quite a few of his books with similar scenes. Even The Stand has some of this in the beginning (though the characters weren't as old).

 

[morgan]

Everyone who ever owned that house seemed to have bad luck - one couple had a son who had an accident playing with a rifle. It did not kill him but he went blind, then they moved away.

Cora (wife of the first owner) fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Then Joe (who was now a widow) lost almost an entire herd of cows due to meningitis.

I am trying hard to find something good to say about this particular story but overall it is just very strange and bizarre.

The descriptions of cancer are rather eery as well. Perhaps it is because he saw his Gramma slowly die of cancer when he was younger?

I hear ya! It really depressed the shyte outta me!

 

[VultureLvr45]

Everyone who ever owned that house seemed to have bad luck - one couple had a son who had an accident playing with a rifle. It did not kill him but he went blind, then they moved away.

Cora (wife of the first owner) fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Then Joe (who was now a widow) lost almost an entire herd of cows due to meningitis.

I am trying hard to find something good to say about this particular story but overall it is just very strange and bizarre.

I think there is lots good to say about the story. Let's talk about Cora for a second. She was the one who was supposedly naked when she had 'that accident', That was after she molested Gary Paulson, one of the guys who is hanging out in the shop. She killed his innocence.

 

[Neesy]

I hear ya! It really depressed the shyte outta me!

On the other hand, the very end of the story is not exactly depressing! (Gary has a dream (or is it mostly a memory) of seeing Cora at the end of her driveway when he was 13 and seeing her raise her dress and reveal herself). It apparently influences him for the rest of his life.

At least he dies in his sleep, happy! This is much preferably, I think, to lingering on and dying a very slow painful death.

 

[morgan]

I think there is lots good to say about the story. Let's talk about Cora for a second. She was the one who was supposedly naked when she had 'that accident', That was after she molested

I thought it was interesting and extremely bizarre that the old man tied his memory of her "flashing" with every sexual encounter he ever had-even though she wasn't a bit attractive. Goes to show how a "first experience" can be permanently seared into the brain!

 

[morgan]

On the other hand, the very end of the story is not exactly depressing! (Gary has a dream (or is it mostly a memory) of seeing Cora at the end of her driveway when he was 13 and seeing her raise her dress and reveal herself). It apparently influences him for the rest of his life.

At least he dies in his sleep, happy! This is much preferably, I think, to lingering on and dying a very slow painful death.

You're right-the way he dies is way better than his friend with the intestinal cancer that is described so horribly well earlier in the story!

 

[Neesy]

I think there is lots good to say about the story. Let's talk about Cora for a second. She was the one who was supposedly naked when she had 'that accident', That was after she molested Gary Paulson, one of the guys who is hanging out in the shop. She killed his innocence.

Well, I guess you could believe that. 'A rumour went through town (probably started at a Ladie's Aid Bake Sale!)'

I see that happening where I work. One person tells another something, then it gets embellished and passed on to the next, and so on... (It is quite funny actually)

 

[Neesy]

So do you think the house was haunted or bad luck for anyone who lived in it?

 

[VultureLvr45]

On the other hand, the very end of the story is not exactly depressing! (Gary has a dream (or is it mostly a memory) of seeing Cora at the end of her driveway when he was 13 and seeing her raise her dress and reveal herself). It apparently influences him for the rest of his life.

At least he dies in his sleep, happy! This is much preferably, I think, to lingering on and dying a very slow painful death.

I thought it was interesting and extremely bizarre that the old man tied his memory of her "flashing" with every sexual encounter he ever had-even though she wasn't a bit attractive. Goes to show how a "first experience" can be permanently seared into the brain!

Agreed. I wonder if it was the 'disconnect' of her flat facial expression when she flashed him, the shock of seeing her pink parts, and his adolescent hormones and lust that seared him.

I absolutely think that the first few lovers have a huge impact on a person.

 

[morgan]

Well, I guess you could believe that. 'A rumour went through town (probably started at a Ladie's Aid Bake Sale!)'

I see that happening where I work. One person tells another something, then it gets embellished and passed on to the next, and so on... (It is quite funny actually)

There is always some truth in fiction and vice versa.

 

[Neesy]

I think there is lots good to say about the story. Let's talk about Cora for a second. She was the one who was supposedly naked when she had 'that accident', That was after she molested Gary Paulson, one of the guys who is hanging out in the shop. She killed his innocence.

Maybe that is what this whole story is about - people sitting around the wood stove at the corner store, making up things and passing on half baked stories. It is quite possible that she did "diddle" a little boy while giving him a candy. (yuk - shudder).

 

[VultureLvr45]

Well, I guess you could believe that. 'A rumour went through town (probably started at a Ladie's Aid Bake Sale!)'

I see that happening where I work. One person tells another something, then it gets embellished and passed on to the next, and so on... (It is quite funny actually)

I laughed out loud as I read that section. You could imagine the 'ladies' from the Ladies Aid Society, in their 40-50's era dresses,hats, and gloves, casting aspersions on Cora. In their flowered or polka dot dresses, 'Aunt Bea' style.

 

[morgan]

Agreed. I wonder if it was the 'disconnect' of her flat facial expression when she flashed him, the shock of seeing her pink parts, and his adolescent hormones and lust that seared him.

I absolutely think that the first few lovers have a huge impact on a person.

How I read it - it was his first

Spoiler

ejaculation

and that was why it was connected to every sexual encounter he ever had. That and it was obviously the first time he ever saw those "girl parts!"

 

[morgan]

I laughed out loud as I read that section. You could imagine the 'ladies' from the Ladies Aid Society, in their 40-50's era dresses,hats, and gloves, casting aspersions on Cora. In their flowered or polka dot dresses, 'Aunt Bea' style.

Bake sales=women=churches=gossip. How sad but true!