Discussion: The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford

[Tery]

I first read this one when I was but an eighth-grader. My Bestie at the time read it and recommended it to me. We both loved the weird and creepy, which this story is.

Crawford builds nicely to the tale within a story. Like SK, he places the bizarre into a mundane place. I can picture the small cabin, the porthole, the berths... The curtain across the upper berth, like the story, is drawn back slowly, it being the liminal space between normal and paranormal. Crawford gives just enough of a description of the upper berth's tenant to get the reader going. And, buddy, I went and created a pretty horrible monster! The hasty sealing of the cabin is echoed in the story's abrupt conclusion.

What did you think?

 

[Spideyman]

I thank you for introducing me to this author. I loved it. The imagination was let loose- envisioning that monster invading the safety of a cabin/ a bed. The feel of the slime, the senses came to life as I smelt the stagnant water. The monster became real- the fight, the wrestling with it. And yes, that ending. Really enjoyed this story!!

Reminder-- don't forget to name someone for next week.

 

[Doc Creed]

I first read this one when I was but an eighth-grader. My Bestie at the time read it and recommended it to me. We both loved the weird and creepy, which this story is.

Crawford builds nicely to the tale within a story. Like SK, he places the bizarre into a mundane place. I can picture the small cabin, the porthole, the berths... The curtain across the upper berth, like the story, is drawn back slowly, it being the liminal space between normal and paranormal. Crawford gives just enough of a description of the upper berth's tenant to get the reader going. And, buddy, I went and created a pretty horrible monster! The hasty sealing of the cabin is echoed in the story's abrupt conclusion.

What did you think?

I liked it...and yes, the ending was abrupt but I liked the matter of factness of the narrator. Brisbane?
It reminded me in places of Duma Key and like Louis in Pet Sematary, the process of illiminating irrational thinking.

 

[Doc Creed]

He kept reassuring himself that he'd awakened twice during the night to shut the port hole.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...I am sorry to say that I had forgotten this little gem....I have it in one of my collections....the whole vibe was creeptastic from the get go...I kept wanting to holler-“oh for god’s sake, open the curtain already!!!!”....

 

[cat in a bag]

First time read for me, and I very much enjoyed it!! Great little ghost story. Vivid imagery, like others have said. You are there, in the cabin.

Thank you, Tery! This was an awesome little story!

 

[fljoe0]

I liked this one too. The author does a great job of building the tension and the descriptions of the ship and cabin are very vivid. The ending is a bit anti climatic though.

I can't help but notice when reading older stories how much contempt that humans had for nature. In this story there is a passage where Brisbane tells of his boredom crossing the Atlantic:

"One passage across the Atlantic is very much like another, and we who cross very often do not make the voyages for the sake of novelty. Whales and icebergs are indeed always of interest, but, after all, one whale is very much like another whale..."

Ho hum another whale.


Did anyone read the second story By The Waters Of Paradise? It's classified as a ghost story but it's really just a sweet love story with a hint of ghost. It was very good though (for a love story ).

 

[Doc Creed]

Did anyone read the second story By The Waters Of Paradise?

Not yet but I have it marked on my Kindle.

 

[cat in a bag]

Oh, one thing I forgot to say. The beginning, before the story within the story starts reminded me very much of The Breathing Method. Group of men sitting around, drinking and smoking cigars, and one starts a story.

 

[Tery]

“oh for god’s sake, open the curtain already!!!!”

Right?! Then GTFO of there!

how much contempt that humans had for nature

Yes, absolutely. To our never-ending detriment.

reminded me very much of The Breathing Method

Yes! I hadn't thought of that!

 

[do1you9love?]

Oh, one thing I forgot to say. The beginning, before the story within the story starts reminded me very much of The Breathing Method. Group of men sitting around, drinking and smoking cigars, and one starts a story.

Yes! I actually made a note to mention how much that the beginning reminded me of "The Club" setting. Story time!!

Thanks for picking this one, Tery! A first read for me, as well. I really enjoyed it! The descriptions did an excellent job of making me feel there in the cabin. I felt pity for the poor room steward. "I'll try and make yer comfortable all I can."

 

[Spideyman]

Tery, did you suggest a member for the next group read leader?

 

[Tery]

Tery, did you suggest a member for the next group read leader?

Oh, no, I forgot. How about Doc Creed ?

 

[Spideyman]

Oh, no, I forgot. How about Doc Creed ?

Thank you Tery .

 

[Doc Creed]

Oh, no, I forgot. How about Doc Creed ?

Oh, no, I forgot. How about Doc Creed ?

I downloaded Fishhead by Irving Cobb for free on Kindle. I downloaded the free sample, not full collection; it's the first story. I haven't read it yet but I saw it was a recommendation in the Weird Tales thread. Is this ok?

 

[Doc Creed]

I downloaded Fishhead by Irving Cobb for free on Kindle. I downloaded the free sample, not full collection; it's the first story. I haven't read it yet but I saw it was a recommendation in the Weird Tales thread. Is this ok?

Sorry, I'm having keyboard issues tonight. If my suggestion is acceptable, I will be happy to lead group in next week's discussion.
fljoe0 Tery

 

[Spideyman]

I downloaded Fishhead by Irving Cobb for free on Kindle. I downloaded the free sample, not full collection; it's the first story. I haven't read it yet but I saw it was a recommendation in the Weird Tales thread. Is this ok?

Sounds like a plan. Shall go in search of it.

 

[Tery]

Works for me. I'll grab it...

 

[fljoe0]

It's been a long time since I read it, but doesn't The Time Machine by HG Wells start with th

Sorry, I'm having keyboard issues tonight. If my suggestion is acceptable, I will be happy to lead group in next week's discussion.
fljoe0 Tery

Sounds good.

(The title is making me think of that song Dr Demento used to play, fish heads, fish heads, roly poly fish heads )

 

[do1you9love?]

It's been a long time since I read it, but doesn't The Time Machine by HG Wells start with th



Sounds good.

(The title is making me think of that song Dr Demento used to play, fish heads, fish heads, roly poly fish heads )

Thank God, I'm not the only one! ...eat them up, yum!