Welcome from your moderator

[Stephanie]

Hello All,

I'm Stephanie, and I'm delighted to be your moderator for Joyce Carol Oates The Gravedigger's Daughter.  I think you'll find this book extremely gripping, and while not many of us can relate directly, I was stunned by how real the situations and characters seemed to me.  I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

[Fozzie]

Hi Stephanie!  Great to be with you again!

[kiakar]

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Fozzie wrote:

Hi Stephanie!  Great to be with you again!

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Glad you are here! Stephanie.

[IBIS]

I'm IBIS, and I'm very glad to see you moderating this club, Stephanie.

I've read most of Joyce Carol Oates' work... I think (her editor, Joyce and her family) may be the only ones who've read ALL of her work. Her output is unbelievably massive.

As a professional violinist, I enjoy reading her prose... she herself once wrote that prose is like music, it creates a mood. 

music is one ladder between heaven and earth. A tie-in between the sublime and the ridiculous.

All novels have a mood that's expressive in musical terms... Gravedigger's Daughter is definitely a major work in a minor key... somber, serious, with mysterious undertones.

This will be a fine novel to explore with others.

IBIS

[Stephanie]

Laura,

Terrific to see you - it's been a while. Have you read the novel yet, or are you still reading? I took my time with this one, there is a lot to absorb.

[Stephanie]

Hi LInda - Hi IBIS -

Excellent book, right? Glad to see you here- this should be a great discussion.


Group: I've thought a lot about how to discuss this novel here, because there is SO very much to discuss -- and I think if you all want to go ahead and post areas of discussion about which you are interested we'll just take it from there and see where it leads us.

[Fozzie]

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Stephanie wrote:
Have you read the novel yet, or are you still reading? I took my time with this one, there is a lot to absorb.

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I am 200 pages in.  There is a lot to absorb!

[Fozzie]

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Stephanie wrote:
Group: I've thought a lot about how to discuss this novel here, because there is SO very much to discuss -- and I think if you all want to go ahead and post areas of discussion about which you are interested we'll just take it from there and see where it leads us.

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How about by parts, for starters?  That way those who are in the process of reading can comment as they go.

[Stephanie]

Laura,

I mentioned in another thread that readers could create a personal thread (doesn't look like we're too big for that) to post as they go that the rest of us could comment on and add thoughts or questions to.

You're right, there is a lot to absorb, and there are quite a few connected but divergent threads of plot to follow.