There’s plenty of good will and interest（or so my email inbox suggests) but ’tis hard to gather people round their keyboards at a set time. I may keep plugging away with it though - I’ve been given a shot of inspiration in the last few days (details to follow).

Guys, don’t be so hard on yourselves; book groups like everything have ebbs and flows.

True…but for a club discussion you need bums on seats and participation. Otherwise it’s just me posting my posts. That’s fine and dandy for the normal content (I do it manly to please myself), but this stands or falls on the level of outside interest.

Not being grumpy or self-pitying, that’s just the way it is!

Indeed you won’t! I didn’t think it was that sort of a club!

You won’t know for sure…until it’s too late…

The offer to host a face-to-face Halloween meet up is most kind and generous. My brother’s actually getting married on Halloween itself (fancy dress party of course) so I’m pretty tied up just before and after the day itself. If there’s a will to have a crack at it though, I’m very much on.

I’d be (reasonably) happy to do a Halloween Special DT too of course, but only if there’s a collective will. Otherwise it’s probably time to let it slide and move on.

Is it more like a twisted human delight, or realistically the blood lust a wolf might take in hunting down and crunching down something tender and tasty? Or is the unpleasantness a product of our overdeveloped brain and capacity for nasty combined with a wolf’s ferocity? I have no doubt that wolves have a sense of humour.

It seems to have a bit more to it than simple taste. Gabriel-Ernest seems very aware that child murder (and consumption!) is about as shocking and taboo as it gets, There’s no sense that the hunger of his wolf aspect is driving him to it. He seems in control, fully aware of his actions, and very much enjoying the thought of Van Cheele’s (i.e Edwardian society’s) revulsion.

GE’s violence comes across as playful, mischievous subversiveness - directed at (in Saki’s eyes?) a legitimate target. The ironic climax, where a memorial is placed in the church to commemorate GE’s (supposed) noble bravery, is one that laughs (and spits) right in the face of pompous upper-class notions of chivalry and honor,

Now, switching subjects …
This morning I was on the site of a French blogger who talked about the USA film TEETH (which I have not seen)

She linked to this article on VAGINA DENTATA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagina_dentata

I was surprised to see just a few references in literature + film at the end of the article.

Comments, anyone ?
Have Brit fantasy writers explored this theme ?

Will chat a bit more about Jo’s bits and bobs when I finish work.

Indeed you won’t! I didn’t think it was that sort of a club!

Everyone I mailed Fustar suggesting a face to face meeting, for this, to celebrate the Halloween month… it might be especially nice if we are going to call it a day for now? Would anyone be interested, even make it to my place in Bray? I’m not confident of the babysitting to venture out myself at the moment, though I could be more sure closer the time.

Whatcha think?

We’re all (I think) of an age when genuine commitments call and forgetfulness kicks in so I understand the difficulties in having this be “live”. I always get apologetic messages on Tuesday mornings!

Tim’s idea of an open, ongoing thread is probably the most realistically workable option, but then (as he said) that’s just what a regular blog post is anyway.

Right now I don’t really feel like continuing with it. Not because I don’t think it’s a good idea, and not because it’s anyone’s fault, but just because I don’t want this to turn into an obligation or duty for anyone.

I might pass the buck and see if someone else fancies hosting it. Don’t know. For numerous (perfectly valid and understandable) reasons it just ain’t happening - after a very promising start.

Will chat a bit more about Jo’s bits and bobs when I finish work.

Still, this clearly didn’t have the draw I thought it would - maybe there’s just not much to say? Feck it, there’s lots to say!

This concept of a sympathetic child murderer is good. GE has a serial killer-y way of laughing in hte narrator’s face about the pleasure he took in eating the miller’s child.

Is it more like a twisted human delight, or realistically the blood lust a wolf might take in hunting down and crunching down something tender and tasty? Or is the unpleasantness a product of our overdeveloped brain and capacity for nasty combined with a wolf’s ferocity? I have no doubt that wolves have a sense of humour.

A lot of it has to do with Saki’s interest in shocking and poking at the veneer of respectability the kind of society he wrote about, er, had, I suppose.

I might go do some retro active advertising, and see if we can resuscitate this during the week. After I kneel on some rice, of course.

Back to the day job - intermittently writing about toys, comics and crisps.

Night.