MobileRead August 2015 Discussion: Dhalgren (spoilers)

WT Sharpe · 08-20-2015, 02:27 AM

The time has come to discuss the August 2015 MobileRead Book Club selection, Dhalgren by Samuel R Delany. What did you think?

CRussel · 08-20-2015, 04:55 PM

I couldn't get past the first two chapters. Abandoned and hated. Life is too short to spend it reading books that don't appeal. What really annoys is that we had several other, far better, books in the original lineup that would have been a pleasure to read (or re-read). Ah, well, it just goes to show that not all books work for all readers.

JSWolf · 08-20-2015, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I couldn't get past the first two chapters. Abandoned and hated. Life is too short to spend it reading books that don't appeal. What really annoys is that we had several other, far better, books in the original lineup that would have been a pleasure to read (or re-read). Ah, well, it just goes to show that not all books work for all readers.

I agree. This was utter shite. The Martian would have made a much better discussion then how bad Dahgren is. I have to give you brownie points for even getting to the end of chapter two. I gave up in the middle of chapter one because it's just too long to bother with.

PandathePanda · 08-20-2015, 11:43 PM

I started it, then got an review copy to read, and has yet to return. I also felt it lack "urgency" in the first two chapters

WT Sharpe · 08-21-2015, 09:18 AM

I got the first two chapters under my belt but I've had difficulty convincing myself to go on. They had the consistency of a dream journal; in fact, I strongly suspect the entire book is one man's extended and padded dream journal. I may yet finish it; the writing has a poetic style that presents a certain appeal, but I find the surreal quality of the story tends to wear thin.

BenG · 08-21-2015, 12:12 PM

I liked it as a teenager, but I couldn't have said exactly what it was about.
Anyway, currently I'm only about halfway through. There'a a lot of stuff I didn't remember. I hope to finish it this weekend.

The Millions article about the book.
http://www.themillions.com/2010/06/d...-r-delany.html

Interviews and video at SF Signal.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/201...-grand-master/

His short story, Aye, and Gomorrah, can be read at The Internet Wayback Machine (You may have to Select All the text or copy and paste to read it):
http://web.archive.org/web/200804301.../delany31.html

JSWolf · 08-21-2015, 01:33 PM

Delaney must have been on some seriously strong illegal drugs when he wrote Dhalgren. It makes no sense. Maybe if we too were "stoned/high/out of our minds" we might understand it.

issybird · 08-21-2015, 04:20 PM

Well, heck, if everyone's going to read just the first two chapters, I can do that too. I did check it out of the library. It was the 800 pages in its entirety that made me pass.

Now I'm curious.

WT Sharpe · 08-21-2015, 04:26 PM

I have to admit, now I'm becoming more curious, also. But the first chapter doesn't strike me as much of a drug trip as it does of a dream. Ulysses is the drug trip. At least the 10% I read was.

din155 · 08-21-2015, 05:43 PM

I was so engrossed in Dhalgren that in my effort to stay awake I almost missed my stop this morning. But I am reaching towards end of the second chapter. Hopefully the third chapter will have something more about where this is going.

treadlightly · 08-21-2015, 07:12 PM

Read the first chapter. Not my cuppa tea. I think I'll move on to something better.

kennyc · 08-21-2015, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I have to admit, now I'm becoming more curious, also. But the first chapter doesn't strike me as much of a drug trip as it does of a dream. Ulysses is the drug trip. At least the 10% I read was.

Yep.

.

kennyc · 08-21-2015, 08:45 PM

I'm truly aghast at the reaction to this my favorite book of all time. Sigh.

kennyc · 08-23-2015, 01:08 PM

All the smoke from the western wildfires is blowing in across the mountains making Denver feel much like Bellona today....

WT Sharpe · 08-23-2015, 07:03 PM

I think Dhalgren's your favorite book largely because of the poetic imagery, Kenny. Am I right?

08-20-2015, 02:27 AM	#1
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,073 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	August 2015 Discussion: Dhalgren (spoilers) The time has come to discuss the August 2015 MobileRead Book Club selection, Dhalgren by Samuel R Delany. What did you think?

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08-20-2015, 04:55 PM	#2
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,161 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	I couldn't get past the first two chapters. Abandoned and hated. Life is too short to spend it reading books that don't appeal. What really annoys is that we had several other, far better, books in the original lineup that would have been a pleasure to read (or re-read). Ah, well, it just goes to show that not all books work for all readers.

08-20-2015, 11:43 PM	#4
PandathePanda a toy panda Posts: 2,567 Karma: 26020474 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Onboard the Queen Anne's Revenge Device: Various Android dvices	I started it, then got an review copy to read, and has yet to return. I also felt it lack "urgency" in the first two chapters

08-21-2015, 09:18 AM	#5
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,073 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	I got the first two chapters under my belt but I've had difficulty convincing myself to go on. They had the consistency of a dream journal; in fact, I strongly suspect the entire book is one man's extended and padded dream journal. I may yet finish it; the writing has a poetic style that presents a certain appeal, but I find the surreal quality of the story tends to wear thin.

08-21-2015, 12:12 PM	#6
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	I liked it as a teenager, but I couldn't have said exactly what it was about. Anyway, currently I'm only about halfway through. There'a a lot of stuff I didn't remember. I hope to finish it this weekend. The Millions article about the book. http://www.themillions.com/2010/06/d...-r-delany.html Interviews and video at SF Signal. http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/201...-grand-master/ His short story, Aye, and Gomorrah, can be read at The Internet Wayback Machine (You may have to Select All the text or copy and paste to read it): http://web.archive.org/web/200804301.../delany31.html

08-21-2015, 01:33 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Delaney must have been on some seriously strong illegal drugs when he wrote Dhalgren. It makes no sense. Maybe if we too were "stoned/high/out of our minds" we might understand it.

08-21-2015, 04:20 PM	#8
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,234 Karma: 222235366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	Well, heck, if everyone's going to read just the first two chapters, I can do that too. I did check it out of the library. It was the 800 pages in its entirety that made me pass. Now I'm curious.

08-21-2015, 04:26 PM	#9
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,073 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	I have to admit, now I'm becoming more curious, also. But the first chapter doesn't strike me as much of a drug trip as it does of a dream. Ulysses is the drug trip. At least the 10% I read was.

08-21-2015, 05:43 PM	#10
din155 Guru Posts: 880 Karma: 7556602 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle PW, Win 10 thinkpad 8in	I was so engrossed in Dhalgren that in my effort to stay awake I almost missed my stop this morning. But I am reaching towards end of the second chapter. Hopefully the third chapter will have something more about where this is going.

08-21-2015, 07:12 PM	#11
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	Read the first chapter. Not my cuppa tea. I think I'll move on to something better.

08-21-2015, 08:45 PM	#13
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I'm truly aghast at the reaction to this my favorite book of all time. Sigh.

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08-23-2015, 01:08 PM	#14
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	All the smoke from the western wildfires is blowing in across the mountains making Denver feel much like Bellona today....

08-23-2015, 07:03 PM	#15
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,073 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	I think Dhalgren's your favorite book largely because of the poetic imagery, Kenny. Am I right?