book forty-one: Sukkwan Island

9 December 2012.  To put us all in a Christmas-cheery kind of mood, we read this uplifting novella from Steve's shortlist.  It is included with some other short stories in a collection "Legend of a Suicide" by David Vann.  We met at Roshni's place.


Scores:

Steve - 12-  it was different to what I expected.

Leigha - 14 - When I heard it was like the Road I thought here we go. But it was thought provoking about how a suicide affects the family and the outcomes. Enjoyed survival story in the middle and wouldn't mind reading other work of his.

James - 14 - technically I liked the way that he wrote and the description of the wilderness. Agree with Mari that it doesnt work but he was trying to look at his father's death and it was therefore really well done. When you know it is autobiographical it gives some context.

Mari - 12 - then revised to 11 -  I didn't have the context of his father's suicide at the time of reading.  Didn't like the plot.

Wendy - 12 too - It is very well written and evocative. Its a clever way to explore what he has been through following his father's suicide.

Tim - 9 - Just as bad as The Road with lack of punctuation. Will probably finish but won't read the other stories.

Roshni - 16 - really enjoyed it and will give it 16. Couldn't put it down. Something happening all of the time and I knew that the dad was going to kill himself so was turning pages the whole time. The thought of spending a year in the wilderness and all that you have to do to survive, was really interesting. Also enjoyed part 1 but haven't finished part 3.

[ brief discussion re how a  13 year old boy had to take his father at face value about how he wouldn't do it again and was someone who knew what he was doing to survive on the island]

Nicole - 14 - I enjoyed it, very evocative and descriptive, no trouble reading it all the way through in one hit this morning. Liked the novella length.