Book Club 17 June @ 8 PM: Neal Stephenson - Snow Crash

[Jason L.]

I have no idea what I did to deserve this book, but I would rather read it now, because By God it's redeeming at least half the torments that Hell had in store for me.

 

[LJ Beck]

You hate it now... wait till you get to the end....

(to be clear, I do not hate it.... but I totally get the sentiment.)

 

[James Charles]

I stopped. Not my type of book. But will still discuss. Life is too short to slog through gibberish. I'm going swimming with sharks now.

 

[Hannah F]

I gave up too. Though I have read the synopsis (which tells me I was right to give up) and a Goodreads review (likewise). I'll come along for the craic.

 

[Jason L.]

Oh thank heavens it's not just me.

 

[LJ Beck]

 

[Peyton Stafford]

The book begins like a sci-fi dystopian thriller with all the intellectual content of a Marvel movie, but if you can wade through the hundreds of pages of world- and character-building, intended to engross you in the narrative while following all the current rules of fiction writing, an interesting idea appears.

Is our normative concept of good vs. evil the result of a viral infection that changed how our brains view life? Did we once see it differently?

And did this begin in ancient Sumer? The author cites scholarly writings, but I have not checked the citations. And if it began in Sumer, who had the technology to create such a virus?

Looking forward to reading the rest of a commercially successful novel that may proffer some original ideas about human life.

At the moment, my impression about the world built in the novel:

1. God is good and made a good world. A paradise. The world was NOT a battleground between good and evil. It was all good. (Totally mainstream Judaism and Christianity)
2. God gave his creations, us humans, free will.
3. Enki introduced the view of life as a battle between good and evil. But what about the tech to create the virus?
4. We humans were infected and have been ever since.

I shall continue reading.

 

[LJ Beck]

Oh Peyton, someone who might finally be able to explain this book to me!

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Does anyone know if the cliffhanger ending leads into a sequel?

 

[Jason L.]

I admire you so much, Peyton. That is all.

 

[LJ Beck]

I was so excited about our chat, that I thought it was today. I got up, showered, dressed, and got a cup of tea, all by 6:30am, only to check my calendar to see I was a week early. Sadness!!

All good though. Maybe I'll get some writing done now that I'm up...

Peyton, your question makes me realize I need to do a quick review of the book, as I do not remember a cliffhanger...

See you next week!

 

[Peyton Stafford]

I was so excited about our chat, that I thought it was today. I got up, showered, dressed, and got a cup of tea, all by 6:30am, only to check my calendar to see I was a week early. Sadness!!

All good though. Maybe I'll get some writing done now that I'm up...

Peyton, your question makes me realize I need to do a quick review of the book, as I do not remember a cliffhanger...

See you next week!

Thanks. I am rereading it, trying to figure out its commercial value,

I was so excited about our chat, that I thought it was today. I got up, showered, dressed, and got a cup of tea, all by 6:30am, only to check my calendar to see I was a week early. Sadness!!

All good though. Maybe I'll get some writing done now that I'm up...

Peyton, your question makes me realize I need to do a quick review of the book, as I do not remember a cliffhanger...

See you next week!

At the end. Where else?

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Rereading and wondering if I should quit literature for an easier path through life, such as electoral politics, or maybe sniping for Ukraine. Anyone want to hire an armored psycho with advanced degrees in history of religions? Bring on those gods! On the other hand, there are the four Brahma viharas.

 

[LJ Beck]

At the end. Where else?

haha!! Yes, I should have said I need to review the end of the book.... ;-)

 

[James Charles]

Can't wait to discuss this as I gave up. Just not my cup-o-tea...

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Got an email about the book club meeting. It had the date as 17th of May not 18th of June. In line with the novel, but...

 

[Jason L.]

Jason Locke is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: That Ghastly Neal Stephenson Book
Time: Jun 17, 2023 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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