Setting

I loved how the setting in "The Snow Goose" becomes almost like a character in the story. In the introduction, the marshlands are described:

"Grays and blues and soft greens are the colors, for when the skies are dark in the long winters, the many waters of the beaches and marshes reflect the cold and somber color. But sometimes, with sunrise and sunset, sky and land are aflame with red and golden fire."

We also learn how the sea "spreads its rippled blanket" over the site, and how Rhayader paints the "loneliness and the smell of the salt-laden cold, the eternity and agelessness of marshes, the wild, living creatures, dawn flights, and frightened things taking to the air, and winged shadows at night hiding from the moon."

How did the setting influence your reading of the story?

October: "Beasts"

How fitting that I get to pick our next selection during the month of Halloween!

Reviewed on Amazon.com:

"Set in an apparently idyllic New England college town, Beasts is the story of Gillian Brauer, a student who falls in love with her professor, his Bohemian lifestyle, and anti-establishment attitudes, and what happens when she falls under his spell.

Knowing that other girls preceded her does not deter Gillian from becoming part of the household of Professor Harrow and his larger-than-life wife, Dorcas, the outrageous sculptress of shocking wooden totems. Drawn into their life, Gillian soon becomes a helpless pawn, a victim of her own passions and those of her mentors. Or does she? Sometimes even the most seemingly powerless prey can surprise a predator."

Not mentioned in the review: The undead. And arson. Yay! How about Oct. 10?

'Her own free will'

What did you think of the imagery of birds throughout this short story - and do you see any connections to Frith?

"She'll stay. She will never go away again. The Lost Princess is lost no more. This is her home now - of her own free will."

The interesting thing was that when Philip Rhayader said this, the parallel is between the snow goose and Frith ... but during the evacuation at Dunkirk, and afterward, the snow goose is seen as "the soul of Rhayader taking farewell of her before departing forever." Why do you think the snow goose is so important to this tale?

Main character?

I just wanted to get the ball rolling on "The Snow Goose." What did you think of it, and who do you think is the main character? Philip Rhayader, Frith or the snow goose (aka La Princesse Perdue)?

Starting 'Snow Goose'

I was thinking we could start discussing 'Snow Goose' on Sept. 4. Has everyone had a chance to get it?

The struggle

Why do you think Irene repeatedly broke her firm resolutions to not see Clare? Even before she suspected an affair, her emotions for Clare were intense and ambivalent. Her instinct was to nip the relationship in the bud, but a stronger instinct to let the pushy Clare in prevailed. I never quite understood why she couldn't stick to her decision to not see her. Thoughts?

Gertrude

Gertrude was also "passing" but with the crucial difference that her husband knew. Why do you think Larsen included this character, and did you find her portrayal sympathetic? Why, to his face at least, did Gertrude adopt a different tone with Bellew than Irene did? Did the fact that Gertrude was more working class than high society matter for any reason?