Audio Book Group: The Machine Stops

Claretjan and Humotydumpty, as well as the other stories in the collection which I mentioned upthread, there was also one by Katherine Mansfield about a boy eating strawberries, I think.
I liked most of the stories in the collection, though not keen on Conrad, ‘The Secret Sharer’.
I sat my ‘O’ level at a north London school so I expect us was on the London Board syllabus.

This one, I imagine!

I was going to read it on kindle, but according to the reviews, it’s not the best quality.
So instead I’ve ordered the paperback from Amazon (£2.70) which will arrive tomorrow.
I might even write notes on post-its and stick them in!

Hello Fanny, I haven’t read or listened to it yet.
Which thread will it be? ?

29humptydumpty

I remember we had a book of short stories for O-level, of which one was The Machine Stops - made a lasting impression on me.

So did we. Probably the same book and I have never forgotten that story. I think it is very relevant now. Maybe we went to the same school!

Humotydumpty, yes, I did!

PS Marilla, did you listen to it or read it?

Hi Marilla, I hope that you enjoyed it!
Shall we wait a few days until we discuss it?
Silverbridge suggested next week, so shall we say discussion starts Monday 20th September?

(also, neither ElderlyPerson or I are Grans! )

Just in case anyone might think that Silverbridge or I are high jacking ElderlyPerson’s thread; we did discuss it amongst ourselves on the thread mentioned previously, and it was decided that we’d ‘share’ the thread.

Completed the story!

Book Group is a great idea. But are some Grans going to be discussing the book and characters before others have competed the story?

Yes! That’s exactly what I meant.
I meant ‘organic’ as in growing. Sorry, EP, I should have been more clear.

Are you meaning what I would call "free-flowing and not bothered if it goes off-topic"?

FannyCornforth wrote

> I know that you like the more ‘organic’ threads

What does that mean? I have no idea what you mean by that!

I remember we had a book of short stories for O-level, of which one was The Machine Stops - made a lasting impression on me.

Brilliant thread. I love audio books as I don’t sleep well and they are good company in the hours of darkness (as long as they are good). I’m lucky to have my library service supplying them foc, but as they’re becoming more popular they are less available. Some have a waiting list well into 2022.
I do listen to Sounds (BBC) but sometimes struggle to find things there. Therefore will look forward to recommendations!

ElderlyPerson
I think that you would agree that it would be great if we discuss the book in all it’s forms.
This thread seems to be gaining traction; it would be a shame to stop the momentum.
I know that you like the more ‘organic’ threads

Did anyone else do this in their GCE as part of a book of short stories that also contained ‘The Destructors’ ,’The Secret Sharer’, ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums’ and ‘The Rocking Horse Winner’?

ixion

So it's not purely an audio Book Group, as the title suggests?
Perhaps this might put people off exploring further?

Well that was the intention as distinct from another book group for a different book that was to be started by someone else.

So I suppose that it is better perhaps to think of it as a book group where a necessary feature is that a free to listen recording is available on YouTube or otherwise, but that that does not in any way impede anyone obtaining and reading a hardcopy version, yet that the discussion is such that people using only the audiobook version are not out of the loop in some way.

ixion

So it's not purely an audio Book Group, as the title suggests?
Perhaps this might put people off exploring further?

ixion

This is really just a try out. The book title came up in another thread which was initially about something else and - as threads do - the conversation digressed.

Someone, FannyCornforth, I think, mentioned having heard a drama adaptation some twenty years ago and I found it was currently available to listen to on Radio4Extra.

EP found some audio readings. That's how it came about as an audio book group.

But listening to the play or short story isn't the only way especially for those with impaired hearing or those who simply prefer words on a page.

In the spirit of inclusivity, it doesn't matter whether one listens or reads so long as it produces an interesting discussion.

I hope you decide to join in.

I read it when I was about 15. It really engaged me with possibilities that I hadn’t really thought about before.
Quite a few ScFi dramas seem to have taken the concept and elaborated on it.
A good read, as it’s stuck with me all these years.

Well, I do have the audio book already (the Audible one).
I was introduced to the story via a radio 4 play in 2001, which Silverbridge kindly linked to on the first thread about this.
Personally, I don’t think that it matters.

So it's not purely an audio Book Group, as the title suggests?
Perhaps this might put people off exploring further?

Thank you Silverbridge, I am going to read it too, as I haven’t done so before.

My copy of The Machine Stops has arrived. It's a mini Penguin paperback and contains not just the title story but a second one called The Celestial Omnibus so two for the price of £2.70.

The Machine Stops is only 56 pages long so a short read. Back next week with some thoughts and really just bumping this thread so others might see it and join in.

Thanks Silverbridge ?

They are lemongrove My county library has a good selection including A Fortnight in September. You can buy it via Amazon too.