Something Wicked This Way Comes

If you and I sat down to talk about what this book meant or what we got out of it, I bet our reasoning would be fairly different. Sometimes a book speaks to you, makes you understand yourself better, or puts things into perspective. Stumbling across these treasures and feeling that jolt, no matter how long it lasts, is kind of why we read.

Bradbury weaves beautiful allegory into a book that could be considered scary, but not for the reasons you might suspect after reading the synopsis.The story is set in a small town that gets a visit from a carnival. It uses a vast array of sights and sounds to invite the locals to come and see some of its unique attractions. Our main characters are swept up in the moment and make their way to the scene in the dead of night. Little do they know, the rides and those who run them might be up to something sinister.

I marked this book up a lot. I mean, it's going to be hard to read over. The margins are packed! The actual story was fine, but the family dynamic is what really captured my attention. I felt that some passages were written for me, or at least explained certain feelings I would never be able to express myself. I.e., the father and son converse on the porch.

In terms of writing, it might be a bit too whimsical for some, but I loved the lyrical prose. It was touching too. I found myself with a slight mist under the eyes in some parts and gleeful joy in many others.

I think I'll be more like Will, Jim, and Charles and not dwell on regrets or how the future might shape me. Give this book a shot and see how it affects you.

Frost said it best: “In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.”