All the King's Men Group Discussion

[Sapphire]

I am searching to find time to read this book again: I might do it next week.

However, I do remember that I got the thought stuck in my head that Jack cared more about "doing the right thing" than he was willing to admit. It is just something I remember and I can not be sure why, one of the reasons why I want to read it again
Maybe it was because he just generally thinks that it might not matter wether he keeps his hands clean or not, but he surely sees that not keeping them clean would be "wrong". I do not know why he would have such a sense of justice/moral, but I remember he did care... or at least saw the difference.

I can not wait to start reading

[Dark Muse]

I really do not get the feeling that he does care that much in my reading of the book. He is pretty much willing to do anything that he is told to do and does not give much thought to it. Nor does he question anything that is happening or anything that he is doing. To me he seems more apathetic.

[Scheherazade]

Jack is odd to say the least. There is no real explination for why he is with Willie to start with. Just becasue. He does not seem to have any goals of ambitions of his own or even really care much about anything. Though he does not seem to me like someone who has much of a moral ground either. I cannot see him caring if he keeps his hands clean or not really.

When they went to stay with Willie's father and also the Judge, I got the impression that he was pretending he wasn't part of Willie's clique, hanging outside etc. However, whether he likes it or not, he is.

[color="blue"]However, I do remember that I got the thought stuck in my head that Jack cared more about "doing the right thing" than he was willing to admit.

I am not sure whether he cares that much but like you said he still does not want to be seen that way either (at Judge's house, for example). However, that does not stop him following the orders. Whatever goes on in his head, he simply cannot be bothered to react or show any outward signs.

I have just finished Part II and have to admit that Penn's writing is growing on me. It is somewhat like Steinbeck's, which I really enjoy reading.

But as the train pulls away, a woman comes to the back door of one of the houses -just the figure of a woman, for you cannot make out the face- and she has a pan in her hands and she flings the water out of the pan to make a sudden tattered flash of silver in the light. She goes back into the house. To what is in the house. The floor of the house is thin against the bare ground and the walls and the roof are thin against all of everything which is outside, but you cannot see through the walls to the secret to which the woman has gones in.

Lovely.

[Dark Muse]

I have just finished Part II and have to admit that Penn's writing is growing on me. It is somewhat like Steinbeck's, which I really enjoy reading.Lovely.

That is probably why I don't care for him. I am still struggling through this book a bit painfully at times. I have never been a Steinbeck fan. I can personally do without pages and pages of needless descritpion. Some passages are kind of cool and some just drag on for days.

I also am not a big fan of Warren's use of repitition.

[Dark Muse]

Ok finally finnished reading this book.

[Scheherazade]

Way to go!

I am only half-way through yet.

Are you going to post a review?

[Dark Muse]

I thought about it, but if I did, I would not give a very flattering one. I have to say I really had to trudge through this one and over all I did not care for this book.

[Scheherazade]

You don't have to give a "flattering" review.

I have to admit that I am enjoying it more now and looking forward to reading it but I am rather busy these days (end of the term).

[Dark Muse]

Hehe yes that is true.....I might write up a review for it. There were a few things I found interesting within the book but I just did not care for Penn's write style much at all.

[Sapphire]

Well, I am on 3/4 now and really liking it again Funny, how people can look differently at this book. I guess it's all a matter of taste I can imagine Warren's writing style to be annoying, and Jack being an unlikable character - but to me his "I just watch and search for the truth (when asked) and let the world evolve"-attitude is quite interesting. And his views on history and time. And his thoughts, and the way his mind jumps around sometimes.

I like (cliche)sentences like

All of that, and me without a camera

That sentence could have been snatched from the 21st century

The place where Time gets tangled in its own feet and lies down like an old hound and gives up the struggle

It might be a well known way to say that time stands still there, but I still like it.

Which is nonsense, for whatever you live is Life

It keeps you grounded...

I can not really explain. When I look at these sentences "on the loose" they do not seem that good anymore. But in their place in the book I enjoyed them

[Dark Muse]

I do not really find Jack unlikeable, really I am neutral to most of the characters none of them really comeplled me either good or bad. Though Anne Stanton was my least favorite

[Sapphire]

Well, for a big part of the book you do not really see whether Jack thinks what happens is good or bad. He also seems neutral on it all - just being "the Idealist", standing back and observe...

I can not tell you which character I liked best ... They all fitted into the story. As for "who would you like to meet in real life", I guess the Boss and Jack could learn me something. I do not think I would listen to them though - I think it's better to read it in a book I am not sure I like Jack, I guess I do in the fact that I think he has an interesting view at the world. Yes, I think I like him.

The least likeable? I am very neutral on Anne Stanton I guess, can't say I like her but she seems the right girl at the right time. Maybe Tom (the son) or Mr. Duffy. I wouldn't like to run into either of them.

[Dark Muse]

Jack's view are interesting, and perhaps it is just a narrator bias so to speak that well I like him the most if I had to pick.

The reason I dislike Ann is becasue while I do not agree with the desisions that many of the others chars make, the other chars are just who they are, they do not make pretensees for themselves. Anne on the other hand wants to look down upon the rest of them and act high and mighty. She thinks she is so noble, but when it comes down to it she really is just a ho.

[Sapphire]

I understand what you mean: I was wondering about that too. If, for example, I would like Jack if the story was told from the Boss's point of view. Probably not.

And I am not finished yet. I recall what happens in the end, but need to read it thoroughly to be sure. I guess everybody keeps up appearances one way or another - just that most of them admit it in Jacks presence.

[Scheherazade]

Anne on the other hand wants to look down upon the rest of them and act high and mighty. She thinks she is so noble, but when it comes down to it she really is just a ho.

You tell'em girlfriend!