The Book Stacks

Hello, and welcome to this meeting of the Book Stacks Book Club: Cover to Cover. Today we are discussing Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper. This book is the first in the The Dark is Rising sequence. The second book is The Dark Is Rising, which tends to confuse folks. My copy of Over Sea, Under Stone is autographed by Mrs. Cooper, as I had the opportunity to hear her speak back in 2001. She’s quite the interesting speaker. I suppose that you have to be in order to keep a room full of Librarians interested. The thing that stuck with me the most from her lecture was her account of her childhood during World War II. At that time, apparently, it was common for children to have collections of shrapnel, like children today might have a collection of sea shells. As I said, it was an interesting lecture. (It was also just down the street from Powell’s Books in Portland. *grin*)

I first encountered this book, and the rest of the books in the series, in my Mother’s Middle School Library. She was a big fan of the series herself, and if you ask her about it the first thing that she will tell you is that she had to wait for each book to come out. That would place her reading of the series in the 1960s. I agree with her. I love this series. Perfectly normal kids are on holiday with their family and Great Uncle, and the war between light and dark finds them. I suppose that who you adopt into your family can make a difference, yeah? I feel like the book has aged a bit, but I don’t care. It’s still a great fantasy adventure in the land of Arthur.

Well, what did *you* think of the book? As is now customary, I would like to begin the discussion with the following question:

1. Did you like the book?

I love this book. Heck, I love the whole series. The Drew children are believable characters. The war between light and dark is fought without great magical attacks. Instead, there is an adventure with a treasure map and the battle is fought against folks in boats and the incoming tide.

2. Who was your favorite character?

Great-Uncle Merry. Well, I liked Barney for his Arthurian fixation, but there is just something about Great-Uncle Merry. Perhaps it has something to do with his identity that Barney realizes at the end. Okay, it actually has a lot to do with things that happen later in the series, but I’m not going to get into that right now. My pick is Merry Lyon.

3. Do you think that they should adapt this book for film?

Well, someone was filmed reading it back in 1969 as part of a series called Jackanory on the BBC, but that’s not the same thing. Yes, I think that they should film this book, but it should be filmed by the BBC on location in Cornwall. I don’t really see this as a big-budget blockbuster. This is more like some of the things that were filmed for Big Blue Marble when I was wee. It would probably air on CBBC and I would never get to see it.

4. What did you think of the Arthurian overtones?

Like Barney, I am always a fan of anything Arthurian. I’ve read an entire book on the stories surrounding the Holy Grail (and I hope to make it back to Vacaville some time soon so that I can retrieve my book from the friend who still has it.) The Arthurian bits in the story make me very happy. If you read the rest of the series you will discover exactly why. Right now, all I can say is that King Elvis and The Alien Space Ducks are involved.

5. Does this book make you want to visit Cornwall?

Yes. Seriously. Ever since I read this book for the first time twenty years ago I’ve wanted to go and see Cornwall for myself. I’m pretty sure that this book is the reason that Cornwall ended up on my dream itinerary for a two week vacation in the UK. Anyway, who wouldn’t want to visit Logres?

Okay, it’s your turn. What did you think?
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The book which we will be discussing next time is The Black Dudley Murder (a.k.a. The Crime at Black Dudley) by Margery Allingham. It’s the first Albert Campion mystery. We will be discussing it on September 7, 2007. Please join us for the discussion. (Oh, and I am always accepting suggestions for future selections for Cover to Cover, so feel free to comment your suggestion now. Just remember that if I choose your book you will be expected to participate.)

Cover to Cover, Over Sea, Under Stone, Susan Cooper, The Black Dudley Murder, The Crime at Black Dudley, Margery Allingham