Between the Covers: Stories from My Bookcase

Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Sundial by Shirley Jackson

I have not read this book, nor am I familiar with Shirley Jackson’s work, but I was curious to find out more about it as I saw it as a suggested read while I was going through Amazon.com.

Initially, I thought it was a horror story or maybe a mystery, but reading about it via Wikipedia, it seem like the novel is more satirical than horror.

The title is due to the odd sundial that stands in what was otherwise a perfect garden in the grounds of the mansion where the story is set. I’m not sure how central it is to the story but it must play a part right? Or at least stand for something in the plot. Maybe there is some special inscription in the pedestal base that holds significance? I am really so curious!

The novel was published in 1958 – over half a century ago – and there are five copies on stock over at Amazon. I am tempted to order, but I most probably won’t. I wonder what are the odds of me finding a copy in local booksale shops here? Or maybe I’ll look for an ebook and get that instead.

Learning of this book got me on a search frenzy, and I found this famous landmark -

sundial

Photo credit: http://www.10westover.com/vacations/2009oregon/content/_DSC5098_large.html

It’s the Sundial Bridge in Redding, CA.

I know, it has nothing to do with the novel, but I just wanted to sneak in a nice photo Smile

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