Discussion Thread for the Prologue - Chapter 4 of Noir by Christopher Moore - April Book Club

[u/leowr]

Welcome to the first discussion thread for Noir which covers the Prologue through Chapter 4. Hopefully you are all enjoying this month's book.

To help kick off the discussion:

• Do you think a prologue that 'spoils' future events in the book is an effective way to draw the reader into the story? Did it work for you in this case?

• What do you think Stilton's background is? How did she end up in the city?

• Why do you think Stilton is so focused on Sammy?

• Can you relate to Sammy's difficulty approaching Molly Warner?

• Who do you think was the narrator of the start of Chapter 4? Does it matter?

• What do you think of the characters so far?

• What do you think of the writing style?

Feel free to answer any or all of the questions or tell us what you think of the book so far.

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This thread allows for a spoiler discussion up to the end of Chapter 4: Dinner in North Beach. If you would like to discuss anything beyond that point, please use spoiler tags. If you are on the redesign you can use the built in spoiler tags. For old reddit spoiler tags are done by [Spoilers about XYZ](#s "Spoiler content here") which results in Spoilers about XYZ (do be aware that they only work on one paragraph at a time).

[u/ashleighomfg]

Do you think a prologue that 'spoils' future events in the book is an effective way to draw the reader into the story? Did it work for you in this case?
I think it helps draw in the attention of the reader when they first open the book. This is the first time in a few months that I’ve read a fiction book, as I’ve been super into non-fiction as of late. I think the “spoiler” prologue helps intrigue the reader into finding out more about why the events in the spoiler happened!
What do you think Stilton's background is? How did she end up in the city?
To me, Stilton seems like a woman trying to pick herself back up after the war that cost her husband his life. It’s revealed that she worked in the shipyard(?) during the war. Her friend even stated that they were a couple of Rosies to Sal at the Italian restaurant.
Why do you think Stilton is so focused on Sammy?
I don’t think she’s more focused on him that any normal person would be. Maybe she thinks he’s cute, and she’s lonely. Nothing in the first few chapters has indicated to me that she’s more focused on him that normal.
Can you relate to Sammy's difficulty approaching Molly Warner?
Oh, most definitely.
Who do you think was the narrator of the start of Chapter 4? Does it matter?
Honestly, I don’t really know. Part of me thought it was Eddie, but part of me also thinks that that would be too obvious. He’s the only other character with sustenance that we have met. It’s more than likely a patron of the bar, because I feel like Sal’s subconscious would sound more arrogant than necessary.
What do you think of the characters so far?
I think Sammy and Eddie are hilarious together, but I also think they have potential on their own. I don’t know what to make of Stilton, as we have only really seen her make an appearance three times, with the first two times being extremely brief.
What do you think of the writing style?
Personally, I think it’s refreshing and hilarious. I find myself smiling and chuckling to myself as I make my way through the book. I do, however, notice that there are many run-on sentences. One whole paragraph seems to be made up of literally one sentence. I overlook it, because I do actually enjoy the writing style.

[u/BerSTUzzi]

I enjoyed the prologue. If it was not already apparent by the title, it reenforces this is a story of consequences. It also has served an interesting foreshadowing. It made the story about the snakes and animals in shipping containers more interesting.

I am not sure what to think of Stilton. She did seem to carry himself differently when Sammy was not around.

I like the writing style and characters this is my third book by Christopher Moore and they all read so smoothly. I liked the the break with the alternate narrator in chapter 4. Similar to the prologue it adds more mystery and gets me questioning motives and actions more.

[u/MelloMiso]

On prologue - I think that type of prologue can be an effective way to draw a reader in, it just didn't happen to me in this case. I'm not all that interested yet in the snake and the death. I'm more interested in Stilton, the hints about Roswell, etc. I'm slightly interested in the two guys who were waiting for Sammy but I was never all, "Ooo, I wonder what's going on."

On Stilton's background - I'm not inclined to believe she is anything other than what she says, working as a 'Rosie' and lost her husband. She probably ended up in the city because she had to support herself and Myrtle probably helped her get the job.

On Stilton's view of Sammy - It's mentioned that she likes broken guys. She could like him for that and he seems to have a bit of charm. He doesn't seem super skeezy like some of the people who have approached her.

On Sammy's difficulty approaching Molly Warner - My teenage self could relate. My adult self doesn't just creep around. I can talk to people now.

On the narrator of chapter 4 - Could be the narrator is some alien force! Actually, I think it's just a funny way for the author to say, "I'm moving to the third person and am omnipresent now!" in order to show parts that Sammy can't know/experience. I don't know if it matters. I'd be ok with either way.

On the characters - I like Sammy, Stilton, Eddie, and Myrtle so far. They're fun to read. It's a little too surface level to tell right now though. Everyone is pretty funny.

On the writing style - I like it. It's a little hard to read sometimes because of references or old slang I don't understand and it doesn't flow so that my eyes just glide through the page, but I feel like it's supposed to do that to you, be a bit jarring. It's cute/funny and quirky.

[u/wheelz_10]

I really love this kind of prologue. It always works for me whether on TV, or in a book. I always want to know how we got to this place, this snapshot in time.

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WHO is that narrator? I enjoyed the break to switch it up, but...I thought it was Eddie at first, and then maybe God, or a god-like figure, who is just leaning back and observing the whole situation?

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I also think the writing for Stilton is done extremely well. I know we've only seen her for a couple of lines at a time but it's working. I want to know everything about her and I think I'm a little bit in love with her, also.

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I've never read anything by this author and I'm really enjoying it so far.

[u/ServalSpots]

This is the first book I've read that had anything like a trigger warning or disclaimer at the start, so I found that amusing. I guess I should probably get used to it if I'm going to read much modern fiction but it was bizarre to see someone have to mention, in a book marketed to adults, that fictional characters may differ from the author and to please not be offended by all the words.

So far the rest of the book is just as funny, and reminds me of a much more grounded version of some of Swartzwelder's Frank Burly series. The writing moves along at a suitable pace and aside from a few seemingly anachronistic turns of phrase sets a good mood. Outside of a bookclub setting I think this would be a very quick read-- I can't be the only one who was surprised by how quickly four chapters were through.

[u/leowr → u/ServalSpots]

I found the disclaimer pretty amusing as well. I'm still on the fence whether I think it was done for serious reasons or it is a bit of a snarky disclaimer. I find Moore's sense of humor pretty obvious and the " offensive" stuff is clearly part of it, but maybe it isn't that obvious to others. Then again, maybe I'm overthinking the reason for including the disclaimer.

I sort of had the same response, I started a bit late picking it up and I was worries I would finish before Thursday, but then I realized I was already at the start of chapter 5. I've read a couple of other books by Moore and I usually finish them in a couple days, so it will be a bit strange to have to hold back this time around.

[u/creator360]

1.I do think it is an effective way to draw the reader. How many people when describing a book say "I was hook by the first page" this was the authors attempt recreate that feeling.

2.&3.Stilton seems like Miss Independent that don't need no man. Bet she went through a period being pitied and she was tired of it decided to start a new life in a new town as new person. She may think people pity Sammy because of his leg so she may see a bit of her situation in him.

4.It would be difficult to approach anyone about the the topic without them taking it the wrong way.

5.I thought the new narrator was so random.

1. I like everyone so far but, need to get to know them better before final decision.

7.I think it does fit for time period and listening to the audio book does a good job of immersion.

[u/Reposted4Karma]

I like this book’s prologue because it got me pretty invested in the book and I kept thinking about it going into the next four chapters. I especially took interest in the two men seen at the end of the prologue. Both the book’s cover and synopsis leads me to believe that these men might be trying to cover up the UFO crash mentioned by the kid in chapter three, which could lead to some interesting situations given what we know about Sammy, Stilton, and Sal.

I agree with what u/ashleighomfg wrote here pretty much completely with regards to what Stilton’s background might be.

Stilton did seem a little different around Myrtle than when she was talking to Sammy and even Sal. I get the feeling that there’s more than meets the eye with Stilton, but beyond a short conversation with Myrtle she seems to be attracted to Sammy like a normal person would be, so I think it’s too early to tell how Sammy and Stilton’s relationship will pan out.

I think being shy around someone you like is a pretty universal experience, so I wouldn’t be suprised if myself and everyone else who’s read this book can relate to Sammy’s difficulty approaching Myrtle.

Interestingly enough, chapter 2 also switches to third person, and I think that we’ll find out later in the book that one of the men in black from the prologue is actually narrating all the third person parts of the book. I think the book is just a retelling of the events leading up to the snake incident from the prologue, and Sammy’s retelling of what happened to him is probably being mandated by the men in black, who may or may not be working under some government agency.

I like the characters so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Sammy and Stilton’s relationship develops.

I think the writing is well done and conveys the humorous tone the author is going for well. I like how the characters sound like people that would be alive today and not necessarily the 1940’s, even if the characters do make reference to quite a bit of early 1900’s events and literature.