After the funeral they came back to the house[.] - - - Young Mrs. Halloran, looking after her mother-in-law, said without hope, "Maybe she will drop dead on the doorstep. Fancy dear, would you like to see Granny drop dead on the doorstep?" "Yes, mother."

I'll be honest here: as much as I love Jackson, The Sundial didn't fully meet my expectations. All the good stuff is there: quirky and unpleasant characters, a bizarre plot, dark humor etc. I just never really had the kind of connection with it I have had with her other stories.

That being said, it is a unique and memorable story. A strong three and a half star experience. I loved the disorienting descriptions of the lush garden and how its secrets are never fully revealed, the hilarious party where the disjointedness spreads properly into different directions, the open lingering ending that leaves behind the sort of uncertainty that Jackson is a master of, and how sometimes the characters are speaking at each other instead of with each other.

Perhaps the meaning you give to bigger things is just a distraction from yourself.