Big Al (DWW read-along to cp 27)

I quit reading the day before yesterday because I wanted Al to have today’s post all to himself.

Oh, my.

I’d forgotten how bad he could be. And I love him for it. Al was one of those beloved characters that I intended to trot on stage to move the story forward and up the stakes. In that aspect, Al did it in spades, not only in trying to kill Rachel, but doing it in a way that ripped her carefully constructed blindness aside and showed her fears bare to the world. He developed Rachel’s character in that one pivotal chapter. A walk on/walk off. And when that happened, I knew he was going to be there to the bitter, happy end.

I like Al. I like his insecurities, (that we don’t see here) his power and class (which we do) his bitter disregard and hatred that stem from his own brutal evaluation of himself (which you guys won’t see until the last couple books)

When he tore out Rachel’s neck, I had no idea of all these things, but I saw something in him, and I kept my thoughts close, letting unfold as he would.

He remains to this day one of my very favorite characters.

And I’m sorry, but I don’t have the name of the reader who drew this. She signed it, but I can’t read her signature. (head hits desk)