Marc’s Comments (group member since Feb 28, 2016)

Marc’s comments from the The Passage trilogy readalong group.

So, in Chapter 5 we got our first look at the 'Not Vampires' :)

Based only on the first 5 chapters, what are (were) your thoughts on how the author handled these beings? And, was there a particular new/missing power you found interesting?

I will be posting about 3-5 threads a week :) I intended to do one a day, but it seems that there are some good discussions going on that I'm worried we'd miss or cut short if we did too many.

The discussions will be on random - sorry for the confusion! I will try posting more (towards 5, instead of 3) if you are enjoying them :D

Did you enjoy the Sister Lacey Chapter?

Whether you did or you didn't, why do you think she lied to her sisters about Amy?

Good answer, Niksipiksi!

My thoughts are very similar to yours.

In my mind, it was a statement by Justin Cronin that this wasn't just your typical horror title. This was going to be a story about the characters and their lives where happy endings weren't guaranteed.

As you say, I think we very quickly come to trust that despite the lack of monsters and scary stuff, Justin will always keep us entertained and rolling through many different emotions. Never for a second was I bored or wishing for something other than what the author was delivering during that first chapter.

Hi all - first discussion is up! :)

The first chapter of The Passage was interesting. We saw Jeanette go from a rather comfortable family life to that of prostitution and murder. Symbolically, the daughter she thought would complete her life ended up being left at a small church with a nun.

Typically, advice to novelists is 'start as late as possible'. Justin Cronin chose not to do this. So, what do you feel makes the first chapter necessary for the overall effect of The Passage? How does it set the scene? And, simply, did you enjoy it?

A plot that extends thousands of years, humanity at the brink, bloodthirsty vampires, and a young girl who may hold the key to survival...

If you haven’t read The Passage by Justin Cronin then you’ve so far missed out on one of the very best examples of SFF released this decade. It’s really that simple. The Passage is a book that takes the very best elements of multiple genres - fantasy, western, horror, science fiction, dystopian/post-apocalyptic - and blends them all together to create a truly extraordinary experience.

For those who have not read The Passage before, bear with me whist I set the scene.

The American government has been experimenting on death row inmates in a secret facility. They’ve been infected with a virus that gives them many of the traits we’d associate with vampires: incredible strength, improved healing and an insatiable bloodlust. They seem to be closing in on the secrets of rejuvenation, potentially immortality, until, inevitably, there is a breach and the virus is released on the world’s population.

Now, you may be thinking, “Hmm... Vampires...”, but hang on just a minute! We aren’t talking sexy, sparkling vampires or those dressed in frilly shirts, wearing decorative jackets and brandishing cheesy lines. In fact, Justin Cronin (should he be reading) is likely wincing at the word ‘vampire’ I’ve used to far (sorry, Justin!). Rather, his monsters are the source, the truth behind all the legends in movies, books and video games we’ve consumed over the years. They are a biologically and physiologically plausible result of a virus that has existed on this planet for a long time in a remote area of the globe.

As the novel progresses, mankind falls and we end up in a post-apocalyptic world closer to medieval times than modern. For the remaining population, every day of survival is a triumph. The book is about humanity, how people can come together and find a way to survive even the end of the world. It is also about hope and what individuals are willing to risk for a better tomorrow.

What makes this book so special is the tale Justin Cronin tells is as likely to touch you and provoke your thoughts as it is get your heart pounding and scare you. It’s as much a tale of people as much as it is vampires and our crumbling world.

Now, The Passage is a real commitment. The UK Edition is not too far off 1000 pages and the page-turning prose of the author means that it is easy to overlook some of the more subtle details or not take quite enough time to appreciate the experience. Additionally, some people have told us they’ve had the book on their list to read for ages, but the weighty tome has sat on the shelves intimidating them. Another common complaint was that so much of the book seems written to encourage reflection and conversation and yet they had no one to talk about it with.

Well, Gollancz, Orion and Fantasy-Faction have come up with an idea to solve all these potential The Passage problems and give readers who want to do a re-read of The Passage (and the sequel, The Twelve) before the third and final book in the series, The City of Mirrors, is release in June.

Each week I will be posting a summary of the chapters we have read, pointing out anything I think is interesting, exploring what the writer may have been thinking when he wrote a certain element of the story and raising a few questions for the community to debate.

The posts will appear on here and the conversations will happen inside our Goodreads Group here.

Here is the schedule:

March 21 Chapters 1-5
March 28 Chapters 6-9
April 4 Chapters 10-16
April 11 Chapters 17-20
April 18 Chapters 21-26
April 25 Chapters 27-38
May 2 Chapters 39-47
May 9 Chapters 48-58
May 16 Chapters 59-67
May 23 Chapters 68 to End

Once we’ve finished The Passage, we will progress onto The Twelve and then The City of Mirrors. :) I will be posting a schedule for The Twelve towards the middle of May.

Well, my friends, that’s it for this week. Go pick up that copy of The Passage and read the first five chapters. Once you’ve done that come back here and chat with the rest of us about the week’s reading!

I will be posting a discussion topic up each day from tomorrow!!!!

Hi everyone,

We start the readalong on Monday!

Can't wait to start chatting!

Marc

Not long now :D :D :D

Great to read of so much excitement :D

we'll try our best to keep a single thread then based in feedback (I prefer that idea too!). Lily's idea of spoiler tags works for those who can't help bring something up that may be a spoiler for those still reading :-)

Hello all,

Each week I will be posting a summary of the chapters we have read, pointing out anything I think is interesting, exploring what the writer may have been thinking when he wrote a certain element of the story and raising a few questions for the community to debate.

There will be a separate thread each week entitled 'Chapter 1-5' (or whatever chapter) for this and my posts with comments will also be on the Gollancz/Orbit websites, which I shall link to.

Because some of us have read the book before and some have not, these questions will be more about your opinion of certain elements of the narrative and such. In addition, it would be cool if we manage to find some hidden messages and meanings in the authors work. I will probably have a separate *SPOILERS* thread too, if people would like that?

Here is the text based schedule:

March 21 Chapters 1-5
March 28 Chapters 6-9
April 4 Chapters 10-16
April 11 Chapters 17-20
April 18 Chapters 21-26
April 25 Chapters 27-38
May 2 Chapters 39-47
May 9 Chapters 48-58
May 16 Chapters 59-67
May 23 Chapters 68 to End

Once we've finished The Passage, so long as there is enough of us left standing, we will progress onto The Twelve and then The City of Mirrors :) I will be posting a schedule for The Twelve towards the end of may.

mothergunn wrote: "Thank you, Erik! Now, does anyone know if we're also doing The Twelve?"

Yes :) Schedule will be posted in early May, I believe! :)

Kierston wrote: "I am brand new to this, so I just want to make sure I understand. We're going to read The Passage with the schedule posted in the picture, then you'll post a schedule for The Twelve, then City of Mirrors? "

Exactly, yes :-)

I will be linking to chapter summaries and starting threads on various topics + asking questions related to the chapters covered by the schedule as we progress through :-)

Really excited to lead this readalong for you all. I will be posting weekly chapter summaries, talking points and questions that we can all interact over. There may be a surprise appearance by a certain author by the time we are finished too O:-)

We will pick up The Twelve after The Passage anddddd go into City of Mirrors if everyone feels they can read in a scheduled way (I.e. Don't start tearing through pages!) :-)