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The Outsider

Stephen King

Start date: August 1, 2018

Finish date: August 31, 2018

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

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What Members Thought

Jul 12, 2019 Cindy rated it really liked it

Holy moly! He does it again. This one packs multiple punches, not holding back one bit. Terry Maitland, popular teacher and coach, is accused of murdering a little boy. There are multiple eyewitnesses. There are fingerprints and DNA. He was there. And yet, he vehemently claims his innocence and there happens to be eyewitness testimony and video footage of him elsewhere. What follows from that is a jaunt into the supernatural, of course, and a journey to stop this malevolent creature. Holly Gibne Holy moly! He does it again. This one packs multiple punches, not holding back one bit. Terry Maitland, popular teacher and coach, is accused of murdering a little boy. There are multiple eyewitnesses. There are fingerprints and DNA. He was there. And yet, he vehemently claims his innocence and there happens to be eyewitness testimony and video footage of him elsewhere. What follows from that is a jaunt into the supernatural, of course, and a journey to stop this malevolent creature. Holly Gibney from the Mercedes Trilogy makes a crucial appearance. It's exciting, saddening, maddening, and frightening. Enjoy the ride BUT don't get attached to any characters. King does not hold back!

Favorite Lines:
"I would like to believe in God because I don't want to believe we just end, even though it balances the equation-since we came from blackness, it seems logical to assume that it's to blackness we return. But I believe in the stars, and the infinity of the universe. That's the great Out There. Down here, I believe there are more universes in every fistful of sand, because infinity is a two-way street. I believe there's another dozen thoughts in my head lined up behind each one I'm aware of. I believe in my consciousness and my unconscious, even though I don't know what those things are. And I believe in A. Conan Doyle, who had Sherlock Holmes say, 'Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, ust be the truth.'" p205

"Macy's Tells Gimbels"-Had to look that one up!

Quoting Shakespeare, "More things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in your philosphy." p416

"There's also a force for good in the world. That's something else I believe. Partly so I don't go crazy when I think of all the awful things that happen, I guess, but also...well...the evidence seems to bear it out...There's some force that tries to restore the balance..." p551

"Reality is thin ice, but most people skate on it their whole lives and never fall through until the very end. We did fall through, but we helped each other out. We're still helping each other." p559

...more

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Oct 22, 2018 Sheila rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So many things to say about this one! The dialog is as real as it gets; rich and buttery where a 4 star story might use some margarine. The characters are awesome, and the plotting... so good. It's comfy like a story you may have heard, but so not like this. And had I heard a bump in the night, I don't think I could have set this one down. I'd have nudged my sweetheart to check it out while I dipped back into the story. The creep factor is creepy, but not too creepy, so I was able to enjoy it wh ...more

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Aug 16, 2018 Una rated it really liked it

The first half of the book was absolutely amazing and had me at the edge of my seat... The second part was almost like someone else wrote it and felt wrong.. I enjoyed the book but wish it ended the way it started.

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