The Twelve
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The Twelve - Has Justin Cronin fallen to hard for his own characters?
Julian
(last edited
Oct 20, 2012 08:21PM
)
Oct 17, 2012 08:45PM
I recently completed "The Twelve" and while I liked it alot, I think the biggest flaw in the novel may be that author has fallen in love with too many of his many characters.
Unlike the first third of novel set in Year Zero, I found myself increasingly convinced that the major characters were not in any real jeopardy. Yes - They would be put through the grinder (Sarah and Alicia suffer tremendous trials), but there wasn't any point I was truly worried about their outcome at the end.
Cronin, despite the dark storylines, is clearly very sentimental and a romantic.
Yes - A few minor characters are dispatched, but even compared to the first novel, this particulary journey has very few casualties. Even some of 'villians' who clearly Cronin is empathetic too, have relatively positive outcomes.
Without an undercurrent of fear that real losses may be suffered, there isn't the tension that should be possible in those chapters.
Am I alone in this?
Unlike the first third of novel set in Year Zero, I found myself increasingly convinced that the major characters were not in any real jeopardy. Yes - They would be put through the grinder (Sarah and Alicia suffer tremendous trials), but there wasn't any point I was truly worried about their outcome at the end.
Cronin, despite the dark storylines, is clearly very sentimental and a romantic.
Yes - A few minor characters are dispatched, but even compared to the first novel, this particulary journey has very few casualties. Even some of 'villians' who clearly Cronin is empathetic too, have relatively positive outcomes.
Without an undercurrent of fear that real losses may be suffered, there isn't the tension that should be possible in those chapters.
Am I alone in this?
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The fact that i felt for the virals and the 'darker' characters - that Cronin could show me the light and shade in both - is part of the genius of his writing.
I agree, Cronin is sentimental and a romantic... but i need that kinda thing in my reading list too - but not overtly so.
I like the question you pose however and when i re-read both - i will keep it in mind and see if i have changed what i think....
I agree, Cronin is sentimental and a romantic... but i need that kinda thing in my reading list too - but not overtly so.
I like the question you pose however and when i re-read both - i will keep it in mind and see if i have changed what i think....
I don't know if you can love your characters too much, and though I haven't yet read the Twelve (planning on spending the weekend curled up with virals) I will say that I enjoy a writer who is emotionally involved with his or her characters. I met Mr. Cronin and had the amazing opportunity to hear him speak about the creation of this book and a lot of back story on The Passage and I find him a true literary genius.
I have to agree the whole Amy/Peter thing doesn't make sense to me at all! To be honest I forgot was Sara in love with Peter or Alicia? What happened to the people on the bus? Did they just drive around? What happened to Alicia's parents that the Colonel raised her? I've forgotten so much I need to re-read The Passage!
Jeri Paull
I went to Wikipedia with that same question! (Great minds think alike:) They only say that her parents were killed at the Colony during "Dark Knight"
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I would have to disagree. Just because the characters do not die doesn't mean they are not harmed. There are fates worse than death. Alicia and "everything", Amy giving herself up; those are, for me, huge losses.
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