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Group Read - Finders Keepers Part 3 Pages 385 to end Spoilers welcome
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46 (p385)Morrie takes Tina away, slapping her as needed. He lies about shooting the mother. He forces her into the basement of the abandoned building where she seems to break her ankle. He follows, and does not care.
47 (p687)
Pete finds the mother with a wound to the head. Skull is exposed, but not brain at least.
48 (p389)
Pete sees the piece of Tina’s blouse on a branch and knows where she is, he takes off.
49 (p390)
Hodges and all find the mother too. They hear the ambulance. The mother tells them where Pete has gone. The mother says he also took a lighter and fluid. Hodges tells Holly to call the police.
50 (p392)
Pete arrives at the building and lets himself in. He calls Morrie, tells him he is there, and so are the books.
51 (p395)
Morrie heads off to find Pete, telling Tina he will kill both of them.
52 (p396)
Pete is with Tina, but too much to do. Morrie is looking for him. Pete dumps the books on the floor, He dampens them with lighter fluid. Pete holds the lighted lighter over the books as Morrie arrives.
53 (p399)
Hodges heads in, telling Jerome to stay out and slash some tires.
54 (p401)
Morrie and Pete speak at their balance of terror. Pete tells Morrie there are two more Johnny Gold novels in the pile. Pete gives him tidbits of the books, but hates him for killing Rothstein over the direction of the novels. (very Misery-like) Pete offers the notebooks if Morrie loses the gun.
Hodges tosses the shoes on the floor, and Morrie whirls and fires. Pete drops the lighter and the books go up in flame. Morrie shoots at Pete, but Tina kicks him and the shot hits, but not fatally. There is a struggle, but Morrie runs to save the books. The building starts to catch fire. Morrie remains in the burning pile of books, Jerome shows up at the window and helps them out.
55 (p408)
They head away, Hodges hurt from the fight, Tina in Pete’s arms, Pete full of guilt.
AFTER
PICNIC (p413)
Hollie and Jerome are having an end of season picnic. Hodges is not there. He is with Pete. Holly and Jerome worry about Bill. Because he still visits Mr Mercedes regularly. Jerome has his own thoughts abou tthat, that it is not because of the past, but Hodgees worry about the future. A hunch.
TRUNK
Hodges meets Pete inthe woods at the trunk. Pete is about to be featured in The New Yorker. Pete plans on being the writer. Pete apologizes, knowing his actions made things so much worse. Pete realizes some of the ways he was like Morrie, one of which was that he was difficult because he hoped at some place deep within that he could keep the novels.
CLACK (p425)
Hodges heads tot he hospital. Something bad happened on the ward, but the nmurses won’t talk. He thinks it is a sign something is going on with Hartsfield. (a nurse had killed herself in the hospital) Hodges goads Hartsfield, who at one point rolls his eyes to him. Hodges is not sure what it means. He is trying to get to Hartsfield, Hartsfield is getting to him. There are rumors that Hartsfield now has powers. Then the water inthe bathroom spontaneously turns on, then the picture of his mother falls over.....
Barry wrote: "46 (p385)\He is trying to get to Hartsfield, Hartsfield is getting to him. There are rumors that Hartsfield now has powers. Then the water inthe bathroom spontaneously turns on, then the picture of his mother falls over..... l..."
Double uh-oh. I believe we have our setup for the final installment....
Couple of thoughts:I loved that Pete thought to bring the lighter and lighter fluid and got to threaten Morrie with the loss of the books. That unhinged the poor man completely.
I'm not sure I believe that he was so crazy that he was impervious to the excruciating pain of being burned alive, but it sure makes for a good movie scene.
And it seemed fitting that the books were lost. Rothstein didn't mean for anyone to ever see them.
I was greatly relieved that Linda Staubers was alive. I kind of missed a bit more family closure; the Dad was simply out of town for the final showdown and the Mom heads to the hospital and we learn nothing about the reactions to getting Pete and Tina out of Morrie's clutches (relatively) safely. I did think Holly's role in telling us what happened as she watched over Linda was well done; and in general the skillful way Stephen King moves things along with snippets of actions behind the scenes is very well done. We get the gist of the situations in insightful ways without a lot of plodding details. *wanting my cake and to eat it too...
We hear the ambulance, we know Hodges' partner is called, we know there is a police investigation and all turns out well for our heroes, but no details. But we know what happens and it is neatly done.
and Barbara. I guess it is a sign of really special characters when you don't want them to leave without saying goodbye and a bit of closure. and closure is definitely not what we get with Clack. YEEIKES!
Me too, Ann. I didn't think it was beyond King to kill her off, spoiler to Mr. Mercedes (view spoiler), but that would have been too, too cruel.I didn't like all that slapping around that Morris did on Tina. I cringed whenever he hurt her.
Ann wrote: "I was greatly relieved that Linda Staubers was alive. I kind of missed a bit more family closure; the Dad was simply out of town for the final showdown and the Mom heads to the hospital and we lear..."
Carol: after the cold murder in the first part of the book we were left with no illusions that Morris would "have a heart" and spare someone pain or death if he thought they were in his way. That added a note of terror to the encounter with Tina (and Pete, though Pete saw in his eyes that Morris was not to be trusted and that he would kill him if he got half a chance) Poor Pete with the guilt he was feeling for the attacks on Linda and Tina. The brother and sister sibling love was tender and sweet. Tina didn't blame Pete. I was glad she was ok and held no ill will.
Look at the slightly supernatural set up for book 3 now! This is the Steven King we know and love.
I know!!! I can hardly wait too!Barry wrote: "Look at the slightly supernatural set up for book 3 now! This is the Steven King we know and love."
I wonder if Pete and Tina will join the merry band of investigators?I have every confidence that Hodges can combat the normal forces of evil, but I don't know if he can survive supernatural evil. So I am looking ahead with some trepidation....
Ann wrote: "I know!!! I can hardly wait too!
Barry wrote: "Look at the slightly supernatural set up for book 3 now! This is the Steven King we know and love.""
Wow...the set up for the next book...I already have chills. I was happy too that Linda Stauber was alive, and that we weren't left hanging forever thinking her dead. I don't think Pete would have ever recovered from that - a very different ending.
Dawn: I echo that sentiment, chills and all! I agree that if Linda had died it would have been devastating for Pete and wouldn't have done Hodges any good either - I think he harbors quite a bit of guilt / angst about knowing when to call in the cavalry. I don't think he has fully accepted his retirement status instead of active police work where his first instinct is to just take care of things. And wasn't it sort of sweet when he told Jerome to stay back away from the rec and of course he comes to the rescue and Hodges is glad for the help! as are we all as readers too.
Dawn wrote: "Wow...the set up for the next book...I already have chills. I was happy too that Linda Stauber was alive, and that we weren't left hanging forever thinking her dead. I don't think Pete would have ever recovered from that - a very different ending."
I did believe Linda to be dead until the point at which we next see her. And I wasn't too happy about it either, although it seemed fitting, with King knocking off a key character in the previous book. But, 'nough said about that....
Carokl: Said key character's demise in book one still bothers me a lot too.... I get it, but I didn't like it. Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I did believe Linda to be dead until the point at which we next see her. And I wasn't too happy about it either, although it seemed fitting, with King knocking off a key character in the previous book. But,'nough said about that.... ..."
I had also expected Linda to be dead. King must be getting soft.
Barry wrote: "I had also expected Linda to be dead. King must be getting soft."Or he doesn't want to wind up like Paul Sheldon (Misery) and John Rothstein, LOL.
That is a possibility. (Both options) Protecting Pete from guilt or the author from a "fan" :)
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Barry wrote: "I had also expected Linda to be dead. King must be getting soft."
Or he doesn't want to wind up like Paul Sheldon (Misery) and John Rothstein, LOL."
If the first to post could please summarize to guide the conversation it is appreciated.