Robert McCammon discussion
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Usher's Passing
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Randolph wrote: "I thought he bumped off Boone and Logan a little early."Boone I could do without easily, once the sister was focused on as a bigger threat… Logan I just never liked to begin with (it was his thing with the animals, sigh!)
Now that I'm focusing on re-reading this one, it's all coming back to me now. As soon as I saw Edwin's name, I was all "I remember you!". :)
Randolph wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Randolph wrote: "I thought he bumped off Boone and Logan a little early."Boone I could do without easily, once the sister was focused on as a bigger threat… Logan I just never l..."
LOL! I can honestly say that I've never had much interest in the lives of carnies...
Whenever I think about carnys now, I think about Joe Dirt.
Carnys also put me in mind of Geek Love. Have you read that one, Randolph? I thought it was very good, but not your usual carny story.
That book was a trip. :)
I'm all done. I had a blast. This story was intricately woven, which puts me in mind of Ghost Story by Peter Straub. I thought the denouement was awesome. There was so much going on and before you know it, all these mysteries unravel and everything becomes clear.
I liked the characters, even the ones I didn't like. :) Though Katt was kind of a typical model type.
I liked this even more than I did the second time, so my rating stays at 5 stars.
I'm glad you think so! :)I know they're quite different, but the ways in which all the story threads came together is what put me in mind of GS. That kind of writing never ceases to amaze me. I guess it's the ability to tell the story in the way these authors do, and then to pull it all together in (what seems to be) such an effortless way is what gets to me
Finished a couple nights ago now. Count this as yet another one that I'd forgotten nearly completely. Just had that whisper of familiarity. Can't think of a character that I actually liked. Mostly, they all seemed like unlikable people - ha ha. But, an excellent tale.
I sort of did like Rix. He was fighting hard against what he was born into. Then on top of that the woman he loves, the one that was so strong for him, throws in the towel and kills herself. I thought he was a strong guy, and in the end, he was the only one to break free.
I liked New as well. Despite everything he had been through, he was attempting to go to school, working hard, and working at using his power only for good.
I guess that's about all of the characters I really liked though.
Charlene wrote: "I sort of did like Rix. He was fighting hard against what he was born into. Then on top of that the woman he loves, the one that was so strong for him, throws in the towel and kills herself. I tho..."
Didn't Edwin "influence" Rix's wife into committing suicide? I don't think she would have done it otherwise.
Rix was a great character--flawed in ways, which made him more "human". I really liked Edwin and his wife, too--until…. LOL!!
The shocking turn of Edwin! Maybe knowing that Edwin did it, released Rix from his guilt? He carried it around for so long.
Charlene wrote: "The shocking turn of Edwin! Maybe knowing that Edwin did it, released Rix from his guilt? He carried it around for so long."That's how I feel about it. He was finally able to let go, and stop blaming himself for not noticing "signs" in his wife, that were never there to begin with.
What's December's McCammon read. I have several that I want to re-read!
I'm about to put the poll up later today or tomorrow. :)
I saw and 'liked' it a little while ago. Nice work!
Thanks for participating, Randolph! I always enjoy reading what you have to say.
I'm glad! I'm so happy to have been a small part of your McCammon journey. I've read most of these books before, but I'm happy to see that they hold up pretty well over time. It's like I'm discovering him again for the first time. :)
Charlene wrote: "I'm glad! I'm so happy to have been a small part of your McCammon journey. I've read most of these books before, but I'm happy to see that they hold up pretty well over time. It's like I'm discover..."I feel the same way--each time I re-read one of his books, it's almost like something "new" from a favorite author!
I completed Usher's Passing a few nights ago. My feelings about this book are so different than any I see posted here. The first part of the book had me interested and wondering what was going on. "Rix seems to smart to be so dumb." I kept thinking. All the child's play between the brothers that their father approved of...I could do without that. Well, those are simply a few of my individual comments. Overall I thought the book had too much in it. I know I've read many books that are more complex and twisted than U'sP, but still for the subject, I thought a less involved story would have been better. Additionally I have a question: Why did the old Ushers turn into sort of nasty smelly "zombie" types. Did the years of being young just catch up with them? I was upset about Edwin...I mean really, if you can't trust the help, who can you trust!!? Even though it was not one of my favorite McCammon novels, I still am glad I read it or should I say, "FINALLY finished it!!" and I am looking forward to my next book by this author.
I'm sorry that it didn't resonate as much with you, Pam. I think I see where you're coming from. There was a lot going on.I was very surprised to discover Edwin wasn't the man I thought he was. Which to me says the author did a good job tricking me. :)
I don't know about the almost zombie like state the Usher's went into...do you mean how they got when near death? When he could hear the electricity in the walls?
Aw, yes. Robert did any excellent job covering up Edwin's true self. But you know we really did have a lot of clues, but I was fooled by that oneI don't mean the sensitivities. I mean how he smelled and looked. There was description of stuff running down his face that sort of thing. Why did that happen? That is something I'd like to ask Mr. McCammon if I could. I haven't read the POE story for so many years, but I don't remember any thing like that. If you know or have any idea, let me know. Maybe I missed some explanation. Thanks!!
Oh okay. I guess I thought that stuff was due to either the Malady or to their diet. *shudder* Those would be my guesses. :)
I suppose I was confused because they were kept so young otherwise. I don't think the diet made them stay young...I think the evil one made them stay young. The diet was an obedience thing. Does that make sense?
Finally finished Usher's Passing last night. Wow. Did not see the revelation of Edwin coming at all. Loved it. Surprised by it, but it was believable. Loved New's character and the interaction and conversation between him and the Mountain King. The ending...eating children? Horrifying in the worst way, but again, believable in the context of the story. Liked this one a lot. Creepy, atmospheric, it all comes around in the ending, just what I like in a novel. Thank you, Mr. McCammon.
Chad wrote: "Finally finished Usher's Passing last night. Wow. Did not see the revelation of Edwin coming at all. Loved it. Surprised by it, but it was believable. Loved New's character and the interaction and ..."Great comment, Chad: "horrifying…..but believable in the context of the story". IMO, that's what great authors, like McCammon, are best at!
Thanks for your explanation, Randolph. Now I really feel like I totally missed a lot in the book. I'm not going to re-read it or anything drastic like that. I understand the moral decay and the symbolism, but it still isn't clicking for me. It seems weird to me that the Ushers are kept young and then they become like death warmed over. But I do appreciate your time in explaining your take to me.Chad, I enjoyed the conversation between the Mt King and New. I did like New, he certainly was not a perfect character, but he is young and I think his future looked bright.
Yes, Kimberly and Chad, I do know of McCammon's uncommon writing abilities. I remember teaching writing...I wonder what I would have done with a student like Robert. What a joy it is to read good writing, even if one does not enjoy the story as much as one sort of feels like one should have
There are some great comments here!Chad, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I loved New's story and his interaction with the Mountain King as well.
Thanks for your comments, Randolph. I like how you explained how the McCammon story is the "real" one. Which just reminds me how original I thought this story was, even though it was based on a short story, I think RM really turned it around and made it his own.
Thanks, Randolph. I appreciate your comment.
No spoiler tags are needed here!