The Passage by Justin Cronin

[Andy]

Finished Part 1. I really liked (view spoiler)[ The element of psychic communication that was going on both sides of the battle. Lacey hitch hiking cross country was pretty awesome. Of the characters introduced so far, only a few remain, mostly undead. (hide spoiler)]

I had one very minor gripe. (view spoiler)[ I felt it should have been Number One (Babcock??) who got to kill Richard since he was the one in Richard's head all along. (hide spoiler)]

[Adam]

I am at 15% and it seems to be picking up steam. Wolgast is a good character.

[Kasia]

Adam wrote: "I am at 15% and it seems to be picking up steam. Wolgast is a good character."

He warmed my heart, agreed.

[Addy]

Finished part II. Very, very sad. (view spoiler)[I'm not entirely sure if Wolgast died, but if he did, I miss him already. (hide spoiler)]

[11811 (Eleven)]

Adam wrote: "I am at 15% and it seems to be picking up steam. Wolgast is a good character."

I'm still only at 12%. I don't why this is so slow going for me. I gotta pick up the pace. I'm hoping that the 15% point pulls me in.

[Zulfiya]

I am behind due to my urge to finish Under the Dome and I did, and now another post-apocalyptic novel. I have read 10% so far, and I do find Cronin's style enjoyable and rich. We all now how simplistic the language for such novels could be. His is compassionate, rich without being overwhelming, and very melancholic. There is some existential sad feeling that permeates the novel.
I like how he also conveys some social messages in the opening chapter, and I think Cronin is fascinated with the mystery of human psyche whether the character is a young girl, her mother, a prisoner, a nun or an agent. They are all human and multidimensional characters.

I also enjoy the cobwebbery setting for the novel. It starts in many places, but then you see the glimpses of things to come ...

[Addy]

Very well put Zulfiya. I agree:)

[Kaisersoze]

Finished the first part, which almost feels like it could have been a novel in its own right. Very interested to see how Cronin handles what comes next. And like others, am impressed by his writing skills.

[Maxine Marsh]

I too finished the first part and am onto the second, which is like an entirely different book. I'm sure at least one or two characters ((view spoiler)[I'm hoping Wolgast is still alive although it seems unlikely (hide spoiler)]) will show up soon.

[Adam]

Have gone about 30% now and this is an entirely different book than the one I started reading. Very well done so far, and Kaiser is accurate stating the first part could have been a novel all its own.

[Angie]

I'm waiting at part three, so I can carry on reading with every one, part two is awesome though!

[Addy]

Can someone tell me what a Walker is?

[Adam]

I believe it is a person unaffected by the virus. Though I still question that.

[Addy]

Ok. Thanks Adam!

[Maxine Marsh]

I think a Walker is someone not infected who comes from outside and joins the community.

[Addy]

Ok. That makes sense Maxine. Thanks!

[Adam]

Starting part 5. Anyone else make it there yet?

[Angie]

That's cool Adam, I'll get back into it now:-) Amy is classed as a walker isn't she? It was strange how the book jumps 90 years, its again like a total different book. But poor kid, all that time by herself.

[Adam]

I believe she will be classified that way, Angie, but where I am she has yet to show up except when Peter ran into her. She is certainly something different altogether. I am confused about something... what is with the crosses. I may have missed something, but I noticed Watchers have crosses, are those crossbows or crucifixes or what?

[Addy]

I thought watchers just had the crossbows and their knives as backup.

[Adam]

Addy wrote: "I thought watchers just had the crossbows and their knives as backup."

I figured it was short for crossbows as I remembered them mentioned at one point, but for whatever reason, I suppose my brain connected crosses with vampires and I got confused. I was thinking that was really cliche for such a unique take on vampire mythos.

[Kaisersoze]

Finished Part V. It definitely lags in parts, and it does seem to be a little soap-operaish in terms of the relationships, but the writing is so strong, I find myself not being overly distracted by said interactions. Here's hoping it goes somewhere good ...

[Kaisersoze]

Am I the only one still reading?! :-(

[Adam]

I am still reading, just took a break the last couple days. I am at 500 pages.

[Addy]

I'm still reading. Just taking my time:)

[Kaisersoze]

Thanks for the immediate reassurances, Adam and Addy.

I swear, I could hear crickets in this thread ;-p

[11811 (Eleven)]

I'm only a little past 40% but making slow progress. I'm still not sure what I think of this new book that started around the 30% point.

[Addy]

I have to admit, I miss some of the characters from the first part of the book, but this second part is definitely interesting

[Addy]

I feel the same way Eleven

[Adam]

The second "book" does pick up some steam and gets more interesting, but it is an arduous read all the same. Cronin spends a lot of time on the details I don't need to know. I am going to continue with it, though.

[Andy]

I took a break after part 1 to catch up on another group read. Probably pick this up again today.

[Zulfiya]

I am usually a quick reader, but now I am juggling 5 books and struggling to meet the reading deadlines. I have only read 17%, but there are things I really enjoy. As I mentioned in one of my posts, his writing is cobwebbery, but as a reader, I am a captured fly. I enjoy being sucked into this cobweb of human emotions: guilt, love, responsibility, fear, anxiety. This is the most complex post-apocalyptic novel so far.

As Adam said, it is an arduous read - it makes me think, plough through, and empathize.

There are some mysteries there: Carter and Amy, and behind those mysteries, there is an unmistakable feeling of the world on the brink of its destruction. It is definitely in the air. Wonderful writing. I purchased Book two some time ago, and I am already looking forward to it.

And Book three should be released this year. Well, let's keep our fingers crossed:-)

[Isabella]

Hi! I just joined your group. I'm glad you guys are reading "The Passage". It has been my new all-time favorite book ever since I first read it last year. This gives me another excuse to start it up again. I love the story of Wolgast and Amy; so touching and bittersweet. I cried both times I read it.

[Andy]

Isabella, does the sequel live up to the first?

[Isabella]

I will admit I was slightly disappointed in the sequel at first but it got better. The first is still my favorite but once we got back to Peter and Alicia and Amy then it was good again. Plus, plenty of questions are answered. I liked "The Twelve" but I didn't fall in love with it in the same way.

[11811 (Eleven)]

Adam wrote: "The second "book" does pick up some steam and gets more interesting, but it is an arduous read all the same. Cronin spends a lot of time on the details I don't need to know. I am going to continue ..."

When does this pick up again? I'm at 48% and its been sluggish again for a while. I wanna read what you're reading and I'm anxious to get there.

[Adam]

I found that the best scene after the first part ended was at the mall, 11, but, honestky,.I am being optimistic about the part I am reading now. It is jammed with so many perspectives, I don't know. I liked it better before the time jump. If I get through The Night Of Blades And Stars and find it anticlimactic, I may just set this one aside.

[11811 (Eleven)]

This is far more fantasy than horror, am I correct? Not that it's a bad thing.... just sayin'.

[Adam]

Yes,.11. I thought it would be horror, too. But it isn't.

[Kaisersoze]

The level of detail and overall world building makes this more of a fantasy novel with horrific elements, than a horror novel with fantastic elements IMHO. And yet, despite how slow it is, I keep finding myself drawn in. It's quite mesmerizing, and somewhat to my surprise, I'm enjoying it.

Adam, I thought things picked up by the end of The Night of Blades and Stars. Almost like Cronin decided the scene had been well enough set for things to happen more frequently.

[Adam]

I am glad to hear that Kaiser.

[Addy]

I'm around the 50% mark and I'm glad to see a character I'm familiar with. Of course, I never felt like the story was disappointing me, I just had to learn new players in the story. Its getting good again:)

[Kaisersoze]

Finished! Will hold off on saying anything more than I liked it a great deal, mainly because of the strength of the writing (though there are a couple of cool sequences in the second half as well).

[Angie]

I'm near the end and it is good isn't it Kaiser (view spoiler)[the expeditionary were a bit of a shock when they appeared but not as much as when Alicia sent all soldiery. What a shock that was! Poor Peter. It was good fun that the soldiers watched Dracula on a screen.<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Adam]

It started getting really good last at part 6 and hasn't bogged down again for me. I got down to about 150 more pages left and fell asleep reading last night.

[Andy]

I'm stopping at the first part where they start describing life in the colony. I'll pick this up again in a month or two, maybe during spring break.

[Adam]

I don't blame you, Andy. I had a hard time for a little bit there, but the last third has been pretty righteous. Hope you finish it one day. (I hope I do, too!)

[Addy]

Yeah, I'm at part V and its getting interesting. I feel too invested to put this one down, but totally understand why some have. It'll prob take me another month to tackle this!

[Andy]

For sure. My own busy schedule is the biggest deal breaker. Since I don't have as much time to read as I'd like, I want to stick to shorter books for now.

[Angie]

Adam its good now, the last bit is where a lot of the story comes out. I'm up to their last 100 pages (view spoiler)[peter and Amy are starting up the mountain. Its good that they are almost back to were it all began.<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]