Swan Song by Robert McCammon buddy read (Spoiler Warnings.)

[[deleted user]]

Ange wrote: "Im also slow going but then it is a big ass book."

I am actually really happy I got it on my kindle so that I don't have to be constantly reminded how intimidating it is haha.

[Pamellia]

I finished this read around 5 am this morning. It is a Masterpiece and Robert R McCammon has something to be very proud of! I can see using this book in an American Literature class to teach various writing techniques and in a Philosophy class to study how believes are formed. A wonderful book. Thanks for starting this read and including me.

[Pamellia]

Mehmet wrote: "Chapter 11 [spoilers removed]"

I totally agree with you Mehmet! That was written with such skill...I keep thinking maybe if I continue to read more and more of Robert's book, his talent will somehow rub off on me!! Of course, I'm sure the more he writes, the more talented he becomes.

Someone mentioned being bored with this reading. There were no parts of this book that bored me. I was totally absorbed into the here and now of the book and looked forward to what might happen next.

(view spoiler)[During the wonderings in Book Two, seven years after the bombs, right? How were there any leafs left to make beds with? From the way the earth was described, I thought the land was totally wasted. Where did these dried leafs (or is it leaves??) come from? They would have disintegrated by that time, I think. When the bombs dropped, I don't think the leaves fell like they do in the fall and even if they did, they wouldn't have lasted that long. I think it's a very small issue, but I found it interesting. (hide spoiler)]

I believe Latasha mentioned that she read Speaks the Nightbird and was enjoying Swan Song more. I agree that SS is a superior book compared to Nightbird. However, Nightbird is the first in the Matthew Corbett series and I think there was simply a different approach to the story telling. In fact, Speaks the Nightbird is not my favorite book in the Matthew Corbett series. The series is an American pre-Revolutionary war Historical Fiction genre...I have enjoyed it....not as much as some of the other McCammon books, however.

I am not certain how many McCammon books I have read now. He is by far, my favorite author. His writing speaks to me on so many levels. How'd he know to do that?

A BRITISH MINI-SERIES (I don't know the name). It was about the world, well, England, after a virus killed most everyone in the world. I'm going to do some research and try to find the name of it and where one might watch it. Very good story. The protagonist caught the flu, but did not die...I think all the people who survived were that way. I'll post the title here if I can find it.

[Randy]

Pamellia wrote: "A BRITISH MINI-SERIES (I don't know the name)."

Sounds like Survivors...?

[Jonathan]

It definitely sounds like Survivors.

I am so glad you liked the book!

[Mehmet]

Just reached halfway through the book and am going on to Book 2. Really am enjoying the story, love the weirdness he created. Parts of the story reminded me of the car park section of Quake by Richard Laymon.

[Randy]

Sometimes I hate books like this, where the chapters alternate between different characters, or groups of characters. Just as I'm getting into the story that's going on about a certain character, that chapter ends, and the story continues on a different character! It's like reading three different books at the same time.

[Mehmet]

I understand your frustration Randy, because I have very busy days I have to think for a moment when starting each section of characters as I mix up events in my head. When I was a teenager I was reading two books at a time and doing my exams. Believe me when I say I got a bad headache and woke up each morning mixing everything up in my head. Since then I tend to stick to one book at a time. Although books with multiple characters if read during stressful times can still confuse me.

[Pamellia]

Randy wrote: "Sometimes I hate books like this, where the chapters alternate between different characters, or groups of characters. Just as I'm getting into the story that's going on about a certain character, t..."

Sometimes that gets to me, also, Randy. This book was not one of those times. For me it broke up the story in a way that made the book itself stronger, again, in my opinion. I also recently read a book where there was a current trial going on and what we got of that was the transcript of the trial...then the background was in between the many transcripts. It worked with that book, but it doesn't always work.

YES!!! I looked up the British short lived series, Survivors and that is it. Thanks guys, I've always wondered what the name of that series was!

[Kenneth]

Swan Song isn't for everyone. I know many of the Stephen King purists can't get over the comparisons with The Stand and then refuse to look at Swan Song on its own merit. That's really too bad. I love both, but for me, Swan Song speaks to me like no others. It really strikes a chord and has the staying power where I think about it weeks, months, and years later.

[Latasha]

the book I'm reading now is doing that (switching between characters) and it is not working at all in that book.

[Mehmet]

Chapter 48



(view spoiler)[that shocked me a lot what happened to poor Swan faces :-(<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Jeff]

The first good grownup book I ever read was Midnight by Dean Koontz, which was one of those books where the viewpoint jumped around between characters, and I've been partial to that type of storytelling ever since. Also, it might not necessarily be essential to epic novels, but I think it really helps.

[Mehmet]

Swan song narrative is strengthened by following different people, it really does give the book so much depth. Am really enjoying this book.

[Jonathan]

I have liked all of the characters so far!

Especially the "Face of Death" movie guy! So creepy!

[Latasha]

yes he was!!

[Jonathan]

Who is everyone's favorite character?

Mine is Josh and Swan.

[Randy]

Jonathan wrote: "Who is everyone's favorite character?

Mine is Josh and Swan."

Yup.

But the title of the book *is* SWAN song... :)

[Mehmet]

Mine is Josh and Swan also, all the good guys are very likeable.

[Nickronomicon]

I have about 200 pages to finish it and the story is starting to gel a little bit for me (view spoiler)[now that Sister has met up with Josh and Swan, and the Job's Masks are healing (hide spoiler)].

My favorite characters to read about is Macklin and the Army of Excellence. This is a horror group, right? Haha

[Mehmet]

Army of excellence makes me think of manga !!! Very comical style, I am really enjoying the story :-)

[Kenneth]

I actually find Roland's character interesting with the transformation from start to the end. I swear I went to school with half a dozen people that could've ended up being him.

[Ken]

I found the characters to be decent. Not enough where I would have felt terrible if they lived/died. I probably found Josh to be one of the best, Sister was pretty good, and the Roland/Macklin story interesting especially the first half of the book. I didn't like the Swan character very much, maybe not enough depth. And maybe it's not dislike of Swan but just not enough of a character to love since she is the main focus of the book.

[Jeff]

I like Josh and the crazy K-Mart guy.

[Latasha]

I agree with everyone, I loved Josh and Sister.

[Latasha]

Jeff wrote: "I like Josh and the crazy K-Mart guy."

oh yeah! I liked him too. I pictured him as very handsome...and then he opens his mouth and he's bat shit crazy ..*sigh*

[Jeff]

Yeah, he's my type of crazy. (view spoiler)[ I especially liked him after he'd joined the AoE, when everyone was freaked out by the demon but crazy Kmart guy just thought he was awesome. (hide spoiler)]

[Latasha]

Jeff wrote: "Yeah, he's my type of crazy. [spoilers removed]"

lol yeah

[Kaisersoze]

So, yeah, I finished it and it was okay. But I did not get the sense of wonderment that others have described.

Hope others get the same type of buzz out of it :-)

[Jonathan]

Wow when this book gets intense it is really intense!

I didn't hear as much hype regarding this book, so maybe my expectations aren't as high as everyone else. Still in terms of a good post apocalyptic story I really feel it delivers!

[Pamellia]

Jonathan wrote: "Wow when this book gets intense it is really intense!

I didn't hear as much hype regarding this book, so maybe my expectations aren't as high as everyone else. Still in terms of a good post apoca..."


Totally agree, Jonathan. I'm not sure how I will feel about The Stand when I read it next month. SS really checks all the boxes for me.

[Kenneth]

Mehmet wrote: "Chapter 48



[spoilers removed]"

I thought the whole concept of Job's Mask was a great part of the story!

[Mehmet]

100 % agree with you Jonathan :-)

[Mehmet]

Yeah Ken the Jobs mask really is a interested part of the story, very creepy and horrifying also. Just reached chapter 65 and just imagining it covering my face freaks me out !!!

[Mehmet]

brought myself Stephen Kings The Stand today :-)

[Jonathan]

This book continues to impress me. I remember being young and finding the apocalypse a terrifying idea. This book brought back that old familiar dread for me. It's probably the author's right amount of description that brought back this nostalgia.

[Pamellia]

I have always thought the title of this book referred to the final song/actions. How does that relate to the gitl, Swan? Someone mentioned the story was about Swan the character. While I don't think her name was a random choice by the author, I don't think the title refers exclusively to Swan the character. For me I think it's more about the swansong of the human race or even the world as we knew it. Perhaps someone can comment on this...I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[Pamellia]

Jonathan wrote: "This book continues to impress me. I remember being young and finding the apocalypse a terrifying idea. This book brought back that old familiar dread for me. It's probably the author's right amoun..."

In a way I felt similar, Jonathan. While I honestly loved reading this book, there was an underlying "fear" of how real a holocaust of this nature could be. I remember the fear of the Soviet union. I also remember that Satan and communism were one in the same in my mind. So Friend freaked me out a bit. Honestly my emotional state was not the best as I read SS. But ya know...it was so worth it!!!

[Pamellia]

Pamellia wrote: . I also remember that Satan and communism were one in the same in my mind.

I wanted to make it clear this was my understanding as a child of the 1950s early 1960s. Funny how those childhood fears can creep up on us when we least expect it.

[Kenneth]

Pamellia wrote: "I have always thought the title of this book referred to the final song/actions. How does that relate to the gitl, Swan? Someone mentioned the story was about Swan the character. While I don't thin..."

I would have to agree. I think it's obvious that Swan's name mirrors the duality of the title as well as the end of the world. McCammon grew up in the same era as you did and I read an interview where this was the major influence for him in writing Swan Song. For him, and many of us growing up, nuclear war was always lurking around the corner threatening to blow us all to smithereens. I think this is just a continuation in his mind of what would be left if the world did go crazy and push the button.

[Pamellia]

Thanks, Ken. I was thinking I might look for an interview where Robert talks about the book.

[Craig "NEEDS MORE DAMN TIME TO READ !!!!"]

Awwww :( I recently picked this up, it's title rang a bell for some reason when I saw it sat on the shelf...

Anyway I'd like to have read it with you guys but I've reached my "read three books at one" limit haha.

[Jonathan]

Cheers Craig.

You are more then welcome to join in if you end up with more free time later on!

:-)

[Jonathan]

Loving this book so much. I hate putting it down!

I love how it doesn't glorify the apocalypse without being too depressing. So many post apocalyptic movies leave out radiation poisoning and other hardships that Swan Song touches on really well.

[Mehmet]

It's true Jonathan, the effects of nuclear radiation is well described in the plot. Not sure on the scientific accuracy, but the way it changes the weather and the land is very scary in the book.

[Craig "NEEDS MORE DAMN TIME TO READ !!!!"]

Thanks Jonathan. Unfortunately it's always the case of too many books, too little time. I will ask though, I've heard of it's comparison to The stand but, without spoilers of course, how true is this? I quite enjoyed The stand but felt the ending was a big flop compared to the big build up preceding it.

[Hunter]

Some of you may be interested in this short promo film some fans made last year:

Wasteland Weekend short film is a tribute to Swan Song

Hunter

[Jonathan]

@Craig

I would say in terms of good vs evil their might be similarities to The Stand. I would also say some of the religious overtones it is extremely subtle. I am not a Cristian so I didn't feel like I was being hit over the head by a Bible Thumper at all. I am not sure how the religious overtones in The Stand hold out.

Other then that I would say Swan Song for me is the preferred choice. ;-)

@Hunter

Thank you for the link! That is awesome.