October 2016 Group Read #2 Usher's Passing by Robert McCammon

[Kimberly]

Melissa ♥ Dog Lover ♥ wrote: "Looks like I just need to get all of them :-)

Has anyone read by Dan Simmons? I was going to try to read it for my October books if I have time since its a lon..."
SUMMER OF NIGHT is another favorite of mine--only read that one about 3 times so far, though.... ;)

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

It must be good then Kimberly :-D

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

@Crowinator, let us know if you were right :-). I bet we were all thinking the same thing!

[Latasha]

I loved swan song & liked they thirst.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

Awesome Latasha! I think They Thirst will be the next one of his I read :-)

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

John wrote: "Melissa ♥ Dog Lover ♥ wrote: "Looks like I just need to get all of them :-)

Has anyone read by Dan Simmons? I was going to try to read it for my October books ..."

Added it to my Amazon. Going to look later at getting this particular cover copy as I loved be it!!

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

I got that Dan Simmons copy from Bookoutlet awhile back. If I think I can read it for my October reads I will let you know. Or may still start it and read it on through November :-)

I will message you :-)

I also just got "They Thirst" and that exact copy of "Carrion Comfort" from thrift books :-D

[Crowinator]

Melissa ♥ Dog Lover ♥ wrote: "@Crowinator, let us know if you were right :-). I bet we were all thinking the same thing!"

Melissa, I was right! But the reveal was still done really well. Loved the quote about loyalty: (view spoiler)["'Loyalty,' Edwin repeated softly. 'That has an ominous sound, doesn't it? Rather like the sound of a key turning in a cell door.'" (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

Crowinator wrote: "FYI, The Wolf's Hour is $1.99 on Kindle now.

I'm up to p. 192 and really enjoying the creepy Gothic atmosphere. I can't wait to see how it all ties together -- the monsters in the mountains, Nora..."

I got The Wolf's Hour for $1.99 :-)

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

Crowinator wrote: "Melissa ♥ Dog Lover ♥ wrote: "@Crowinator, let us know if you were right :-). I bet we were all thinking the same thing!"

Melissa, I was right! But the reveal was still done really well. Loved the..."

:-D

[Kelly B]

I'm debating whether or not I should re- read Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher before starting Usher's Passing. It's been years since I've read it, and I don't remember it.

For those who have read both, did you find it beneficial to read (or re-read) Poe's story first?

[Kimberly]

Kelly wrote: "I'm debating whether or not I should re- read Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher before starting Usher's Passing. It's been years since I've read it, and I don't remember it.

For those who have..."

Personally, I loved reading them back-to-back. :)

[Kelly B]

Thanks:-). I think I will read the Poe story tonight!

[Kelly B]

Kelly wrote: "Thanks:-). I think I will read the Poe story tonight!"

I read it last night, and I'm glad I did. It's been helpful to know a bit of the backstory.

[Kelly B]

Only 28 pages in, but I think I'm really going to like Usher's Passing.


I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lodge is like, especially since I keep picturing Biltmore in my mind.

[Alabama]

Only about 10% in but loving it already. I think Robert McCammon is turning into my favorite author

[Kelly B]

I just finished chapter 9:

(view spoiler)[ Logan is obviously one messed up dude! I wonder how he will get along with Boone. (hide spoiler)]

[Dawn]

Finished the book last night. Couldn't put the last 50 pages downs due to burning curiousity.

[Dawn]

Any recommendations for other novels in a similar vein? These are my favs!

[Crowinator]

(view spoiler)[It's always the butler! (hide spoiler)]

Just finished this today. Couldn't stop reading. I totally did not guess (view spoiler)[the true purpose of the Pumpkin Man and the whole Usher cannibal thing. I loved the reveal that the manuscript Rix had been hoping to get his hands on had been The Shining'd all along; did not see that coming either. On the other hand, it's kind of killing me that Rix's final decision isn't made explicit. (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Crowinator wrote: "[spoilers removed]

Just finished this today. Couldn't stop reading. I totally did not guess [spoilers removed]"
This really was one that is difficult to stop once you reach that "home stretch"!

[Latasha]

I finished cold moon over Babylon so I'm back on this one.

[Kelly B]

Dawn wrote: "Any recommendations for other novels in a similar vein? These are my favs!"

I'd be interested in hearing other recs as well!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Im looking through his website right now for book cover galleries. So many of his books have excellent artwork. A few stinkers, of course, but I like most of the book designs in general.

[Hunter]

Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Im looking through his website right now for book cover galleries."

Yay! Somebody's looking at the Book Cover Gallery! :) (I run McCammon's website. I love seeing all the different covers, but I haven't heard from anyone about the gallery in a long while.)

http://www.robertmccammon.com/gallery...

The 1980s/1990s covers from Germany are pretty consistently the worst covers! ;)

Hunter

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Hunter wrote: "Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Im looking through his website right now for book cover galleries."

Yay! Somebody's looking at the Book Cover Gallery! :) (I run McCammon's website. I love seei..."

Yes I see that - and Russian

It's nice to have a gallery. I'm always surprised when authors don't.

Thanks for keeping up the website for fans!

[Hunter]

Yeah, the old Russian bootleg book covers are really bad.

Thanks!

Hunter

[Kelly B]

My favorite of the book covers is the 1st paperback edition. That pumpkin is vicious looking!

I also really like the 1st British hardcover, with the Lodge ruins. Very gothic.

[Kelly B]

I just finished chapter 15; page 145 in my hardback edition.

I wonder what is with (view spoiler)[ the magic knife New has? Or maybe it's Newlan himself who can do magic (I'm leaning towards this theory)? It appeared another old man on the mountain can do magic too, when he stopped Raven's car from hitting him. (hide spoiler)].

As for Walen's heir, I have a feeling (view spoiler)[ everyone will be shocked, and he will leave the business and estate to Rix. (hide spoiler)].

[Crowinator]

So, who has a guess about the ending, with(view spoiler)[what Rix's final decision is? I haven't made up my mind but I wonder if anyone has theories. Or is it the point that we're not supposed to know for sure? (hide spoiler)]

[Kenneth]

Dawn wrote: "Any recommendations for other novels in a similar vein? These are my favs!"

Dawn. I don't know if you've read any other McCammon books, but he has an amazing catalog of 5-star reads with very few clunkers in the lot.

[Kelly B]

I just finished, and loved it. 5 stars from me. I really liked the several different elements in the book: (view spoiler)[ the witchcraft, the devil, the Usher's evil legacy. (hide spoiler)].

I thought the ending was fitting: (view spoiler)[ Once cracks were mentioned, I figured the Lodge would eventually collapse, like in Poe's story. I was surprised that the landlord/devil never made an actual appearance, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly B]

Crowinator wrote: "So, who has a guess about the ending, with[spoilers removed]"


Mu guess is that (view spoiler)[ he closes down Usher Armaments, and instead tries to do some good for the community (new homes for the Briarhead Mountain people, a college, etc.). I think Rix would feel too guilty to continue to be involved in making weapons, especially now that he's experienced Pendulum first hand.

I also wonder if a cure was found for his Malady. When it mentions that Raven can smell the faint smells of spoiling meat my first thought was that Rix is already coming down with the Malady, since he'll no longer be eating human flesh. Rix seems to explain it away though by mentioning it's the lingering smell of Walen. (hide spoiler)].

[Kasia]

I'm still waiting on my copy, can't wait to dive in, you guys are making this so interesting.

[Chris]

Kelly wrote: "I just finished, and loved it. 5 stars from me. I really liked the several different elements in the book: [spoilers removed].

I thought the ending was fitting: [spoilers removed]"

Yes I was expecting the... (view spoiler)[landlord to be revealed at the end but it kind of has you formulating your own idea about who or what he/she is. I thought the way it tied in to Poe's original story with the crack in the house was great. (hide spoiler)] 5 stars from me as well! I'll definitely be checking out McCammon's other work. Usher's Passing was my first novel by him.

[Char]

I cannot recommend McCammon's Boy's Life enough.
Most days, it's my favorite book of all time. It's...magical. :)

[Latasha]

The inside of the lodge sounds sooo grand!

[Latasha]

Well at least what little Rix sees in chapter 28.

[Casey]

Char wrote: "I cannot recommend McCammon's Boy's Life enough.
Most days, it's my favorite book of all time. It's...magical. :)"

It really is fantastic....but it's no Swan Song :P

[Char]

Casey wrote: "Char wrote: "I cannot recommend McCammon's Boy's Life enough.
Most days, it's my favorite book of all time. It's...magical. :)"

It really is fantastic....but it's no [book:Swan Song|..."

I must disagree, but I do love them both. :)

[Kenneth]

Boy's Life and Swan Song are 1 and 1A. Can you really go wrong with reading either?

[Andrew✌️]

Finished Ch27. I like the double vein of the story: an investigation about the Usher family and an horror one that involve the family, but also the Pumpkin Man and the king of the mountain. The latter looks so creepy, more when Raven meet him on top of the mountain.
I'm looking forward to continue, but I have to wait tomorrow. :)

[Nancy]

I am finally going to start this tonight!

[Rachel]

I have returned to this book and have reached part 4. I'm really digging it. but every time he talks about his father's stench I get so grossed out. I can handle gore and violence but when it comes to nastiness or uncleanness I can't take it lol.

[Katy]

Andrew wrote: "Finished Ch27. I like the double vein of the story: an investigation about the Usher family and an horror one that involve the family, but also the Pumpkin Man and the king of the mountain. The lat..."

I liked the complexity of the story, how he weaved threads together. There was a lot going on.

[Kasia]

Finally got me copy, I might start it this weekend, had some sad news about my grammy passing so my head hasn't been into reading the last two days.

[Kelly B]

Kasia wrote: "Finally got me copy, I might start it this weekend, had some sad news about my grammy passing so my head hasn't been into reading the last two days."

I'm so sorry to hear that.

[Kelly B]

Rachel wrote: "I have returned to this book and have reached part 4. I'm really digging it. but every time he talks about his father's stench I get so grossed out. I can handle gore and violence but when it comes..."

Yeah, Walen's stench was awful. I don't know how the poor nurse could stand it (not to mention, his less than kind personality).

[Kasia]

Thank you John and Kelly, hugs.
k

And on a side note - this book must be great if the essence of the smell comes across so well just from the written word.

[Rachel]

Kasia wrote: "Finally got me copy, I might start it this weekend, had some sad news about my grammy passing so my head hasn't been into reading the last two days."


I'm so sorry to hear that, Kasia.