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

[Latasha]

John wrote: "Kelly wrote: "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 a..."

yeah me too. that part isn't bothering me.

[Latasha]

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."

oh no Kasia. I'm sorry to hear that. *hugs*

[Latasha]

I'm still chugging along.

[Rachel]

Katy wrote: "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 mo..."

That's what I'm digging right now! I'm just about at the halfway point now. Lots of going on, indeed!

[Latasha]

Ohhh nooo! Boone is about to go into the Lodge and is is drunk!

[Rachel]

Latasha wrote: "Ohhh nooo! Boone is about to go into the Lodge and is is drunk!"

Lol, really? I hate him so i hope he gets whatever comes his way :P

[Latasha]

I'm not saying what happens! It's scary though! Page 296. My favorite word drops again! Phantasmagoric (illustration of witches)!

[Latasha]

I'm at 82% and it's getting so good but my book light is almost dead and I have to go to bed :(

[Andrew✌️]

Finished ch34: after a first, slow part, now the pace changes. Many things happen and many stories are told. Finally I know what's happened to the city on top the mountain and I'm looking forward to discover the link between all these facts and the Usher family.
The idea of the interiors of the Lodge is crazy, and I think has been used in other novels (e.g. in HP for Hogwarts).
Absolutely great!

[Latasha]

I hope to finish tonight.

[Latasha]

Chapter 42-
Oh dear lord! I can NOT believe that!!

[Rachel]

starting chapter 26 now.

[Latasha]

Chapter 44
OMG!!

[Latasha]

Oh wow!! That was so fantastic and what an ending!! I'm so glad we all read this.

[Alabama]

Just finished, could not put down last 100 pages fantastic and crazy book.

[Latasha]

John wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Oh wow!! That was so fantastic and what an ending!! I'm so glad we all read this."
Don't you love the way it all came together?"

yes I did.

[Rachel]

Just got to chapter 32!! Will definitely finish it tonight.

[Latasha]

I can't wait to hear what you think about it Rachel.

[Andrew✌️]

Finished ch40. Wow! So many revelations. Now, there are no doubts on the heir. But, I think that these last chapters will be amazing!

[Latasha]

They are Andrew! You'll be finished in no time.

[Andrew✌️]

Latasha wrote: "They are Andrew! You'll be finished in no time."

I'm looking forward! Unfortunately, this evening, my eyes need rest. :(
But tomorrow, I will arrive at the end.

[Crowinator]

About the ending, I've been thinking about it and (view spoiler)[I agree with Kelly that Rix will close down the family business and try to do good, but I wonder what will happen with New and the Lodge/Landlord still calling him in his dreams. I can see a future in which he gives in to the temptation eventually and kicks off a whole new corruption. Or perhaps one of his descendants. I liked the unsettling ending with the idea that the evil, despite being vanquished this time, is not gone. (hide spoiler)]

The Lodge's malevolent aura and moving layout also reminded me of the house in House of Leaves.

[Quentin]

Finally finished, and this was good! I'm fairly new to McCammon but I'll be reading more of his work for sure. I have two questions I'd like to throw out:

(view spoiler)[ 1. The true origin of Greediguts? Was he really some type of experiment or was he an evil creature created by the demon in the lodge?

2. The magic that New and the Mountain King possessed. Any ideas as to its origins? We know the evil magic came from the thing in the lodge, was the other magic just people born with telekinesis or was it something more otherworldly? (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

starting chapter 33. just read the scene of Boone in the lodge... OMG!!!

[Kelly B]

Quentin wrote: "Finally finished, and this was good! I'm fairly new to McCammon but I'll be reading more of his work for sure. I have two questions I'd like to throw out:."


My thoughts:

1. (view spoiler)[ I figured Greediguts was created by the landlord/evil demon in the lodge. (hide spoiler)]


2. (view spoiler)[ I thought New and the Mountain King were descended from witches, who came over to the new world to worship the devil, and that's how they got their magic. I think (??) at some point, the book explains how the mountain village people were born with the magic, but worshipping the devil made it stronger/evil? I could be wrong though. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

finished!! loved it. but I'm gonna go to bed and report back tomorrow :D

[Andrew✌️]

I finished some minutes ago! This a wonderful story, with a great twist in the final. I loved the way McCammon jump from the present to the past, telling the story of the Usher ancestors and placing other stories in the main one.
(view spoiler)[
That Rix were the heir of Usher was somewhat predictable. But the identity of Pumpkin Man and the secret of Usher illness, a little less.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kelly B]

Andrew wrote: "I finished some minutes ago! This a wonderful story, with a great twist in the final. I loved the way McCammon jump from the present to the past, telling the story of the Usher ancestors and placin..."

Agree:-). There were a few twists at the end that surprised me.

[Latasha]

Kelly wrote: "Quentin wrote: "Finally finished, and this was good! I'm fairly new to McCammon but I'll be reading more of his work for sure. I have two questions I'd like to throw out:."


My thoughts:

1. [spoi..."

that is what I thought too.

[Quentin]

Latasha wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Quentin wrote: "Finally finished, and this was good! I'm fairly new to McCammon but I'll be reading more of his work for sure. I have two questions I'd like to throw out:."


My thoug..."

Thanks Kelly and Latasha, that's what I thought but I wanted to be sure I didn't overlook something.

[Rachel]

The book gave me a little bit of Twin peaks vibes with the Lodge!

[Crowinator]

Has anyone here read A Choir of Ill Children? I saw it on a "Best 21st Century Horror Novels" list on some random web site and it sounds like it would be a good read-alike for Usher's Passing.

[Obsidian]

I think that I would have liked it if some things were left unexplained in the end.

Finished. (view spoiler)[Finding out the devil was behind everything? But I did love the Pumpkin Man reveal and what was keeping the Ushers alive. I do wonder though was it the butler's family line that caused the switch in the Usher who took over? It seem to be. And it seemed Rix's father in the end was horrified that his good son would be turned. I did love the clever call backs to Poe's other works too. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Crowinator wrote: "Has anyone here read A Choir of Ill Children? I saw it on a "Best 21st Century Horror Novels" list on some random web site and it sounds like it would be a good read-alike for Usher's ..."

I haven't read it, but I've heard it's good. I like what I've read by Piccirilli in the past. (Not sure of that spelling.)

[Latasha]

Obsidian wrote: "I think that I would have liked it if some things were left unexplained in the end.

Finished. [spoilers removed]"

yeah I liked that too, the call backs.

[Latasha]

Crowinator wrote: "Has anyone here read A Choir of Ill Children? I saw it on a "Best 21st Century Horror Novels" list on some random web site and it sounds like it would be a good read-alike for Usher's ..."

I read that and I didn't like it very much. I don't remember it being a good read alike to this story but I could be forgetting a lot of stuff. I remember it was so weird!

[Kelly B]

Crowinator wrote: "Has anyone here read A Choir of Ill Children? I saw it on a "Best 21st Century Horror Novels" list on some random web site and it sounds like it would be a good read-alike for Usher's ..."

I haven't read it yet, but it's on my list:-).

[Quentin]

I read A Choir of Ill Children and I liked it but yes, it was very weird. If you're looking for something different it's worth picking up, and it's very well written.

[Nancy]

I am getting close to the end and it is not grabbing me. I am kind of bored with this book.

[Char]

Nancy wrote: "I am getting close to the end and it is not grabbing me. I am kind of bored with this book."

Aww, sorry it's not working for you, Nancy.

[Latasha]

Oh no Nancy! :(

[Kelly B]

Nancy wrote: "I am getting close to the end and it is not grabbing me. I am kind of bored with this book."

Bummer! Hopefully your next read will be better:-).

[Nancy]

I finally finished. I liked the ending but getting there was a chore.

[Nancy]

Crowinator wrote: "[spoilers removed]

Just finished this today. Couldn't stop reading. I totally did not guess [spoilers removed]"

That's so true! I didn't see that coming and it should have been obvious. (view spoiler)[ regarding your comment about the butler sit it (hide spoiler)]. Maybe that's why I didn't expect it.

[Nancy]

Andrew wrote: "Finished ch34: after a first, slow part, now the pace changes. Many things happen and many stories are told. Finally I know what's happened to the city on top the mountain and I'm looking forward t..."

The continuous building onto The Lodge and the fact that the Usher's made guns reminded me of the Winchester Mystery House.

http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com...

[Kimberly]

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."

Kasia: Had a "bad" month with kids sick and ICU--didn't see this until just now. I am so sorry for your loss. :(

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

My first McCammon....starting it today.

[Latasha]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "My first McCammon....starting it today."

I hope you like it :)

[Vampfiction]

It's impossible to know what page I'm on. Each Chapter has its own numbers and I'm reading it on Hoopla!

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Well, it was good. But for me, it was more of a 'B' movie.