The Keep - F. Paul Wilson - October 21st

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Well, I did a lot of googling regarding this book. What is a keep? Was Romania a major ally of Hitler? I find the date very interesting: April 1941. Most of the Germans could believe the war would ..."

I wondered those same things. Thanks for looking those things up! I do think it creates interesting characters to have this backdrop and setting. Makes it feel a little more ominous too, at least to my perspective.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Got to the beginning of Ch 8 last night. I'm enjoying this one!
Really creepy on [spoilers removed]"

I like that touch as well.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I made it to ch6. Good creepy start! Can you think of a better setting than this for a horror story? [spoilers removed]"

There's no way that I would have done it as well Terry!! You ..."

And my guess is (view spoiler)[ that the crosses in the walls were keeping the evil trapped behind those walls. So the crosses were keeping it in instead of keeping it out. I like the twist! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "And my guess is (view spoiler)"

Yeah, that's my thinking on that as well and it's a great twist!

[Ginger]

I just realized this is the second book that I’ve read this month in where there’s a buttload of crosses.
Bone White was the first. I might put up a cross in the house this week. 😉🤣😂

[Marie Helene]

Made it to ch10. The Keep is a page-turner, yeah!

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Made it to ch10. The Keep is a page-turner, yeah!"

I agree! That’s right where I’m at also.

[Robert]

Kenneth wrote: "I had the privilege of meeting Paul at StokerCon this year. To listen to him, Monteleone and McCammon back and forth put me in stitches for a week."

I know what you mean. I had the great good fortune of chatting with Paul a number of years ago at the Chiller Con here in NJ and was amazed how accessible he was to his fans and willing to sign any number of his books. To think that "friendly, regular guy like Dr. Wilson" would come up with this "stuff" that would scare the bejezuss out of so many people! LOL!

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I agree! That’s right where I’m at also."

Marie Helene wrote: "Made it to ch10. The Keep is a page-turner, yeah!"

I'm at the same spot. I just finished up Ch10 last night. It is definitely a page turner and I HATE Kaempffer. I really am not sad that Nazi's are being killed. LOL!

[WendyB]

Only have the first 10% read. Reads really well and jumps right into the story without a lot of build up. Good writing. Hoping to get more read today.

[Marie Helene]

WendyB wrote: "Only have the first 10% read. Reads really well and jumps right into the story without a lot of build up. Good writing. Hoping to get more read today."

Hello Wendy, so glad you could join us ;)

[Marie Helene]

Ch10 was a blast 💥
Captain Woermann reminds me of Captain Crozier from The Terror
And I have the feeling that (view spoiler)[ dismantling the keep stone after stone to find hiding places is probably the worst idea ever 😈 (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Ch10 was a blast 💥
Captain Woermann reminds me of Captain Crozier from The Terror
And I have the feeling that [spoilers removed]"

I thought the same thing (view spoiler)[ about taking the keep apart! That has to be bad - and just wrong anyway! (hide spoiler)]

I’ve made it to the start of ch15. I really liked ch14 (view spoiler)[ specifically with our creature making its appearance with Magna and Theodor. That painted a pretty scary scene. (hide spoiler)]

I’m really liking how much action we have in this book. Very good pacing.

[WendyB]

Anyone notice the last name of one of the German soldiers early in the book? It was Schreck.

FYI: Max Schreck was a German actor, best known for his lead role as the vampire Count Orlok in the film Nosferatu (1922).

[Ginger]

Marie Helene wrote: "Ch10 was a blast 💥
Captain Woermann reminds me of Captain Crozier from The Terror
And I have the feeling that [spoilers removed]"

Hahaha! I agree with both statements Marie Helene. I think it’s a really bad idea too. 🤔🤣

[Ginger]

WendyB wrote: "Anyone notice the last name of one of the German soldiers early in the book? It was Schreck.

FYI: Max Schreck was a German actor, best known for his lead role as the vampire Count Orlok in the fil..."

Great catch Wendy!! I didn’t catch that and great that you did.

[WendyB]

Ginger wrote: "WendyB wrote: "Anyone notice the last name of one of the German soldiers early in the book? It was Schreck.

FYI: Max Schreck was a German actor, best known for his lead role as the vampire Count O..."

It's what makes group reads fun. When you notice something you get to share it with others.

[Marie Helene]

Ch13: bingo, we scored! (view spoiler)[ A stash of old books with our old friend, The Necronomicon itself (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Just got to Ch15. Totally agree Terry! Loved (view spoiler)[getting a view of the creature. Definitely frightening and I loved how the Dad kept him in check with talking old Slavonic to him. Maybe I need to learn that as well! 😂🤣 (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Marie Helene wrote: "Ch13: bingo, we scored! [spoilers removed]"

Loved that part as well Marie Helene. I think those (view spoiler)[books are going to come in handy! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

WendyB wrote: "Ginger wrote: "WendyB wrote: "Anyone notice the last name of one of the German soldiers early in the book? It was Schreck.

FYI: Max Schreck was a German actor, best known for his lead role as the ..."

Totally agree Wendy!

[Marie Helene]

WendyB wrote: "Anyone notice the last name of one of the German soldiers early in the book? It was Schreck.

FYI: Max Schreck was a German actor, best known for his lead role as the vampire Count Orlok in the fil..."

Thank you Wendy. Murnau's Nosferatu is on YouTube. I think I will watch it after I'm done with The Keep. Or maybe save it for Halloween night 🧛🏻‍♂️

[WendyB]

The movie Shadow of the Vampire is about the filming of Nosferatu. It's fiction of course but a creepy fun movie.

[Marie Helene]

WendyB wrote: "The movie Shadow of the Vampire is about the filming of Nosferatu. It's fiction of course but a creepy fun movie."

I will try to find it too 🤩 you're a movie buff 👍

[Marie Helene]

Ch19 - I'm glad the question that kept bothering me has been raised 🤨 (view spoiler)[ if Molasar's nature is vampiric 'why does a being who finds the cross repulsive surrounds himself with countless crosses' ? (hide spoiler)]
The mystery deepens 🧐

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Ch19 - I'm glad the question that kept bothering me has been raised 🤨 [spoilers removed]
The mystery deepens 🧐"

I have a theory about that! (view spoiler)[ I think Glenn is responsible for all of the crosses, and their purpose was to keep Molasar trapped inside the walls or the sub-basement. Once the soldiers opened a breach in the walls by removing the cross, it set him free. I think Glenn, or whatever group he is part of, is responsible for the upkeep of the keep also. (hide spoiler)] It’s all just a guess though!

[Ginger]

I got to Ch22 today. I've got some theories as well.

This is about the crosses. (view spoiler)[
When Cuza got the cross from Captain Woermann, do you believe the cross has strength because it was once held by a good man which is Woermann? Of all the Germans, he's the best man they have. LMAO

I mean, the keep was covered in crosses so maybe it's just crosses that keep Molasar contained. (hide spoiler)]

Also, Cuza is starting to (view spoiler)[lose his shit. I'm not liking how he's becoming obsessed with Molasar and treating Magda.
I also want to know who Glenn is!!!! What's his story? I want his backstory more then Molasar. LOL!
Do you think he's immortal too? (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Marie Helene wrote: "Ch19 - I'm glad the question that kept bothering me has been raised 🤨 [spoilers removed]
The mystery deepens 🧐"

Exactly!! The mystery does deepen.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "
I have a theory about that! [spoilers removed] It’s all just a ..."

Great guess Terry and you could totally be right about that!

[Marie Helene]

Crosses everywhere ... I think you are right Terry, and there is a lot of irony in the situation as (view spoiler)[ Molasar built the keep as a safe place for himself, then his 'enemies' (Glenn?) turned the keep into a prison for Malasar with the help of the crosses ... that's my theory (hide spoiler)]

[Marie Helene]

Finished ch21 -
Magda's adventures in the darkness were a little bit ... predictable???
😴

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Crosses everywhere ... I think you are right Terry, and there is a lot of irony in the situation as [spoilers removed]"

I’ll be curious to see what you think after you read ch22. (view spoiler)[ Is Molasar telling the truth? (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "
I have a theory about that! [spoilers removed] It’s all just a ..."

Great guess Terry and you could totally be right about that!"

(view spoiler)[ Not so sure now after ch22! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch22 today. I've got some theories as well.

This is about the crosses. ..."

Yeah, I’ve not been too happy with (view spoiler)[ Cuza either. Magda is too good! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Marie Helene wrote: "Finished ch21 -
Magda's adventures in the darkness were a little bit ... predictable???
😴"

HA!!

[Terry]

I just got to the start of ch27. (view spoiler)[ So, surprise that Molasar was lying about the cross!! It didn’t stop him in the least with Woermann. I’m at a loss now as to what is going to happen to finish this off. (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I just got to the start of ch27. [spoilers removed]"

I just got to Ch26 so I'll have to read this later tonight when I finish 26 up. Wow, things are getting intense and crazy with (view spoiler)[the Keep, Cuza and the village. Molasar's evilness seems to affect the weak.
Magda, Glenn and Sgt Woermann are still trying to staying strong!! And I think Glenn might be immortal or it's like a bad case of Dorian Gray with that mirror. LMAO (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I just got to the start of ch27. [spoilers removed]"

I just got to Ch26 so I'll have to read this later tonight when I finish 26 up. Wow, things are getting intense and crazy with th..."

Intense is a good way to put it! I’ve only got 75pgs left and I’m still trying to figure it out...

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Intense is a good way to put it! I’ve only got 75pgs left and I’m still trying to figure it out..."

Feel the same! I have no idea how this is going to play out.

[Marie Helene]

Ginger wrote: "Marie Helene wrote: "Finished ch21 -
Magda's adventures in the darkness were a little bit ... predictable???
😴"

HA!!"

I was tired yesterday. Reading ch21 took me ages. I was probably too harsh on judging it 😔 Magda is very brave...

[Marie Helene]

The crosses on ch22 (again) (view spoiler)[ very cunning from Molasar, but is it the truth or a lie? (hide spoiler)]

[WendyB]

At Chap 20. The writing is very good. The dialogue is believable.
I wish I hadn't waited so long to read this.

[Ginger]

WendyB wrote: "At Chap 20. The writing is very good. The dialogue is believable.
I wish I hadn't waited so long to read this."

Totally agree Wendy! I've been surprised with how much I've enjoyed this.
The ending is just wild and I'm hoping it finishes strong.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I just got to the start of ch27. [spoilers removed]"

Exactly!! I'm not surprised too Terry.
I have no idea how this is all going to play out.
(view spoiler)[But Cuza is a piece of shit.
And I was sad Cpt Woermann ended up dying!

And all of those dead Germans digging felt very "zombie like". I loved it! I can't image turning in a tunnel, seeing that along with all the rats. Ahhhhh!! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Just finished at lunch! I can't wait to see what you all think about the end and resolution. I enjoyed it and liked the explanations!

Thanks for reading this with me. Another great book read for a buddy read!

[WendyB]

Chap 22... feeling like story is dragging just a bit and covering all the same ground.

[Marie Helene]

WendyB wrote: "Chap 22... feeling like story is dragging just a bit and covering all the same ground."

Wendy, I had the same feeling while reading ch21.
Then there was good pacing again.
On ch25 now.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Just finished at lunch! I can't wait to see what you all think about the end and resolution. I enjoyed it and liked the explanations!

Thanks for reading this with me. Another great book read for a..."

I finished today also. I agree, Ginger, I liked the ending and resolution (and about the fun buddy read!) I was a little surprised (view spoiler)[ when we found out Rasalom wasn’t really a vampire, at least not in the traditional sense. The story was set up all along to make you think he was. I thought that was a good twist. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with what Wendy said about wondering why I waited so long to read this!

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Just finished at lunch! I can't wait to see what you all think about the end and resolution. I enjoyed it and liked the explanations!

Thanks for reading this with me. Another great ..."

I think he was more of a (view spoiler)[energy "vampire"! He could cause chaos, death and despair.
There are so many urban myths about vampires out there that it was easier for humans to accept a "typical blood vampire" vs a epic God that destroyed all mankind. What a twist! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

And I love that (view spoiler)[crosses didn't affect him at all. It was the handle of a sword! Ha!
I like books that I can't figure out and this did a good job with the plot on that along with characters intentions. (hide spoiler)]