The Touch - F. Paul Wilson

[Ginger]

Terry and I are continuing the Adversary series! Come join us next weekend (May 16th-17th) as we start reading The Touch, the third book in the series.

[Terry]

Sounds great!

[Andrew✌️]

Hi, Ginger, Terry! Count me too, for this reading. :)

[Terry]

So is everyone close to being ready to start on this weekend? I may be able to start Sunday, but more likely on Monday (Another busy work weeekend ☹️). I’ll be on the 30-40 page pace again.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "So is everyone close to being ready to start on this weekend? I may be able to start Sunday, but more likely on Monday (Another busy work weeekend ☹️). I’ll be on the 30-40 page pace again."

Yes!! I’ll be able to start this weekend. 30-40 pages sounds good.
And boooo to working on the weekend!

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "So is everyone close to being ready to start on this weekend? I may be able to start Sunday, but more likely on Monday (Another busy work weeekend ☹️). I’ll be on the 30-40 page pace ..."

Boo is right!

[Andrew✌️]

Terry wrote: "So is everyone close to being ready to start on this weekend? I may be able to start Sunday, but more likely on Monday (Another busy work weeekend ☹️). I’ll be on the 30-40 page pace again."

OK, Terry! This is good for me.
I'm sorry you have to work on this weekend, but I hope you can recover later. :)

[Terry]

Andrew wrote: "Terry wrote: "So is everyone close to being ready to start on this weekend? I may be able to start Sunday, but more likely on Monday (Another busy work weeekend ☹️). I’ll be on the 30-40 page pace ..."

Great, Andrew. I saw that you made it through The Keep also. What did you think of it? I really enjoyed it - an interesting good vs evil story with an epic feel to it, I thought.

[Terry]

I got started on The Touch today, up to the end of ch3. Interesting start, lots of possibilities here it seems.

[Andrew✌️]

Terry wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Terry wrote: "So is everyone close to being ready to start on this weekend? I may be able to start Sunday, but more likely on Monday (Another busy work weeekend ☹️). I’ll be on the 3..."

It's a great story with many elements in the background. There is the classical Good vs Evil war, the horror of what lie in the fortress and the horror of the war. I am behind with my reviews, but I hope to write about this soon. :)

I started today, but I read only few pages, not captured by story, so far, not yet in the center of the story.

[Ginger]

Just got to the start of Ch 4. Not sure how this will play out with the doctor and Sylvia Nash. I think Wilson is setting the scene and plot.

[Terry]

Well, no reading on The Touch today. Spent my reading time finishing up The Red Knight (which has taken me forever). It was so good! Awesome heroic fantasy.

[Terry]

I stopped at the end of ch8 this morning. So, our story has begun its twist now. (view spoiler)[ What an amazing power it would be to have the Touch. But, where is this going to start to go wrong, as we know it will?? I'm sure you would be overwhelmed by the people around you all wanting your Touch to fix their problems. It will be interesting to see where this goes. (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

I got to the beginning of May, Chapter 11 last night.
I'm glad the story finally got going. I really want to know about the guy (view spoiler)[that touched Alan. Being at the VA tells me he was a soldier in Nam? Maybe Ba will remember him?!

And yeah, I don't trust Charles Axford at ALL. (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I stopped at the end of ch8 this morning. So, our story has begun its twist now. [spoilers removed]"

Ba said something to the fact that all the tales about the Dat-tay-vao hinted that there was a balance to be struck. Always a balance...
And a price to be paid.

I think I know what it is. I'll let you all catch up to the where I am to discuss what the price is for having the ability to cure people with the touch.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "I got to the beginning of May, Chapter 11 last night.
I'm glad the story finally got going. I really want to know about the guy that touched Alan. Being at the VA tells me he was a soldier in Nam? ..."

I stopped at the same point. I'm curious about that guy as well. And (view spoiler)[ Ba does seem to know what's going on. I do see your point about what Ba said about balance too. What a dilemma, to have this amazing ability, but at such a high cost. (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

I read up to the start of ch21. (view spoiler)[ This is going to be a very sad ending, isn’t it?! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I read up to the start of ch21. [spoilers removed]"

I just got to that chapter as well last night!
I agree. I don't see (view spoiler)[a good ending for Alan. :( (hide spoiler)]
I'm hoping we get some more action in this one. I like this one the least of the series so far. I just need something "more" and hope we get it in the last 1/2 of the book.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I read up to the start of ch21. [spoilers removed]"

I just got to that chapter as well last night!
I agree. I don't see [spoilers removed]
I'm hoping we get some more action in this ..."

Yeah, this does seem to be a slower paced story than we’re used to. I’ll be surprised if it changes pace, but I’m hopeful too.

[Andrew✌️]

I am very late, just only finished the 5th chapter. I hope the story evolve quickly, because the pace is so slow. To make matters worse,
I'm reading in english, so my progresses are even more scarce.
This is not a story get me hooked like the previous books I read, but maybe I need to read more in the next days. :)

[Ginger]

Andrew wrote: "I am very late, just only finished the 5th chapter. I hope the story evolve quickly, because the pace is so slow. To make matters worse,
I'm reading in english, so my progresses are even more scar..."

No worries Andrew!! Take your time. I'm reading another book at the same time.
I hope the same on the pace of this book. I do hope it picks up a bit or becomes more tense (horror themed), like the first two books.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I am very late, just only finished the 5th chapter. I hope the story evolve quickly, because the pace is so slow. To make matters worse,
I'm reading in english, so my progresses are..."

Definitely no worries on the pace of reading. I figure at most for 30-40pgs for me again tomorrow.

As for the story, I'm expecting it to end up more like a twilight zone episode rather than an action-filled horror thriller - but who knows?!

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I am very late, just only finished the 5th chapter. I hope the story evolve quickly, because the pace is so slow. To make matters worse,
I'm reading in english, so my..."

Ha!!! Good guess Terry and I can totally see that happening. I wouldn’t have an issue with that type of ending. 👽👀🤣

[Terry]

Me too, Ginger. I’m up to the start of ch27. No change in pace, but I’m still enjoying the story.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Me too, Ginger. I’m up to the start of ch27. No change in pace, but I’m still enjoying the story."

I didn't get a chance to read at all yesterday. We finished up The Last Dance on ESPN. If you have not seen that and loved the Bulls growing up as a kid, please do!! It was so nostalgic and I loved every episode of watching the Chicago Bulls and MJ.

I'll try and catch up tonight.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Me too, Ginger. I’m up to the start of ch27. No change in pace, but I’m still enjoying the story."

I didn't get a chance to read at all yesterday. We finished up The Last Dance on ES..."

I wanted to watch that, but kept forgetting about it. I definitely will when I see it’s on again.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Me too, Ginger. I’m up to the start of ch27. No change in pace, but I’m still enjoying the story."

Got to the start of Ch27 last night. I'm glad (view spoiler)[Ginny is out of his life. Screw her! She didn't care about Alan. She only cared about her image and what being a doctor's wife did for her. Ugh! (hide spoiler)]
Yeah, still pace but I'm enjoying it. I'm waiting for the shit to hit the fan. I feel like it's going to do that for some reason especially with the Senator.

[Ginger]

I’m not sure how much I will get to read this weekend. We have some cousins staying with us. So happy! People! 🤣😂
I’ll catch up if you both decide to crank this one out.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!
Andrew, I’m not sure that you get a long weekend like us but I hope you have a great weekend as well!

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "I’m not sure how much I will get to read this weekend. We have some cousins staying with us. So happy! People! 🤣😂
I’ll catch up if you both decide to crank this one out.

Happy Memorial Day weekend..."

Sounds good Ginger. I'll be hit and miss myself on reading time. Hope you have a great weekend also!

[Andrew✌️]

Ginger wrote: "I’m not sure how much I will get to read this weekend. We have some cousins staying with us. So happy! People! 🤣😂
I’ll catch up if you both decide to crank this one out.

Happy Memorial Day weekend..."

Thanks, Ginger! My weekend it will be a normal one, hope with a lot of time for reading! :)
In the meantime, I wish all of you have a great weekend for Memorial Day!

In any case, an extended weekend awaits me the next week, for the Republic Day celebrations of 2nd June (from saturday to tuesday at home from work!)

[Ginger]

Hope you both had a great weekend! I should be able to read later today. Everyone is leaving today so I'll finally have some time to read.

[Terry]

Sounds good, Ginger. I haven’t read any of this either, but should be able to later on too.

[Ginger]

Got to the start of Chapter 42.
I love that (view spoiler)[Alan cured Julie! It’s awesome that he has this power. And that it’s controlled by high tide. Very cool concept.
I have a bad feeling that Alan is going to get the short end of the stick in this book. Poor guy!
Or maybe he’ll touch Charles at the end when his brain is gone and give Charles the power because now he’s finally a believer! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Got to the start of Chapter 42.
I love that ..."

I got to the same point, and I agree! (view spoiler)[ I’ve not liked Charles that much throughout this, but now that Julie is healed and he’s on Alan’s side, I’m glad. I worry about what the senator is going to do to Alan now. Also, the tide thing is cool, tying it to something natural like that makes it feel more real. I agree about Alan and not feeling this is going to go good for him, but I hope so. He’s too good a person! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I got to the same point, and I agree! [spoilers removed]"

I agree with all that!

[Terry]

I ended up finishing it tonight. It wasn’t the action-fest if the last book, but I still enjoyed it a lot. A good what-if kind of story. (view spoiler)[ I was glad that Alan survived, but I wish we learned a little more about Jeffy’s fate. What a curse this blessing ends up being! (hide spoiler)]

I’m somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.

[Terry]

So I’m curious which version of the book both of you are reading? Apparently Mr. Wilson released an updated version of this book in 2009 which happens to be the version I’m reading. The first clue was I noticed a Harry Potter reference at one point, which would have been pretty amazing for the 1986 original version, lol. Anyway, there is a foreword at the end of the book (isn’t the forward supposed to come first??) that explains a little bit about why and then gives a clue to what’s in the next book. Very interesting! There is also a short story at the end about the origination of the Dat-Tay-Vao that was pretty cool too.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I ended up finishing it tonight. It wasn’t the action-fest if the last book, but I still enjoyed it a lot. A good what-if kind of story. [spoilers removed]

I’m somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars."

I finished last night too! I think I'm around 3 to 3.5 stars. I liked it and thought it was a good tale. It wasn't as amazing as the first two books though. I'm still excited to keep reading the series!
Definitely some action at the end but not much. This felt more like a Twilight Zone episode! You were right about that Terry.
(view spoiler)[I was so glad Senator McCready died. I really hated that character!! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "So I’m curious which version of the book both of you are reading? Apparently Mr. Wilson released an updated version of this book in 2009 which happens to be the version I’m reading. The first clue ..."

I did not get that version. I got my book from the library and did not have a Harry Potter reference. I would have remembered that. lol
I really liked the short story at the end! In fact, I almost wished that the book had been set in Vietnam instead of America. I liked the whole setting with Fatman and how (view spoiler)[the Dat-Tay-Vao went to Walt Erskine! :D (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Very cool, Ginger, glad you finished. I agree, not quite as good as the first two. I also agree with your spoiler about (view spoiler)[ McCready! He was an ass! (hide spoiler)]

Besides the Harry Potter reference, I wonder what was really different between the versions? I don't think it was much, but who knows. I did find out that the next books do go back and tie in somehow with The Keep storyline, so that sounds cool. I'm excited to continue with the series as well.

[Terry]

Terry wrote: "Very cool, Ginger, glad you finished. I agree, not quite as good as the first two. I also agree with your spoiler about [spoilers removed]

Besides the Harry Potter reference, I wonder what was rea..."

Oh, I understand that the Dat-Tay-Vao also makes future appearances. Not sure when though.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I did find out that the next books do go back and tie in somehow with The Keep storyline, so that sounds cool. I'm excited to continue with the series as well"

Very cool! I'm excited to get to the next books especially if they are doing reference to the previous ones. I think I should be able to get to book #4 by the end of June.
I am going to finally read The One and Only at the beginning of June and I think Vickie wants to read the last Bill Hodges book next month as well.

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I did find out that the next books do go back and tie in somehow with The Keep storyline, so that sounds cool. I'm excited to continue with the series as well"

Very cool! I'm excited..."

Sounds like June is a busy month. We can just plan on getting back to the series in July and give plenty of time to get through. My June is filling up as well.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Sounds like June is a busy month. We can just plan on getting back to the series in July and give plenty of time to get through. My June is filling up as well."

Great!! We also need to get in a few Charlie Parker books this year. Maybe we're all numb to Covid so dark topics won't be so bad. ;) LOL!!
I've got to get back to fantasy sometime this year. *sigh*
Too many books, too little time! :D

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Sounds like June is a busy month. We can just plan on getting back to the series in July and give plenty of time to get through. My June is filling up as well."

Great!! We also need ..."

No kidding! I have no time as it is. We can do a Charlie Parker in July also, if that works.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "We can do a Charlie Parker in July also, if that works."

Yes!! I would like that a lot. =)

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "We can do a Charlie Parker in July also, if that works."

Yes!! I would like that a lot. =)"

It’s a plan!

[Andrew✌️]

Few progresses today, I'm stuck with this one. The slow pace and my little progress don't help to make it interesting :(
I'm looking forward to know what this power is and I have the feeling that Dr Bulmer's life won't get better thanks to it.

[Ginger]

Andrew wrote: "Few progresses today, I'm stuck with this one. The slow pace and my little progress don't help to make it interesting :(
I'm looking forward to know what this power is and I have the feeling that D..."

That's okay Andrew! I was slow on reading this one as well. Take your time and hope you end up liking this one after all.

[Andrew✌️]

I've finished, my friends! Not bad, a little different from the others of the series I read, but a compelling story, qith a faster pace in the second part. I think I'm satisfied with the ending, maybe not an Happy Ending at all, but the best possible, after all.
I'm happy to see that charles rehabilitated himself after all, he wasn't a bad man, only disenchanted .