June 2020 Standalone BOTM - The Institute, by Stephen King

[Alaina]

In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. Luke will wake up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there’s no window. And outside his door are other doors, behind which are other kids with special talents—telekinesis and telepathy—who got to this place the same way Luke did: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in Front Half. Others, Luke learns, graduated to Back Half, “like the roach motel,” Kalisha says. “You check in, but you don’t check out.”

In this most sinister of institutions, the director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff are ruthlessly dedicated to extracting from these children the force of their extranormal gifts. There are no scruples here. If you go along, you get tokens for the vending machines. If you don’t, punishment is brutal. As each new victim disappears to Back Half, Luke becomes more and more desperate to get out and get help. But no one has ever escaped from the Institute.

[Aly]

I'm listening to this now! My first Stephen King book. I know, what kind of reader am I?

[Aly]

Night Knocker (view spoiler)[ I don't understand how Tim's story relates to the Institute, but I'm sure it will tie in later. It sucks how he got fired, but he was drinking then discharged his weapon so I think he had it coming.
Maybe he'll be the one to investigate the Institute later? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

The Smart Kid (view spoiler)[ It's so messed up that they murdered his parents. Will people really think Luke killed them? I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Shots for Dots (view spoiler)[ This is so crazy, they're basically making these young kids get addicted to cigarettes and alcohol plus abusing them physically and psychologically.
And obviously since Luke's parents are dead, they either keep the kids forever or kill them too (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Maureen & Avery: (view spoiler)[This is dragging a little bit. It is crazy that they made Luke have TP now and it seems much stronger than his TK. I wonder if back half is when you die or they make you a soldier or what? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Escape (view spoiler)[ Wow, he actually made it out. I'm concerned with how he's going to get someone to listen to him and rescue the other kids. And what they'll go through until Luke comes for them (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

dang girl I feel like you are flying through this

[Aly]

It's like a 19 hour audiobook. Whew, I'm getting close to the end now

[Aly]

Hell is waiting/hell is here (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Luke got out, found Tim, and they killed most of the team of bad guys. I also hope they can help Avery and the others get out. But this all seems crazy and even Luke's escape seemed too easy. Idk how I feel (hide spoiler)]

[Isabel]

The Night Knocker (view spoiler)[I don't really understand how Tim's plot ties in with the book yet, since he isn't mentioned AT ALL in the synopsis. I do get the vibe though, that he is an outstanding police officer and very pleasant citizen. (hide spoiler)]

[Isabel]

The Smart Kid (view spoiler)[I've always been very impressed with those genius children.
I gotta say though, damn, why did they have to kill the parents? Would kidnapping not have been enough, man?

Somehow, these children really remind me of the child in 'Doctor Sleep'. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

are you guys enjoying it so far?? I'm hoping to dive into this sometime this week but who knows

[Isabel]

Alaina wrote: "are you guys enjoying it so far?? I'm hoping to dive into this sometime this week but who knows"

i cannot even answer you're question because, mainly, i'm just confused as to why there are two story lines and why Lucas was abducted, yet it seems like a legit 'institution' he is in.

[Aly]

I think it's okay. It's weird because it's slow paced, but still pretty interesting. The ending was a bit of a letdown to me.

The two storylines are confusing but it will make sense later.

[Aly]

Isabel wrote: "The Smart Kid (view spoiler)[I've always been very impressed with those genius children.
I gotta say though, damn, why did they have to kill the parents? Would kidnapping not have been enough, man?

Somehow, the... (hide spoiler)]"

I agree (view spoiler)[ wouldn't it draw more attention to kill the parents instead of just kidnapping them? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

finished (view spoiler)[ While I am glad Luke and some of the kids got out, the ending seemed unrealistic for the story. The different kids of the institutes all over the world suddenly band together and bring down their captors? I wish they had built that up a little.

Also, I'm pretty sad Avery died. He was adorable and didn't deserve what he went through.

The man with the lisp coming in just to info dump and tell us things we didn't know was dumb. It feels like lazy writing.

Overall, this wasn't a bad book at all, but I didn't love it. (hide spoiler)]

[Isabel]

Maureen and Avery (view spoiler)[Maureen honestly sounds like a wonderful woman that got involved in a very exploitative and abusive relationship. I hope her relationship to Luke stays honest and loving.

On another note, I'm very much liking Avery's character: he seems adorable and quite intelligent.

The very last part about the escaping bird reminded me a lot of Eleven and 'Stranger Things'. (hide spoiler)]

[Isabel]

Aly wrote: "Maureen & Avery: [spoilers removed]"

i like those(view spoiler)[overpowering senses, it gives him more character and makes for many possibilities plot wise lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Isabel]

Escape (view spoiler)[ Luke is unrealistically brave, damn. imagine cutting off your darn earlobe?! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Isabel wrote: "Escape [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I don't know if I could go through with that

[Isabel]

Hell is here (view spoiler)[i understand that this part is crucial to the story but i also feel like it is dragging a little bit... (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Isabel wrote: "Hell is here [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I felt that way too

[Alaina]

I think I’ll dive into this tomorrow ☺️

[Alaina]

okay starting now!

[Aly]

Ooh, I hope you like it!

[Alaina]

The Night Knocker: (view spoiler)[uhhh interesting? I mean he was a badass cop and helped that guy but I’m also lost and confused? Maybe I’ll see him again? Also why did it end like that? UGH 🤷🏻‍♀️ (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

The Smart Kid: (view spoiler)[What the what? What was the point of killing his parents? I feel so bad for him right now. No idea how he isn’t freaking out waking up in this strange place. Also laughed at the whole “sport” thing because same girl. I would hate that. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "The Night Knocker: [spoilers removed]"

I felt the same way, but it will make sense later

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "The Smart Kid: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah like, isn't kidnapping easier than murdering parents? I feel like that would get more attention from police and media (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "The Night Knocker: [spoilers removed]"

I felt the same way, but it will make sense later"

Oh goodie. Can’t wait

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "The Smart Kid: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeahhhh I feel that way too

[Alaina]

Shots for Dots: (view spoiler)[This whole place is crazy and creepy. I hate Tony and the queen bitch lady. I’m hoping these kids can find a way out of here and ya know love their life..but it’s Stephen king and I’m sure what I want to happen won’t. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Shots for Dots.."

Yes I know right! Like what the hell these are kids!

[Alaina]

Maureen and Avery: (view spoiler)[I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY TAKE THESE KIDS AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM. Do they die? Become soldiers? Work in this institute? Kidnap the next kid? I HAVE QUESTIONS PEOPLE. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Maureen and Avery: [spoilers removed]"

haha I know! Need answers!

[Alaina]

Escape: (view spoiler)[holy crap he did it! I'm proud but ugh.. I wish he could've taken someone with him ya know? I hope he can convince someone about what happened to him and to go save everyone. Also.. he is definitely a bad ass because I would never cut off my earlobe.. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Escape: [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ Definitely couldn't cut off my earlobe, ugh. He's really brave and I wish he'd taken Avery with him (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Escape: [spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[omg yes, like why didn't he? (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Hell is Waiting: (view spoiler)[oh no.. they know where he is now. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Hell is here: (view spoiler)[oh shit oh shit oh shit. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Hell is here: [spoilers removed]"

Ha I love it

[Alaina]

Finished: (view spoiler)[uhh okay? That seemed kind of dumb and unrealistic. Also why the info dump mister lisp man? I am happy that some kids made it out but ugh I wanted them all to make it. Especially freaking Avery. I’m so sad (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

Yes! (view spoiler)[ info dump didn't make sense and poor poor Avery. If anyone should have made it out, it was him (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

Yes! [spoilers removed]"

I will forever be sad about that.