The Amulet by Michael McDowell

[Addy]

I stopped at ch34 today. I’m sorry but I cud not help but laugh at the end of ch33(view spoiler)[When Mary recounts the story of her aunt and how she beat him over the head with a stick, I just can’t help but see how ridiculous she must sound. Although when I actually read the event, it seemed terrifying! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Addy wrote: "I stopped at ch34 today. I’m sorry but I cud not help but laugh at the end of ch33[spoilers removed]"

Haha, yeah, my first thought was that there is no way the adults would believe her. It would be hard to believe no matter who was telling it, I guess!

[Terry]

I stopped at ch38 this morning. (view spoiler)[ So, who’s next? Did the farmers wife find the amulet, or is it still on Dorothy and will be found by someone else? I’m still amazed at how powerful this thing is. It takes no time to affect the person wearing it. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie Helene]

Finished ch34.
I think I would not like green collards too 😬 😆

[Terry]

John wrote: "I'm in Ch 40 and things are nasty for the amulet bearer.
I thought Ch 33 was funny, at the end, too."

That was a quick read for you, John. Glad you liked it. I'm excited to finish it now.

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Finished ch34.
I think I would not like green collards too 😬 😆"

I agree with that, too!

[Terry]

I’ve made it up to ch47. (view spoiler)[ I didn’t think the amulet itself was moving on its own, but now I’m wondering where it is going to show up again. I figured somebody had to find it to move it. (hide spoiler)]

[Addy]

I’ve been falling a little behind. I’m on ch38. Hopefully, tonight I’ll read and see if I can catch up!

[Terry]

Addy wrote: "I’ve been falling a little behind. I’m on ch38. Hopefully, tonight I’ll read and see if I can catch up!"

No worries. I'm sitting at ch49. I won't get any reading time for it today either.

[Addy]

Cool! Yeah. It’s been a pretty busy weekend already! And Happy Fathers Day too! Hope u get to take it easy today:)

[Terry]

Addy wrote: "Cool! Yeah. It’s been a pretty busy weekend already! And Happy Fathers Day too! Hope u get to take it easy today:)"

Thank you! It’s been a busy weekend also, but I have had a nice time with my boys.

[Marie Helene]

Addy wrote: "I’ve been falling a little behind. I’m on ch38. Hopefully, tonight I’ll read and see if I can catch up!"

Addy, no worries 🙂
Finished ch.45 this morning.
It's official: (view spoiler)[there is a shortage of coffins in Pine Cone (hide spoiler)]

[Marie Helene]

Terry wrote: "Addy wrote: "Cool! Yeah. It’s been a pretty busy weekend already! And Happy Fathers Day too! Hope u get to take it easy today:)"

Thank you! It’s been a busy weekend also, but I have had a nice tim..."

Happy Fathers Day Terry!
Hope you were not given an amulet 😉
Remember the Coppages?
Rachel said, "Larry, you can't wear a necklace, look like a hippie. You and me and all five kids would be laughed right out of town."

[Addy]

Lol. Too funny!!!

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Terry wrote: "Addy wrote: "Cool! Yeah. It’s been a pretty busy weekend already! And Happy Fathers Day too! Hope u get to take it easy today:)"

Thank you! It’s been a busy weekend also, but I have ..."

Oh man, thank goodness they didn’t give me an amulet, lol!

[Terry]

I read a few more pages up to ch55 this morning. Man, (view spoiler)[ this latest killing with Audrey Washington is the worst one yet! Putting the baby in the washing machine - wow, brutal! I think the creepiest thing about this amulet is the latch on the chain. It’s like this thing has an evil mind of its own. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie Helene]

Ch49 😱 (view spoiler)[the baling machine (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Ch49 😱 [spoilers removed]"

I know, right?! I cannot even imagine that.

[Terry]

I just read ch55. (view spoiler)[ There is just something super scary about the idea of something - ghosts, demons, who knows, speaking to those two girls through the ouija board. And to see Becca’s name would be terrifying! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

I’m getting caught up in this story now! I read up to ch62. It’s starting to get close. I imagine I’ll finish it tomorrow and can’t wait to see how it resolves.

[Terry]

John wrote: "Terry wrote: "I just read ch55. [spoilers removed]"

Ouija boards in a story almost always foreshadow something bad! So, yeah!"

True! I think (view spoiler)[ McDowell did a good job with the scene here. I think he kept it subtle, and imperfect, which just made it seem more real. I believed it! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

I did end up finishing this today. It was a solid ending, I thought. I was surprised (view spoiler)[ that we end up finding out virtually nothing about the history of the amulet itself! Was it inherently evil, or was it Jo that was controlling it in some way? I decided that I was OK without finding out which it might have been. I was also OK left wondering if Sarah was acting the way she was at the end because she had the amulet on, or because she'd finally snapped! I guess we'll never know... (hide spoiler)]

[Addy]

I made it to ch51 today. I cain’t believe it’s all gone so crazy!! I have to say this is prob my favorite of mcdowells’s books.

[Marie Helene]

Ch54 was excellent, in the most gruesome way (view spoiler)[ amulet + baby-sitter = baby in the washing-machine (hide spoiler)]

What I find a little strange is that as an amulet is supposed to protect his/her bearer against evil, not to turn them into manic killers. I hope Sarah will find a way to get rid of the nasty thing???

[Terry]

I'm glad to see you guys are enjoying this like I did! It's hard not to comment more...🤐

[Addy]

I’m gonna attempt to finish today!

[Terry]

Good luck, Addy!

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Ch54 was excellent, in the most gruesome way [spoilers removed]

What I find a little strange is that as an amulet is supposed to protect his/her bearer against evil, not to turn them into manic ki..."

Part of the twist that makes it so fun, right?

[Marie Helene]

I did not read for a few days 😔 as I do not cope well in hot weather especially when it's hot for too long and muggy too 🥵 May put air conditioner machine (a monster) in my bedroom tonight as I enjoy reading in the evening/at nighttime. Wish I can finish The Amulet tonight!

By the way, one thing is bothering me. (view spoiler)[Dean's gun exploded in his face, and there seems to have no inquiry from the army or the factory? How can it be possible? (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "I did not read for a few days 😔 as I do not cope well in hot weather especially when it's hot for too long and muggy too 🥵 May put air conditioner machine (a monster) in my bedroom tonight as I enj..."

That’s no fun, Marie Helene! I hope you get some relief soon. It has been a hot start to the summer here also.

On your spoiler, I was wondering about that as well. I don’t think it was ever mentioned, but I would expect it would have happened.

[Addy]

I just finished and once again I’m left wondering(view spoiler)[I’m not sure about Dean and I’m not sure about Sarah. I was so saddened by Margaret’s death and to know it kind of happened in plain sight of Sarah. And that banging of an ending leaving us to ponder what happened to Sarah’s sanity or was it the amulet just coming round full circle? Hmmm. On another note, this wud make a great movie! It also reminded of of The Fog by James Herbert. (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Addy wrote: "I just finished and once again I’m left wondering[spoilers removed]"

Glad you finished, Addy! You hit on a couple of items I noted also. I think it was done intentionally by McDowell. (view spoiler)[ The version I read with the introduction by Poppy Z. Brite even mentions the fact that it is all left hanging as a big mystery. I'm kinda ok with it. I was definitely sad about Margaret also. I figured she was going to end up that way. (hide spoiler)] I'm super glad we finally read it.,

[Addy]

Me too! It’s such a fun read! This is my first time rereading a book and I was surprised to see how much I had forgotten!

[Terry]

Addy wrote: "Me too! It’s such a fun read! This is my first time rereading a book and I was surprised to see how much I had forgotten!"

I’m the same way. I can understand why people do it so much now.

[Marie Helene]

Great book! 👏
Finished it a few hours ago and left wondering 🤔(view spoiler)[in my opinion, Sarah has lost her sanity. I think it happened in ch63, when she and Becca went at Ruby's House of Beauty (or shall we say Ruby's House of Scalping and Decapitation?) (hide spoiler)]

[Addy]

Yes, I see what u mean Marie(view spoiler)[you think she actually melted the amulet but went crazy anyway? I cud see that. Especially since losing her best friend Becca and seeing how she couldn’t come to terms living with Deano and Jo, heck, I’d prob lose it too! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Marie Helene wrote: "Great book! 👏
Finished it a few hours ago and left wondering 🤔[spoilers removed]"

Glad you liked it, Marie Helene! That is definitely one of the real possibilities. I'm kinda liking the idea that (view spoiler)[ Sarah gave in and has the amulet on. It would serve at least Jo with some justice that she deserves to have the amulet be her downfall as well. (hide spoiler)] The speculation, at least in this case, is fun!

[Marie Helene]

I'm glad we read it and I like all the possibilities of the ending.