A Song of Shadows - John Connolly - 12/17/22

[Ginger]

A few of us are planning on reading the 13th book in the Charlie Parker series, A Song of Shadows around this date, December 17th.

Please join if you would like to and make sure to use spoilers while discussing.
Happy reading all!

[Terry]

Can’t believe we’re up to book 13 already!

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Can’t believe we’re up to book 13 already!"

Right?! Slowly but surely we’re going to catch up to the recent release. 😃

[Latasha]

Wow! I can’t either.

[Terry]

I'll be sad when we finally catch up, just like with Preston and Child.

[Latasha]

Yeah me too Terry.

[Terry]

Hopefully he just keeps writing them!

[Ginger]

I’ll be sad too when we finally catch up. I'm glad he’s still writing this series though!

[Ginger]

I might get started on this tomorrow since I'm only reading one BR right now and the other book is on my own schedule.
Just a heads up to you both. =)

[Terry]

Sounds good, Ginger. I can start on it tomorrow as well.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Sounds good, Ginger. I can start on it tomorrow as well."

Awesome Terry!

[Latasha]

I can start early too. My library loan came in early this week so I just went ahead & borrowed it.

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "I can start early too. My library loan came in early this week so I just went ahead & borrowed it."

Great to hear Latasha!

[Terry]

So, I love the part at the end of ch4! It's definitely (view spoiler)[ a little (ok, lot) creepy, but it's so emotionally powerful. (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

There it is, in the middle of ch11 (page 68 in my copy - don't read this until you finish ch11 just in case) (view spoiler)[ an apocalyptic foreshadowing for one of our characters, this time chief Bloom. I was liking her, and now I'm nothing but worried for her! John Connolly seems to do this more in these later books with the foreshadowing. I'm a fan of it really. (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

I stopped at the end of ch11. I'm totally caught up in this mystery already and had a hard time putting it down! I love these books, haha. (view spoiler)[ I was surprised it took so long getting into the deaths though. I'm already nervous for Charlie's new neighbors. (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

I can't wait to get caught up to you! I know exactly what your going through because it happens to me every time we read a CP book. hahaha

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "I can't wait to get caught up to you! I know exactly what your going through because it happens to me every time we read a CP book. hahaha"

Me too! It’s so comfortable reading these (not the subject matter,, of course) but the people and the atmosphere are so familiar.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "There it is, in the middle of ch11 (page 68 in my copy - don't read this until you finish ch11 just in case) [spoilers removed]"

It’s the same feeling that I had as soon as I read that! I really (view spoiler)[like Chief Bloom and now I’m totally worried about her. 😂🤣 (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I stopped at the end of ch11. I'm totally caught up in this mystery already and had a hard time putting it down! I love these books, haha. [spoilers removed]"

Me too especially with (view spoiler)[Amanda seeing a guy that looks like a Jigsaw puzzle standing outside their door and then just walks into the sea?! WTF Is this a ghost?
Man, that’s creepy and would have freaked me out. (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "So, I love the part at the end of ch4! It's definitely [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, this book is already bringing in the creep factor. 😂🤣

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I stopped at the end of ch11. I'm totally caught up in this mystery already and had a hard time putting it down! I love these books, haha. [spoilers removed]"

Me too especially with ..."

I was wondering if we (view spoiler)[ were already supposed to know The Jigsaw Man from a previous book, but I couldn’t place him if so. You’re right, he seems pretty creepy! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I love the part at the end of ch4! It's definitely [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, this book is already pulling on the creep factor. 😂🤣"

I’m loving that! I’m up to ch22 now (view spoiler)[ and I have to say the part where Charlie’s daughter was there to help him when he woke up with the pain sure had the tears flowing! (hide spoiler)]

[Latasha]

Started listening this morning. I’m on chapter 4, I almost read your spoiler! 🙈 I didn’t see it though.

[Terry]

Latasha wrote: "Started listening this morning. I’m on chapter 4, I almost read your spoiler! 🙈 I didn’t see it though."

You would have been ok with that ch4 spoiler. It really doesn't spoil anything, but I'm glad you caught yourself!

[Terry]

Ch25 - wow, (view spoiler)[ I was not expecting that! Do you think it was just Sam's subconscious that knows about the ghost being there? I’m thinking so at this point. (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I was wondering if we"

I was wondering the same on this but I don't think so. Especially now with (view spoiler)[Steiger now visiting the Jigsaw man.

And speaking of Steiger...he's a terrible man. I can't wait for Charlie or Louis and Angel to kill him. hahaha

I wonder if Steiger is a falling angel because his appearance is so off and disgusting. And he's drinking milk to calm his stomach but his stomach seems fine when he's torturing people?! Yikes, what an evil man! (hide spoiler)]

I know we've said this before in other CP books but these books feel more like horror then "horror" books. LOL!
The content is so damn dark!

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I’m loving that! I’m up to ch22..."

Right!! I loved that part and I feel like (view spoiler)[she's hanging around because she protects him and maybe this is why she won't cross over.

It's going to be interesting to see where Connolly takes this plot theme with his dead daughter and whether she will ever cross over because she feels like he's finally going to be okay?

But with his profession and the people that he goes against, likely not. LOL! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "Started listening this morning. I’m on chapter 4, I almost read your spoiler! 🙈 I didn’t see it though."

This book is really good Tosh!

It's hard for me to put down. The content in this one is tough to read though and I think I'm going to get more and more emotional as the story evolves.

[Ginger]

I got to the beginning of Chapter 24 last night. Really hard to put this one down. I love these books!

[Latasha]

Oh wow! Toughest one yet? That is saying something. I think the first one was rough but I guess it could be in part that I did not expect it.

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "Oh wow! Toughest one yet? That is saying something. I think the first one was rough but I guess it could be in part that I did not expect it."

I don't know if it's the toughest one yet. Not sure until we get a more involved with it?
The content is just tough to read about since it's about Nazis and the Holocaust. I always have a tough time reading about this subject. It makes my heart hurt with how evil and racist men/women are.

[Latasha]

Oh yeah Ginger, I am there! I may have to take breaks from this one. My great grandfather (Papaw Bowlin) fought in WW2 and I have very, very strong feelings about that & project paperclip. I can’t talk about it without getting so mad I cry.

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "Oh yeah Ginger, I am there! I may have to take breaks from this one. My great grandfather (Papaw Bowlin) fought in WW2 and I have very, very strong feelings about that & project paperclip. I can’t ..."

We're both in the same boat then!

I can only imagine the stories your Papaw has on WWII. Is he still alive? If he is, thank him for his sacrifice and service from me. I can only imagine what he went through.

[Latasha]

Terry wrote: "There it is, in the middle of ch11 (page 68 in my copy - don't read this until you finish ch11 just in case) [spoilers removed]"

I caught that too & I’m also worried.

[Latasha]

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I stopped at the end of ch11. I'm totally caught up in this mystery already and had a hard time putting it down! I love these books, haha. [spoilers removed]"

Me too e..."

I feel like we have met him before. Maybe in the book about Louis’ up bringing. He seems familiar.

[Latasha]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I was wondering if we"

I was wondering the same on this but I don't think so. Especially now with Steiger now visiting the Jigsaw man.

And speaking of Steiger...he's a terrible man...."

On Steiger- (view spoiler)[ I’m wondering he was experimented on by the Nazi or was a Nazi. They may have said but sometimes it’s hard to keep the characters straight. (hide spoiler)]

[Latasha]

Ginger wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Oh yeah Ginger, I am there! I may have to take breaks from this one. My great grandfather (Papaw Bowlin) fought in WW2 and I have very, very strong feelings about that & project pap..."

Sorry, I got interrupted when I was making that comment. No Papaw isn’t with us. But I am so thankful everyday I got to know some of my great grandparents. Mom called him Papaw so we did too. He never talked about the war. By the time we - me & my sister- came around, he ran a greenhouse. He’s a contributor to my green thumb! I remember we’d always go see him and he’d let us pick out a flower from the greenhouse to take home.
It just feels like a big fuck you, knowing nazi were knowingly allowed in the country after so many people and families gave so much. And yes, the evil of those people and what they did are so so hard to read about. I’ll have podcast ready if I need to pause for a little bit.

[Latasha]

Libby says I’m on chapter 37 & I’m at 47%

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "It just feels like a big fuck you, knowing nazi were knowingly allowed in the country after so many people and families gave so much. And yes, the evil of those people and what they did are so so hard to read about. I’ll have podcast ready if I need to pause for a little bit."

All of this pisses me off Latasha too. It's unreal and disgusting what our country shoved under the rug with Nazi's after WWII.

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "On Steiger-..."

Totally could be Tosh! I don't remember him being described by that but this could be the case when we get more into the story.

[Ginger]

Latasha wrote: "Libby says I’m on chapter 37 & I’m at 47%"

Yay! You're flying on this. These books are just awesome. Like Terry said, it's like coming home to favorite characters and just awesome writing.

[Latasha]

It sure is- like coming home!

[Terry]

Latasha wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Oh yeah Ginger, I am there! I may have to take breaks from this one. My great grandfather (Papaw Bowlin) fought in WW2 and I have very, very strong feelings about tha..."

I definitely get this feeling. I had one grandfather and then a great uncle who were both in that war. My dad got tears in his eyes and a catch in his voice any time we talked about either one and the time they spent in that war, which greatly impacted me as well. What you say there is so true. This can definitely be tough subject manner.

[Terry]

I just read ch36 and 37 - wow!! (view spoiler)[so, this is the first time I can remember learning about Sam and her sensitivities. I think we've had a small inkling before that she could sense stuff, but not like in ch36. Seems like with these two chapters, she's being groomed to be a bigger part of what is going on considering no one as powerful as her has come around in a long time. Love that! (hide spoiler)]

[Latasha]

Ok I think I was wrong about the Jigsaw man. I think I got him mixed up with a character from another book.

[Latasha]

Terry wrote: "I just read ch36 and 37 - wow!! [spoilers removed]"

I wonder how long he’s been dropping hints about it and we’ve missed them. Like with chapter 54 (view spoiler)[ the crutch. (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Wow guys, I couldn't quit reading last night. CP books make me zone out to everything. I didn't do any chores and didn't even pick up the other books that I'm reading right now. LOL

I got to the beginning of Chapter 43 (XLIII) and I have so many thoughts. You'll see them below...

(view spoiler)[I can't believe Ruth Winter died already. I thought she might die later in the book (maybe!) but not this quick in the book. It was so brutal and I was so happy with how Steiger died after he killed her.

And speaking of Steiger, I can't believe Sam caused his death!

This book is completely opening up new plot directions in this series. Not only can Sam see ghosts (Jennifer and others) like her Dad, but she has the ability to cause disturbances like a sand dune swallowing Steiger whole? Does she have something like telekinesis?!

I have so many questions about this little girl now and she's obviously a chip off the old block. hahaha
She might be even more powerful then her old man!!

Also, I hope Chief Bloom makes it from surgery. I thought she got shot and in Chapter 42 it looks like it punctured her lung. Wow! The action in this book has been crazy.

Also glad to see Louis and Angel are working with Walsh right now. What a strange group to deal with if you were that waitress!!
They are all deadly, sarcastic and can kill if they need too. The energy at that restaurant booth was definitely "edgy". hahaha (hide spoiler)]

Okay, that's all. Yeah, it's like a novel. LOL!

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I just read ch36 and 37 - wow!! [spoilers removed]"

Exactly!! Just wait until you get to where I'm out on your (view spoiler)[thoughts about Sam (hide spoiler)]. I think you'll get there soon. LOL!
I could not put the book down last night and had to keep reading.

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "I definitely get this feeling. I had one grandfather and then a great uncle who were both in that war. My dad got tears in his eyes and a catch in his voice any time we talked about either one and the time they spent in that war, which greatly impacted me as well. What you say there is so true. This can definitely be tough subject manner."

Terry, I can imagine it was so hard for them both to talk about this war and everything that happened during it.
It really is such tough subject matter. I hope more vets are able to talk to counselors when they get home from a war. It completely changes a person and not in a good way.