Buddy Read-The Waking That Kills by Stephen Gregory

[Char]

My friend Kimberly and I are going to read this book this week. Anyone interested is invited to join us!

So far it's:
Char
Kimberly

[Kimberly]

Yay! I'm ready!

[Char]

20% in. (view spoiler)[ I don't like this kid. I don't like him at all. What's going on with him? (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

19% in my first sitting! (view spoiler)[This kid is freaking me out completely! When he came across his mother drawing pictures in the flour on the table, and put his hands near her throat...I felt like I was suffocating!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

I know, right?!

30% (view spoiler)[ When he freaked out about what color the plane was, I was nervous! He went from zero to insane in about 5 seconds flat. Also, I have no doubt that the kid left the car door open or did something to kill the battery. (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "I know, right?!

30% [spoilers removed]"

SO glad I started this one last night!!

[Char]

Kimberly wrote: "Charlene wrote: "I know, right?!

30% [spoilers removed]"

SO glad I started this one last night!!"

Yeah, I'm sure you will finish it before me at this point. I wish I could read as fast as you! :)
It is difficult to put down, isn't it? Though I had to last night for the Game of Thrones premiere.

[Char]

40% (view spoiler)[ I cannot believe he threw boiling wax on those kids at school! OMG! (hide spoiler)]

If there is one thing that I love in horror, it's the evil child theme. *squeak* I'm having so much fun!

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "40% [spoilers removed]

If there is one thing that I love in horror, it's the evil child theme. *squeak* I'm having so much fun!"

LOVING IT--will update later!!

[Kimberly]

40% (view spoiler)[ I knew that things would start coming together as soon as he got to that newspaper--his father clearly knew the story about the boy... However, I did NOT see that coming! With the stealthy sense of dread building up, and then--WHAM! Boiling wax poured in the kids' eyes! *Shudder*! (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

I can't even believe he did that. I mean...it's unthinkable. SMH

[Maxine Marsh]

I'll join you ladies for this one. I'm about halfway through now. Cannot resist a Stephen Gregory! I think the image of 40% (view spoiler)[ the boy rolling and rubbing in the stinging nettles was really creepy. The boy is clearly insane. I just want to yell, "Get out of there while you still can!" (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Perfect timing, Maxine! :)

[Char]

Hey, Maxine! Great to see you!! :)
I didn't get as much reading done last night as I would have liked.

[Kimberly]

I caught up to Char, at least!!!

[Char]

I'm sure you're way past me by now! I'm looking forward to my lunch hour, so I can continue.

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "I'm sure you're way past me by now! I'm looking forward to my lunch hour, so I can continue."

I just finished the last 150 pages of SLOWLY WE ROT....so I haven't gotten any further--LOL!

[Char]

Kimberly wrote: "Charlene wrote: "I'm sure you're way past me by now! I'm looking forward to my lunch hour, so I can continue."

I just finished the last 150 pages of SLOWLY WE ROT....so I haven't gotten any furthe..."

Oh, okay good!

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Charlene wrote: "I'm sure you're way past me by now! I'm looking forward to my lunch hour, so I can continue."

I just finished the last 150 pages of SLOWLY WE ROT....so I haven't ..."
I want this one to last! I enjoy his style so much!

[Char]

57% (view spoiler)[ Why is this man-boy going around naked all the time? And WHAT is the deal with him hanging from the roof of the greenhouse and letting the birds use their saliva to stick their nesting materials to him? WTF?? (hide spoiler)] LOL

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "57% [spoilers removed] LOL"

75% (view spoiler)[ Okay, the Man-boy-bird now..... (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

75% now. Things are going downhill fast, Lawrence is totally like those kids gone wild in Lord of the Flies. He still believes his dad is coming back. Really creepy when (view spoiler)[ Chris slept in the mom's bed for the first time and woke up to finding Lawrence sleep walking into his room and trying to beat him to death with the binoculars...yikes (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Maxine wrote: "75% now. Things are going downhill fast, Lawrence is totally like those kids gone wild in Lord of the Flies. He still believes his dad is coming back. Really creepy when [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yet, despite Lawrence's downward spiral into madness, Chris is in an almost "fugue" state...just existing from one day to the next. Something big is building, and I'm almost wondering if Chris will be "prepared", as he seems to just keep stringing himself along there... (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

OK, I couldn't put it down. Got my kids off to school and finished. Can't wait to hear what you ladies think!

[Char]

80% (view spoiler)[ Yeah, big bird boy/man now. And why is he getting all hairy so quickly? Are we supposed to be thinking that the father is somehow possessing the boy? Is the boy somehow trying to lure his father into himself? What the hell is going on, dammit??! (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Maxine wrote: "OK, I couldn't put it down. Got my kids off to school and finished. Can't wait to hear what you ladies think!"

I saw that it said that you rated it 5 stars. I will hopefully finish at lunchtime today. :)

[Maxine Marsh]

Enjoy Charlene, the last 20% is like a really, REALLY bad dream, lol.

[Char]

Maxine wrote: "Enjoy Charlene, the last 20% is like a really, REALLY bad dream, lol."


Thanks, I hope to!

[Kimberly]

91% and then my son's CSE meeting started! ARG!!!!! Going back now... :)

[Char]

Lunchtime didn't turn out well. So, hopefully tonight!

[Char]

Okay, I'm done. Man, that was messed up! I have a whole bunch of quotes that I loved, and I'm feeling all UGH after (view spoiler)[ the boy rose up out of the dead birds in the hearse (hide spoiler)] . *shudder*
I can't even.

I have to think on this a little bit more and then I'll be back to talk.

Overall, I loved it though!

[Kimberly]

Finished, and I agree with Char.! Need to think this one over for a while yet...

[Maxine Marsh]

I found this one to be even more surreal than the others I've read by Gregory. In Plague of Gulls, Wakening the Crow, and The Cormorant the birds intrude in the characters' worlds, where in this book the characters seem to be intruding on nature and the effect is dreamlike.

[Char]

Maxine wrote: "I found this one to be even more surreal than the others I've read by Gregory. In Plague of Gulls, Wakening the Crow, and The Cormorant the birds intrude in the characters' worlds, where in this bo..."

Well said and I agree!

[Maxine Marsh]

Have you read The Woodwitch, Charlene? Is it more like this one?

[Kimberly]

Maxine wrote: "I found this one to be even more surreal than the others I've read by Gregory. In Plague of Gulls, Wakening the Crow, and The Cormorant the birds intrude in the characters' worlds, where in this bo..."
Very well put! I have the Woodwitch on my shelves, but I haven't read that one yet. Plague of Gulls, I don't think I have...yet....

[Char]

Maxine wrote: "Have you read The Woodwitch, Charlene? Is it more like this one?"

I have read it. I wrote a review of it, if you're interested:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It's not spoiler-y. I liked it quite a bit, Maxine. :)

[Char]

Oh man, I loved this story! Even though I wasn't sure if what was going on was real half the time, it freaked me out.

[Maxine Marsh]

Would either of you be interested in reading The Blood of Angels? I want to read the Woodwitch, too but I know you've read it already Charlene.

[Char]

I would! I think Valancourt is bringing that one back soon. Or did they already?

There's also this one:
The Perils and Dangers of this Night

The Blood of Angels really does look good though, doesn't it?

[Maxine Marsh]

Yes, Valancourt is bringing it back, not sure when, but I picked up a paperback copy recently. The other book lookds great, too! I would read either one.

[Kimberly]

I have Woodwitch that I want to read, Maxine. Are the others by Valancourt? I'd take a chance on anything they publish...

[Maxine Marsh]

Blood of angels is coming out by Valancourt sometime in the future. Perils and Dangers seems to be a different press. I'm up for any of the 3 remaining that I haven't read!

[Char]

Things are kind of crazy for me right now, if you guys wanted to read The Woodwitch together. Maybe by the time you're done I'd be ready for one of these other Gregory books.

[Maxine Marsh]

How does that sound Kimberly? We could buddy read The Woodwitch and then see if Charlene wants to join for The Blood of Angels.

[Maxine Marsh]

Charlene wrote: "Things are kind of crazy for me right now, if you guys wanted to read The Woodwitch together. Maybe by the time you're done I'd be ready for one of these other Gregory books."

Hope things settle down for you soon, Charlene, I know sometimes life gets crazy.

[Char]

I'm dying to see what you both think of The Woodwitch. :)

[Kimberly]

Maxine wrote: "How does that sound Kimberly? We could buddy read The Woodwitch and then see if Charlene wants to join for The Blood of Angels."

Sounds good--when do you want to start? (I need at least one day to finish one I'm working on....) :)

[Maxine Marsh]

How does Tuesday sound?

[Kimberly]

Maxine wrote: "How does Tuesday sound?"

Perfect!!! I actually have the Woodwitch...I still need to get the other one. :)