My thoughts

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Virgo

Member
May 22, 2018
5
22
41
This post is full of spoilers so I marked everything. First, let me say that I loved this book. I'm a sucker for any story with a kid as the hero/heroine, so this was right up my alley. I loved the character of Luke and how his story intertwined with Tim's. I'm not always a fan of King's endings, but I thought this one was pretty good! This book kept me in a state of discomfort and suspense, constantly wanting to read to find out what was going to happen next. I wasn't satisfied until I had finally turned the last page, so this book obviously had a strong effect on me! I can foresee myself rereading this book several times. Here are some random musings:

1. Did anyone else think
Luke's guidance counselor at the Broderick school was going to turn out to be a stringer? I thought the timing of the abduction was so close to when they were working out Luke's move across the country, so the Ruby Red team may have been tipped off to get to Luke quickly

2. I loved every single protagonist character in this book, especially the Institute kids. The antagonists made me feel so much fury. I was also surprised that The Institute and Mrs. Sigsby were able to
get so many stringers, especially in such small places such as DuPray. Maybe I missed in the book how they managed to get so many stringers in random places.

3. I felt so frustrated when no one was listening to Luke after
his escape
The old trope of law enforcement not listening, especially to kids, drives me nuts.

4. For anyone that has also read Dr. Sleep, did anyone think of the True Knot when it was discussed that the number of children coming to the Institute over the years was dwindling?

5. My heart completely broke in so many places within this book. The worst was when
Avery died. I so wanted him to make it! His last line almost killed me when he said he so loved having friends. I just hated that he was left alone to fend for himself after Luke's escape and take the brunt of the torture from the ****heads at the Institute. I also loved Maureen though and wished she had a better ending.

I may post more thoughts if I remember anything else. Overall, this was a solid book and maybe down the line there will be a sequel.
 

Distance87

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2019
58
249
36
East Texas
This post is full of spoilers so I marked everything. First, let me say that I loved this book. I'm a sucker for any story with a kid as the hero/heroine, so this was right up my alley. I loved the character of Luke and how his story intertwined with Tim's. I'm not always a fan of King's endings, but I thought this one was pretty good! This book kept me in a state of discomfort and suspense, constantly wanting to read to find out what was going to happen next. I wasn't satisfied until I had finally turned the last page, so this book obviously had a strong effect on me! I can foresee myself rereading this book several times. Here are some random musings:

1. Did anyone else think
Luke's guidance counselor at the Broderick school was going to turn out to be a stringer? I thought the timing of the abduction was so close to when they were working out Luke's move across the country, so the Ruby Red team may have been tipped off to get to Luke quickly

2. I loved every single protagonist character in this book, especially the Institute kids. The antagonists made me feel so much fury. I was also surprised that The Institute and Mrs. Sigsby were able to
get so many stringers, especially in such small places such as DuPray. Maybe I missed in the book how they managed to get so many stringers in random places.

3. I felt so frustrated when no one was listening to Luke after
his escape
The old trope of law enforcement not listening, especially to kids, drives me nuts.

4. For anyone that has also read Dr. Sleep, did anyone think of the True Knot when it was discussed that the number of children coming to the Institute over the years was dwindling?

5. My heart completely broke in so many places within this book. The worst was when
Avery died. I so wanted him to make it! His last line almost killed me when he said he so loved having friends. I just hated that he was left alone to fend for himself after Luke's escape and take the brunt of the torture from the ****heads at the Institute. I also loved Maureen though and wished she had a better ending.

I may post more thoughts if I remember anything else. Overall, this was a solid book and maybe down the line there will be a sequel.
This book was amazing I dont know how to mark for spoilers so this might get cryptic.
I loved Luke's interactions with his parents especially at the pizza place.

When it comes to the guidance councilor I never had that thought I did how ever think that he would have gotten a phone call from luke during the train ride or just after.

I was relieved that the cops were cops and did their cop thing other wise it would have felt like plot protection.

I too felt for avery but he was the unexpected hero it would have been to vanilla for luke
 
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Sweet One

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2008
527
116
This post is full of spoilers so I marked everything. First, let me say that I loved this book. I'm a sucker for any story with a kid as the hero/heroine, so this was right up my alley. I loved the character of Luke and how his story intertwined with Tim's. I'm not always a fan of King's endings, but I thought this one was pretty good! This book kept me in a state of discomfort and suspense, constantly wanting to read to find out what was going to happen next. I wasn't satisfied until I had finally turned the last page, so this book obviously had a strong effect on me! I can foresee myself rereading this book several times. Here are some random musings:

1. Did anyone else think
Luke's guidance counselor at the Broderick school was going to turn out to be a stringer? I thought the timing of the abduction was so close to when they were working out Luke's move across the country, so the Ruby Red team may have been tipped off to get to Luke quickly

2. I loved every single protagonist character in this book, especially the Institute kids. The antagonists made me feel so much fury. I was also surprised that The Institute and Mrs. Sigsby were able to
get so many stringers, especially in such small places such as DuPray. Maybe I missed in the book how they managed to get so many stringers in random places.

3. I felt so frustrated when no one was listening to Luke after
his escape
The old trope of law enforcement not listening, especially to kids, drives me nuts.

4. For anyone that has also read Dr. Sleep, did anyone think of the True Knot when it was discussed that the number of children coming to the Institute over the years was dwindling?

5. My heart completely broke in so many places within this book. The worst was when
Avery died. I so wanted him to make it! His last line almost killed me when he said he so loved having friends. I just hated that he was left alone to fend for himself after Luke's escape and take the brunt of the torture from the ****heads at the Institute. I also loved Maureen though and wished she had a better ending.

I may post more thoughts if I remember anything else. Overall, this was a solid book and maybe down the line there will be a sequel.
Mrs. Sigsby and her friends filled me with fury too--especially their apparently sincere believe that what they were doing was right.
 

Sweet One

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2008
527
116
This post is full of spoilers so I marked everything. First, let me say that I loved this book. I'm a sucker for any story with a kid as the hero/heroine, so this was right up my alley. I loved the character of Luke and how his story intertwined with Tim's. I'm not always a fan of King's endings, but I thought this one was pretty good! This book kept me in a state of discomfort and suspense, constantly wanting to read to find out what was going to happen next. I wasn't satisfied until I had finally turned the last page, so this book obviously had a strong effect on me! I can foresee myself rereading this book several times. Here are some random musings:

1. Did anyone else think
Luke's guidance counselor at the Broderick school was going to turn out to be a stringer? I thought the timing of the abduction was so close to when they were working out Luke's move across the country, so the Ruby Red team may have been tipped off to get to Luke quickly

2. I loved every single protagonist character in this book, especially the Institute kids. The antagonists made me feel so much fury. I was also surprised that The Institute and Mrs. Sigsby were able to
get so many stringers, especially in such small places such as DuPray. Maybe I missed in the book how they managed to get so many stringers in random places.

3. I felt so frustrated when no one was listening to Luke after
his escape
The old trope of law enforcement not listening, especially to kids, drives me nuts.

4. For anyone that has also read Dr. Sleep, did anyone think of the True Knot when it was discussed that the number of children coming to the Institute over the years was dwindling?

5. My heart completely broke in so many places within this book. The worst was when
Avery died. I so wanted him to make it! His last line almost killed me when he said he so loved having friends. I just hated that he was left alone to fend for himself after Luke's escape and take the brunt of the torture from the ****heads at the Institute. I also loved Maureen though and wished she had a better ending.

I may post more thoughts if I remember anything else. Overall, this was a solid book and maybe down the line there will be a sequel.

To reply again: I like the book for the same reasons. None of King's novels have connected with me quite as much as this one, not even the ones with kids facing evil. I never made the connection with the True Knot, but it makes sense. One thing that slightly confused me, was that the blurb says that the good guys don't always win. Luke pretty much triumphed over the baddies, and King is defintitely on the side of the kids here.
Then again, the platinum-blonde lisping guy survived and Avery did not.
King always has to remind us life isn't always fair.
 
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