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Post by aero63 on Mar 18, 2011 20:22:49 GMT -5
Glad that everyone is enjoying the book.
I like that the characters are children, at least the main characters so far in these chapters. The characters all seem to have lost someone in one sense or another (Nick's father's absence from the home), even down to the man that Ed killed.
Sarah's drawing of things that Nick envisions reminds me of a book by Stephen King called "Duma Key".
I don't know about anyone else, but I feel more for Nick in his particular situation than I do for Sarah, even though they are both very sad situations. This book reminds me of the troubles in today's schools with the bullying situations.
Who are you more apt to empathize with?
Of course the foster sister had to be evil I was so hoping that the foster mother would be a little better than she is, even if she is just in it for the money.
We did stop at a very interesting part and I am so wanting to know what bigger role Bettina Phillips is going to play.
So what is your take on all this? I think that Nick's visions being revealed through Sarah's drawings, are eventually going to lead Bettina to a very gruesome discovery in the history of the grounds she lives on.
I am very pleased with this book so far. It has been a long time since I read one of John Saul's books. He has written this much like the fashion of Stephen King....where most of the characters have odd afflictions or desires and they all seem to come together in this great pinnacle of disaster and then descends into an immediate calm. So, I am wondering if this book will be taking that path as well.
I like the way the house that Bettina lives in has been described and is the actual focus point in the book.
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Post by susanny on Mar 18, 2011 23:29:56 GMT -5
Thanks Aero. I didn't realize that Sarah's drawings are coming from Nick's visions. I really missed that. I can see that the skeletal drawing she did could come from the voices he is having in his head if they are the ones in the drawing. Now we just have to learn why these people are torturing Nick...perhaps he doesn't have schizophrenia after all, but is haunted. They chose him for some reason. And why they are soothed by Sarah is another mystery...maybe because with her ability to draw and show them it will lead to their discovery in the basement room.
Bettina is one brave woman to go into that basement and try to find what Sarah drew. Just like the woman in a movie that hears a noise in the attic and goes up to investigate. I would be chicken. She doesn't seem to be as spooked about Sarah's drawings as I think I'd be, just curious. I like her character, though, and how John Saul describes her. Wonder why she remained single.
I wonder how big this town is and if everybody is as against Bettina as the foster family. If it's a rather small place then it's possible that most of the town goes to the same church and is under the influence of the preacher.
Poor Nick, he is so tortured.
I feel bad for Sarah. She had her whole world ripped from her in just a few short months. I do hope she tells the case worker how bad things are in the foster home, though, and doesn't keep quiet about it just to make her father feels better. Do you think that the accident she was in has some involvement in her being able to be in touch with the ghosts in the basement? That she had been at the brink of death's door for a moment there and it opened up the way for them to communicate through her?
Or do you think it all goes to Nick and his somehow being possessed for some reason. Yet why did they recognize her when she came into his view?
Answers, we need to get to reading as soon as possible!
It's been years since I read one of Saul's books, too. I haven't read the King book you mentioned, will have to look for it. At one point I was reading every book he wrote as soon as it hit the shelves. Then he wrote the Tower series (I think that's what they were) and I started to lose interest in him.
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Mar 19, 2011 7:33:30 GMT -5
I've gotta be careful what I say here becasue I'm way ahead in the reading. Sorry; but I just couldn't help myself! Antoinette I think that whole family Sarah's been placed with is evil . And the mother.... sheesh; you would think such a sanctimonius, God fearing soul would be more compassionate. Not! I feel badly for Sarah; mainly becasue of the circumstances that threw her into the position she's now in through no fault of her own. How much will she endure to stay close to where her father is? But; it's good that she's at least befriended Bettina and Nick. As for Nick; he's got his own share of troubles. He's got a wonderful supportive mom but the father I'm not crazy about at all. There's more going on than meets the eye with all of them. That much I will say. As for Saul's books I've been reading them on and off for awhile. And you guys are right, he does have a King flair to his writing. I too read Duma Key Antoinette and I agree re: the painting similarity. As for king these days; I really don't read too much of his work anymore. Too weird and I don't do fantasy or Sci Fi books.
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Post by mary57 on Mar 20, 2011 10:15:59 GMT -5
This story is so riviting, it was very hard to put down. I picked up another While my pretty sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark and it's the same. Now, to the story, Sarah, has shown herself as a very responsible mature girl. her drawings seem to be glimses into the past. To correct some wrongs?? It is just terrible tosee her living in the home she is in, and the way she is treated. It is probably a very small town and 'ruled' by that preacher/congregation. Wonder what the history there is? As for Nick, perhaps you are right Sue, in that he is being haunted rather than suffering from schiozphrenia. Something to concider. I am glad that both Sarah and Nick feel some peace when they are near each other. Is there some other conection there that we aren't aware of ? I think Sheps role will have to be fleshed out further, as the warden he must have some impact on Ed's future. While I wanted the social worker to pick up on the nastyness of the foster home, I can see where she was fooled and with the workload that most are under it's unfortunate. Sarah's art teacher, Bettina, and her house are central characters. With Sarah's drawings of the house, a former hospital ? or prison, and the basement room you just know that there are multipul secrets buried there. I can't wait to get back into the story now that I've refreshed my memory, but I'll finish the other one up today first.
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Post by aero63 on Mar 20, 2011 19:14:28 GMT -5
Don't really have much more to add to what everyone already wrote. I think we all are hitting on something with the revelations of Sarah and Nick in the house. Evil doings I believe. Maybe experiments and other tortures in the basement on prisoners that were sentenced for life with no family.
I am anxious to finish this book for good reasons.
Jackie, I have laid off of reading King for a while. But Duma Key was one I enjoyed. I don't read Sci Fi but I have read Octavia Butler which if one reads some of her biography, it gets you interested in her novels.
So, how about we begin reading Chapters 12 through 21 and meet again on Friday, March 25th.
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Mar 21, 2011 13:02:54 GMT -5
Sounds good to me Antoinette. BTW; have you ever read King's Delores Clairborne? One of the strangest books "to read" in how it's laid out etc. First person.... all the way through, no chapters. Weird.... but very good!
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Post by mary57 on Mar 21, 2011 15:41:32 GMT -5
That's fine with me too. Can't wait to pick it up again.
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Post by susanny on Mar 21, 2011 16:43:06 GMT -5
Ah ha!
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Post by susanny on Mar 22, 2011 10:37:26 GMT -5
this is just such an exciting book. I was reading away and realized I was beginning chapter 24! I didn't want to put it down, , but I did.
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Post by aero63 on Mar 22, 2011 12:28:56 GMT -5
Jackie, I don't know if I read Dolores Claiborne, or saw the movie by Stephen King. I think Kathy Bates played the mother and her saying was "Sometimes all a person's got is being B----"
Very wierd movie too if it is the same one.
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