The Twelve
Justin Cronin
October 2012
668 pages on my nook app
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This is Cronin’s dystopian-apocalyptic-sci-fi-woo-woo-vampire-horror follow-up to The Passage. Okay, maybe not so much sci-fi, but I’m pretty sure everything else made it’s way in there.
Along with a hefty dose of Stephen King, because you can’t tell me this book (heck, the whole trilogy?) wasn’t heavily influenced by The Stand. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just adds an element of deja-vu to certain parts of the reading experience.
I spent the first couple hundred pages feeling vaguely disoriented though, since my reading memory is abysmal and it’s been slightly over a year since I read The Passage (in fact, since I read it while HB was in the hospital and in rehab, I’m surprised I haven’t blocked the whole thing from my memory). I probably should’ve done a re-read, but that’s not the way I roll (I mean, who wants to spend the time refreshing one’s memory when one can just dive in blind!).
So it took me awhile to get back up to speed on Peter-Michael-Lish-the rest of The Colony. But not Amy. Amy I remembered. Along with Fanning and Lawrence Grey and The Twelve and Wolgast. Which means I remembered mostly bad guys.
And okay, I just went back and read my post on The Passage. It didn’t help much. I’m sure that when the final book comes out two years from now (!), this post won’t be of much help, either.
Oh wait. I’m supposed to mention what the book is about? Hah. Easier said than done. I’d say vampires, but that’s not quite right. It’s about a dystopian future (it’s dystopian because some scientists and the US government fucked us all over) over-run by vampire-like creatures. Life is not easy. You’re either working your patootie off to survive and avoid getting snatched up by a viral (the aforementioned vampire-like creatures), or you’re working your ass off in an effort to not become food for a viral, or you’re a viral (not a pretty existence…trust me), or you’re something else…something like Amy, or Lish, or ????? (and for that, you’ll need to read the book, but let’s just say it was a fabulous/fabulously disgusting addition to the plot-line). Or you’re one of The Twelve, but that’s nightmare worthy, so let’s not go there, hmmm?
Additional thoughts (with possibility of spoilers, so read at your own risk):
Lawrence Grey. Oh my.
Lila. Oh me oh my.
Lawrence and Lila. What a pair. And I mean that in the best possible way. That ending!
Amy and Lish. Oh hell no.
Peter. Is anyone else in love with Peter? He’s like Stu, only better, because there’s no Frannie! At the moment, anyway.
Or is Michael Stu? Which makes Lore Frannie. But a Frannie I like. (Sorry…I did say that The Stand deja-vu was strong, didn’t I?)
Sara and Hollis and Kate? Seriously? That just smacked of unreality, even if it did make me happy.
Eustace. Damn. Could you have beat him up any harder, Cronin? Kinda like Nick, in The Stand (yes, here I go again), especially with the teeth.
And one final comparison with The Stand. Danny=Tom Cullen.
Nina. Well of course she’s Nitia. I saw that coming a mile away.
Greer. I had no memory of Greer from the first book, so his scenes did nothing for me.
April Donadio and Bernard Kittridge from Year 0. Just exactly how are they related to Lish?? Did anyone figure it out, or remember from the first book? ‘Cause it’s seriously bugging the crap out of me…I really, really liked those two and their storyline.
Redeyes. Now there was an unexpected addition that was both thoroughly creepy and disgusting, and well played. Also, without them? Not much of a book. Fucking Guilder…what a total and complete asshat that dude turned out to be.
Sergio. Hah. Loved Sergio. Even the ridiculous game of catch they all seemed to be playing with the bomb at the end.
Speaking of the end. It all ended in a bit of a rush. 500 plus pages of buildup for a quick stand down in Iowa (of all places).
Except I’m still nervous if anyone goes outside at night. I mean really, don’t they know there’s a book 3 coming?
I skimmed very quickly but I couldn’t tell from what I saw (with my fingers spread over my eyes) if you liked it or not. I am very early into it. Work has been an absolute bitch and is harshing my mellow.
Ti´s last [type] ..Review: The Lighthouse Road
I am reading The Passage right now, and am really engrossed. I have put it down for awhile, since I’ve been sick, but it’s a wonderful read. I can’t wait to see how I feel about this one!
zibilee´s last [type] ..Sweet Dates in Basra by Jessica Jiji — 368 pgs
Can’t frackin’ wait. Am curious how long it’ll take me to get my bearings, too.
Andi (Estella’s Revenge)´s last [type] ..Top Ten Books (and Stories) to Get Into the Halloween Spirit!
Lord it has been forever since I listened to The Passage (yeah, walking out on the lonely roads in Indiana, thanks very much, I was always looking for virals to come and eat me) so I remember not much. But I’m right there with you…dive in blind baby. I am on hold right now for this audio. I will have to really force myself to dig into something so long, but it must be done.
Sandy´s last [type] ..Drop Dead Healthy – A.J. Jacobs (Audio)
I’m planning on starting The Passage this weekend (I have a long train ride so figure it’s as good a time as any to get stuck into such a long book). Really looking forward to it!
I read the possible spoilers because it’ll be a long while before I read the books and won’t remember a thing…LOL I still need to read The Passage. I love your comments under the spoilers section – makes me curious:)
Diane@BibliophilebytheSea´s last [type] ..First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros
Me, too. (curious, not sure I will ever read these…)
Care´s last [type] ..Monday Randomusings 10-22-12
Wow … you blew through that quickly!! I skipped the spoilery part since I plan on reading it soon.
Jenners´s last [type] ..RIP Review: The Pure In Heart by Susan Hill
I went running while I was reading it and was afraid of shrubbery.
I think Lish is a descendent of those other 2.
Chrisbookarama´s last [type] ..Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Review
I can never remember what happened in previous books, either. Please. I have grass to grow and paint to dry.
heidenkind´s last [type] ..Review: ENSHADOWED by Kelly Creagh
I really enjoyed The Passage, though I don’t remember the questions you asked above! I need to get The Twelve asap…….i don’t remember how April and LIsh and Bernardo are related, if they are, just seems to me there is a connection. I am so glad that you enjoyed The Twelve!!! how they were created has always haunted me, as well as Amy, so I’m so happy we get to see what happens next in their story. I enjoyed your review very much!
Susan´s last [type] ..The White Devil – book review – ghosts and Byron, an unbeatable mix
I’m waiting until the third one is out (or almost out) to start The Passage. I have major memory problems with series, so anything beyond mysteries, I wait. I’m really looking forward to it though:-)
nomadreader´s last [type] ..book review: Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
I wish Amy hadn’t become what she did. I had to reread the end a few times to “get” what was going on. And is Lish now a ticking time bomb….waiting to turn?
I got stalled somewhere around page 200 in the first one — shortly after the zoo incident. I never got any further. And I like dystopian, vampire-like creatures, and so on. Not sure why it didn’t click with me.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Review: One Good Deed by Erin McHugh
Alicia would be April and Bernard’s granddaughter, or possibly even great-granddaughter, depending on how quickly life expectancies dropped.
I’m so sad. I wanted to love this, but I ended up being so disappointed.
I felt confused and disoriented – who was this person, when is this event occurring? Argh. It didn’t have the same tension build-up for me, and it definitely didn’t have the fear factor. I can’t believe it.
By the way, I linked your review to my post. I also would add to The Stand comparisons that Lacey is basically Mother Abagail, and Farmstead is Hemingford Home.
Natalie ~ the Coffee and a Book Chick´s last [type] ..The Twelve, by Justin Cronin
Love your response to this book. I’m writing my review right now (linking to you by the way) and now I wish I would have written this exact post! Well… you know what I mean….