Last Days | Litsy

Last Days | Brian Evenson

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This a strange mix of hard-boiled crime noir mixed with horror/dark fiction. In it, a retired cop gets recruited to solve a crime that occurred within a cult of self-mutilators. They‘re the sort who believe that the more digits and limbs you lose, the closer you become to God. I would never want to hangout with these folks and certainly never fall asleep in their presence….I‘d be afraid I‘d be missing parts when I woke up! 😱

#missing

JoeMo #scarathlon #scarathlondailyprompts #teammonstermash 2y

vivastory I read this short story collection last year & still randomly think about a few of the pieces

The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell

JoeMo @vivastory That sounds like exactly the sort of thing I need to read eventually! 2y

Reggie I LOVED this book. He‘s so emotionally dry the whole time. I feel like the only time emotion got expressed was when that one guy was upset one of the cult people didn‘t go to his party. Lol this was good. 2y

JoeMo @Reggie You‘re spot on about the lack of emotion, which took me some time to get used to…the author more than made up for it with how dark and disturbing the story was and I remember being pretty happy with the ending. It sort of reminded me of music I listened to back in the mid to late 90s….groups like Recoil and Bowie‘s Outside album. This stuff was cold, dark, and complex but for the most part lacked any emotion or warmth!😂 2y

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Reggie

Last Days | Brian Evenson

Today at my casino, a woman was reading the book on the left. I asked her about it and she said she had been a 7th Day Adventist for over 25 years and that she had recently left. The book deals with a founder of the religion who said she was a prophet but many things have come to light that just didn‘t jive well with the woman reading the book. There was more to it, and she had a pen and showed me all the points she had underlined. She was 👇🏼

Reggie definitely one of us. Do I think 7th Day Adventistism is a cult? No, but there was a heartbreak, a having been misled quality to her story that made me think of cults. And made me think of The Last Days which is about a detective with a self amputated arm that‘s asked to investigate a compound that houses of all things, an amputee cult. It is crazy pants but you won‘t be able to stop reading. #21DaysofHorror Day 3. (edited) 3y

wanderinglynn What a fascinating interaction. 3y

CarolynM I think it can be hard to leave any group that is based around a particular way of being or thinking, whether it's a cult, a mainstream religion, a political party or even just a friendship group. I hope the lady you met finds peace. 3y

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TrishB What a great post Reggie. ♥️ 3y

TrishB @CarolynM so true. I recently resigned my membership of the Labour Party. I‘m a life long socialist but don‘t feel the Labour Party is for me at the moment. But I feel bereft and sad and angry. And not sure who I‘m voting for! 3y

kspenmoll My guess is she found your authentic interest so helpful- and discussing her decision to leave must have been helpful to her. Books are a catalyst for so many of us- you are a gem Reggie. 3y

CarolynM @TrishB I feel you. Unfortunately I don't think parties with genuinely socialist agendas are any chance of winning government in either of our countries in the foreseeable future. With 2 major parties here, my vote goes to the lesser of the 2 evils. 3y

AmyG I love when books lead to interesting interactions with people. An amputee cult? 😳 and @TrishB @CarolynM what a world we live in. I can‘t believe I have to now vote for the person who believes in democracy. 3y

vivastory I think that cults have been on a lot of people's minds these days. I remember hearing about this one & meant to check it out. I recently have been dipping into his new collection

The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell

BarbaraBB Wonderful encounter! 3y

TrishB @CarolynM @AmyG yes, the lesser of 2 evils or the one that still believes in democracy. It‘s a bit grim! 3y

LauraBeth Wow! That‘s fascinating! 3y

Reggie @wanderinglynn @CarolynM @TrishB @kspenmoll @AmyG @BarbaraBB @LauraBeth Thanks all! I got the sense she had come to terms with it because she said what mattered most to her was her own personal relationship to God. Although, she‘s a little attached because she was a secretary with the organization for 20 years and they keep calling her for help with the computer. 3y

Reggie @AmyG yes an amputee cult and it‘s fascinating because they are all categorized by numbers. 1‘s all the way up to the highest which I think was an 11 depending on how many limbs you had cut off. And the higher numbers looked down on the lower numbers. And yes, a year later and we still have crazies saying our president isn‘t the president. The bar is pretty low right now. 3y

Reggie @Vivastory I tried another by him but there was such a lack of emotion that really started to bother me that I just left it. 3y

LauraBrook What an interesting convo you had! I have an old friend who is 7th Day - used to say it was a cult, and if that‘s the case, she has now fully drunk the Kool-Aid. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I hope she finds it a positive thing in her life, but based on our now-limited interaction I‘m thinking it‘s not so much. 3y

DivineDiana A great example of books bringing us together. You are a kind soul, Reggie. ❤️.... But you do find the strangest books! 😅 3y

Reggie @LauraBrook maybe she finds this book one day and throws up all the Kool-Aid. This lady I was talking to, after showing me what she had underlined told me she was gonna pass it on to friends who she thought might be receptive to it. Maybe she‘ll start a mini revolution. 3y

Reggie @DivineDiana ❤️ Lol, I‘ll take that. 3y

Suet624 This was such an interesting post to read. Thanks for sharing. 3y

Reggie @Suet624 I always get excited when I see readers at my casino. Sunday there was a guy who was reading read sci-fi. 3y

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Twainy

Last Days | Brian Evenson

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🎧 WTAF ROAR LMAO

OK Peter Straub‘s outro helped explain some of this completely compelling and ridiculous novel. It‘s short. It‘s graphic. It‘s a bit odd.

Kline, an ex cop has his dominant hand chopped off by, let‘s call him Cleaver man. He distracts him by cauterizing the stump on a hot plate & shoots him in the eye.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Twainy Kline‘s kidnapped & idolized by the brotherhood of mutilates and Paul. Self amputee cults ... His self cauterization elevates him above others.

Will Kline join the brotherhood or Paul in self amputation or will be become the Cleaver man.

Good narration. Quick read. Fun book if you like horror.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4y

Reggie I‘m really glad you liked this. I found it so funny that because he was a “one” they looked down in him. And that there was a rival amputee cult kinda floored me. Lol great review! 4y

Twainy @Reggie I‘m pretty sure my rating will only go up the more I think about it. The humor was great! I bought it & it was worth it. I might look into more of the author‘s books ... hope this wasn‘t a one-off. 😆🙄 4y

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Reggie

Last Days | Brian Evenson

pick

Mr. Kline, an undercover cop whose hand was chopped off by a man only know to us as man with cleaver and then self cauterized the wrist to survive and shoot the man with the cleaver in the eye (all of this on page one no spoilers), finds himself depressed. He is then contacted by people in a brotherhood (cult) of amputees to solve a murder. This is that really frustrating kind of read where your questions are answered with more questions.👇🏼

Reggie This is only a pick for the sheer dedication it takes to write such a bonkers( a term that seems all too tame for this story) kind of book. 4y

AmyG 😳 4y

readordierachel Question: Is that your own personal cleaver? 4y

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Susanita 😲 4y

erzascarletbookgasm That cleaver! 4y

Reggie @amyG @readordierachel @Susanita @erzascarletbookgasm the cleaver is just an image off the internet. Because I need to get this out. At the compound he is considered a “one” because he is only missing a hand. He‘s looked down upon by people who are 8s 9s and 10s because the people of the cult believe the more you cut off the closer you are to the divine. Less is more. Also there happens to be a rival amputee cult. It‘s absolutely nutso this book. 4y

Twainy Dammit. Gonna have to add this to my giant TBR 😆 no seriously 🤨 LOL 4y

Reggie @Twainy it is a big book of crazy. Lol, enjoy. 4y

Twainy No library coverage so ... Audible ... claimed. 😁 4y

erzascarletbookgasm 😳 Intense and insane! (edited) 4y

AmyG Just a flesh wound!! That book sounds bonkers. 4y

vivastory I really want to read this one soon 4y

readordierachel 😱 4y

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Sweettartlaura

Last Days | Brian Evenson

pick

Holy %#*>! What did I just read?!?!
This book is crazy.
The main character has his hand hacked off by a one-time acquaintance (friend?) with a cleaver. He cauterizes the wound himself, then shoots the guy who did it - with his bad hand.
All that draws the attention of a cult of mutilated zealots.
And then it just gets crazier.
It‘s less than 200 pages, if you need/want a quick book. And it‘s creepy AF.

PS - read the intro by Straub, too.

Reggie You had me at Holy%#^* lol, stacked. 4y

Sweettartlaura @Reggie 🤣🤣🤣. It is BANANAS!!! 4y

TrishB I was about to say this sounds like @Reggie would love it! 4y

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Reggie @TrishB you know me so well! 🖤🖤🖤 4y

Sweettartlaura @TrishB & @Reggie if this appeals to you, might I suggest - the more I ruminate on Last Days, the more I‘m reminded of this one. Also completely bonkers, but one of the best books I‘ve read in the past... 5 years or so.

The Library at Mount Char

Reggie I loved that book. And yes, totally bonkers. 4y

Reggie I‘m 50 pages in and feeling sooooo frustrated for the MC. Did you feel this way? 4y

Sweettartlaura @Reggie yes - Kline just wants to go on with his life, and these weirdos have taken hold of it - ugh 😫 4y

Reggie @Sweettartlaura The whole answering a question with a question thing was driving me crazy. Also the whole concept of them being numbers relating to how many parts they‘d cut off! The fact that there was a rival amputee cult! I really enjoyed his dedication to the idea of his story. Thanks for the rec! 4y

Sweettartlaura @Reggie you are welcome 🙂. Did you read the intro by Peter Straub, perchance? He likens Kline‘s open ending to Huck Finn‘s... and I haven‘t been able to stop thinking about that parallel 🤔 4y

Reggie I didn‘t. I don‘t read them before the book just in case they have spoilers and I honestly needed a break. I‘ll go back and read it but I‘ve never read Huck Finn so that part‘s lost on me. 4y

Sweettartlaura @Reggie Huck Finn - a story that‘s supposed to embody a young nation charting a new course - ends essentially with Huck asking, What next? What else can I do? What else can I get away with? Which is what seemingly unkillable Kline is saying, after that crazed final sequence. And it really would make one wonder, wouldn‘t it? 4y

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TheSpineView

Last Days | Brian Evenson

#HorrorSeason @Klou
Day 23: The Wicker Man

Harley_Quinn Is this book any good? 4y

TheSpineView @Harley_Quinn I haven't read yet. Sorry...😬 4y

Harley_Quinn @TheSpineView It's ok, tag me when you read it. I am curious about it. 4y

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TheSpineView @Harley_Quinn Will do. I hate to admit this but I have over 1K books on my TBR list and that doesn't count the ounces on my wishlist. 🙄 4y

Harley_Quinn @TheSpineView I have almost 2K on mine, so I feel your pain there. 4y

TheSpineView @Harley_Quinn 😋 4y

Klou Great pick! 4y

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RinaBrahmbhattBarot

Last Days | Brian Evenson

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Hey Everyone! Happy Friday xoxo today is the last day to join our #ChristmasBookSwap. Details @ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzOvQCqT0Zrt_oyKeH_lC7b4PEzp_DfohP9ypj...

Li_21 Oh no I missed it! 😞😞 6y

RinaBrahmbhattBarot @Li_21 oh no! Email me your details @ mybookswapclub@gmail.com (I haven't done match yet so I'll be able to include you) 6y

Li_21 @MyBookSwapClub sent you the email! 6y

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kaysworld1 Bugger I missed it @MyBookSwapClub 6y

RinaBrahmbhattBarot @kaysworld1 oh no! I'm doing match up tonight, please do send me email at mybookswapclub@gmail.com 6y

kaysworld1 @MyBookSwapClub just emailed you I think kaybrady75@googlemail.com 6y

RinaBrahmbhattBarot @kaysworld1 👍🏼 6y

RinaBrahmbhattBarot @Li_21 👍🏼 6y

Ddzmini I haven‘t received my match yet are they still being set up my email is ddzmini@me.com 😋 6y

RinaBrahmbhattBarot @Ddzmini it's just being sent now :) 6y

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rwrkb

Last Days | Brian Evenson

This is both a strange and fitting follow up to reading Lethem's A Gambler's Anatomy. May never get some descriptions from either of them out of my head.

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