2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss End of Watch, the third book in the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King.

Pages: 432 pages

Length: 1 month (November)

Participants: Beth, Lorraine, Lulo

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Will be starting it today. This will be the first physical book I will be reading this year (so far, it was all E-Books)

I am still waiting for my copy from the library. Really looking forward to reading it.

I started Wednesday and am already more than halfway through! The pacing on this one is definitely much better than Finders Keepers.

I want to finish up a couple books I’m reading then will start this one. Probably early next week yay!

I received my copy! I hope to join you at the end of this week. A few books to finish before.

Emily wrote: "I started Wednesday and am already more than halfway through! The pacing on this one is definitely much better than Finders Keepers."

Great news! Finders Keepers was too slow for my taste!

Emily wrote: "I started Wednesday and am already more than halfway through! The pacing on this one is definitely much better than Finders Keepers."

I'm almost halfway too, and fully agree on the pace is a lot better.

(view spoiler)[What's not a lot better is the news about Hodges!

Also, I find the thing with Brady and the Zappit a little bit confusing. (hide spoiler)]

I finished today! Honestly I loved this one, definitely my favorite of the trilogy.

(view spoiler)[Finders Keepers feels weirdly out of place with this one and obviously Mr Mercedes being focused solely on Brady and then Finders Keepers only having brief mentions of Hodges visiting him. Having read this and seeing how the trilogy wraps up, it feels like Finders Keepers would have been better as a short story or even just as a stand alone novel that ties into the universe of these two books because it really just fills the time between when the two novels takes place and doesn't really fit into the Mr Mercedes/Brady Hartsfield arc at all. But I digress.

I thought this was a really strong conclusion to the series and did such a good job of wrapping everything up. I think it really did all the characters justice and ended Hodges' character arc on a high note. Also loved the sort of blend of genres with the more supernatural elements of the mind control and telekinesis mixed with the crime thriller, and I think King did a good job of handling such a delicate topic like suicide. (hide spoiler)]

Emily wrote: "I finished today! Honestly I loved this one, definitely my favorite of the trilogy."

Fully agree on everything you said. Really loved this one. Great pace, every part of the books is needed and great.

(view spoiler)[The part of Brady been able to get others mind through the Zappit is maybe a little bit too complicated for me, but at the end it's a fantasy book, so I can't ask for logic.

Didn't like the end for Hodges, but it was clear since he's got the diagnostic. But it's a good way to clearly end the trilogy right here. (hide spoiler)]

Now it's time to watch the TV series of the triology.

Also, to read the Holly's Trilogy

Started the book. Love it so far! and yes the pace is really better.

Just finished. Perfect Stephen King again! Will also looked for the TV series. Did not know about it. And read Holly’s trilogy. Thank you all for reading this with me.

I’m about 3/4 of the way through. Dang that I have errands to run!

I’ve suggested the first Holly trilogy book as a Buddy Read for a January (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) with the idea to do the others in subsequent months. Just in case you’d like to join me!

Finished. Wow. Just wow. Phenomenal! I liked the first book best of the three, but this one is a very close second. Very fast paced, and very appropriate ending.

Beth wrote: "I’m about 3/4 of the way through. Dang that I have errands to run!

I’ve suggested the first Holly trilogy book as a Buddy Read for a January (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

I’ve read book 1 in 2019. Can’t say I remember a lot of it though. I will think about it. I have so many books plan for January, not sure I can add another 500+ pages. If not, I will join for book 2 and 3. I have a few weeks to decide! :-)

As it turns out, The Outsider is already on the schedule for December (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...). Oops!