The Knife of Never Letting Go discussion

Okay--I cried at Manchee's death and for a while, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue. Am I crazy for being angry at Todd for leaving Manchee behind? Was anybody else as sad as I was?

Yeah, i felt exactly the same, i hated Todd so much, and wasn't able to continue the book right away, i took some time to read the second one, it was hard for me, i cried like a baby! :( everytime i remembered Manchee i felt a knot in my throat.

But the rest of the trilogy is awesome! you should definitely check it out ;)

Do be very honest i don't think todd could help it he was extremely ill from the spackle blood. i countinued though and manchee lives on in todds memory. YES THE TRIOLOGY IS AMAZING

I stopped reading for a while after Manchee's death, and the murder of the dog is the tipping point which will stop me from buying the next one. Juvenile fiction authors seem to be upping the darkness in a game of nasty surrealism.

Seriously your not going to read the book because of the death. Your letting that stop you from having the excitment from the others...

I definitely shed a tear or two, but I agree with Laman that Todd couldn't stop Manchee. He tried.

Question, though: What do you think Ness' motive for killing Manchee was? Did it serve some purpose to the novel other than to add emotion, did he not want Manchee to get in the way for the rest of the trilogy, was it random? Any speculation?

Maxy wrote: "I definitely shed a tear or two, but I agree with Laman that Todd couldn't stop Manchee. He tried.

Question, though: What do you think Ness' motive for killing Manchee was? Did it serve some purpo..."

I think there was no use for Manchee in the rest of the books, he couldn't have survived everything that came on later. Plus, Ness added a lot of emotion by killing him, so that served to make people never forget the book.

But that doesn't mean i didn't miss him a lot in the rest of the trilogy :(

I cried but there is no way I'd stop reading such a brilliant book because of something like that.

i cried, a lot. and then told everyone else at work, and made them cry aswell. so sad. it took me a few minutes to get back into it, but that was all. i really think that manchee died the way he did to aviod him dying in the background of the second book. it was so moving, how he did all he could to protect todd. if it weren't for that, i think when they ran into aaron later, or davy, or even when they made it to haven, he would have simply been shot or killed in some other meaningless way.

Brian wrote: "I stopped reading for a while after Manchee's death, and the murder of the dog is the tipping point which will stop me from buying the next one. Juvenile fiction authors seem to be upping the darkn..."
I agree. It also killed the series for me. I thought it was an unnecessary and cruel - to both reader and characters. I even gave the book away, and havn't had any desire to read any more. Sad because I loved it up until then.

I was really depressed and I cried. I think what really made it sad was the fact that you could hear what he was thinking. I kept reading tho, and enjoyed it very much. Really tho, how re supposed to decided between the last girl you know, that's really your friend too, and your dog? It's impossible.

Manchee's Death = sooo sad

I am probably one of the very few who didn't think that Manchee's death was sad. I found it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in a dog, even a dog that can communicate with humans. Sacrificing a dog's life for a human life is basically a no-brainer for me.

A lot of people die in the book as well. Yes, it was sad to have Manchee killed, but he died so Todd and Viola can live.

Manchee's death also shows how ruthless Aaron is - that unyielding hatred and need to always get his own way.

I was really sad when Manchee died as well but I think it really added to the book and i can understand his motives. it kinda annoyed me though when Todd went on about missing Manchee, he should have been nicer to him when he was alive or thought of some other way to get Viola back if he really loved him.

Oh, Manchee :(
I miss him :(

Scerfman wrote: "I was really sad when Manchee died as well but I think it really added to the book and i can understand his motives. it kinda annoyed me though when Todd went on about missing Manchee, he should ha..."

Maybe there was no other way, and it is a tragic thing that Manchee unfortunately died but it builds up the story to a whole new level.

Laman wrote:"Maybe there was no other way, and it is a tragic thing that Manchee unfortunately died but it builds up the story to a whole new level."

^^ I agree

I cried. I think the book would have been better if he had stayed alive and Todd and Viola came up with some scary way to save him. Still sad about that. He was so loyal even tho Todd didn't like him in the beginning.

I started crying in the middle of class when Manchee die. I didn`t like him at first but i gotten use to his stupid comments. He should have live a little longer.

I cried so much when i read the part about Manchee dying but i definitely wouldnt stop reading a book because of something like that! I think maybe part of the reason why he killed manchee off was to show how much manchee loved Todd and that he would sacrifice his life for him and that sometimes the hard decisions are the right ones? also i think he kind of would have gotten in the way during the 2nd and 3rd books

I saw it coming as soon as Todd revealed his "plan" and I still wasn't prepared for it. Ugh...it was horrible, and I did cry, but luckily I was listening to it in my car and it was raining, so no one could tell. One thing I cannot do is animals being brutally killed...or tortured...or left behind...or getting shot cause they have rabies. Gah. I almost turned it off as well. At times I did kind of feel like Manchee was in the way, but I never would've wanted him to go out like that...just cruel. And yeah I get that Aaron was evil(we already knew that), and it's a part of Todd growing up, yada, yada, yada, but it didn't need to be so unnecessarily graphic and just...cruel.

Okay, everyone keeps saying the Manchee sacrificed himself, which is true, until it's not. At first, he sacrificed himself, but than Todd made him lose the fight with Aaron by calling his name and making him lose focus. I know Todd called him to try and save him, but he ended up sealing his fate. Next, when Todd stopped Viola from rowing back towards Manchee to save him, it says; "Todd? he barks, confused and scared and watching me leave him behind." That got to me. I kept reading though. I also saw it coming, like Cheyenne said. I think it was sad, but it wasn't Manchee's fault like everyone says.

Poor Manchee. He was a good talking dog.

I literally just cried my eyes out when i read this chapter. I loved Manchee as a character, i'm so upset he's not going to be in the sequels. On the other hand it has made me absolutely despise Aaron but i have had to put the book down for now as i'm a little too emotional.

I'd become beyond annoyed with Todd prior to Manchee's death, and outright hated him thereafter. I'd like to go on and on and on about this (I am that passionate about Manchee!)but I'd unleash spoilers if I did. I will only say this: I should have stopped reading after Manchee's death, as every cell in my body told me to.

i kinda understood why todd left manchee behind and i felt so sorry for bot manchee and todd. todd never wanted the dog in the first place and hated manchee however when he left prentiss town he grew fonder of manchee and manchee turned into the best friend todd never had.

Singingpork wrote: "Okay, everyone keeps saying the Manchee sacrificed himself, which is true, until it's not. At first, he sacrificed himself, but than Todd made him lose the fight with Aaron by calling his name and ..."

i totally agree and thats what i was trying to say in my commment but i couldnt get it across very well

Gwynneth wrote: "Brian wrote: "I stopped reading for a while after Manchee's death, and the murder of the dog is the tipping point which will stop me from buying the next one. Juvenile fiction authors seem to be up..."

i think your wrong yeh it was sad but its only a dog and its only a book its not real!

Scerfman wrote: "Laman wrote:"Maybe there was no other way, and it is a tragic thing that Manchee unfortunately died but it builds up the story to a whole new level."

^^ I agree"

me too

Courtney wrote: "I am probably one of the very few who didn't think that Manchee's death was sad. I found it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in a dog, even a dog that can communicate with humans. Sa..."

no your not i feel totaly the same way

i dont get why everyone got all upset and cried? i find it difficult to be emotionally attached to things like dogs , evne a dog that talks also i thought it was the best thing to do. here are the options

#1 be killed and one of the most important people in the world to you get likked too or have done goodness knows what done to them however your dog goes free

#2 let your dog die and get viola back and you servive

#3 you and your dog die and viola lives with knowone to defender her and to be with her to help her leaving her all on her own .

i'd go for #2 no question . yes it would be tough to leave your dog behind but thats life we all have to make tough decisions. but lets face it a human over a dog ? its just a dog .

Brooke wrote: "I'd become beyond annoyed with Todd prior to Manchee's death, and outright hated him thereafter. I'd like to go on and on and on about this (I am that passionate about Manchee!)but I'd unleash spoi..."
Ok, I know we are all upset, and it's a tragic thing that manchee died, and its really upsetting but you're seriously going to let manchee death prevent you from reading the book. I avoided the book for a two days but continued reading because there always more to the story...and leaving the book...is something i don't regret.
thank you

I was absolutely heart broken when Manchee died. Yes it's only a book but i just loved his character. The description of how confused and scared he looked whilst he was being killed is what really made it so upsetting. But i would never stop reading. I can't wait to find out what happens next :)

I'm not mad at Todd for leaving him but I cried

I agree that Manchee's death changed the book completely and took it to a whole new level. It was almost too much, and I can understand why people would not want to carry on reading, because it wasn't the book they thought it was going to be.

Manchee's death is still the one thing that stands out in the trilogy for me - the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions 'The Knife...'. I was in a waiting room when I read it, and it was excruciating keeping those tears down!

I was quite sad when Manchee died. But I do agree that Todd wasn't really to blame. What also I find so upsetting about his death is the fact that he died whilst trying to save Viola and Todd. The loyalty shown by Manchee in the book is enormous, especially as Todd didn't always seem to love Manchee as he did in the end. I was quite surprised that I love Manchee's character as much as I do, he is actually one of my favourites. As silly as it sounds it makes me love my own dog even more. I've found I think more about what she may be thinking and feeling and trying to say to me, despite our obvious inability to communicate properly through speaking or thinking.I haven't started to read the second book yet but I'm excited hearing how great it is!

Does anyone know how to stop getting posts about To-Read books? Because this was like a big spoiler:/ Very very sad now:-(
Please reply.

I think the posts about book discussions in the homepage are only of the books you've read. I've never seen a discussion on my homepage of a book on my to-read shelf... Maybe you were looking in the book page...

I cried too. Manchee was the best character by far.

P.S. If you like loyal dog characters then read Califia's Daughters - best dog heros ever!

Brian wrote: "I stopped reading for a while after Manchee's death, and the murder of the dog is the tipping point which will stop me from buying the next one. Juvenile fiction authors seem to be upping the darkn..."

Really? Dogs that kids love die every day in real life. Maybe not in such a way, but die they do. Nothing surreal about it. Dark, maybe...but kids old enough to be reading this know that there is darkness out there. Some more readily than adults.

For myself, yep, I cried when Manchee died. To me, the reasons that Ness might have written it like this is one of the first real challenges that Todd has navigating the slippery slope of hurting people sometimes when you're trying to do things that are (greater) good. It's a theme of the books...maybe THE theme.

I had to pause at the death of Manchee, take a break and come back to it in a bit. It's hard to read, especially as attached as I got to him.

But I do feel a need to say that I don't think authors are upping the darkness a bit. It's always been there, sometimes very dark. Reading about the death of Ginger in Black Beauty was fairly traumatic, and given the age on that book...well it's always been there.

I work in the publishing industry and so this discussion has gone around quite a bit. There are certain things you 'can' and 'can't' do (and yes these rules get broken all the time). Death of an adult - in books it happens all the time. Death of a child - harsher. Almost never shown, and tricky when it does happen. But almost any editor will tell you "Don't kill a dog as that will turn a reader against you quicker than anything."

So here's the question to consider. What was the author trying to tell you? What made it so important that it was worth breaking the rules? Was this a straight shot to manipulation of your emotions as a reader or was there a deeper purpose to this? I think Dystopian might have had it right here. I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks.

OMG! I cried more than Marley and Me! I am a dog person. I get attached to dogs so easily and I truly thought Manchee was goin to survive with Todd to the end! I wish he didn't die - it was so sad. I cried pretty much for the rest of the book I was so sad. He was so young and sweet and innocent and beautiful and he always forgave Todd for yelling at him all the time and he was so protective and strong! I actually want to re-wright that part and make the boat move forward and they get to Manchee! I miss him :(

So glad to know I'm not the only one who bawled like a baby!! For me it wasn't even his death that hurt so much, it was him calling for Todd with that question in his "voice". Absolutly broke my heart!

I just dug this up from a group interview with Patrick Ness (http://weartheoldcoat.com/2011/10/12/...

"
...A boy asked the question that every Nessochist was dying to ask ever since that chapter… you know… you know the one.
*deep breath*
Why did you kill Manchee?
You could have heard a pin drop.
I swear it.
But I remember exactly what Patrick Ness said so I’m going to use “quotation marks”.
“Every dog wants to be a hero” and “He would’ve wanted to go that way saving Todd”.
Well, good for Manchee. But what about us?! We didn’t want him to go that way!
It was lovely to hear him say that because Manchee is a hero. But it still doesn’t repair the hole left in my soul.
Also, he said that he knew it was going to happen before he wrote the book.
But it didn’t make it less sad for him to write.
"

I didn't cry at Manchee's death, but it did break my heart and make me have to put the book down for a while. (The rest of the evening, I would be thinking of other stuff and doing other stuff, and then randomly blurt out - to no one in particular - "I can't believe he killed Manchee!")

I couldn't hate Todd for leaving Manchee. It was a heartbreaking choice, one he had to make within seconds. I can't really fault him for deciding as he did.

As a life long dog owner, there is nothing your dog wouldn't do for you. Manchee knew he had to save Todd and the only way was to keep going and leading danger away. I loved the Todd....Manchee....Todd....Manchee
it was not easy for either one of them but it had to be done! This is one of my most favourite trilogies. I have had a few customers that have taken a bit of coaxing to continue but none have been disappointed!! Read on, you will not regret it.

It was deffinantly very sad (I cried) but that is no reason to hate Todd, or even Paul Ness. Authors are supposed to play on the emotions of people to make a book amazing. Have you ever had a pet die? He was probably trying to play on that emotion, and make Todd that much more relatable. Also, Todd had not appreciated Manchee as much as he should, but in the end he really loved that dog. Manchee's death not only adds emotion to the book, it makes Todd more human. Even after he murders something in cold blood, he is still Todd. That is a big theme running through the trilogy, nop matter what Todd does, he stays human. Manchee needed to die, his death is not a reason to stop reading the book, or hate Patrick Ness.

Gwynneth wrote: "Brian wrote: "I stopped reading for a while after Manchee's death, and the murder of the dog is the tipping point which will stop me from buying the next one. Juvenile fiction authors seem to be up..."

It was one nail in the coffin for me. Not only did it stop me from reading any further in the trilogy, I actively recommend against it. Other reasons include Aaron's horror-movie-like ability to survive, and the ending of the first, where all the earlier sacrifices appear to be for nothing.

This book caused me to seriously question what "juvenile" fiction includes. If this was a movie, it wouldn't be PG.