Slade House: The ending

Did the way Slade House ended surprise you? Once you started to see the patterns in the preceding chapters, did you expect that the Grayer twins would ever be stopped?

Maybe it was because I've read other David Mitchell novels including Bone Clocks, but when I realized the next "victim" was Marinus I thought there was a chance that the Grayer twins could be stopped. I found the ending to be satisfying, even though, or perhaps because of, the re-set.

I'd never heard of Marinus, so I was surprised that she was leading them on. I figured they'd have to be stopped, at least temporarily, in order to end the book, so I can't say I was surprised by that.

I'm with you, IrishSue. As soon as Marinus was mentioned I knew that things were about to get good.

I knew once Sally had injured Jonah that the book was headed towards a happier ending. That was so satisfying to see! Until that point, I wasn't sure the twins would ever be stopped. LynnB, like you, I also hadn't heard of Marinus and was surprised that she was leading them on. I had hope, especially since she seemed to be so cautious, but wasn't sure until she revealed herself. I'm curious to see if there will be a sequel with Norah and Marinus later on. I like how Mitchell seems to leave things with room to grow.

>1 lorannen: I was very satisfied w/ the ending. When we finally arrived at the 2015 chapter, and it was from Norah's perspective... well that told us one thing (that this chapter was not going to end the way the others did). And I was pretty sure the Grayer twins would be stopped, but what was most surprising to me was that, when I was finally in Norah's perspective, I actually found some empathy for the "soul vampire." As such, I was very happy that there wasn't as definitive an end for her... I would definitely welcome a sequel of sorts...

Oh, I know nothing about Marinus.... will have to read Bone Clocks soon!

I'd only read Cloud Atlas, so this was a surprisingly quick read. I'm not a genre fan, but I am a sucker for character, and loved the dexterity with which Mitchell got me invested in each. I'm especially impressed with the ending, as I would never have suspected I would side, even briefly, with the "bad guys", which of course I did.
btw, kristilabrie, didn't Norah end up in a puddle of ash like her twin?

nope, Norah will be reborn.... she entered an as-yet unborn baby.

Of course! Musta blocked that out...

The big tell for the defeat of the twins was the fact that Norah was the narrator of the final section. The book is rigorous about maintaining a "victim's-eye view."