Stephen King

Stephen King

Long Walk / Thinner

The Long Walk: In the near future, where America has become a police state, one hundred boys are selected to enter an annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. The game is simple - maintain a steady pace of four miles per hour without stopping. Three warnings, and you're shot to death.
Thinner: Billy Halleck commits vehicular homicide when his lack of attention to driving results in the death of an old lady on the street. Overweigh Halleck is a lawyer with connections, though, and gets off with a slap on the wrist. After his trial, a gypsy curses him with a single word, "Thinner." Halleck begins to lose weight uncontrollably and must pursue the band of gypsies who are responsible for his dwindling condition.


Sunday, December 28, 2014

Chapter 5-6

It seems like some of the guys in the walk are unaware of the consequences of their actions. In chapter 5, Rank started swinging at Barkovitch even though he knew it was against the rules and it would get him warnings. Rank ultimately got himself killed because he was picking a fight and didn't stop after acquiring 3 warnings (106). I would think that since he knew fighting was against the rules, he would never do something like that. 
In chapter 6, McVries did something similar. He started screaming at the major and raising his fists at the soldiers and swearing at them, allowing himself to get 3 warnings (136-137). If Garraty hadn't gone back to talk some sense into him he would have been killed too. These kids know that they're going to be shot if they get too many warnings so I'm suprised to see that they would still break the rules knowing they might get themselves killed because of it. I was especially suprised to see McVries flip out like he did because he had always seemed focused and determined before the incident. I think it shows the toll that the walk is taking on them both mentally and physically.
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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousDecember 28, 2014 at 12:45 PM

    It seems to me that the characters in this book are slowly unraveling. They're becoming crazy (i think). For instance, in chapter 4, Barkovitch starts screaming at one of the other boys and starts calling him names. This is against the walk's code and they get in trouble. Baker comments, "He's breakin'."
    I think it's clear to the others that people are slowly breaking down. This walk is driving them to insanity.
    I wonder how the winner is going to act at the end. Will he be crazy himself?

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