終點

The final book in this series was awesome, it didn’t fail to live up to my expectations – as some books do (divergent for one!)I had a hard time putting this book down!There are some hard times ahead for our 3 main characters and each character has to dig deep to deal with the tasks put in front of them. I can’t say too much without spoiling it, but there were some parts that I expected and then others that really threw me.Cassia has to really dig deep to deal with what she has to do, in both her personal life and that of the tasks that ‘The Rising’ give her. Questions and doubts to whether ‘The Rising’ are really the saviours that Cassia and Xander believe in, Ky is the most pragmatic of the characters, he doesn’t quite trust ‘The Rising’ and I could understand that, they were nowhere when his village was decimated.This book gets your imagination going… you wonder if our world will ever get this controlled, could we hand over our personal rights so easily…One thing I do love about this book is the poetry that is included, and the main one really did connect with me: Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas, 1914 - 1953 Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,Because their words had forked no lightning theyDo not go gentle into that good night.Good men, the last wave by, crying how brightTheir frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,Do not go gentle into that good night.Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sightBlind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.Do not go gentle into that good night.Rage, rage against the dying of the light.From The Poems of Dylan Thomas, published by New Directions. Copyright © 1952, 1953 Dylan Thomas. Copyright © 1937, 1945, 1955, 1962, 1966, 1967 the Trustees for the Copyrights of Dylan Thomas. Copyright © 1938, 1939, 1943, 1946, 1971 New Directions Publishing Corp. Used with permission.I finished this book on Anzac Day – so this poem and the message was very meaningful.I think this book makes the reader reflect on a lot of things, I know it did me.One or two passages struck a cord with me which Ms Condie has written herself: To pass through fire and water and stone and sky together and emerge, all of you, strong enough to hold on, strong enough to let go… This spoke to me, because at the minute my family is going through some tough times… this passage reminded me that it’s about getting through this tough time, but also that when we are finally through it – to let go… otherwise we will never really be able to make a fresh start. I pray that we get the chance.Another was, a passage about losing possessions “words are just words. Ways to capture the real thing don’t be afraid to remember that.”I know what she means. Writing, painting, singing – it cannot stop everything. Cannot halt death in its tracks. But perhaps it can make a pause between deaths footsteps. Sound and look and feel beautiful, can make the space of waiting a place where you can linger without as much fear.For we are all walking each other to our deaths, and the journey there between footsteps makes up our lives.Now this was a part that really had me thinking about death… my mum has Alzheimer’s and I feel cheated as my mum slowly forgets… but I thought as I read this, its up to me to remember… and so I will, I will tell my mum stories and hopefully help her remember the joyous times as she sits there waiting in the grey fog of this disease.The final passage in the book, really sums up life: There is ebb and flow.Leaving and coming.Flight and fall.Reaching and reached. I guess what is important is that WE actually try… otherwise we will never achieve anything, its not about the result, it’s that we actually participated in this life we have been gifted on this earth. In the back of my copy there were some questions for the reader - which I really enjoyed thinking about and answering.This paperback series was one of the ones I rejected in my moving pile, but it gets a reprieve as its one I want my grandkids to read, and I will probably re-read it too. So I am going to sneak the books into my packing boxes now ;)I am adding this to my Top Read 2018 series – and if you haven’t read this series yet – grab it now.