SPOILERS!! THE GLASS RAINBOW ending and plot discussed here

[pamala]

Just thought I'd start a thread for those who have finished the book.

[tom schaech]

I finished the book last night. Not really sure what to think! I just can't believe Clete and Dave could be gone, or were we all left with a teaser to lead into the next (hopefully) book? Maybe leading Alafair into law enforcement????

[John G]

Tom,

I agree with you. The end seems intentionally ambiguous --- maybe they're alive, maybe not...maybe somewhere in between. And no epilogue adds to the ambiguity.

But all great writing allows the reader to interpret and this is yet one more great one in the Robicheaux series. The expansion of Alafair's character was wonderful. I know this...the next one can't get here soon enough!

[jbenham]

WOW, just WOW! You know how after a Good Friday service the lights are turned out and everybody silently leaves? It felt like that. The premonition of death at Robicheaux's could be explained by the death of the cop assigned to watch the house. On the other hand, the two books about the start of Louis L'Amour's Sackett clan was told in the first person by by Patriarch Barnabas who died in the second book.

The part where Dave was dancing with the Cleaners down by the river was really good!

[veronicat]

The ending floored me and I reread it and reread it looking for clues. All I could come up with was that they were both on the gangplank NOT on the boat. That, and he said Snuggs and Tripod walked back to the house together. When last seen Tripod was on his chain, shaking with fear in a tree limb. Snuggs was not mentioned. Maybe in Dave's mind he saw things as he wanted them to be, Molly and Alafair saying goodbye...they would not walk away and leave him lying there. The arms lifting him to the boat could actually be an ambulance, Molly and Alafair walking away to the car to go to the hospital as they don't allow a lot of people in ambulances...he did hear those sirens.

So what I think is this. Whether or not this series is continued, the boys are all right. If there is a next book, they will both have knowledge that the afterlife is a very real thing. It could also mean that Clete entered the death stage to bring Dave back like a true shaman. Clete could turn his life around (yeah right lol). Dave would have this major out of body experience and that would change him and perhaps offer more meaningful insights. If Jim decided to end this series with this ending as is, it works for me too. I would love to see a book co-authored by Jim and Alafair too! She is an amazing writer!

I want to wish Jim many more years on the planet. Many more. I hope to goodness that there are a whole bunch of other books with these guys I love so much.

In my own life, I have chosen to paint smaller canvasses as I know that inevitably, my work will be interrupted at some part of my life.

I think the ending was brilliant as it could go either way; either a new book down the road or a beautiful ending to a magnificent series. Just my opinions. I have given this a lot of thought since I finished this masterpiece!

[Debbie Henthorn]

I still had a few pennies to roll, but the man surprised me with my copy of "The Glass Rainbow" yesterday.

All of the things I love about JLB and Robicheaux were there, the imagery pure poetry.

I just finished a few minutes ago and need a little time to absorb it all. Definitely an ambiguous ending, leaving room for more or the ending that fits.

[Dakotapix]

If Jim decided to end this series with this ending as is, it works for me too.

This was my feeling as well.

I think the ending was brilliant as it could go either way; either a new book down the road or a beautiful ending to a magnificent series.

Absolutely agree with this statement. While some may assign the term "cliffhanger" to this ending, I think it goes way beyond that. While we all want to see Dave and Clete again, I think JLB has a few other interesting characters in his mind.

[veronicat]

Absolutely Dakotapix, I so agree with you that this goes way beyond cliffhanger. Simply brilliant ending.

[Byron]

First, another excellent example of Jim's writing. Every time I read a Burke novel, I want to remember New Orleans like it was in the 50's. I even planted elephant ears around my house! Keeping those alive in North Florida is no fun, but to keep that memory it is worth the effort.

At first (and still) I was devestated to learn that one of my favorite fictional characters was killed. Then consideration made me think not. I think Jim has left it open. I expect that he might not have another huge effort to write a new book with the same characters left in him. I expect it's passing difficult. I mean no disrespect by that either; I couldn't write one paragraph a tenth as well as you, much less hundreds of pages.

Regardless, as a supplicant to the altar of your prose, I will await what you gift me next, whatever it may be. For now, I still have my memories of South Louisiana brought back fresh whenever I read your books.

Byron

[amart71017]

HOW COULD YOU???????? I MEAN I KNEW SONNER OR LATER THE SERIES WOULD END BUT WOW I AM STILL TRYING TO ABSORB IT ALL. HAS JAME LEE MADE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT FUTURE PLANS FOR DAVE AND CLEAT???