I love Irv Manders

[Drawn to Ka-tet]

I've just re-read Firestarter and I have to tell why Irv Manders' character is so wonderful for me.

Just put yourself in his shoes, you see a man and a child walking at the side of the road. They look rough, dirty, tired, maybe the man looks sick.
What would you do?
Would you stop and offer them a ride, take them home for a hot meal?
Or would you ignore them, keep driving?
Stop and yell something like, Get a job loser!

I love Irv Manders. He stops. He gives them a ride. He takes them home. Surprise Norma, we have guests! He senses something is wrong- but he's not naive enough to take the story at face value. But he believes once Charlie raises the room temp and the black cars start down into his dooryard. I think he's the quintestential WWII veteran with a big heart and I just love this character.
I especially love him when he tells Norma, "What do you want me to do, Norma? Sit here and turn them over to the secret police....? Be a good German?".

And it made me think what a great man Mr King is. To remind people of the horrors suffered by the Jews during WWII. How neighbor turned against neighbor. Mr King has a strong sense of right and wrong and he has imparted it to Irv Manders. Irv who has taken a Stand against the evil that comes for the little girl and her father.

So, it all makes me think, what would I do. Would I be strong enough to take a Stand and do the right thing?
God I hope so. I hope we all would.
Long days and pleasant nights.

[ginapenn]

I also really love Irv. He took a chance on those guys (maybe got a little "burned"-pun certainly intended, lol) but he seems like the type of guy that given the opportunity, he'd do it again. Norma was a little judgmental but she warmed to Charlie quickly after. The one thing I love about King, what he manages to do so brilliantly (not sure if it's effortlessly but I suppose since he's been writing for so long, it's gotten easier) is he breathes life into these characters and they all have their own separate personalities. As a writer learning her chops, it's an attribute I hope to shape for my own writing.

[Roland de Gilead]

Excelente post, me hizo recordar cuando lei ese libro por primera vez y la sensación que me produjo cuando Irv los llevo a su casa.
Gracias por estas lineas Atraidos por Ka-Tet.

Largos días y Placenteras noches!!

[ginapenn]

There is nothing sweeter than coming home to an old, well-loved book.

En Espagnol:
No hay nada más dulce que viene a casa a un libro viejo y bien amado.

Largos dias y Placenteras noches!