Discussing Finn: Favorite Passages

[ELee]

A thread to discuss favorite passages in "Finn".

This thread is particularly suitable for those who have read most or all of Jon Clinch's Finn. If you haven't finished the book, please be aware there may be plot spoilers among the posts.

[ELee]

"Finn pulls in a little channel cat and puts it on a stringer and drops it back into the water to continue swimming as if it were yet as free as it is alive."

For me, this simple, "indigenous" image sums up the lives of the main characters. Finn, the Judge and Mary are each "hooked" in a way that allows them to continue living, but never free of their individual "demons". Finn, who wants to believe himself to be in control of his life, is the victim of a need to reconcile with his father and the overpowering influence of forty-rod whiskey that is slowly poisoning him. The Judge, who prides himself on his legal career and being "elevate[d]...over other men", is so consumed by racial bigotry and his own personal brand of justice, that he would stoop to murder to purge his bloodline. And poor Mary, who is pretty, smart and brave, finds a brief respite and a small taste of some kind of independence during Finn's imprisonment, only to return to him (out of love?, compassion?, lack of options?, to protect her son?), a forever "slave".

[jd]

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ELee wrote:
"Finn pulls in a little channel cat and puts it on a stringer and drops it back into the water to continue swimming as if it were yet as free as it is alive."

For me, this simple, "indigenous" image sums up the lives of the main characters. Finn, the Judge and Mary are each "hooked" in a way that allows them to continue living, but never free of their individual "demons". Finn, who wants to believe himself to be in control of his life, is the victim of a need to reconcile with his father and the overpowering influence of forty-rod whiskey that is slowly poisoning him. The Judge, who prides himself on his legal career and being "elevate[d]...over other men", is so consumed by racial bigotry and his own personal brand of justice, that he would stoop to murder to purge his bloodline. And poor Mary, who is pretty, smart and brave, finds a brief respite and a small taste of some kind of independence during Finn's imprisonment, only to return to him (out of love?, compassion?, lack of options?, to protect her son?), a forever "slave".

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wow Elee. Really good.