Satan+Says


 * The Big Questions: How does this chapter fit the novel as a whole / Why is it important / What should a good reader take away from this chapter?**


 * Johnson has been revived! Or maybe not, I guess we just learned that the book isn't in chronological order. I wonder why Jess, when recording these memories would choose to write out-of-order. But about the chapter itself, this was one of the more practical plotlines, because there were no magical elements. Johnson was "Satan's voice" so there really aren't that many creepy elements to the story. However, I wonder how McGreavy knew that the boys were at the window- was he in on the joke with Johnson? That would be my guess, but I guess we'll never know. So a good reader will have to make their own opinions, and maybe even learn what's really worth making opinions about, and what you should just accept for what it is. (Reynolds)
 * In "The Telegram," Jess's family gets a telegram describing Johnson's death. Johnson has thus been erased from all of time. Many people may have been thinking that the chapters are out of order, but I have not found any convincing evidence of that fact until I read this chapter. Three chapters ago, Johnson died. Suddenly, Johnson reappears without warning and pulls a Halloween prank on Jess. Either Johnson was reborn and grew to be the same age within a short time period, or the chapters in this book are out of order. I'm gonna go with the chapters being out of order. Thus, this chapter is important to the story as a whole because after reading this chapter, we now have clear evidence that the chapters in this book are out of order. As a single unit, this chapter is important because yet another awkward character is thrown out into the big pile, and his name is Doc McGreavy. This doctor is said to be a crazy old vet, but the only "halfway sober" one in town. He has many various instruments of torture that he uses in his practice to help animals. Great, now we have a psychopath added to the list of freaks. A good reader would notice that it is now plain that the chapters are out of order, and that we now have a new weirdo in the story. (Weber)
 * Further expanding on my previous statements, this chapter fits the novel's ongoing theme of wavering between fiction and non-fiction. I believe that this chapter is not necessarily important because of what happens as far as the plot, but more so because it is concrete proof that this is a fantasy novel. Doc McGreavy's horse Satan actually speaks in this chapter, and considering the fact that I have never heard a horse speak I am confident that it is safe to say that this is a fantasy novel. From this chapter, a good reader should take away an open mindset. This chapter should indicate to a good reader that they should not make weighted assumptions, such as whether a book is based on reality or fantasy, before extensively combing the text. (Ude)
 * I actually think that these chapters are definitely not in chronological order at all, nor in any particular order to give some sort of explicit plot, but they have a slow progression from the beginning to the end of Jess growing up. At the beginning of the book, he definitely seems like a smaller, younger child, more naive in a way, and in this one he seems older than he did then. He really has more of an instinct to retaliate, to fight back, than he did then, because (first of all) he tries to get Doc McGreavy back for being mean to the animals, and (secondly) because he actually gives Johnson a good smack in the ribs multiple times. I imagine it sort of like somebody our age having their chain nearly pulled off and then, while trying not to laugh, giving the prankster a good smack in the ribs. I've seen that happen multiple times. The reappearance of Johnson in the story is completely irrelevant, but the book is in the chronological order of Jess' life, and that's why some of these stories seem out of place or out of the ordinary. (Huff)
 * When I first read this chapter I thought that the only explanation for the re-birth of Johnson was that the chapters were out of order. Once I thought about it, there was nothing telling us that it was out of order. I think that this has even shown that Jess has grown in the past few chapters. His relationship with Johnson began as an awkward one, he barely talked to this man. Jess was happy that Johnson would acknowledge him so he liked him. Jess began to join in as a third wheel in his dad and Johnson's pranks before becoming curious by himself. Creeping up on Uncle Zeno and sleeping in the coffin show that he developed his own curiosity when Johnson was gone. Since this book's chapters end and begin without warning or explanation of the previous one, it is hard to find evidence that the chapters are out of chronological order. When Johnson comes back Jess is more grown up, having a more "guy-like" relationship with Johnson like his dad. Teasing each other and rough housing. (Davis)
 * Yes, (Reynolds) I agree with you, but maybe not because isn't this just a fantasy book where beards grow for forty years and a story is told out of order? What is "Satan" metaphorically speaking? Does Satan need to have a voice?Also,(Reynolds) sometimes a story needs to be told out-of-order or spiced or shaken up to get the significance in the end sometimes stories are meant to be told out of order to receive the full benefits of it's message. (QBennett02)
 * Shock and satisfaction were the two sole emotions I had while reading chapte eight. Indeed, the "revival", as Gevin worded it, came a surprise, for all dialogue whose words came from the mouth of Johnson Gibbs had not been seen in over fifty pages. In fact, I had almost forgotten Johnson was ever in the story! Chapter seven shows us just how much Johnson's opinion and approval mattered to Jess. When Johnson compared his fear to that of a girl's, Jess was hurt but his mood must have changed when he discovered that Johnson felt the same way he did not about the horse but about his rider. The best part about the chapter, though, came at the end when while the two boys were trying to prank Doc McGreavy on Halloween night, both he and Johnson turned the tables and tricked them instead! My guess is that while Doc saw them coming and wanted to teach them a lesson, Johnson just wanted to tease Jess by scaring him. I wonder if Doc and Johnson planned the prank together or it just so happened that their pranks were close to each other even though they were not planned ...(Maia Y)

**Important Quotes (and commentary)**
 * "When I watched Doc McGreavy dehorn a steer with that stubby saw I though how it would be if he cut my arm off. Johnson would pin the steer against the side of the stall and my father and I twisted the head around until the eyes showed white and the mouth frothed and dripped over our hands and legs. It seemed to take forever."
 * This quote is important because it really helps show just how gruesome and creepy Doc McGreavy is. (Weber)


 * "'It's not long till Halloween,' I said. 'Think about that.' I heard him turn on his side. 'I've been thinking,' he said, 'but I ain't made no headway. What you got in mind?' 'Nothing,' I said. 'Only that we ought to pay Doc McGreavy a visit.'"
 * When I think of this chapter, I think of their prank they try to pull on McGreavy. This is the lead up to the main event in my mind, so I find it very important. (Collins)


 * "That was the voice, all right, and I flew at him and pounded his chest with my fists. He didn't protect himself, he was laughing too hard for that. I punched him until I was exhausted, but he was too happy to feel a single blow."
 * This is Jess growing up from a little kid who can't do anything, can't fight back, to a young man who can stand up for himself in a playfu. way. (Huff)
 * "These details began to work upon me and I thought that now I was experiencing the real true nighttime of the world and I began to wonder how anyone ever dared go out into it."
 * This quote is a great representation of how Jess really has really somewhat grown up "in a cave," never leaving home after dark, and always living on a farm. It show how that Halloween experience really was a big step for him in terms of growing up. Maybe all of the exaggerated metaphors earlier in the book were recalled by Jess because he had never experienced anything like those occasions, so his descriptions were wild and to us, were out of proportion, but to him, he had no comparison.


 * "Until this moment I had been too scared to run, but Satan's cordial invitation fortified my courage and I threw down those stupid sticks and lit out like a rabbit that feels the panting of the hounds. I ran heedless through muddy ditches, briars and thorn bushes and, for all I know, straight through the barbwire fence. I certainly do not remember stopping to climb across it."
 * This whole book is about how Jess is growing up. This quote shows how, no matter how much he has grown up, he can still be a scared little kid someimes. (McKinnie)

"'That wasn't fair the way you-all tricked me.' I said. 'not a bit fair. You and me was supposed to be in this together. It was our Halloween, yours and mine'"
 * This quote shows just how badly that jess wants to be with johnson and how upset he was when he finally thought they were becoming good friends he went back and pulled a prank on him. and i can see how that would hurt
 * Also in this quote it shows just how much jess wants to fit in with the older people. He is constantly referred to as too young and said that he could't do something until he was older. (Howell)

**Moments of astonishingly good writing**
 * "At last we left the table and went outside. It was a storybook Halloween night, calm and clear and breeze-less. Scattered house lights were orange dots in the distance and now and then a dog would start up barking and then fall silent. Isolated stars shone in the east, but in the west they were washed out as the full moon nestled grandly on the hill ridges, a wheel of frost."
 * This is a moment of astonishingly good writing because when I read this passage, I can really see a vivid image of a dark, scary Halloween night in my head. I can feel the cold, hear the dogs barking, and see the full moon shining big and bright. (Weber)


 * "Even the tools of his trade suggested cruelty, the long-handled castration clamps, the large-toothed stubby saw for dehorning steers, the enormous forceps and hypodermics. The medicines in large brown and blue bottles were disgusting as well as threatening and the words //nux vomica//suggested ugly sorceries."
 * This is a very good description of Doc McGreavy through his tools. You get a very good understanding of the man himself when you read this passage, even though it is through a very scared child's eyes. (Huff)
 * "Then Satan spoke." I guess this sentence may seem simple, but I like how bare it is. It packs a punch, and cause the reader to want to read on. (Reynolds)