In the thirtieth and final chapter of Feed, Shaun begins a new life. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to finish Feed.
Chapter Thirty
The end is here, and it’s not an easy one.
I’m sad. I know that there are two books and two novellas left in this series, but I miss Georgia Mason. I think one of the main challenges of Deadline is going to be getting over Georgia, both for Shaun and the reader. I don’t know that there’s even that much left to address in the second book, since Feed wraps up practically every plot that was brought up. Tate is dead; Ryman is still running for President, though Rick is now his running mate. (!!!!!! I LOVE THIS SO MUCH !!!!!!) And Georgia is still dead.
What’s so upsetting about this final chapter is how Georgia haunts everything. She’s in every word. She’s in Shaun’s home, she’s in his work, she’s everywhere. I think this will be one of the few things that carries over to Deadline, and I say that with certainty because I know how haunting it is to lose a loved one.
I wasn’t surprised, then, that Shaun moved out of the Mason household. After reading chapter twenty-nine, I started to formulate some predictions I’d make for Deadline, and one of them would be about Shaun’s adoptive parents. I figured that he’d clash with them, especially since they’ve made it clear they’ll do what they need to in order to gain traffic and ratings. It was unsurprising that these adults used Georgia’s death as a way to get attention, and I don’t doubt Shaun’s reading of the situation. The Masons have more than shown me that they’re willing to use their own children for sympathy, so why wouldn’t they use Georgia’s death for the same thing? I mean, why else would they think that Georgia would want them to have her unpublished files? It’s another way to keep the traffic flowing to their own sites. Shaun’s mother also suggests that getting a pass into Yosemite is actually something he should aspire to. She fundamentally does not understand that Shaun wants nothing to do with that world, and I’m sure she doesn’t care.
It hurts to realize that, but it’s the truth.
I don’t know how Shaun is going to continue on. He’s the administrator of After the End Times now, but I don’t get the sense that he ever leaves his new apartment. I don’t think he is an Irwin anymore. I mean, it’s bad enough that he sees Georgia everywhere. How would going out into the wild make that any better? As he said before, he’s seen enough outbreaks. What would that adventure provide him? A temporary escape or reprieve? Maybe, but then it would come rushing right back as soon as he thought about Georgia. And I imagine that happens all the time now.
It’s at the end of this book that Mahir finally gets to meet Shaun, though under bittersweet circumstances. What’s striking about this ending is that it truly is unfair. As sad and sorry as everyone is, they all get to go on with their lives. Shaun still doesn’t have Georgia. While I don’t doubt that Rick, the Rymans, or Mahir are torn up about the loss of Georgia, they don’t experience what Shaun is experiencing. Given that, it all really doesn’t seem worth it, does it? The world got their story, the truth was told, and Tate is dead. But how is it worth it if Georgia isn’t there to see it?
At the very least, Shaun has the memory of Georgia within him, and she’ll accompany him through this journey. That’s all he really has, you know? And it’s going to be the only thing that he’ll have through the rest of his life.
Goodbye, Georgia Mason. I know you’ll be in the pages of Deadline, but it won’t be the same.
If you are going to follow along with Countdown
Mark Links Stuff
– You can follow me on Twitter for any updates and live commentary on upcoming reviews I’m writing.
– You should read this very important post about supporting Mark Does Stuff!
-Â Video commissions are just $25! You can commission me to read, watch, or play anything for current, past, or upcoming projects right here!
- I have just released Mark Reads Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for $4.99!
- I’ve started reading The Shoebox Project for Mark Reads, the first fanfic “series†I’ve ever covered! Join me
