Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Billy Summers by Stephen King

27 reviews

bookish_songbird's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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nilspadraig's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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paulrichard's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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ashdroid's review

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The first 400 pages were great. Beyond that, it just didn't do it for me.
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captainmadeline's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I want to start by saying that I never thought I would so deeply care about a hitman.

<spolier> I saw some non-spoiler reviews about this book that touted a lot about how this is one of the most interesting pairings King has ever done, and I was like "hmm sure, I'll see about that", but it was. I loved Billy and Alice's relationship immediatley. I loved them both immensely. Billy is probably one of the most interesting characters that I have met in a long while. Oh, and not to mention Bucky!!

The plot of this book was also amazing. It kept me engaged and I wanted to know more the entire time. I really appreciated how, even though there were quite a few scenes where there could have been really long, expansive descriptions of military operations or assassinations, they were never that long. King stuck to the important bits that pertained more to the main character than the plot, which I prefer.

Also, can I just say, one of my favorite things about King is when he writes references to his other novels into his books? It makes me smile like an idiot every time it happens.

I think that one thing that I could say about this book that might be negative is that sometimes it was hard to get into the chapters where Billy was writing about his time in the war. But, as soon as I did get into them, it was extremely engaging and I found myself wanting more. I don't think there was any other way for this to have been done, so I don't really mind. I just write this so that if anyone is feeling put-off by those parts, just give it some time! 
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nazhiboom's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
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sheryl_reads's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
SPOILERS - LOTS OF SPOILERS. AND THE BIGGEST TRIGGER WARNINGS YOU CAN THINK OF. 

The things I’m going to point out aren’t down to preferences, or being sensitive to subject matter. As you read this, I would like you to bear in mind that none of this really serves the story and could have been done in any number of different ways, which still would have worked.

  1. The main character has a ‘dumb self’ which is likened to being on ‘the spectrum’. Being autistic doesn’t make you less intelligent (or dumb as King insists on calling it. Billy Summers is meant to be a paid killer who is very well respected - best of the best sniper type guy. I’m not sure how believable it is that his associates (who presumably are good at reading people, to be successful criminals) think he’s not smart. 
  2. Just because people are ‘bad guys’ or ‘gangsters’ doesn’t mean they have to be homophobic, racist etc. It’s not banter. It’s lazy writing and King can do better.
  3. Alice’s story. I’ve put details right at the end of this review so you can avoid it if you find sexual assault triggering.  I accept the main character has to save her, thus saving himself a little. But there is NO NEED for her attack to be so brutal. And the examination of her whilst she’s still unconscious… disgusting. We all know what’s likely happened to her - there’s no need for the graphic description and further violation of that character. Frankly, I don’t understand how anyone reads this and doesn’t think ‘this isn’t right, WTF?’. 
  4. The blackface (apologies if this isn’t the correct term) - Billy decides to go visit his associates and has to sneak into their compound. He decides to disguise himself as a day labourer. Who obviously must be an illegal Mexican immigrant who is a deaf/mute… I don’t care that it’s spray tan - the character is darkening his skin to disguise himself as a day labourer (who has to be an illegal Mexican? Why? Stereotypes are just lazy)
  5. Throwing in an old rich guy paedophile when there could be all sorts of explanations which wouldn’t involve yet more sexual assault elements. I can think of so many other reasons why the hit had to be done, none of which would involve child abuse. 
  6. Randomly mentioning that Bucky, who is Billy’s go to guy for ID and jobs etc, is probably gay, even though it adds nothing to the story or character.  It’s like a throwaway thought the Billy has, but it adds nothing to our understanding of Bucky or their relationship. 

Perhaps some people would say that the book should have come with trigger warnings. And I think it should have. But I’d also say that perhaps King should just have thought a bit more about what he was writing. There’s no need for most of the things I’ve pointed out. 

I’m a long term King fan and I have to say that this might be the end of the road for me. I’m sure his future releases will be successful, and losing one fan isn’t gonna bother him. But if he genuinely thinks that this kind of content is ok… I think he’s got a problem. And I’d extend that to all the fans out there posting 5 ⭐️ reviews of this. 

TRIGGER WARNING FOR ALICE

Alice is sexually assaulted (gang raped by 3 men) and then tossed out of a van outside Billy’s hideout. To avoid attention, he takes her into his apartment and tends to her. She’s unconscious as she’s been drugged, she’s also wet and cold. Billy strips her naked and towels her off (I accept this is probably what you’d need to do) but then proceeds to examine her intimately. We already know she’s been attacked - there’s bruises on her and he’s noted blood on her uppers legs. So, we get it. She’s been raped. It isn’t necessary for us to get a graphic description - but King insists on Billy spreading Alice’s legs and giving us the details of the damage done to her vagina. Oh, and he’s also naked cos in the rain and exertion of carrying Alice indoors his underwear fell off. 
Billy also gets revenge on Alice’s attackers - and again, this is gratuitously violent. 
I understand Billy needed a redemption of sorts. But the details of the attack on Alice, and the frankly disgusting violation when she’s unconscious doesn’t add anything to the story. 
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