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tyler_dickson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
It’s filled to the brim with dull, flat characters. King clearly wrote the dialogue on autopilot. The description is clunky, and we never have a good sense of how the locations in the park relate to each other. It’s hard to get your bearings.
Devin Jones is a boring 21-year-old kid, but he’s not boring like most younger people who are boring because they’ve not experienced much; he’s boring because he has zero character traits, and King writes him as this perfect, moral kid who never makes a wrong decision.
Every female character has their breasts, butt, and figure described—even during moments of extreme distress. King has a heavy interest in this character navigating the sexual landscapes of young adulthood, but he’s so awkward with it that it turns into fantasy rather than any coming-of-age “how I lost my virginity” story.
A dull mystery at the heart of the story serves as nothing more than an occasional “Oh yeah, aren’t we supposed to be doing something in this book?” rather than a narrative that pushes you to keep turning pages. 90% of the investigation occurs offscreen with a character who is not the main character!
Only read this if, like me, you love carnival settings and carnies. The one positive aspect of the book is that King lets the scenes in the carnival breathe, and he did a decent amount of research into how an amusement park in the 70s would have been constructed. I enjoyed reading the pages where Devin or another character works on the rides or games at the park.
I would skip this book and read Nightmare Alley by William Lindsey Gresham instead. There’s also an incredible film adaptation from 1947 starring Tyrone Power that will knock your socks off. It’s a must-read and a must-watch.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Rape
Moderate: Chronic illness and Child death
lay_kone's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Murder, and Rape
juffnstuff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Rape and Child death
adiajamille's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
This is more a murder mystery with a little bit of a ghost story. It built up nicely, with a tense conclusion.
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Ableism, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
violettiaras's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Moderate: Rape
rawknee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Minor: Rape
aleesquer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
- I love a good coming of age story
- Ghosts
- Setting (amusement park). Very involved in learning the new lingo and how to work there. Immersive and interesting
- Predictable (had very few genuine surprises)
- The way the background characters of color are treated is... not ideal.
- Boy howdy, does King not write women well. Jesus christ.
- That one "gallant men rarely getting pussy" line 🤮
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Rape, Sexual content, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Medical content
tifftastic87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this one, as per usual for King it is heavily character driven, until the last 50 pages when everything happens. We get to really know the main character, Dev, we spend time with him and get down into his soul. We follow him the summer he really grew up, even though he's 21, and watch him go from a whiney infatuated boy to a strong and kind man. A wonderful small theme park, with the colorful cast of characters that brings in, serves as a delightful background. But as per standard, things arent what they seem. A touch of ghost, a touch of sociopath, and a good ol' southern woman with a gun.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Gun violence, Murder, Blood, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Ableism, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Rape
matthewosborne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Murder and Chronic illness
Minor: Rape
stampest's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Sexism, Blood, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Gore, Pregnancy, Ableism, and Child death
Minor: Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts