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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I was never a great student of history. If people ask me about timelines and the years of great historic events, I usually draw a blank. Then I discovered that I actually learn and retain a lot more about history through reading! Wonderful. Let's learn about the Kennedy assassination through this book. Perfect.
The time travel plot device was interesting, and the pieces of this story that focused on the historical events were great. The beginning parts of Jake's time travels as he experimented with the rabbit hole and its effects were great too.
When Jake reached Texas, the story stalled in a very big way. His personal life as a teacher in a small town in Texas, his romantic relationships, friendships and personal growth were mildly interesting at best. If the aim was to make the reader feel as "stuck" in time as Jake during these years, I'd say King achieved that.
I only recently started reading Stephen King a couple of years ago (The Outsider, The Shining) and already his writing style seems familiar and predictable. Just like Jake Epping talks about "harmonies" in the past, with patterns resonating again and again in his story, I seem to be experiencing the same "harmonies" in King's books. The characters, their backgrounds, the settings, their flaws and quirks all seem to repeat.
Still, the historical setting fascinated me enough to push me on. When I finally got to the crucial moment, it was sufficiently satisfying but the aftermath and the ending sort of petered out. King also included an afterword detailing some of the research he did for this book which I actually found worth reading.
The time travel plot device was interesting, and the pieces of this story that focused on the historical events were great. The beginning parts of Jake's time travels as he experimented with the rabbit hole and its effects were great too.
When Jake reached Texas, the story stalled in a very big way. His personal life as a teacher in a small town in Texas, his romantic relationships, friendships and personal growth were mildly interesting at best. If the aim was to make the reader feel as "stuck" in time as Jake during these years, I'd say King achieved that.
I only recently started reading Stephen King a couple of years ago (The Outsider, The Shining) and already his writing style seems familiar and predictable. Just like Jake Epping talks about "harmonies" in the past, with patterns resonating again and again in his story, I seem to be experiencing the same "harmonies" in King's books. The characters, their backgrounds, the settings, their flaws and quirks all seem to repeat.
Still, the historical setting fascinated me enough to push me on. When I finally got to the crucial moment, it was sufficiently satisfying but the aftermath and the ending sort of petered out. King also included an afterword detailing some of the research he did for this book which I actually found worth reading.
This book forever changed the way I will think about writing and storytelling (and time travel). As I mentioned in my review partway through the book, I am now questioning if I gave out 5 star ratings to willy nilly. This is the strongest 5 star I could ever imagine. Unlike anything I have ever read. I am genuinely worried that nothing I read from here on out will meet this new expectation I have for books. The bar is now set SO high.
Stephen King, this is a masterpiece. You blew me away in so many different ways. This book will stick with me forever and ever.
Stephen King, this is a masterpiece. You blew me away in so many different ways. This book will stick with me forever and ever.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
all of the sexist language and racial slurs got to be too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence
My first Stephen King novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would recommend.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For my first Stephen King book, I really enjoyed it! Though its a little bit of a slog in the middle, I really enjoyed it for what it was, and not what I expected it to be.
Read most of this while on the beaches in Greece, and was an amazing companion.
Read most of this while on the beaches in Greece, and was an amazing companion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Racism, Sexual content
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes