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katchie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
divineskeleton's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ahotfairytale's review against another edition
The main character was too unlikable and the writing of the female characters too offputting.
sammyisobsessed24's review against another edition
5.0
If you're familiar with the original film adaptation like I was, you'll likely be surprised by just how much scarier the book is. And sadder, but that's no surprise, considering the subject matter of a young child being killed suddenly. The description of gore is intensely foul, and it paints a very vivid image. You feel as though you can both see and smell the rotting corpse of Victor Pascow as he haunts Lewis, trying in vain to keep him away from the burial ground. I'm not often bothered by excessive descriptions of carnage, but this book did manage to make me viscerally uncomfortable many times. I say that as a compliment - it's impressive, how uneasy, sad, and disgusted I was throughout my reading. It's one of the first Steven King books I've read (though, like most people, I've seen many movie adaptations), and I'd say it's a good one to start with.
jessi_2000's review against another edition
5.0
"The soil of a man's heart is stonier, Louis. A man grows what he can, and he tends it. 'Cause what you buy, is what you own. And what you own... always comes home to you."
kimberlyf's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes dead is better
✺ original review (2022): ok LOVED. I'm not sure if I loved the story itself more or the audio narration from Michael C. Hall, but the two of them put together was an absolute masterpiece. This isn't a horror novel with lots of blood spilled and gory scenes. Yet the chilling unease that you feel throughout— just knowing something horrible is going to happen— and the dread you feel is, arguably, better in my opinion.
✺ updated review (2023):
When I first read Pet Sematary in September 2022, I was very hesitant. After my sole encounter with King’s work years earlier, I put myself on a hiatus because I disliked the book I had read that much. I thought to myself “If this is King, I don’t like King” (looking at you Langoliers). When I originally picked up Pet Sematary, I was looking for a scary, foreboding read and it seemed like a good choice. Though, if I’m honest, what sold me on it was the audiobook narration by Michael C. Hall. I absolutely love him as an actor and his voice and thought to myself “Even if I don’t like the book, I will at least enjoy the narration of it”. And enjoy the narration I did. Hall is the perfect fit for this novel.
Because this was only my second encounter with King’s work, I was still hesitant upon finishing to say that the writing was what I enjoyed (hence my original review above). But as I sit here and think about my experience with this book the first time around—I have to be a honest—the more I realize that regardless of how good a narrator is, it will never make a bad book good. Never. It can only make a good book more enjoyable.
The truth is, I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since I read it 12 months ago. I think about it, at least, without exaggeration, once a week. So yeah, I guess you could say that I liked the writing. I liked the book. It clearly stuck with me. I’m grateful that Hall persuaded me to pick up another King novel because I have enjoyed many more since. Ok, that’s enough ass-kissing. On to the story itself.
→ In his opening note, King says that, "without hesitation", this is the book of his that frightens him the most. In fact, it horrifies him. His words, not mine. “It may not be the one that scares readers the most… but Pet Sematary is the one that I put away in a drawer thinking I had finally gone too far.” I couldn’t agree more. In Pet Sematary, King weaves together one of his best stories ever (I say having only read like seven books of his but I said what I said!!).
The Creed family has just moved to the town of Ludlow where Louis is working at the University as head of medical services. When they arrive, they are welcomed by their new neighbor, Jud Crandall. Louis quickly finds a father figure in Jud and the two become good friends. Jud introduces Louis to the woods behind the Creed’s new humble abode. All the kids know the Pet Sematary sits back there but even further back, fewer people know that it’s where the real cemetery sits.
The characters in this novel ughhhh the characters! They are brilliantly crafted, with Louis and Jud standing out as exceptionally dynamic figures. Witnessing the evolution of their relationship is truly captivating.
The novel skillfully navigates the theme of grief and man, do I love books with themes of grief. It is such a universal emotion that defines the human experience. In Pet Sematary, King explores the lengths that one will go to after suffering from inexplicable loss and it is both poignant and thought-provoking. To say more would be to risk spoiling the plot and I truly believe that the less you know about this one, the more impactful your experience will be so I will leave my thoughts there for now. This goes down as one of my favorites of all-time.
If you haven't already, pick up Pet Sematary. It is haunting and lingers long after you close the book.
✺ original review (2022): ok LOVED. I'm not sure if I loved the story itself more or the audio narration from Michael C. Hall, but the two of them put together was an absolute masterpiece. This isn't a horror novel with lots of blood spilled and gory scenes. Yet the chilling unease that you feel throughout— just knowing something horrible is going to happen— and the dread you feel is, arguably, better in my opinion.
✺ updated review (2023):
When I first read Pet Sematary in September 2022, I was very hesitant. After my sole encounter with King’s work years earlier, I put myself on a hiatus because I disliked the book I had read that much. I thought to myself “If this is King, I don’t like King” (looking at you Langoliers). When I originally picked up Pet Sematary, I was looking for a scary, foreboding read and it seemed like a good choice. Though, if I’m honest, what sold me on it was the audiobook narration by Michael C. Hall. I absolutely love him as an actor and his voice and thought to myself “Even if I don’t like the book, I will at least enjoy the narration of it”. And enjoy the narration I did. Hall is the perfect fit for this novel.
Because this was only my second encounter with King’s work, I was still hesitant upon finishing to say that the writing was what I enjoyed (hence my original review above). But as I sit here and think about my experience with this book the first time around—I have to be a honest—the more I realize that regardless of how good a narrator is, it will never make a bad book good. Never. It can only make a good book more enjoyable.
The truth is, I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since I read it 12 months ago. I think about it, at least, without exaggeration, once a week. So yeah, I guess you could say that I liked the writing. I liked the book. It clearly stuck with me. I’m grateful that Hall persuaded me to pick up another King novel because I have enjoyed many more since. Ok, that’s enough ass-kissing. On to the story itself.
→ In his opening note, King says that, "without hesitation", this is the book of his that frightens him the most. In fact, it horrifies him. His words, not mine. “It may not be the one that scares readers the most… but Pet Sematary is the one that I put away in a drawer thinking I had finally gone too far.” I couldn’t agree more. In Pet Sematary, King weaves together one of his best stories ever (I say having only read like seven books of his but I said what I said!!).
The Creed family has just moved to the town of Ludlow where Louis is working at the University as head of medical services. When they arrive, they are welcomed by their new neighbor, Jud Crandall. Louis quickly finds a father figure in Jud and the two become good friends. Jud introduces Louis to the woods behind the Creed’s new humble abode. All the kids know the Pet Sematary sits back there but even further back, fewer people know that it’s where the real cemetery sits.
The characters in this novel ughhhh the characters! They are brilliantly crafted, with Louis and Jud standing out as exceptionally dynamic figures. Witnessing the evolution of their relationship is truly captivating.
The novel skillfully navigates the theme of grief and man, do I love books with themes of grief. It is such a universal emotion that defines the human experience. In Pet Sematary, King explores the lengths that one will go to after suffering from inexplicable loss and it is both poignant and thought-provoking. To say more would be to risk spoiling the plot and I truly believe that the less you know about this one, the more impactful your experience will be so I will leave my thoughts there for now. This goes down as one of my favorites of all-time.
If you haven't already, pick up Pet Sematary. It is haunting and lingers long after you close the book.
cmlamb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Steven King fantasizing about an old woman being a hot teenager not once but twice really did me in. Other than that, I appreciated the themes of death, love, and grief… but I still think this book could have been 100 pages shorter.
bookscoffeecats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5