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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Castle Rock has a new shop, Needful Things owned by Leland Gaunt, a newcomer. It's a curious shop, full of knick-knacks and oddities, but everyone who enters finds the object they desire; even if they didn't know it. Even more curious than the objects themselves are the prices - in addition to a nominal monetary payment, Gaunt also asks the buyers to perform tasks for him. At first glance these tasks seem like harmless pranks against other residents, but before long the entire town is at war with each other.
I don't read a lot of Stephen King, but I have to say what I have read I have always enjoyed.
King really nails the small town dynamics in this one. He spends a significant part of the start of the book introducing us to the various characters and explaining their relationships with each other. This carries on with each new character introduced as the book progresses, so we really know the characters well. I must say that an awful lot of them are not particularly likeable, and not just because of the hold Gaunt gets on them. Luckily there's just enough that you can get behind.
The plot is a bit of a slow burn. It's a long book (26 hours of audio), and I wouldn't exactly say that it is action packed, but it does keep you engaged all the way through. It took me a good bit of time to work out what was going on and how things would unfold, and I have to say that even after finishing I'm not entirely sure what the endgame was. That definitely didn't impact my enjoyment of the book though.
There was a few scenes that were particularly gruesome and make for uncomfortable reading, and in true King style there is a sense of deep seated unease that runs through the whole book. Much as I enjoyed the book there was a part of me that was glad to get to the end and move on to something lighter!
Every time I finish a Stephen King book I think I should go back and read more of his back catalogue, but I never seem to get around to it. Maybe this time I actually will.
I don't read a lot of Stephen King, but I have to say what I have read I have always enjoyed.
King really nails the small town dynamics in this one. He spends a significant part of the start of the book introducing us to the various characters and explaining their relationships with each other. This carries on with each new character introduced as the book progresses, so we really know the characters well. I must say that an awful lot of them are not particularly likeable, and not just because of the hold Gaunt gets on them. Luckily there's just enough that you can get behind.
The plot is a bit of a slow burn. It's a long book (26 hours of audio), and I wouldn't exactly say that it is action packed, but it does keep you engaged all the way through. It took me a good bit of time to work out what was going on and how things would unfold, and I have to say that even after finishing I'm not entirely sure what the endgame was. That definitely didn't impact my enjoyment of the book though.
There was a few scenes that were particularly gruesome and make for uncomfortable reading, and in true King style there is a sense of deep seated unease that runs through the whole book. Much as I enjoyed the book there was a part of me that was glad to get to the end and move on to something lighter!
Every time I finish a Stephen King book I think I should go back and read more of his back catalogue, but I never seem to get around to it. Maybe this time I actually will.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reconciliación con el tito King. Tenía este tochaco esperándome en mis estanterías desde hace años y para variar decidí escogí esta lectura por un mero impulso.
Como de costumbre, King se lo toma con calma para presentarte el pueblo, los personajes y la situación. Quién coja un un libro de King extenso no puede esperar otra cosa.
Aunque en mi opinión le sobran un par de cientos de páginas, pero todo lo hace para que la evolución de la semillas que planta al principio, te resulte natural.
Todo el que haya tenido una educación mínimamente religiosa sabe a los 3 segundos cual es la verdadera identidad del villano, pero aún así no te lastra la narración, el libro no va de eso. Más bien al contrario, te encanta ver como juega con la naturaleza humana y como es relativamente fácil provocar una chispa entre dos personas para que haya una explosión.
De hecho creo que no hacía tanta falta el elemento mágico para conseguir esta manipulación, sobra con conocer la mezquindad del corazón humano. Y el señor Gaunt la conoce de sobra...
Cuando todo el caos se empieza a desarrollar y alcanza su pico no podía dejar de leer, me tenía completamente enganchada.
Alan Pangborn destaca como protagonista en esta novela coral y ha sido muy bonito reencontrarse con este personaje después de ver la serie de Castle Rock (muy recomendable para los fans de King, yo sigo pensando en ella después de meses). La serie ha ganado incluso más, viendo lo bien que ha adaptado al personaje y los guiños que le hace a la novela.
Para variar con el autor, lo más flojo es el final de la novela, demasiado rápido, sacado de la manga y fácil.
Termino esta reseña inconexa ya, y recordad, nadie vende duros a cuatro pesetas, desconfiad de cualquiera que os ofrezca la ganga del siglo, sobre todo del misterioso vendedor que acaba de llegar a tu precioso y tranquilo pueblo dónde nunca pasa nada.
Como de costumbre, King se lo toma con calma para presentarte el pueblo, los personajes y la situación. Quién coja un un libro de King extenso no puede esperar otra cosa.
Aunque en mi opinión le sobran un par de cientos de páginas, pero todo lo hace para que la evolución de la semillas que planta al principio, te resulte natural.
Todo el que haya tenido una educación mínimamente religiosa sabe a los 3 segundos cual es la verdadera identidad del villano, pero aún así no te lastra la narración, el libro no va de eso. Más bien al contrario, te encanta ver como juega con la naturaleza humana y como es relativamente fácil provocar una chispa entre dos personas para que haya una explosión.
De hecho creo que no hacía tanta falta el elemento mágico para conseguir esta manipulación, sobra con conocer la mezquindad del corazón humano. Y el señor Gaunt la conoce de sobra...
Cuando todo el caos se empieza a desarrollar y alcanza su pico no podía dejar de leer, me tenía completamente enganchada.
Alan Pangborn destaca como protagonista en esta novela coral y ha sido muy bonito reencontrarse con este personaje después de ver la serie de Castle Rock (muy recomendable para los fans de King, yo sigo pensando en ella después de meses). La serie ha ganado incluso más, viendo lo bien que ha adaptado al personaje y los guiños que le hace a la novela.
Para variar con el autor, lo más flojo es el final de la novela, demasiado rápido, sacado de la manga y fácil.
Termino esta reseña inconexa ya, y recordad, nadie vende duros a cuatro pesetas, desconfiad de cualquiera que os ofrezca la ganga del siglo, sobre todo del misterioso vendedor que acaba de llegar a tu precioso y tranquilo pueblo dónde nunca pasa nada.
This is King at his best. I was hooked from the first page. Usually I’ve found you have to slug through 200 pages of world building before you get to any semblance of story with King’s writing. That’s definitely not the case with Needful Things. There are a LOT of characters and for the first hundred pages I had a hard time keeping everyone straight but after that it was easy. The way every (seemingly) nonsensical action led to this giant fiasco was thrilling.
Knocking off a star for the weak ending, unnecessary comments about every women’s “ample bosom” and the racial slurs but would it really be a King book without those things?
Knocking off a star for the weak ending, unnecessary comments about every women’s “ample bosom” and the racial slurs but would it really be a King book without those things?
Even though it took me over a year to finish reading it, I really loved this one. It sucked me in, as an addiction usual does. First, it wasn't that impressive. I wouldn't have kept on reading, if it were not for the fact that I've read S. King's books before and were thus certain sticking with it would reward me in the end. I was not disappointed.
The book was for me a long metaphor for addictions. For the dangers of wanting and needing. At first it was a book easy to put away, I read other books instead and only returned to this one because of the expectations. Then, about one third into it, it started to harden its hold on me. To the end, it was hard to put away to do something else - like for example to sleep.
Even though the beginning did not "take a hold on me" it was well written, just as the book in whole. I found it to be a very fascinating read, and it made me think a lot about the dangers of thinking you need something particular. The words "I'd do anything ..." got a deeper meaning for me with this book.
The book was for me a long metaphor for addictions. For the dangers of wanting and needing. At first it was a book easy to put away, I read other books instead and only returned to this one because of the expectations. Then, about one third into it, it started to harden its hold on me. To the end, it was hard to put away to do something else - like for example to sleep.
Even though the beginning did not "take a hold on me" it was well written, just as the book in whole. I found it to be a very fascinating read, and it made me think a lot about the dangers of thinking you need something particular. The words "I'd do anything ..." got a deeper meaning for me with this book.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh boy Needful Things was boring, no offence but some of Mr King's books I've enjoyed others well. I don't like at all, and someone in a facebook recommended me this and I was curious to see what it was about. It has a good premise after all but for the most part nothing happens at all. I'm sorry but I get that people probably like Needful Things but I fall under the ones who where not blown away by it.
I really have nothing more to say here.
A summery for Needful Things:
Needful Things, the sign says. The oddest name. A name that causes some gossip and speculation among the good folks of Castle Rock, Maine, while they wait for opening day. There was something for everyone at a price they could just about afford. The cash price that is.
I really have nothing more to say here.
A summery for Needful Things:
Needful Things, the sign says. The oddest name. A name that causes some gossip and speculation among the good folks of Castle Rock, Maine, while they wait for opening day. There was something for everyone at a price they could just about afford. The cash price that is.
Llevo una racha de lecturas de Stephen King curiosa (desde It, que leí en Julio) y, con motivo de la salida del trailer de Castle Rock - una serie basada en las historias de Stephen King -, busqué en Internet cuáles obras suyas tenían lugar en este pueblecito ficticio que ya conocí con la película Cuenta Conmigo cuando era una niña. De las que me salieron, La Tienda fue la que me llamó la atención porque recuerdo vagamente haber visto algún trozo de la película de refilón cuando era pequeña.
Dicho esto, tengo que decir que La Tienda está en los escalones más bajos de mi pirámide de preferencias de libros de Stephen King. No puede ser de otra manera siendo el protagonista de la novela el pueblo de Castle Rock, pero muchas veces me liaba entre tantísimos personajes, más aún cuando trataba de recordar los pactos que cada uno había realizado con el dueño de Cosas Necesarias.
Durante la mayoría de la lectura se me hizo una lenta e incluso pesada en algunos momentos. Recuerdo que me emocionó mucho la aparición de cierto personaje al que reconocí de otra historia de Stephen King ambientada en Castle Rock, pero aún así no resultó suficiente. Además, ¿qué es eso de spoilear el final de otras novelas tuyas, Stephen?
Le doy tres estrellas porque no creo que sea un mal libro y está muy bien escrito, pero desde luego no es de mis favoritos.
Dicho esto, tengo que decir que La Tienda está en los escalones más bajos de mi pirámide de preferencias de libros de Stephen King. No puede ser de otra manera siendo el protagonista de la novela el pueblo de Castle Rock, pero muchas veces me liaba entre tantísimos personajes, más aún cuando trataba de recordar los pactos que cada uno había realizado con el dueño de Cosas Necesarias.
Durante la mayoría de la lectura se me hizo una lenta e incluso pesada en algunos momentos. Recuerdo que me emocionó mucho la aparición de cierto personaje al que reconocí de otra historia de Stephen King ambientada en Castle Rock, pero aún así no resultó suficiente. Además, ¿qué es eso de spoilear el final de otras novelas tuyas, Stephen?
Le doy tres estrellas porque no creo que sea un mal libro y está muy bien escrito, pero desde luego no es de mis favoritos.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes