Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I say this every time but I'm gonna say it again; Stephen King knows how to write good characters! The protagonists and antagonists are so well written and stand out in the story, which I think is especially impressive when you consider just how many characters are in this novel. I thought the story was super cool and interesting, a different spin on the whole 'selling your soul to the devil' plot that's been written over and over again.
I think, personally, the only thing that let this book down was actually the sheer number of characters because, at times, it was a little hard to follow who had problems with who and who everyone was and how they knew each other. But that wasn't a major problem and the main characters were so enjoyable I didn't mind all that much.
I think, personally, the only thing that let this book down was actually the sheer number of characters because, at times, it was a little hard to follow who had problems with who and who everyone was and how they knew each other. But that wasn't a major problem and the main characters were so enjoyable I didn't mind all that much.
I feel so bad for not liking it, but it took me almost a month to read half of it, and even then I couldn't care less for the characters or for the plot. I was trying to force myself to finish, but eventually i just had to DNF it for my own sanity.
Sorry King, I really do feel bad for doing it.
Sorry King, I really do feel bad for doing it.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Despite this being the first time I actually agree with the "Stephen King can't write endings" cliche, the slightly lackluster final 10 pages were completely outweighed by the rest of the story. For something like 450 pages you get this slow buildup, a brutal crime in the middle to get you questioning things, but mainly just this building sense of ominous mystery. Then, for the next 250 pages (my copy was 700 pages long) you're overwhelmed by nonstop action. Every page keeps you invested, and I ploughed through those 250 pages in two days no sweat.
I figure that a 700 page book that I read in a little over a week during exam season must be doing something right.
Leland Gaunt is also one of my favourite Stephen King villains, maybe just beneath Randall Flagg (of course), The Crimson King, and Atropos.
Overall it's a cracking good time and doesn't deserve its less than marvelous reputation.
I figure that a 700 page book that I read in a little over a week during exam season must be doing something right.
Leland Gaunt is also one of my favourite Stephen King villains, maybe just beneath Randall Flagg (of course), The Crimson King, and Atropos.
Overall it's a cracking good time and doesn't deserve its less than marvelous reputation.
This book was really hard to finish. It still gets 3 stars because some parts of it were brilliant, it was somewhat intresting and Stephen king is a great narrator, but as a big fan I have seen him write better. The build up was much too long, much too random and in some point I didn't even care which character dies…
The middle was tiring and it made me drop the book for a while but it continues nice.
The middle was tiring and it made me drop the book for a while but it continues nice.
Certainly one of the better villains and endings of the material I’ve read from King.
A un moment, j’ai eu vraiment peur que Alan ce soit fait vraiment prendre par Gaunt. Très beau livre, histoire terrifiante et fascinante comme tous les autres livres de Stephen King!