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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Another King I haven't read for decades! I still enjoyed this story of a man slowly wasting away after being cursed.
The first half of the story ran a bit slow for me, but the second tripped along quickly. My favourite, and I think the best section of the book, is when Italian gangster Richard Ginelli arrives on the scene.
It's hard not to compare Thinner to King's more recent book, [b:Elevation|38355410|Elevation|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542040067l/38355410._SX50_.jpg|60021532]. In Thinner, Billy never really accepts responsibility for his part in everything that happens, and one of the reasons he never evolves into a truly likeable character is because of this trait. He just sinks deeper into his own blackness. He's not even a character that one can feel much sympathy for, even though his situation is pretty horrific.
In contrast, one of the things that made Elevation so good was seeing the main character, Scott, evolve in the opposite way in terms of the process of acceptance. So I guess that's what makes Thinner a horror story and Elevation a more reflective and hopeful piece--if Billy had ever embraced his situation and used it to reexamine himself closely, the story would be completely different.
One of my favourite quotes comes from Richard Ginelli and relates to what follows from a lack of true self reflection and observance:
Some guys--a lot of guys--don't believe what they are seeing, especially if it gets in the way of what they want to eat or drink or think or believe. Me, I don't believe in God. But if I saw him, I would. I wouldn't go around saying, "Jesus, that was a great special effect." The definition of an asshole is a guy who doesn't believe what he's seeing.
That pretty much sums up not only many of the problems of 2020, but maybe most of the problems in the world generally from election authenticity to climate change.
The first half of the story ran a bit slow for me, but the second tripped along quickly. My favourite, and I think the best section of the book, is when Italian gangster Richard Ginelli arrives on the scene.
It's hard not to compare Thinner to King's more recent book, [b:Elevation|38355410|Elevation|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542040067l/38355410._SX50_.jpg|60021532]. In Thinner, Billy never really accepts responsibility for his part in everything that happens, and one of the reasons he never evolves into a truly likeable character is because of this trait. He just sinks deeper into his own blackness. He's not even a character that one can feel much sympathy for, even though his situation is pretty horrific.
In contrast, one of the things that made Elevation so good was seeing the main character, Scott, evolve in the opposite way in terms of the process of acceptance. So I guess that's what makes Thinner a horror story and Elevation a more reflective and hopeful piece--if Billy had ever embraced his situation and used it to reexamine himself closely, the story would be completely different.
One of my favourite quotes comes from Richard Ginelli and relates to what follows from a lack of true self reflection and observance:
Some guys--a lot of guys--don't believe what they are seeing, especially if it gets in the way of what they want to eat or drink or think or believe. Me, I don't believe in God. But if I saw him, I would. I wouldn't go around saying, "Jesus, that was a great special effect." The definition of an asshole is a guy who doesn't believe what he's seeing.
That pretty much sums up not only many of the problems of 2020, but maybe most of the problems in the world generally from election authenticity to climate change.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11624885
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11624885
The Frankness in the twist and turns of this tale are enjoyable and gives off a energy rarely felt in a King Story. A different Vibe that somehow fist snuggly in the King works.
I had previously read this book. I remembered the gist of it but I had forgotten the details. This time I chose the audiobook, narrated by Joe Mantegna (Agent Rossi on Criminal Minds). He does an amazing job. Billy Halleck, an overweight (no, I wasn’t overweight. I was fat) Connecticut lawyer hit and killed an old gypsy woman and an old gypsy man with his nose rotting put a curse on him. Billy begins losing weight. Sounds great! His doctor and his wife have been on him to lose weight for ages. Only he doesn’t stop losing weight. In a panic he follows the gypsies to apologize and get the old man to lift the curse. We know this won’t work but Billy is desperate. I don’t want to spoil the book, but this is Stephen King. Use your imagination. I highly recommend the audiobook version.
My actual rating is closer to 3.5, but I figured I’d be generous & round up instead of down. I reeeeaaally enjoyed parts of this, but others dragged. It’s a short novel as is, but I think pacing wise it would have been better as a novella or short story.
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WARNING!! RESEÑA NO APTA PARA CRISTALITOS!! GENERACION DE CRISTAL ALEJESE!!
El libro en si me gusto muchísimo, de los personajes me cayo mucho mejor Ginelli que el propio Billy, Billy no es mas que un gordo hombre blanco privilegiado, que de lo único que tiene para quejarse en la vida es que no se ve la poron*a de lo gordo que esta... Y ojo, no soy gordofóbica, yo misma tengo mis kilos de mas, pero este hombre es el típico que se queja que no baja de peso, mientras no hace absolutamente nada para buscar un cambio, solo se queja de la mujer cuando le riñe si se sigue comiendo las 3 hamburguesas con extra chedar y sus respectivas papas. Todo el libro fue de acá para allá esperando que otros resuelvan sus problemas, problemas causado por evadir su culpabilidad, y hasta la ultima pagina, el Billy siguió pensando que el era la pobre victima, y siempre haciendo drama porque su mujer se "salió con la suya"... PESIMO!! Aun asi me encanto el libro, Ginelli robándose el estrellato, haciendo del pinche Chuck Norris! Hombre que resuelve como decimos hoy en dia.
La esposa de Billy (si tan mediocre que no planeo recordar su nombre) también se la paso meta chille y chille todo el libro, también culpando al resto por sus cagadas, y saliendo mejor librada aun asi se encargaba de tener cosas para quejarse y hacerse la viztima... Bastante hipócrita también, todo el libro meta "Billy baja de peso, Billy no comas tanto" mientras fumaba como chimenea y cuando Billy le decía "loca aflójale con tanto pucho" ella entraba en modo victima sacando los trapitos al sol...
Me encanto el final, aguanten los Gitanos en este libro, porque hicieron todo lo que esta bien! Esos blanquitos merecían lo que les paso... :)
Fin del veneno, recomiendo el libro, deja un mensaje muy bonito...
El libro en si me gusto muchísimo, de los personajes me cayo mucho mejor Ginelli que el propio Billy, Billy no es mas que un gordo hombre blanco privilegiado, que de lo único que tiene para quejarse en la vida es que no se ve la poron*a de lo gordo que esta... Y ojo, no soy gordofóbica, yo misma tengo mis kilos de mas, pero este hombre es el típico que se queja que no baja de peso, mientras no hace absolutamente nada para buscar un cambio, solo se queja de la mujer cuando le riñe si se sigue comiendo las 3 hamburguesas con extra chedar y sus respectivas papas. Todo el libro fue de acá para allá esperando que otros resuelvan sus problemas, problemas causado por evadir su culpabilidad, y hasta la ultima pagina, el Billy siguió pensando que el era la pobre victima, y siempre haciendo drama porque su mujer se "salió con la suya"... PESIMO!! Aun asi me encanto el libro, Ginelli robándose el estrellato, haciendo del pinche Chuck Norris! Hombre que resuelve como decimos hoy en dia.
La esposa de Billy (si tan mediocre que no planeo recordar su nombre) también se la paso meta chille y chille todo el libro, también culpando al resto por sus cagadas, y saliendo mejor librada aun asi se encargaba de tener cosas para quejarse y hacerse la viztima... Bastante hipócrita también, todo el libro meta "Billy baja de peso, Billy no comas tanto" mientras fumaba como chimenea y cuando Billy le decía "loca aflójale con tanto pucho" ella entraba en modo victima sacando los trapitos al sol...
Me encanto el final, aguanten los Gitanos en este libro, porque hicieron todo lo que esta bien! Esos blanquitos merecían lo que les paso... :)
Fin del veneno, recomiendo el libro, deja un mensaje muy bonito...
Ugh I don’t often DNF books but this is one of those. Just a combination of things, I have absolutely no sympathy for people who drive distracted, the constant use of the word gypsy (I know, I know it was a different time) made me uncomfortable and the weird descriptions of the guys 14yr old daughter gave me the ick.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes