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skbledsoe's review against another edition
5.0
A great book that I put off reading forever. It's not a traditional horror, even though it makes clever nods and references to traditional horror like Frankenstein.
The thing that hit me the most, for the first two acts at least, is that it's a story of a guy in a new place with a wife and a kid and a stressful job. And he drinks. Like a lot. Without the supernatural element, it's the story of a man slowly deteriorating as the world around him unravels. His toddler son is hit by a truck and the world completely falls apart. He gets drunk and attacks his father in law and then drinks like a 30 pack of beer. Towards the end of the 2nd act, the writing gets superb, where each chapter moves between Louis's story, to Rachel's, and to Judd's. The way that each point of view is written helps contrasts the others, with Louis' world being haunted by demons and ghouls laughing and taunting him while Rachel fights against unknown forces keeping her away.
There is a supernatural element to it all, and it helps make the story tense and good. Overall, it's a great story dealing with loss, as it keeps coming back to the idea that some things are just supposed to end, and fighting that can lead to dire consequences.
The thing that hit me the most, for the first two acts at least, is that it's a story of a guy in a new place with a wife and a kid and a stressful job. And he drinks. Like a lot. Without the supernatural element, it's the story of a man slowly deteriorating as the world around him unravels. His toddler son is hit by a truck and the world completely falls apart. He gets drunk and attacks his father in law and then drinks like a 30 pack of beer. Towards the end of the 2nd act, the writing gets superb, where each chapter moves between Louis's story, to Rachel's, and to Judd's. The way that each point of view is written helps contrasts the others, with Louis' world being haunted by demons and ghouls laughing and taunting him while Rachel fights against unknown forces keeping her away.
There is a supernatural element to it all, and it helps make the story tense and good. Overall, it's a great story dealing with loss, as it keeps coming back to the idea that some things are just supposed to end, and fighting that can lead to dire consequences.
jiffy145's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stephen u have done it again. i went nuts and read this in one day which i haven't been able to do in years and it made me feel sick to my stomach more than once. great shit
also i saw all ur references to ur other novels. u madman.
also i saw all ur references to ur other novels. u madman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Animal death, Child death, and Death
feiyafei's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
erislaroy's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
terryma90's review against another edition
4.0
This book at first was not even scary to me at all so I thought that when others said it was Stephen Kings scariest book I doubted. But as coming to the ending it got very weird and dark very fast. At the end I could see how people can say it is his scariest book. For me it’s weirdest and most interesting book written from him.
nat2440's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
same_sch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
The book that made me fall in love with Stephen King and that reawakened my desire to read. The way in which he relates the grief and the situations (and decisions) that the characters must solve, despite not having monsters and / or murderers, is a truly unforgettable story, full of pain and anguish that makes you rethink life, death and the naturalness (or not) of these.
lukewhenderson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5