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rebecas16's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
bookbelle5_17's review
5.0
For those of you love going to library will have your love tainted by this chilling tale. Sam Peebles is an average middle age guy recruited to give a speech a local club and out of anxious feelings he goes to the town library to help him get ideas for his speech. He encounters the mean librarian, Ardelia Lortz, who enjoys terrorizing children with creepy posters and threatening them with the Library Policemen if there late returning their books. Sam makes a bad impression on Ardelia Lortz and he's late returning his books putting him in a dangerous predicament.
What is great about this being a novella is its not as chunky as most of his books, but not as lacking as his short stories. There is still a feeling depth and character development that is not rushed, but is not expanding to where it is exhausting. Though, I love his lengthy over 1000 page novels it is nice to get a shorter novel, but not too short. King once again creates realistic characters that are recognizable. He once goes into the territory of childhood monsters and fairytales just like in "It", and the monster itself reminds me Pennywise the clown (maybe it's the sibling). It's impressive that King can take something so ordinary like a library/Librarian or a car into something frightening and not silly.
What is great about this being a novella is its not as chunky as most of his books, but not as lacking as his short stories. There is still a feeling depth and character development that is not rushed, but is not expanding to where it is exhausting. Though, I love his lengthy over 1000 page novels it is nice to get a shorter novel, but not too short. King once again creates realistic characters that are recognizable. He once goes into the territory of childhood monsters and fairytales just like in "It", and the monster itself reminds me Pennywise the clown (maybe it's the sibling). It's impressive that King can take something so ordinary like a library/Librarian or a car into something frightening and not silly.
keion215's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dafttom's review against another edition
5.0
I think he always rights well when I️t involves a library.
jljaina's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the first 1/2-2/3 of this! I was quickly engrossed in it. Not that I disliked the second part of the book but not as much as I will explain below.
At first, I was thinking I might be in for a ghost story. But of course that is too simple for Stephen King. So I knew more was coming. It was creepy. The library Sam walks into is a place out of time. You know the super stuffy, quiet libraries with the stereotype where you feel you have to tiptoe across and pray you don't sneeze or cough, etc while you are there. Yeah that was this place. But creepier. Especially the children's area.
We soon learn that Sam's library experience isn't the norm, however. So what is the truth? It's a twisted rabbit hole! And I was loving it!
The bad-And yes this is a spoiler but also a trigger warning: I hate reading rape scenes. Especially involving children. The worst I had read previously was a gloss over of it. This was more graphic and from the child's pov which in a way makes it worse and heartbreaking and utterly stomach churning.
The very end of what Ardelia was...well a bit disappointing.
Still the story was good. My favorite of the "Past Midnight" stories so far (still have 1 to go though).
At first, I was thinking I might be in for a ghost story. But of course that is too simple for Stephen King. So I knew more was coming. It was creepy. The library Sam walks into is a place out of time. You know the super stuffy, quiet libraries with the stereotype where you feel you have to tiptoe across and pray you don't sneeze or cough, etc while you are there. Yeah that was this place. But creepier. Especially the children's area.
We soon learn that Sam's library experience isn't the norm, however. So what is the truth? It's a twisted rabbit hole! And I was loving it!
The bad-And yes this is a spoiler but also a trigger warning: I hate reading rape scenes. Especially involving children. The worst I had read previously was a gloss over of it. This was more graphic and from the child's pov which in a way makes it worse and heartbreaking and utterly stomach churning.
The very end of what Ardelia was...well a bit disappointing.
Still the story was good. My favorite of the "Past Midnight" stories so far (still have 1 to go though).
litjrzygrl's review against another edition
1.0
Would have been more stars if not for the graphic description of the sexual abuse of a young child.
klord3's review against another edition
3.0
A creatively disturbing tale. Spooky enough that I had to keep my eyes open while listening.
melissacharitos's review against another edition
3.0
Dit is het eerst boek wat ik van King lees, en ik geef het 3.5 ster. Ik wist niet zo goed wat ik moest verwachten (daarom ben ik ook begonnen met een dunner boek), maar dit verhaal is voor mij net iets té surrealistisch denk ik. Het boek is spannend, ik wilde hem eigenlijk in één ruk uitlezen. Het einde is naar mijn smaak te open, er zijn nog een aantal vragen waar geen antwoord op is (maar waar waarschijnlijk ook geen antwoord op gegeven kan worden). Al met al een goede eerste kennismaking met King; ik ben wel nieuwsgierig geworden naar andere door hem geschreven boeken en die ga ik ook zeker lezen.
eliasiexil's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape
Moderate: Cancer, Gaslighting, Blood, and Alcoholism
Minor: Transphobia
stephaniecommerer's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia