Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Well then. That was certainly something…
I felt like I was seriously dragging through this it was so slow. Last 20% had me glued to the pages but until then I wasn’t entirely sold. And I don’t even know if the ending was worth the wait. Don’t get me wrong the premise is unsettling and freaky but despite that it’s feeling low impact. Maybe I was expecting to feel deeply scared and that threw me off bc that’s not what this is at all. Definitely psychological horror. But only if you’re willing to buy into it.
I felt like I was seriously dragging through this it was so slow. Last 20% had me glued to the pages but until then I wasn’t entirely sold. And I don’t even know if the ending was worth the wait. Don’t get me wrong the premise is unsettling and freaky but despite that it’s feeling low impact. Maybe I was expecting to feel deeply scared and that threw me off bc that’s not what this is at all. Definitely psychological horror. But only if you’re willing to buy into it.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Captivating story with the same King tropes & idioms, but that has to be one of the bleakest endings I’ve ever read. Top 5 Stephen King book in my opinion.
Maybe the darkest book King has ever written. Rip out the (incredibly effective) Lovecraftian guts and the earnest grapple with mortality is still sobering and terrifying.
4.5 out of 5
Bright-red Pennywise Clown Noses
4.5 out of 5
Bright-red Pennywise Clown Noses
My review (as published at Read, Run, Ramble):
From the book’s description: “This rich and disturbing novel spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written.”
No, just no. This had no terrifying conclusion in my opinion and it was not, by far, the most terrifying he’s written. And actually, by spreading all the hype about what a horrendous ending the book had they only succeeded in making it even more lackluster! I hate when that happens.
To be clear, I enjoyed this read. I love King and the writing and storytelling in this novel hit the mark. However, I didn’t find the ending terrifying and I even have a hard time calling it “horror”. Sure, at the end (and a little spread throughout) there are some horror-like elements, but the book at its core and as a whole does not have a horror feel.
Jamie and Reverend Jacobs were awesome characters. I loved their relationship and the depths to which King took them. He’s exploring some dark and ugly layers, as always, and he’s done it well. Human devotion to people, events, substances – it is all here. Then add to it the fanaticism we see in some religious circles and there’s lots of crazy to go around. The elements make for an intriguing, thrilling, and page-turning read.
There’s an underlying story of faith here as well – where does it come from and how to we keep it with all the crap that happens in this world? It is in no way a theological book – just a bit of King’s perceptions and opinions coming out.
I attended an event where King read from and talked about the book, among other things, as a part of my book purchase. It was intriguing and there is so much of himself in this book that he explained that makes the book that much more interesting. He grew up Methodist and his doubts (many stated in the book either my Jamie or even Jacobs himself) are King’s doubts being put out in the world. I like that he explores these things so creatively and fully – leaving nothing untouchable. This story is impacted by his willingness to jump down the rabbit hole and follow it all the way to its end.
An end, for sure, that is drastic and unbelievable. Surreal and freaky. But not as terrifying and unpredictable as all the hype would have one believe. Honestly, coming from King, I thought it would get way more terrifying and freaky – I WANTED it to get way more terrifying and freaky! For that, I’m sticking with 4 stars, but it is still one hell of a book and is worth the read (just maybe not the ridiculous $30 I had to pay for it).
From the book’s description: “This rich and disturbing novel spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written.”
No, just no. This had no terrifying conclusion in my opinion and it was not, by far, the most terrifying he’s written. And actually, by spreading all the hype about what a horrendous ending the book had they only succeeded in making it even more lackluster! I hate when that happens.
To be clear, I enjoyed this read. I love King and the writing and storytelling in this novel hit the mark. However, I didn’t find the ending terrifying and I even have a hard time calling it “horror”. Sure, at the end (and a little spread throughout) there are some horror-like elements, but the book at its core and as a whole does not have a horror feel.
Jamie and Reverend Jacobs were awesome characters. I loved their relationship and the depths to which King took them. He’s exploring some dark and ugly layers, as always, and he’s done it well. Human devotion to people, events, substances – it is all here. Then add to it the fanaticism we see in some religious circles and there’s lots of crazy to go around. The elements make for an intriguing, thrilling, and page-turning read.
There’s an underlying story of faith here as well – where does it come from and how to we keep it with all the crap that happens in this world? It is in no way a theological book – just a bit of King’s perceptions and opinions coming out.
I attended an event where King read from and talked about the book, among other things, as a part of my book purchase. It was intriguing and there is so much of himself in this book that he explained that makes the book that much more interesting. He grew up Methodist and his doubts (many stated in the book either my Jamie or even Jacobs himself) are King’s doubts being put out in the world. I like that he explores these things so creatively and fully – leaving nothing untouchable. This story is impacted by his willingness to jump down the rabbit hole and follow it all the way to its end.
An end, for sure, that is drastic and unbelievable. Surreal and freaky. But not as terrifying and unpredictable as all the hype would have one believe. Honestly, coming from King, I thought it would get way more terrifying and freaky – I WANTED it to get way more terrifying and freaky! For that, I’m sticking with 4 stars, but it is still one hell of a book and is worth the read (just maybe not the ridiculous $30 I had to pay for it).
Revival is a satisfying combination of a coming-of-age story and a good old fashioned horror novel. Recent works by King include heavy doses of nostalgia, some of which may feel corny, but for me it works, providing touchstones for the reader. The story centers on Jamie Morton whose paths intertwine with Pastor Jacobs like strands of DNA, first in Jamie's youth, then again as recovering drug addict/itinerant musician, and yet again as a middle-aged man. At each stage, Jacobs is seemingly performs miracles of faith healing, but his interest in what he calls his "secret electricity' affect Jamie and others around him in profound and troubling ways. Jamie senses an evil lurking in Jacobs and his work, but is hopelessly drawn to Jacobs' experiments. Ultimately, Jamie realizes that Jacobs is on the precipice of opening the door to hell (literally), but by this time he's an unwilling participant. The nod to Mary Shelley and HP Lovecraft at the beginning should leave no doubt to the reader as to where the story is headed, but it's so much more than simply about reviving the dead, and the imagery in the climax is about as vivid and horrifying as King has written in a while. This one is a winner from one the most prolific and talented storytellers ever.
Old-school King writing... nothing beats it. The story is interesting, but doesn't get truly terrifying until the very end, and then it will surely leave you unsettled.
This has made its mark as my favorite King story thus far. It is a love story to Lovecraft, a literary masterwork, and one that gave me physical chills across my arms and neck— a rarity for art as an adult.
Good not great. Bit slow and I was less involved with his characters than I usually am but still worth a read if you like his stuff.
I really enjoyed the book and then at the very end it got really weird. Unexpectedly weird, maybe. I mean, it's a Stephen King book and he's hinting at the bad stuff to come, but it still threw me a little. In the same way that Under the Dome did. I still really enjoyed the book, it's a wonderfully told story with interesting characters, especially main character Jamie, but the climax feels slightly contrived to me and just detracted a bit from my overall enjoyment of the book.