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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2 Stephen King books read. I don’t need to read another for awhile but they do keep me engaged and wanting to know how it ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A quick read, it felt like Stephen King, being such a prolific writer, had an idea and just hashed it out really quickly. One of those books I don't think would have been published if it wasn't written by him.
The callback to 'It' felt cheap and the little bit at the end saying 'the writing got better' than at the start was a bit blunt - let the reader be the judge.
The plot and pacing was good, I was interested enough to want to know what happens and the overall idea was fun.
It just felt like the characters lacked the depth I know King can provide. Jamie being the narrator removed any jeapordy and the resolution with Liz was telegraphed a bit too early. I enjoyed the relationship between him and his mum - that felt really real. The 'Uncle' Harry / Dad reveal was too quickly done and a bit ham fisted.
Overall okay but one I will likely forget about.
The callback to 'It' felt cheap and the little bit at the end saying 'the writing got better' than at the start was a bit blunt - let the reader be the judge.
The plot and pacing was good, I was interested enough to want to know what happens and the overall idea was fun.
Overall okay but one I will likely forget about.
Definitely entertaining, still trying to figure out if I liked it.
adventurous
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
I enjoyed this book. I did completely forget that I had read it however, so I’m going to have to say it wasn’t particularly memorable. Its connection to other Stephen King works is probably the most interesting part for me. The protagonist is likeable but he’s very much in the vein of Odd Thomas by Koontz and I simply liked those better. A good one but not a great one. A fun quick read full of likable characters that’s not to horrifying dispute the author’s insistence that it’s a horror story.
A ghost story with a twist
Young Jamie Conklin lives alone with his mother who runs a failing publishing house in NYC. One day, when their elderly neighbor's wife dies, Jamie discovers he can still see and talk to her. At least briefly, until her spirit leaves this world forever. But, while she's here, she is obligated to answer all of Jamie's questions honestly.
When Jamie reveals this to his mother, she believes him in as much as a mother is obligated to believe her child. Then, when her golden goose author dies before finishing the final novel in his decades-long series, Jamie's mom, in utter desperation, decides to see if there's any truth to her son's claims. So she and Jamie, accompanied by her girlfriend, an NYC cop on the outs with her superiors, go to the author's home to see if Jamie can contact him and find out the plot of the final novel. From there, its all downhill for Jamie as his abilities get used for progressively more sinister purposes.
I loved this book! The characters. The story. The brevity. Everything about it was sheer perfection. I highly recommend it.
Young Jamie Conklin lives alone with his mother who runs a failing publishing house in NYC. One day, when their elderly neighbor's wife dies, Jamie discovers he can still see and talk to her. At least briefly, until her spirit leaves this world forever. But, while she's here, she is obligated to answer all of Jamie's questions honestly.
When Jamie reveals this to his mother, she believes him in as much as a mother is obligated to believe her child. Then, when her golden goose author dies before finishing the final novel in his decades-long series, Jamie's mom, in utter desperation, decides to see if there's any truth to her son's claims. So she and Jamie, accompanied by her girlfriend, an NYC cop on the outs with her superiors, go to the author's home to see if Jamie can contact him and find out the plot of the final novel. From there, its all downhill for Jamie as his abilities get used for progressively more sinister purposes.
I loved this book! The characters. The story. The brevity. Everything about it was sheer perfection. I highly recommend it.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had a hard time finishing this but did. I recently read 'Fariytale' by Stephen King which includes a boy going to a mystery land full or strange characters included one he refers to as a leprechaun. With a silly accent and all. Well in 'Later' , the narrator is the same and uses the same voices he used for the 'Fairytale' characters and I can't see past all these 'Normal' people as strange underworld characters. Even the name 'Terrio' and nickname 'Champ' in 'Later' are similar to a names used in 'Fairytale.' Makes it hard to enjoy. Otherwise story is creepy and the plot is interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing
Minor: Gaslighting
Stephen King’s "Later" stands amidst a cloud of divided sentiment. Part supernatural thriller, part crime novel, it is a curious blend that intrigues as much as it frustrates. With a well-conceptualized plotline and King's trademark creepiness, it has its share of strengths, but it also exhibits certain shortcomings—recycling of themes and an incest subplot that feels oddly thrown in—that somewhat mar the overall presentation.
The action of "Later" revolves around Jamie Conklin, a young boy with the eerie ability to see and communicate with the dead. Raised by a single mother who is struggling to keep her literary agency afloat, Jamie's supernatural gift becomes a useful tool for his mother's cop friend, a hardened detective named Liz.
In one of the darkest instances, Jamie is enlisted to extract information from the specter of a deceased bomber to prevent a future attack. It's these experiences that frame the book's oft-repeated and cryptically terse title phrase: "Later." Indeed, everything, even the deepest secrets of the dead, are known "later."
However, much of the novel felt as though King has pieced together fragments of incomplete stories. The off-the-cuff feel left the narrative feeling disjointed and enigmatic. The repeated references to "IT," his earlier and highly acclaimed work, felt like an unnecessary deep-dive into familiar territories rather than attempting to break new ground. Compounding this was an inexplicable incest subplot that felt out of sync with the primary narrative, contributing little to the main storyline and producing more confusion than shock value.
Yet, despite its flaws, King’s masterful storytelling does shine through at moments. There are sequences in the novel, typical of his work, that create a lingering sense of unease and suggest the spine-chilling horrors that lay in wait. The character of Jamie is genuinely interesting, and his narrative voice—casual yet cryptic—is compelling. The exploration of Jamie's paranormal abilities gives rise to several chilling encounters that illustrate King’s unquestionable prowess in writing horror.
"Later" is a mixed offering from Stephen King. While it might not match up to many of his iconic works, it does provide occasional chills and a seemingly original concept. For readers looking for a solidly frightful tale, it might miss the mark. However, die-hard fans of King might still find it interesting to see how he weaves fragments of old and new narratives into a patchwork scenario. It is a classic case of a promising premise marred by an uncertain narrative, making it a book that might have polarizing effects on its readers.
The action of "Later" revolves around Jamie Conklin, a young boy with the eerie ability to see and communicate with the dead. Raised by a single mother who is struggling to keep her literary agency afloat, Jamie's supernatural gift becomes a useful tool for his mother's cop friend, a hardened detective named Liz.
In one of the darkest instances, Jamie is enlisted to extract information from the specter of a deceased bomber to prevent a future attack. It's these experiences that frame the book's oft-repeated and cryptically terse title phrase: "Later." Indeed, everything, even the deepest secrets of the dead, are known "later."
However, much of the novel felt as though King has pieced together fragments of incomplete stories. The off-the-cuff feel left the narrative feeling disjointed and enigmatic. The repeated references to "IT," his earlier and highly acclaimed work, felt like an unnecessary deep-dive into familiar territories rather than attempting to break new ground. Compounding this was an inexplicable incest subplot that felt out of sync with the primary narrative, contributing little to the main storyline and producing more confusion than shock value.
Yet, despite its flaws, King’s masterful storytelling does shine through at moments. There are sequences in the novel, typical of his work, that create a lingering sense of unease and suggest the spine-chilling horrors that lay in wait. The character of Jamie is genuinely interesting, and his narrative voice—casual yet cryptic—is compelling. The exploration of Jamie's paranormal abilities gives rise to several chilling encounters that illustrate King’s unquestionable prowess in writing horror.
"Later" is a mixed offering from Stephen King. While it might not match up to many of his iconic works, it does provide occasional chills and a seemingly original concept. For readers looking for a solidly frightful tale, it might miss the mark. However, die-hard fans of King might still find it interesting to see how he weaves fragments of old and new narratives into a patchwork scenario. It is a classic case of a promising premise marred by an uncertain narrative, making it a book that might have polarizing effects on its readers.
2.5 but rounded up because it’s Stephen King. I liked the premise and King’s imagination. There are a few great lines. I kept being pulled out of the story by the side comments of the 22 yo Jamie reminding us it is a horror story. And the twist at the end could have been left out. It’s a quick read which is good.