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lindapatin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
iswendle's review against another edition
5.0
A thriller so thrilling that at 3/4 in I had to put it down for a few days, I was just too invested and stressed out about the state of the characters!
The Institute slowly creeps into you. Not that the book starts slow, right from the getgo our protagonist Luke, a child with an incredible IQ, is kidnapped and taken to the secret location of the Institute. At the Institute he meets other children, and they all undergo tests to unlock their psychic powers: telekenesis or telepathy. What's next? You guessed it! Escape.
King surprised me with his vile story. The testing slowly ramps up in intensity, and King describes it in every little detail. And in his writing he drags you in right next to them. I felt for all the characters, and as a reader you really feel connected to them through all the hardship.
I could go on but it's just a terrific thriller. Maybe classic in its setup of imprisonment and psychic testing, but perfect in its execution. It just drags you deeper and deeper, and it gets more and more dreadful for the kids you really just all want to adopt into a loving and warm household.
Some reviews mention the ending, yes it is not perfect. A book that crescendos to the finish like this one is hard to finish with a bang. That doesn't happen, but in my opinion it wasn't possible either. It is a satisfying ending, one that isn't as rosey and goodey as you'd expect, but then again that is fitting to the book.
The Institute slowly creeps into you. Not that the book starts slow, right from the getgo our protagonist Luke, a child with an incredible IQ, is kidnapped and taken to the secret location of the Institute. At the Institute he meets other children, and they all undergo tests to unlock their psychic powers: telekenesis or telepathy. What's next? You guessed it! Escape.
King surprised me with his vile story. The testing slowly ramps up in intensity, and King describes it in every little detail. And in his writing he drags you in right next to them. I felt for all the characters, and as a reader you really feel connected to them through all the hardship.
I could go on but it's just a terrific thriller. Maybe classic in its setup of imprisonment and psychic testing, but perfect in its execution. It just drags you deeper and deeper, and it gets more and more dreadful for the kids you really just all want to adopt into a loving and warm household.
Some reviews mention the ending, yes it is not perfect. A book that crescendos to the finish like this one is hard to finish with a bang. That doesn't happen, but in my opinion it wasn't possible either. It is a satisfying ending, one that isn't as rosey and goodey as you'd expect, but then again that is fitting to the book.
pandoramedusa's review against another edition
4.0
If I cry it’s a 4 star at a minimum and King made it happen. That Avery kid will forever be my favourite
hinesight's review against another edition
5.0
No one writes about children, or creates a character that is a child, like King. Brilliant.
I enjoyed this, of course. It's impossible not to. I was drawn in, I was very nervous for the characters, I kept reading when I should have been asleep, and the story has stuck with me for a while. I'm not sure what more I could ask.
I do have a question for Mr. King, though: What is your position on gun control in this country? It was a little ambivalent in the text, and I'd like to know what you really think.
Anyway. Yeah. Read this; if you're a King fan, you won't be sorry.
I enjoyed this, of course. It's impossible not to. I was drawn in, I was very nervous for the characters, I kept reading when I should have been asleep, and the story has stuck with me for a while. I'm not sure what more I could ask.
I do have a question for Mr. King, though: What is your position on gun control in this country? It was a little ambivalent in the text, and I'd like to know what you really think.
Anyway. Yeah. Read this; if you're a King fan, you won't be sorry.
lady_luckless's review against another edition
5.0
Despite its size this book was a quick read for me, finished it in two sittings because it was just so engaging. Not a page turner because of suspense as much as it was because I cared about the characters and what happened to them. It had a lot of heart and I enjoyed every page.
debbiecollectsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book ! Stephen King does not disappoint. Scary that something like this is even remotely a thought.
ruth24's review against another edition
5.0
[b:The Institute|43798285|The Institute|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549241208l/43798285._SY75_.jpg|68147322] is so entertaining that I wish it was longer than it's already 500+ pages. If you're not into horror, don't be put off. I would actually categorize this as more thriller/SciFi - plenty of horrifying things happen, but I didn't have to sleep with the lights on! The 'villains' are more subtle and realistic than an axe-wielding serial killer. Sure, they're sadistic, but they're also (mostly) normal people who think they're doing what's right for the greater good. Maybe that's more unsettling than typical horror after all.
If you've read the blurb, then the story begins kind of unexpectedly with Tim, an ex-cop who, at a loss, decides to hitchhike his way to New York City. After a brief set-up, the perspective shifts to Luke, a 12-year-old prodigy who is kidnapped and taken to the Institute where he discovers children like him are being put through cruel and mysterious experiments. I particularly liked Luke, Kalisha and Avery as characters and seeing how each of the kids reacted differently to the Institute. Some of what happens is pretty shocking and made me feel uncomfortable, but I liked exploring the moral dilemma of right and wrong and the greater good. Tim nicely bookends the story, appearing both at the beginning and the end. The climax was not as climatic (for lack of a better word) as it could have been (I was a little confused at parts), but I was satisfied enough with the ending. I enjoyed that the story is current but some of the dialogue, for example referencing Trump, was a bit overkill/cheesy for me.
Overall this was a fun and entertaining read that lived up to my expectations.
If you've read the blurb, then the story begins kind of unexpectedly with Tim, an ex-cop who, at a loss, decides to hitchhike his way to New York City. After a brief set-up, the perspective shifts to Luke, a 12-year-old prodigy who is kidnapped and taken to the Institute where he discovers children like him are being put through cruel and mysterious experiments. I particularly liked Luke, Kalisha and Avery as characters and seeing how each of the kids reacted differently to the Institute. Some of what happens is pretty shocking and made me feel uncomfortable, but I liked exploring the moral dilemma of right and wrong and the greater good. Tim nicely bookends the story, appearing both at the beginning and the end. The climax was not as climatic (for lack of a better word) as it could have been (I was a little confused at parts), but I was satisfied enough with the ending. I enjoyed that the story is current but some of the dialogue, for example referencing Trump, was a bit overkill/cheesy for me.
Overall this was a fun and entertaining read that lived up to my expectations.
thebookkeepers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
This was my first Stephen King book and WOW. I can see why he is the revered author that he is. This book was a psychological thriller with sci-fi themes. I was immersed in the story and could not put it down. I was a little confused with the opening Part since it didn't align with the blurb, but trusted the process and it all made sense. I was on pins and needles reading this and it consumed my attention. I loved the Netflix show The OA and this reminded me of parts of that show. I loved all the characters and thought the execution of the story as well as the reveals of the mysterious parts were done with expert attention. I will be reading more Stephen King, especially next time I crave a page-turner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Medical trauma, Child death, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Suicide, Child abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence, Cursing, and Gun violence
Minor: Excrement and Vomit