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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I read a few of these stories and realized I much prefer novels!
I found the book really enjoyable. I’m a Stephen King fan and this didn’t disappoint.
One of the better short story collections I've read. I loved the themes of morality and mortality. The last story was a bummer and to leave it on such a sad note is cruel, but I think intentional.
Overall solid. Like most of his short story collections, this was a mix of great stories, subpar stories, and wtf was that stories. A few favorites were Morality, Under the Weather, Blockade Billy, and Ur.
Kind of a shrug, honestly. A few standout stories, but overly lengthy (as per usual). I would've almost enjoyed this as two separate volumes as opposed to one HUGE one. Maybe some of these themes would've been a little easier to grasp.
Once my ratings for all the stories are averaged out, that makes this book a solid 3 stars because I am super indecisive. It’s pretty on brand for me.
MILE 85 - 2.5
PREMIUM HARMONY - 2
BATMAN & ROBIN HAVE AN ALTERCATION - 2.5
THE DUNE - 3
THE BAD LITTLE KID - 4
A DEATH - 3.5
THE BONE CHURCH - 2
MORALITY - 3
AFTERLIFE* - 3.5
UR - 4.5
HERMAN WOUK IS STILL ALIVE** - 3
UNDER THE WEATHER - 3
BLOCKADE BILLY - 2.5
MR. YUMMY - 3
TOMMY - 2
THE LITTLE GREEN GOD OF AGONY - 3.5
COOKIE JAR - 3
THAT BUS IS ANOTHER WORLD - 3
OBITS - 4
DRUNKEN FIREWORKS - 1.5
SUMMER THUNDER - 3
All .5 ratings were rounded up to be fair to the average. Also I listened to this on audiobook, which I definitely feel influenced my ratings for some of these.
*AFTERLIFE - TW: Mentions of rape
**HERMAN WOUK IS STILL ALIVE - TW: Fatphobia
MILE 85 - 2.5
PREMIUM HARMONY - 2
BATMAN & ROBIN HAVE AN ALTERCATION - 2.5
THE DUNE - 3
THE BAD LITTLE KID - 4
A DEATH - 3.5
THE BONE CHURCH - 2
MORALITY - 3
AFTERLIFE* - 3.5
UR - 4.5
HERMAN WOUK IS STILL ALIVE** - 3
UNDER THE WEATHER - 3
BLOCKADE BILLY - 2.5
MR. YUMMY - 3
TOMMY - 2
THE LITTLE GREEN GOD OF AGONY - 3.5
COOKIE JAR - 3
THAT BUS IS ANOTHER WORLD - 3
OBITS - 4
DRUNKEN FIREWORKS - 1.5
SUMMER THUNDER - 3
All .5 ratings were rounded up to be fair to the average. Also I listened to this on audiobook, which I definitely feel influenced my ratings for some of these.
*AFTERLIFE - TW: Mentions of rape
**HERMAN WOUK IS STILL ALIVE - TW: Fatphobia
After a terrible collection of short stories (Everything's Eventual) and a mediocre quartet of novellas (Full Dark No Stars), King hits his stride in his most recent collection. As always, it's hit and miss with King, but he is absolutely working at cruising level. The worst you can say about the worst story in this collection is that noone should try to emulate Raymond Carver. It won't work and you end up bellyflopping pretty spectacularly.
But, for the most part, King delivers. Except for the opening story, which is full tilt old school King horror, most of these aren't chilling in King's traditional sense. He seems to be working in the O. Henry/Guy de Maussapant school. Lots of irony, lots of lessons learned to late.
A few of these stories, such as Obits, Ur, Blockade Billy and the deliciously dark Morality rank among his best. The rest is just good solid meat and potatoes King.
But, for the most part, King delivers. Except for the opening story, which is full tilt old school King horror, most of these aren't chilling in King's traditional sense. He seems to be working in the O. Henry/Guy de Maussapant school. Lots of irony, lots of lessons learned to late.
A few of these stories, such as Obits, Ur, Blockade Billy and the deliciously dark Morality rank among his best. The rest is just good solid meat and potatoes King.
