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Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Racism
Minor: Car accident
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Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Stalking
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Murder
Minor: Suicide, Blood, Murder
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
What I loved
- I listed to the audiobook and the narration by Craig Wasson was just spectacular.
- I was really transported to another time and place and fully immersed in a bygone era.
- While many people see the lat 50s and 60s as a "better time," it really only was if you belonged to a certain race, class, and sexuality. These topics are addressed thoughtfully.
- I learned a lot about near American history! Yes, this is a work of fiction, but a great deal of the events told did occur and an enormous amout of research went into this work.
What I didn't like
- Really, I can't think of much I didn't like! Highly, highly recommend!
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
I'm sure this is a good read for many out there, if you like a slower plot or you just wanna read anything and anything by Stephen King (there are definitely a LOT of King-isms, many I'm sure I didn't pick up on).
Oh yeah also I really could have done without the antiquated language regarding race. Too much of the context in which it was used was quite a stretch when it comes to justifying that kind of language in such a recent publication.
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Medical content, Car accident, War
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
King's writing is so visceral and evocative, I could practically taste the '50s root beer and soda that was so fatty and flavourful. But it also means that no one can build horrible tension quite like him. The "obdurate past" is a character in itself and it's devastating (and often funny) to see how it trips Jake up as he tries to change the future. Much like in Pet Sematary it felt like there was a force governing these characters' lives and I was never able to quite relax.
But while I love this tension, and the sense of dread that permeates even the most peaceful moments, I also just got so invested in the life Jake creates as George Amberson. So when the pace slowed in the middle of the book, my attention never wavered. The end was like a series of punches to the gut and left me with this overwhelming sense of futility, but there was a sliver of goodness that I was able to cling to because of my love for the characters. It's another of his books I'll be pondering for ages.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Sexism