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cinderrunner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
There are some good things about this book, but the bad significantly outweigh them. This is one of the most needlessly offensive and problematic books i have ever read. The only thing horrifying about this novel is that King had the audacity to include so much needless hatred and is still being praised for it. The level of racism, sexism, pedophilia/sexualization of minors, anti semitisim, etc is FAR beyond anything that is warranted by the plot and its honestly inexcusable. If you took a shot everytime King used the N word with a hard R, you'd die of alcohol poisoning somewhere between the one third and halfway mark. King is constantly using language and scenarios that sexualize Beverly, constantly mentioning the way her 12 year old body is maturing, painting her as a (and im quoting here) "whore" from almost every chatacters POV. Shes even sexualized in her own POVs.
It is also overlong, it could have easily been 400 pages shorter than it was. It dragged on and on. It doesnt genuinely pick up or reach a true climax til around page 950 (in my edition) so like 150 pages away from the end. That's ridiculous. King is constantly overloading the book with lore building and exposition that really isnt needed past a certain point. It took me 4 months of on and off reading to finally get through this thing. Ive never taken more than a month to read a book, even dense ones like the entire Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) series, in my adult life.
Most people I have seen, even those who praise this book, don't count this as a book they would ever reread. If that's not a red flag i don't know what is. I cant think of a single book, even thick and complex ones, that i loved and wouldn't pick up again.
PROS: King is a genuinely skilled writer on a technical level and the book is well crafted. There are very thoughtful and interesting themes around childhood vs adulthood, the transition between the two, and the power of faith/belief. It really could have been a gorgeous novel if he leaned more into that earlier in the book and cut down on all the unnecessary bigotry and lore building. I likely would have loved this if it was shorter and less hate filled.
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, Rape, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Cancer, Cannibalism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child death, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Alcohol, Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Excrement, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
The whole book is a trigger warning. It is full of violence, GRAPHIC bigotry, and the sexualization of women and especially minors.chelseachips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Police brutality
Moderate: Infertility, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Sexism, and Violence
kamirose1's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Rape, Bullying, Racism, Ableism, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
kaylatmf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Vomit, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Infertility, and Pregnancy
katealot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Suicide, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Blood, Pedophilia, and Cursing
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Excrement, Fatphobia, Vomit, Sexual assault, Racism, Medical trauma, Medical content, Homophobia, and Grief
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence
ladev12's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide
mayakinsley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Infidelity and Gun violence
Minor: Antisemitism
kaylee1957's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence