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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
In 1999, Stephen King was hit by a car and suffered some pretty gnarly injuries including shattered leg bones, a broken hip, and a collapsed lung. For a long time, King couldn’t walk or sit for long periods of time without excruciating pain. And what’s simultaneously the best and worst part of severe pain? That’s right, drugs. And lots of them.
Makes sense, then, that Dreamcatcher (written and published during his recovery) reads like a creepy, complicated, and uber-strange morphine trip. Anus aliens (no, that’s not a typo), mind-controlling interstellar fungus, telepathy, psychological madness; only Stephen King could have a high this messed up.
Not only was Dreamcatcher’s content unsettlingly reminiscent of my high school pot-smoking, tripping-balls-in-the-basement days, King’s physical pain was also incorporated into the story which made it especially nightmarish. One of the main characters sustained a severe hip injury after being hit by a car and struggled with intense pain throughout the entirety of the book. King’s description of his agony was all too real.
As we are all aware, some of the most brilliant, creative writing (all art, really) is brought to us courtesy of good old dope. I don’t know that this book could necessarily be categorized as genius, and it’s not King’s most impressive work, but the story is most definitely a substance-induced kind of creative.
Makes sense, then, that Dreamcatcher (written and published during his recovery) reads like a creepy, complicated, and uber-strange morphine trip. Anus aliens (no, that’s not a typo), mind-controlling interstellar fungus, telepathy, psychological madness; only Stephen King could have a high this messed up.
Not only was Dreamcatcher’s content unsettlingly reminiscent of my high school pot-smoking, tripping-balls-in-the-basement days, King’s physical pain was also incorporated into the story which made it especially nightmarish. One of the main characters sustained a severe hip injury after being hit by a car and struggled with intense pain throughout the entirety of the book. King’s description of his agony was all too real.
As we are all aware, some of the most brilliant, creative writing (all art, really) is brought to us courtesy of good old dope. I don’t know that this book could necessarily be categorized as genius, and it’s not King’s most impressive work, but the story is most definitely a substance-induced kind of creative.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
slow-paced
300 pages in and I’m quitting.
(& not because of bad writing. It’s actually good writing. & for a nearly 900 page paperback, it moves at a good clip.)
I’m quitting because it’s just not for me. I like the story of the friends, just not so much of the ‘other stuff.’
(& not because of bad writing. It’s actually good writing. & for a nearly 900 page paperback, it moves at a good clip.)
I’m quitting because it’s just not for me. I like the story of the friends, just not so much of the ‘other stuff.’
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Read October 2024
This one has elements that I love (Alien meets fungal horror, yes please!) However, I took a break from reading this (#MoodReader) and I think that hurt my enjoyment of it as I had to get back into it all over again, leaving me a little confused with some of it. Also, the parts about the army weren’t my fave.
Maybe I’ll revisit it some day and read it without taking a break. Would need to get a different copy though as this one has mold so in the🗑️it goes. Not taking that risk..
This one has elements that I love (Alien meets fungal horror, yes please!) However, I took a break from reading this (#MoodReader) and I think that hurt my enjoyment of it as I had to get back into it all over again, leaving me a little confused with some of it. Also, the parts about the army weren’t my fave.
Maybe I’ll revisit it some day and read it without taking a break. Would need to get a different copy though as this one has mold so in the🗑️it goes. Not taking that risk..
65/130 (2019 Reading Challenge)
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would having read some pretty negative things about it. It maybe does not continue as strong as it starts. But it was still an enjoyable read to the end. As it is partly set in Derry some cool throwbacks to IT too which is cool & ‘Pennywise lives’
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would having read some pretty negative things about it. It maybe does not continue as strong as it starts. But it was still an enjoyable read to the end. As it is partly set in Derry some cool throwbacks to IT too which is cool & ‘Pennywise lives’
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another solid entry from King. Not for the faint of heart, not just because of the really unfortunate body horror but because it was written in a time where the r-slur was not quite as loaded a word as it is now, and one of the main characters has Down's, so... it gets a bit rough to read sometimes. Interesting to hear so much about when King was hit by a car, and then to read the book he wrote in recovery and to see how elements of that traumatic experience come through in the book. I feel bad giving it 3 stars, but I will remind you and myself that 3 stars means I liked it! I liked it, I did. Really I think its a 3.5, but I don't agree with rounding up, so...