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kimwexler's review against another edition
4.0
my first stephen king ever. i'm sure this isn't his greatest work considering the other reviews i've read, but the fact this is actually, imo, a really well-done and descriptive piece of literature that really gets your heart racing, just shows that SK is the GOAT!!!! the descriptions of gore is masterful and skin-crawling. listened to an audiobook version, and the voices the woman put on really struck me! overall, an enjoyable read/listen.
kanncarlson's review against another edition
3.0
This was my least favorite Stephen King experience ever so far I think. I found this in mass market paperback at the used bookstore and then learned it was a companion novel to Delores Claiborne which I read within the last year and really, really enjoyed. I was excited to read it. Even though it has been my least favorite King experience recently I still really liked certain elements.
The story goes: a woman and her husband escape to their cabin in the woods for a last weekend of the season visit. The couple have been experimenting in the bedroom a bit with restraints which the husband has enjoyed and has resultantly upgraded the bondage to handcuffs. They begin an encounter, the wife is handcuffed and then does not want to be. The husband is not accommodating. The wife gives the husband a few swift kicks to drive her point home....and he has a heart attack and dies. She's handcuffed to the bed. What happens????
I thought this book was INFURIATING in the good way. How is she going to get out? What resources are around her that she can use? The tension that builds is great. I also just really enjoy bits of King's writing. I don't have the book in front of me but there was a scene where the wife is waking up from a brief period of sleep and King uses the metaphor of coming up through the alternating warm and cold layers of lake water to describe it and, man-0h-man, I just thought it was great.
BUT there were past timelines in this book. Distressing memories that flash through the wife's head while she is trapped. I think the intention is that she confronts her past trauma and is able to use it to help her escape. I didn't buy it. I didn't like it. The trauma revolves around childhood sexual abuse. I actually thought the set up was really good, honestly. It wasn't a big baddy. It was someone the girl loved. It wasn't obvious and penetrative. It wasn't repetitive. I think there needs to be more discussion of that kind of abuse. Because it happens all of the time. I just didn't like it in this story. Ugh. Nope. Nope. Didn't like it.
The story goes: a woman and her husband escape to their cabin in the woods for a last weekend of the season visit. The couple have been experimenting in the bedroom a bit with restraints which the husband has enjoyed and has resultantly upgraded the bondage to handcuffs. They begin an encounter, the wife is handcuffed and then does not want to be. The husband is not accommodating. The wife gives the husband a few swift kicks to drive her point home....and he has a heart attack and dies. She's handcuffed to the bed. What happens????
I thought this book was INFURIATING in the good way. How is she going to get out? What resources are around her that she can use? The tension that builds is great. I also just really enjoy bits of King's writing. I don't have the book in front of me but there was a scene where the wife is waking up from a brief period of sleep and King uses the metaphor of coming up through the alternating warm and cold layers of lake water to describe it and, man-0h-man, I just thought it was great.
BUT there were past timelines in this book. Distressing memories that flash through the wife's head while she is trapped. I think the intention is that she confronts her past trauma and is able to use it to help her escape. I didn't buy it. I didn't like it. The trauma revolves around childhood sexual abuse. I actually thought the set up was really good, honestly. It wasn't a big baddy. It was someone the girl loved. It wasn't obvious and penetrative. It wasn't repetitive. I think there needs to be more discussion of that kind of abuse. Because it happens all of the time. I just didn't like it in this story. Ugh. Nope. Nope. Didn't like it.
absbia777's review against another edition
3.0
Oh yeah, this is definitely a Stephen King book. The man certainly knows how to make his readers squirm. Just when I think he couldn't get more disgusting, I picked up Gerald's Game. I've read a large majority of his books, but none made me as sick as this one. King touches the subject no other writer will: child molestation by a parent. Like I said, squirm-worthy. But it's such a taboo subject that honestly needs to be talked about. So good for you, King.
emerriam00's review against another edition
4.0
This book is insanely freaky and f-ed up. But a well written and captivating story.
numinozna's review against another edition
5.0
много, много, мноого добра! още съм в шок, но силно препоръчвам за хора, които не се погнусяват лесно; disturbing си е бая, но си заслужава със сигурност
zoelindsey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
bthompson80's review against another edition
Found the story difficult to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
rosa_mariposa's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75