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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
I mean it's King being King, I think he did it again. This is the second time I've read one of his novella stories and although not quite as good as "Elevation" I had a really good time with this one as well.
I grew up playing baseball, and although I was always a football kid, through and through, I still have an appreciation for the sport. I think that's what you need to enjoy this book because I've seen people complaining in the reviews about how the suspense didn't lead up to a big enough conclusion or that the first part of the book is boring. I think these people aren't fans of baseball and only picked up the book because it was another Stephen King book and expected something like his other novels. But this novella is different. For me all the baseball talk was King showing us into the baseball world a little, how people talked, what he enjoyed about the game. But if you don't want to be part of that, you won't like the story. It's him branching out and writing about something he's always had a passion for.
That for me was the strongest part of the story, but the horror that was added in was really good too. I think it was enough and mashed together two genes that seldom go together.
I wish this story was true though, it's written like it is and produced like it is. I was sorta sad when I googled it that it wasn't. I guess I would have heard about it already if it was true. Good story though.
I grew up playing baseball, and although I was always a football kid, through and through, I still have an appreciation for the sport. I think that's what you need to enjoy this book because I've seen people complaining in the reviews about how the suspense didn't lead up to a big enough conclusion or that the first part of the book is boring. I think these people aren't fans of baseball and only picked up the book because it was another Stephen King book and expected something like his other novels. But this novella is different. For me all the baseball talk was King showing us into the baseball world a little, how people talked, what he enjoyed about the game. But if you don't want to be part of that, you won't like the story. It's him branching out and writing about something he's always had a passion for.
That for me was the strongest part of the story, but the horror that was added in was really good too. I think it was enough and mashed together two genes that seldom go together.
I wish this story was true though, it's written like it is and produced like it is. I was sorta sad when I googled it that it wasn't. I guess I would have heard about it already if it was true. Good story though.
fast-paced
I'm not a baseball fan but I don't think that interfered that much with my enjoyment of Blockade Billy. It just wasn't a really engaging story to me. Okay, I really couldn't care less about the outcome of sporting events so it doesn't seen horrible to me that a baseball player's "existence completely removed from the record books. " so maybe.
The second story, Morality, on the other hand, was one of those chilling, super uncomfortable stories that Stephen King can do really well. That I just flew through.
The second story, Morality, on the other hand, was one of those chilling, super uncomfortable stories that Stephen King can do really well. That I just flew through.
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is short novella (if there is such a thing -- would that just make it a long short story?) combining two of Stephen King's passions: baseball and horror.
While it isn't life-changing or anywhere near King's best work, this is a well-written and well-constructed story. The "twist" is well done, and the "folksy" tone makes it easy to read and enjoy.
Unless you're a HUGE King fan, though, wait to pick it up in the inevitable anthology -- don't spring for the stand-alone version. It's just not worth it.
While it isn't life-changing or anywhere near King's best work, this is a well-written and well-constructed story. The "twist" is well done, and the "folksy" tone makes it easy to read and enjoy.
Unless you're a HUGE King fan, though, wait to pick it up in the inevitable anthology -- don't spring for the stand-alone version. It's just not worth it.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had no idea what this story was about, but I saw that Stephen King had written it so I decided to read it. Overall I enjoyed it. It was a sort of fun way to lead into Spring Training and the upcoming start of the baseball season.
This is the story of William Blakeley known as Blockade Billy. A young man who was discovered working a farm that turns out to be one of the best catchers ever to play the game of baseball. However - Billy has a secret. And this secret is what caused his name to be wiped from the history of baseball and for no one to remember who he was. His time in baseball was short - and for good reason.
I liked this book pretty well. It is quite short - even at its 132 pages - there is another story in the back - the story of Blockade Billy is about 70 plus pages. There wasn't much depth to the story - we didn't get much background into why Billy did what he did, but overall, it didn't make a difference. Some reviewers say the ending was a twist, but to this I say - come on. This is Stephen King. Of course people died.