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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Five somewhat interconnected stories featuring recurring characters, set in the 60s. I enjoyed them all, but especially "Low Men In Coats". Bobby Garfield is a great character and I liked his friendship with Ted Brautigan.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just too long
One of my favorites of Kings later work, mainly for "Low Men In Yellow Coats." This is the story that the mediocre movie Hearts In Atlantis is actually based on. It's about kids in a small town growing up in the 60s. And there's a side story about the Low Men from the Dark Tower series who are after a border that the main kid's mom has taken in. It's a great story that is on par with "The Body" as being some of the best coming of age lit of the past 30 years. I could have done without the supernatural element, but it doesn't kill the story.
The title story (and all of the others, actually) are about Vietnam. Some take place there or after or, in the case of Hearts In Atlantis, at a college where kids are trying to stay out of it.
This is a great book. Check it out. Especially if you have a soft spot in your heart for the 60s.
The title story (and all of the others, actually) are about Vietnam. Some take place there or after or, in the case of Hearts In Atlantis, at a college where kids are trying to stay out of it.
This is a great book. Check it out. Especially if you have a soft spot in your heart for the 60s.
I've heard and read recently that many people consider this novel to be King's masterpiece. Whether that sentiment actually holds true in the public court of opinion among his fans or not is probably up for debate, however, for my two cents, I'm a believer. I love this book for so many reasons. The exquisite craft of it all, the throwback to 1960's life, and even the not so subtle dark tower crossover out of nowhere. But I think what really made this novel come alive for me and resonate so deeply, was how so easily this work struck up thoughts on my own childhood, and my own times in college, and my own personal life lesson, and loves lost along the way. Even though the stories themselves have no real relevance to my own life experiences. (I mean, how could they....it takes place a generation before I was even born). Yet, I still felt that pull. And I think the fact that these experiences came to me is a true testament to the kind of writer that king is. And just when the supreme oddness of the third chapter was about to derail the entire book, it comes full circle in the most amazing way in the final chapter. What a read. What a book. I know I'm still trying to uncover more INFORMATION as my life moves forward. Peace and love.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this book. I’ve read it several times and I’ve even listened to the audiobook. It doesn’t fit neatly into the horror genre, which King is the grandmaster of (and prob explains why it doesn’t have more five star reviews - typical King fans are put off by the fact that it’s not like his normal fare). I’ve read many of King’s novels, and general love them all. I’m also generally not a fan of short stories. But this offbeat collection of novellas and short stories by King is one of my all time favorites. I highly recommend it.
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes