You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4 mini King classics. You did not ask, but I would order them (from best to weakest) -
1)Secret Window, Secret Garden (much better than Dark Half)
2)Library Policeman
3)Langoliers
4)Sun Dog
But I did enjoy them all. All seem to have something particularly nasty to them
1)Secret Window, Secret Garden (much better than Dark Half)
2)Library Policeman
3)Langoliers
4)Sun Dog
But I did enjoy them all. All seem to have something particularly nasty to them
The Langoliers 4/5
Secret Window, Secret Garden 3/5
The Library Policeman 4/5
The Sun Dog 2/5
Secret Window, Secret Garden 3/5
The Library Policeman 4/5
The Sun Dog 2/5
Probably the fifth time I read this fanastic book. Four excellent stories - if you have not read it - DO so... now!
The Langoliers - 5/5
Secret Window, Secret Garden - 3/5
The Library Policeman - 4/5
The Sun Dog -2.5/5
Secret Window, Secret Garden - 3/5
The Library Policeman - 4/5
The Sun Dog -2.5/5
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Four past midnight is EASILY my favorite collection of novellas by Stephen King. I am just starting to review all of the books i've read, so I chose this one because I have so much to say.
The Langoliers:
“That was when Brian felt something—something like a bolt—starting to give way deep inside his mind. That was when he felt his entire structure of organized thought begin to slide slowly toward some dark abyss.”
This collection starts off with a bang! Or a rip I should say. A rip in the time space continuum. This novella is one of Stephens longest novellas, page count wise. It sort of drags in the middle but it sets up the characters very well. Would have really enjoyed this as a full fledged novel. This is very weird Stephen King, but for me, the weirder the better. The movie adaption is very cheesy, as are the majority of his movies of the time. The special effects are shockingly terrible but it was nice to see this novella brought to life. Heavy Dark Tower connections due to my opinion that the rips in time are thinnies (in my opinion).
Secret window, secret garden:
“Pissing and thinking have a lot in common, he thought. You can put them both off.. But not forever.”
One of Stephen's best twist endings. King is known for questionable endings but this is one of my favorites. He loves to write about writers. Mort Rainey was a very relatable character if you've ever gone through a rough separation. Being in the mind or Mort was a fun ride. Is he an unreliable narrator? I'll let you find that out on your own. The adaption had Johnny Depp. Enough said.
The Library policeman:
This novella is messed up. One of Stephen's most horrifying stories. When it comes to content.. there is a scene in this book..that is literally horrifying. I will say nothing further because that scene must not be spoiled. It is a trigger warning for some. I have no triggers and read extreme horror so it didn't bother me. I will never return a library book late, EVER again. Such a great novella. You will not forget this story. It will stay with you. My most recent re-read was in 2021 and the imagery is burnt into my brain, unfortunately. He intended to horrify and he succeeded.
The Sun dog:
“You never ever asked Lady Luck for a date; she had a way of standing men up just when they needed her the most. But if she showed up on her own . . . well, it was wise to drop whatever it was you were doing and take her out and wine her and dine her just as lavishly as you could. That was one bitch who always put out if you treated her right.”
Stephen might have saved the best for last in this collection. We get another appearance from Pop Merrill!!!!! I love my castle rock characters. That alone should give you the urge to pick up this collection. Love the references and it was nice to see what Pop was up to. Same old tricks. The Sun dog involves Kevin who, every time he takes a picture, there is a dog who is not present when the photo is taken...and it keeps getting closer...and closer....and closer. Another scary novella compared to most he's written and a great way to end this book. Reminded me a lot of the concept of needful things and we get another dog. This one is not as scary as cujo if you ask me. But this journey left quite a lot of disturbing imagery. Not even close to the library policeman's.
In summation this collection is perfect to me. 2 of the 4 have adaptions, and they will never make the library policeman into a movie..if they do..they will have to cut the best scene in the whole book. By best I'm referring to most horrifying. I will never get over that scene. Would love to see a Sun dog adaption. For me the weakest entry was secret window, secret garden, and I give that novella 5 stars. You cant go wrong with this book and this is Stephen King at his best. A little bit of everything. Science fiction horror from the midnight hour.
The Langoliers:
“That was when Brian felt something—something like a bolt—starting to give way deep inside his mind. That was when he felt his entire structure of organized thought begin to slide slowly toward some dark abyss.”
This collection starts off with a bang! Or a rip I should say. A rip in the time space continuum. This novella is one of Stephens longest novellas, page count wise. It sort of drags in the middle but it sets up the characters very well. Would have really enjoyed this as a full fledged novel. This is very weird Stephen King, but for me, the weirder the better. The movie adaption is very cheesy, as are the majority of his movies of the time. The special effects are shockingly terrible but it was nice to see this novella brought to life. Heavy Dark Tower connections due to my opinion that the rips in time are thinnies (in my opinion).
Secret window, secret garden:
“Pissing and thinking have a lot in common, he thought. You can put them both off.. But not forever.”
One of Stephen's best twist endings. King is known for questionable endings but this is one of my favorites. He loves to write about writers. Mort Rainey was a very relatable character if you've ever gone through a rough separation. Being in the mind or Mort was a fun ride. Is he an unreliable narrator? I'll let you find that out on your own. The adaption had Johnny Depp. Enough said.
The Library policeman:
This novella is messed up. One of Stephen's most horrifying stories. When it comes to content.. there is a scene in this book..that is literally horrifying. I will say nothing further because that scene must not be spoiled. It is a trigger warning for some. I have no triggers and read extreme horror so it didn't bother me. I will never return a library book late, EVER again. Such a great novella. You will not forget this story. It will stay with you. My most recent re-read was in 2021 and the imagery is burnt into my brain, unfortunately. He intended to horrify and he succeeded.
The Sun dog:
“You never ever asked Lady Luck for a date; she had a way of standing men up just when they needed her the most. But if she showed up on her own . . . well, it was wise to drop whatever it was you were doing and take her out and wine her and dine her just as lavishly as you could. That was one bitch who always put out if you treated her right.”
Stephen might have saved the best for last in this collection. We get another appearance from Pop Merrill!!!!! I love my castle rock characters. That alone should give you the urge to pick up this collection. Love the references and it was nice to see what Pop was up to. Same old tricks. The Sun dog involves Kevin who, every time he takes a picture, there is a dog who is not present when the photo is taken...and it keeps getting closer...and closer....and closer. Another scary novella compared to most he's written and a great way to end this book. Reminded me a lot of the concept of needful things and we get another dog. This one is not as scary as cujo if you ask me. But this journey left quite a lot of disturbing imagery. Not even close to the library policeman's.
In summation this collection is perfect to me. 2 of the 4 have adaptions, and they will never make the library policeman into a movie..if they do..they will have to cut the best scene in the whole book. By best I'm referring to most horrifying. I will never get over that scene. Would love to see a Sun dog adaption. For me the weakest entry was secret window, secret garden, and I give that novella 5 stars. You cant go wrong with this book and this is Stephen King at his best. A little bit of everything. Science fiction horror from the midnight hour.
Var nästan orimligt glad över att åka ännu längre norrut i Maine, till det betydelseladdade Bangor.
Fast jag nästan kan storyn utantill ville jag läsa om Langoljärerna.
Se instagram för mer Maine, @mindthebook
Fast jag nästan kan storyn utantill ville jag läsa om Langoljärerna.
Se instagram för mer Maine, @mindthebook
2 really great stories.
1 okay story.
1 very garbage story.
1 okay story.
1 very garbage story.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced