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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I’ve been wanting to read this book since I bought it years ago and it took multiple challenges before I finally managed to make my way through. It was definitely an interesting read and I enjoyed the various stories within.
Secret Window was probably still my favorite because I was familiar with the story from watching the movie – just a completely different ending. Some of the other stories were very strange and what I would expect from King. At lease one other was made into a movie, which could be interesting to check out.
Secret Window was probably still my favorite because I was familiar with the story from watching the movie – just a completely different ending. Some of the other stories were very strange and what I would expect from King. At lease one other was made into a movie, which could be interesting to check out.
Pretty sure I read this one befor, but maybe I am just remembering the movie. I know I saw that.
A 4-part collection of novellas from the mind of Stephen King. In this book we’ve got; The Langolears - where a small group of plane passengers awaken to find all others aboard have vanished, Secret Window Secret Garden - where a writer is confronted by a stranger claiming the writer stole his story, The Library Policeman - where a man fails to return some library books on time and finds himself being hunted by a very unfriendly librarian, and Sun Dog - where a Polaroid camera keeps showing photos of a demonic dog, no matter what else you take pictures of.
So I’m really only a fan of Secret Window, Secret Garden. It’s a great mystery that builds into a good ending (they changed the ending in the Johnny Depp movie version and I’m undecided which I like more). You’re made to wonder at the legitimacy of it all right until the end.
The other 3 stories a kind of forgettable for me. Langolears gets a slight pass because of the sheer oddness of it all, and it made me want to watch the 90s miniseries.
But unfortunately the other 2 stories were kind of meh for me, and I can see why they’ve never been adapted to screen. Library Policeman is actually a nod to IT though, possibly a tie-in with the same sort of being?
I actually found Sun Dog pretty boring, though if you look at it as a prologue of sorts to Needful Things then that spices it up slightly.
All in all not the strongest of SK’s shorter works, but they can be enjoyed in their own ways too.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
So I’m really only a fan of Secret Window, Secret Garden. It’s a great mystery that builds into a good ending (they changed the ending in the Johnny Depp movie version and I’m undecided which I like more). You’re made to wonder at the legitimacy of it all right until the end.
The other 3 stories a kind of forgettable for me. Langolears gets a slight pass because of the sheer oddness of it all, and it made me want to watch the 90s miniseries.
But unfortunately the other 2 stories were kind of meh for me, and I can see why they’ve never been adapted to screen. Library Policeman is actually a nod to IT though, possibly a tie-in with the same sort of being?
I actually found Sun Dog pretty boring, though if you look at it as a prologue of sorts to Needful Things then that spices it up slightly.
All in all not the strongest of SK’s shorter works, but they can be enjoyed in their own ways too.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
Here’s how I rate each story in this collection:
The Langoliers - 3.5 stars (This one is easily my favorite. I liked the cast of characters and the trippy alternate dimension aspect.)
Secret Window, Secret Garden - 2.5 stars (I thought this one was pretty boring, though I liked the twist.)
The Library Policeman - 3 stars (I was shocked about the sick twist in this one and I thought the creepy creature made a good villain.)
The Sun Dog - 3 stars (Pop is such a despicable character that it was unpleasant reading so much from his point of view. Good riddance.)
The Langoliers - 3.5 stars (This one is easily my favorite. I liked the cast of characters and the trippy alternate dimension aspect.)
Secret Window, Secret Garden - 2.5 stars (I thought this one was pretty boring, though I liked the twist.)
The Library Policeman - 3 stars (I was shocked about the sick twist in this one and I thought the creepy creature made a good villain.)
The Sun Dog - 3 stars (Pop is such a despicable character that it was unpleasant reading so much from his point of view. Good riddance.)
Trippy. I liked discovering the mystery of the time travel elements 🥤🍺, but the element of the neurotic killer passenger I could have done without.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh, I am so so so so so so so so done. Why do I listen to King audiobooks? New rule. I am only listening to King audiobooks for books of his I HAVE ALREADY READ. I know better than this. Good god, this man is so long winded.
I'm not even going to listen to The Sun Dog, or whatever the fourth story is. It is taking entirely too long to get to a point AND I AM LISTENING TO IT ON AN HOUR LONG COMMUTE TO WORK WHEN I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DISTRACT ME. For fuck's sake. I will wikipedia that bitch and KEEP IT MOVING.
SO let's discuss the other three.
The Langoliers: One of those King books that makes me want to scream from how long it is and how many unnecessary words are involved. The ending was deeply unsatisfying, considering how brilliantly creepy it started out. I will say two good things, though.
1) THE SHOP. Goddamit, King, can I have another book about The Shop? Like, a full length? Has he even revisited it since Firestarter?
2) Reference to 11/22/63. Was he working on the book when he was writing this short story? Is this short story what set his mind to work on it?
Secret Window, Secret Garden: Despite my deep ever eternal love for all things Depp, I'd never seen the movie. I knew kind of what was going to be the big reveal, but not entirely. But I at least had an idea of what was going on when Mort started to go crazy. Very fun story, I like watching a descent into insanity.
Movie had a better ending, though.
The Library Policeman: A jelly doughnut story. It took so long to drag me in, and then I got super into this, and then it got fucking stupid again. I do love that this starts out as a crazy supernatural story, and then slammed into a very real human horror story.
The Sun Dog: Fuck you.
I'm not even going to listen to The Sun Dog, or whatever the fourth story is. It is taking entirely too long to get to a point AND I AM LISTENING TO IT ON AN HOUR LONG COMMUTE TO WORK WHEN I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DISTRACT ME. For fuck's sake. I will wikipedia that bitch and KEEP IT MOVING.
SO let's discuss the other three.
The Langoliers: One of those King books that makes me want to scream from how long it is and how many unnecessary words are involved. The ending was deeply unsatisfying, considering how brilliantly creepy it started out. I will say two good things, though.
1) THE SHOP. Goddamit, King, can I have another book about The Shop? Like, a full length? Has he even revisited it since Firestarter?
2) Reference to 11/22/63. Was he working on the book when he was writing this short story? Is this short story what set his mind to work on it?
Secret Window, Secret Garden: Despite my deep ever eternal love for all things Depp, I'd never seen the movie. I knew kind of what was going to be the big reveal, but not entirely. But I at least had an idea of what was going on when Mort started to go crazy. Very fun story, I like watching a descent into insanity.
Movie had a better ending, though.
The Library Policeman: A jelly doughnut story. It took so long to drag me in, and then I got super into this, and then it got fucking stupid again. I do love that this starts out as a crazy supernatural story, and then slammed into a very real human horror story.
The Sun Dog: Fuck you.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Four Past Midnight
1. Secret Window, Secret Garden: Pretty obvious ending, but fun psychological little horror novel.
2. Langoliers: You know you're in trouble when this is the 2nd best thing in a book. Fun/funny moments, feels like a not great Twilight Zone episode. Needed more Langoliers and less heroic war criminals.
3. Library Policeman: What if It was worse and grosser?
4. Sun Dog: Goosebumps with swears.
1. Secret Window, Secret Garden: Pretty obvious ending, but fun psychological little horror novel.
2. Langoliers: You know you're in trouble when this is the 2nd best thing in a book. Fun/funny moments, feels like a not great Twilight Zone episode. Needed more Langoliers and less heroic war criminals.
3. Library Policeman: What if It was worse and grosser?
4. Sun Dog: Goosebumps with swears.