Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
"I don't think kids know monsters so well at first glance. It's their folks that tell em how to recognize the monsters."
A collection of 4 "short" stories all in the horror space unlike something like different seasons. They all have a bit of a twilight zone feel to them where something in the world is just a bit off.
First up The Langoliers. 10 passengers on a flight from LA to Boston wake up to find everyone else is missing including the crew. Luckily they have a pilot on board and are able to land. They soon find they are a bit out of time and soon The Langoliers will be there to take care of what has happened. Only not all the people believe and one unruly passenger is apt to make it a flight to remember. And interesting idea on what happens to the past as we make our way through our loves.
Next up Secret Window, Secret Garden. Mort a fairly successful author is going through a divorce where his wife left him for another man. While hold up at their lake house a mysterious man rolls up and accuses Mort of plagiarism and wants to get what it his. Through grief, anger, and fear Mort works on unraveling his past to figure out who John Shooter is. A great story with a bit of a meh ending. We see King breaking his characters in a way only he seems to know how.
Third The Library Policeman. After stopping at the library to get some help in writing a speech Sam loses the books he took out. The librarian doesn't like this and is forced to teach Sam a lesson. Only the librarian Sam meet was supposed to have died 20 years prior after she killed 2 kids. Sam is forced to confront his own childhood trauma to save himself and his friends from this being that calls herself Ardelia. This one had a slow start but ended so good.
Last up The Sun Dog. Kevin is gifted a camera on his birthday, the only problem is it only takes the same picture of the same dog, or does it? After working with Pop Merrile, uncle to our friend Ace, we learn the dog in the photo is moving and is meaner than he looks. Pop swindles Kevin to try and make a buck and sets in motion a showdown with the crazy beast from the Polaroid. A Castle Rock story that doesn't disappoint.
A collection of 4 "short" stories all in the horror space unlike something like different seasons. They all have a bit of a twilight zone feel to them where something in the world is just a bit off.
First up The Langoliers. 10 passengers on a flight from LA to Boston wake up to find everyone else is missing including the crew. Luckily they have a pilot on board and are able to land. They soon find they are a bit out of time and soon The Langoliers will be there to take care of what has happened. Only not all the people believe and one unruly passenger is apt to make it a flight to remember. And interesting idea on what happens to the past as we make our way through our loves.
Next up Secret Window, Secret Garden. Mort a fairly successful author is going through a divorce where his wife left him for another man. While hold up at their lake house a mysterious man rolls up and accuses Mort of plagiarism and wants to get what it his. Through grief, anger, and fear Mort works on unraveling his past to figure out who John Shooter is. A great story with a bit of a meh ending. We see King breaking his characters in a way only he seems to know how.
Third The Library Policeman. After stopping at the library to get some help in writing a speech Sam loses the books he took out. The librarian doesn't like this and is forced to teach Sam a lesson. Only the librarian Sam meet was supposed to have died 20 years prior after she killed 2 kids. Sam is forced to confront his own childhood trauma to save himself and his friends from this being that calls herself Ardelia. This one had a slow start but ended so good.
Last up The Sun Dog. Kevin is gifted a camera on his birthday, the only problem is it only takes the same picture of the same dog, or does it? After working with Pop Merrile, uncle to our friend Ace, we learn the dog in the photo is moving and is meaner than he looks. Pop swindles Kevin to try and make a buck and sets in motion a showdown with the crazy beast from the Polaroid. A Castle Rock story that doesn't disappoint.
The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is because the writing in "The Secret Window" and "Langoliers" seemed a bit tedious (I enjoyed the movie versions more). BUT, I've re-read "The Library Policeman" and "The Sun Dog" multiple times. These were written when King's stories were still tight and a pleasure to read. His recent works have taken a 'random rambling' turn, and I wish he'd re-read his own earlier works for inspiration :-)
Absolutely brilliant! Secret window, secret garden was hands down my favourite short story I have ever read!!! Loved it!
One of my favorites!
Secret Window Secret Garden is probably the gem here. The whole business with the Mississippi author and the hat and the schizophrenia was so, so frightening. Library Policeman was, too; so fucking creepy, how something as far-fetched and vaguely childish as a library policeman who came after you if you returned your books late can be so scary once put into Stephen King’s hands. AND SUN DOG OH MY GOD- that picture of a dog moving closer and closer. So creepy.
Secret Window Secret Garden is probably the gem here. The whole business with the Mississippi author and the hat and the schizophrenia was so, so frightening. Library Policeman was, too; so fucking creepy, how something as far-fetched and vaguely childish as a library policeman who came after you if you returned your books late can be so scary once put into Stephen King’s hands. AND SUN DOG OH MY GOD- that picture of a dog moving closer and closer. So creepy.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quite the enjoyable read, especially the first story. It had been a long time since I'd read any King. Glad I picked this one up!
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated