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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Langoliers
Probably my fav king short story. The plot was so engaging and I loved the characters so much! Also the ending didn't suck so it's a big thumbs up from me. (5/5)
Secret window, secret garden
I thought this was a really solid follow up from the langoliers. Usually I don't think that I would like a story with this type of premise but I ended up loving it because the way the character was written was brilliant and it wasn't hard to get invested in the plot at all. Overall, I liked this a lot :)(4/5)
The library policeman
I thought I was going to enjoy this at the start but I couldn't get into it at all?? Honestly, I just don't think I really connected with any of the characters and I thought that the plot wasn't very interesting at all. Definitely the weakest story for me in this collection. (1.5/5)
The sun dog
Ngl I think that I was only so invested because of Castle Rock. I love Needful Things (and the other stories set in the town) so much and I think that it was maybe just the feel of the town that kept me engaged. Other than that, I thought it was okay. Again I couldn't care less about any of the characters and THE FUCKING CHAPTER WHERE HE DESCRIBES THE CASHIER AT THE STORE??? maybe i shouldn't be surprised atp but i don't think all that was needed mr king...😭😭 and the plot was...eh but IT WASN'T THAT BAD! It didn't make me want to stop reading which is a plus. (3/5)
I thought this collection was pretty good. I think I connect more with these longer short stories than I do with the collections that have lots of little ones, if that makes any sense.
As I said, I loved the langoliers and secret window but i hated the library policeman and the sun dog was okay. So overall 3.5 which is good, and that was a long ass book
Probably my fav king short story. The plot was so engaging and I loved the characters so much! Also the ending didn't suck so it's a big thumbs up from me. (5/5)
Secret window, secret garden
I thought this was a really solid follow up from the langoliers. Usually I don't think that I would like a story with this type of premise but I ended up loving it because the way the character was written was brilliant and it wasn't hard to get invested in the plot at all. Overall, I liked this a lot :)(4/5)
The library policeman
I thought I was going to enjoy this at the start but I couldn't get into it at all?? Honestly, I just don't think I really connected with any of the characters and I thought that the plot wasn't very interesting at all. Definitely the weakest story for me in this collection. (1.5/5)
The sun dog
Ngl I think that I was only so invested because of Castle Rock. I love Needful Things (and the other stories set in the town) so much and I think that it was maybe just the feel of the town that kept me engaged. Other than that, I thought it was okay. Again I couldn't care less about any of the characters and THE FUCKING CHAPTER WHERE HE DESCRIBES THE CASHIER AT THE STORE??? maybe i shouldn't be surprised atp but i don't think all that was needed mr king...😭😭 and the plot was...eh but IT WASN'T THAT BAD! It didn't make me want to stop reading which is a plus. (3/5)
I thought this collection was pretty good. I think I connect more with these longer short stories than I do with the collections that have lots of little ones, if that makes any sense.
As I said, I loved the langoliers and secret window but i hated the library policeman and the sun dog was okay. So overall 3.5 which is good, and that was a long ass book
I don't personally like all of the story but I have a favorite. It is the "Secret Window, Secret Garden." In comparison to other stories, I think this one is more thrilling and even the ending is wrapped perfectly.
dark
mysterious
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:
No
The Langoliers
Wow! What a story! This is one of those stories that sticks with you forever. There are unique ideas about time and space and the places in between in this tale that I'm sure I'll be meeting up with in my dreams from now on. Excellent.
Secret Window, Secret Garden
Secret Window is one of my favorite King movies. I normally hate to read a book after I've already seen the movies; it's just not the same. The novella delivers though. It's a very creepy, dark psychological horror that will sit in your bones forever. My only gripe is that I much preferred the movie ending to the novella ending. My own fault.
The Library Policeman
Ugh. This was such a flop for me. It reminded me a great deal of It, which is one of my least favorite King novels. Or perhaps like one of the many evil anthropomorphic car stories King has written; I don't like any of those either. The subject matter was too ludicrous and random for me to get into it and suspend disbelief. Bummer.
The Sun Dog
I really, really enjoyed the first half of this novella. It proudly resides on the very short list of stories that have kept me awake at night and that I have set aside because I was getting so anxious and jumpy just reading it. It was scary and I liked it. Somewhere in the middle, though, I started getting Needful Things vibes. Maybe that's the problem with reading so much of one author. Anyway, it slowed down and, to me, didn't maintain the locomotive momentum of terror. For that reason, this fell from a five or more likely four star story to three.
Overall
An okay collection. If I ever decided to reread Four Past I would probably read the first two novellas again, but not the second.
Wow! What a story! This is one of those stories that sticks with you forever. There are unique ideas about time and space and the places in between in this tale that I'm sure I'll be meeting up with in my dreams from now on. Excellent.
Secret Window, Secret Garden
Secret Window is one of my favorite King movies. I normally hate to read a book after I've already seen the movies; it's just not the same. The novella delivers though. It's a very creepy, dark psychological horror that will sit in your bones forever. My only gripe is that I much preferred the movie ending to the novella ending. My own fault.
The Library Policeman
Ugh. This was such a flop for me. It reminded me a great deal of It, which is one of my least favorite King novels. Or perhaps like one of the many evil anthropomorphic car stories King has written; I don't like any of those either. The subject matter was too ludicrous and random for me to get into it and suspend disbelief. Bummer.
The Sun Dog
I really, really enjoyed the first half of this novella. It proudly resides on the very short list of stories that have kept me awake at night and that I have set aside because I was getting so anxious and jumpy just reading it. It was scary and I liked it. Somewhere in the middle, though, I started getting Needful Things vibes. Maybe that's the problem with reading so much of one author. Anyway, it slowed down and, to me, didn't maintain the locomotive momentum of terror. For that reason, this fell from a five or more likely four star story to three.
Overall
An okay collection. If I ever decided to reread Four Past I would probably read the first two novellas again, but not the second.
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Usually when reading short story collections there are some you love and some you are less enthusiastic about.. but with this collection of four novellas there isn't one that didn't have me hooked and i had to make myself pause between stories just to have a rest. Each is just the right length for the story.
I personally thought 'The Library Policeman' was the creepiest, although 'The Sun Dog' wins for out-right gore. My only criticism would be that in 'The Langoliers' (and to a lesser extent 'Secret Window, Secret Garden') issues of mental health are used more to fit the plot than the characters. Still, with stories like these it's a minor complaint.
I personally thought 'The Library Policeman' was the creepiest, although 'The Sun Dog' wins for out-right gore. My only criticism would be that in 'The Langoliers' (and to a lesser extent 'Secret Window, Secret Garden') issues of mental health are used more to fit the plot than the characters. Still, with stories like these it's a minor complaint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Sun Dog 4.5/5
The Library Policeman 3.5/5
The Langoliers 3/5
Secret Window, Secret Garden 1/5
The Library Policeman 3.5/5
The Langoliers 3/5
Secret Window, Secret Garden 1/5
A nice group of novellas. I reviewed the first three stories along the way and The Sun Dog was a fun story with lots of connections to other stories such as “Pop” Merrill who is the father of Ace, from The Body (Stand By Me). So many other references but it was a good story as well, suspenseful and gets you wondering what will happen