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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
update Fev. 2017
[b:One Past Midnight: The Langoliers|102733|One Past Midnight The Langoliers|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1429051428s/102733.jpg|1733092] - 4*
This was a gripping roller-coaster of emotions and actions!
I couldn't put the book down, I really need to find out what would happen to the characters.
[b:Two Past Midnight: Secret Window, Secret Garden|133268|Two Past Midnight Secret Window, Secret Garden|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1360858824s/133268.jpg|54037478] - 4*
This one was the novel I was more excited to read. I was expecting to like more than I did. I'm not sure if it was the end, or something else.
[b:Three Past Midnight: The Library Policeman|133267|Three Past Midnight The Library Policeman|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1374049244s/133267.jpg|3025406] - 5*
Can a Stephen King story have a happy ending? Seems to be possible.
The premise of the story is quite interesting, specially if has a kid you used to go to the library. In my case I use to go to school libraries. My local library was quite far away, and it was BIG!, and I was afraid to miss the delivery date of the book and be shamed in front of everyone, I was even afraid that something happened to the book...
Fear lodges himself in the weirdest places.
And fear is something Stephen King likes to play with. The existence of The Library Policemen is a very interesting premise.
And besides I'm only mentioning childhood fears, the characters of the book are grownups.
The main character is Sam Peebles and through the story he will have to rediscover his fear for libraries, and before the end he will have to face one of his childhood fears (and everything he did do forget about it) in order to survive The Library Policeman.
[b:Four Past Midnight: The Sun Dog|3365119|Four Past Midnight The Sun Dog|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404580022s/3365119.jpg|46822015] 5*
It's a prequel to [b:Needful Things|107291|Needful Things|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1315767817s/107291.jpg|1812101] and also related with [b:The Dark Half|13603217|The Dark Half|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334507640s/13603217.jpg|1316297]
A true horror story, specially recommended if you're a fan of old Polaroids and are not afraid of dogs. Read at your own will.
[b:One Past Midnight: The Langoliers|102733|One Past Midnight The Langoliers|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1429051428s/102733.jpg|1733092] - 4*
This was a gripping roller-coaster of emotions and actions!
I couldn't put the book down, I really need to find out what would happen to the characters.
[b:Two Past Midnight: Secret Window, Secret Garden|133268|Two Past Midnight Secret Window, Secret Garden|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1360858824s/133268.jpg|54037478] - 4*
This one was the novel I was more excited to read. I was expecting to like more than I did. I'm not sure if it was the end, or something else.
[b:Three Past Midnight: The Library Policeman|133267|Three Past Midnight The Library Policeman|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1374049244s/133267.jpg|3025406] - 5*
Can a Stephen King story have a happy ending? Seems to be possible.
The premise of the story is quite interesting, specially if has a kid you used to go to the library. In my case I use to go to school libraries. My local library was quite far away, and it was BIG!, and I was afraid to miss the delivery date of the book and be shamed in front of everyone, I was even afraid that something happened to the book...
Fear lodges himself in the weirdest places.
And fear is something Stephen King likes to play with. The existence of The Library Policemen is a very interesting premise.
And besides I'm only mentioning childhood fears, the characters of the book are grownups.
The main character is Sam Peebles and through the story he will have to rediscover his fear for libraries, and before the end he will have to face one of his childhood fears (and everything he did do forget about it) in order to survive The Library Policeman.
[b:Four Past Midnight: The Sun Dog|3365119|Four Past Midnight The Sun Dog|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1404580022s/3365119.jpg|46822015] 5*
It's a prequel to [b:Needful Things|107291|Needful Things|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1315767817s/107291.jpg|1812101] and also related with [b:The Dark Half|13603217|The Dark Half|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334507640s/13603217.jpg|1316297]
A true horror story, specially recommended if you're a fan of old Polaroids and are not afraid of dogs. Read at your own will.
The Langoliers-
Of the four novellas in this book, this is the one I've probably re-read the most. I just like the idea behind it. The waking up on a plane without any real clue to where most of the people have gone (I realize that Left Behind kind of rips off this scene). The only people left onboard are those that were asleep when whatever happened occurred. Thankfully, pilot Brian is one of those still alive. But the story takes an even worse turn towards terror when they land. On the ground, there is only silence, and they have a seriously unhinged passenger that is willing to do anything to get to his Boston meeting, even if it means murder, because soon they here the sound of the Langoliers approaching.
Secret Window, Secret Garden- I've read this one a few times, although I could not remember the ending. I like the idea of someone's guilt and anger manifesting another identity that allows you to be the monster of your worse impulses. I think the ex-wife is a little too forgiving at the end, but that's just me.
The Library Police- this story terrified me when I first read it, which is in part why I haven't re-read it. As a chronically late book returner, it scared me. But I totally forgot a huge portion of this story, so I'm very glad I finally re-read it. I also wonder if this is where Stephen King first came up with the concept of the Outsider, because I think there's a mention of the librarian being and Outsider... This is super creepy, but it also has a scene where a young boy is raped, so trigger warning. I'd have to say that this is my new favorite of this collection.
The Sun Dog- When a young boy in Castle Rock gets the Polaroid camera of his dreams, it turns out to be supernaturally menacing! So he takes it to Pops Merril (Ace Merril's greedy uncle), and Pops agrees to help, only to make things worse... because of course. It's Castle Rock, people! I think it's time to move when so many awful things keep happening in one small town, but yankees in Maine are a particularly stubborn lot. The camera only takes pictures of an ugly, mean looking dog. And it's getting closer. The ending has a delightfully sinister twist, which I enjoyed.
Of the four novellas in this book, this is the one I've probably re-read the most. I just like the idea behind it. The waking up on a plane without any real clue to where most of the people have gone (I realize that Left Behind kind of rips off this scene). The only people left onboard are those that were asleep when whatever happened occurred. Thankfully, pilot Brian is one of those still alive. But the story takes an even worse turn towards terror when they land. On the ground, there is only silence, and they have a seriously unhinged passenger that is willing to do anything to get to his Boston meeting, even if it means murder, because soon they here the sound of the Langoliers approaching.
Secret Window, Secret Garden- I've read this one a few times, although I could not remember the ending. I like the idea of someone's guilt and anger manifesting another identity that allows you to be the monster of your worse impulses. I think the ex-wife is a little too forgiving at the end, but that's just me.
The Library Police- this story terrified me when I first read it, which is in part why I haven't re-read it. As a chronically late book returner, it scared me. But I totally forgot a huge portion of this story, so I'm very glad I finally re-read it. I also wonder if this is where Stephen King first came up with the concept of the Outsider, because I think there's a mention of the librarian being and Outsider... This is super creepy, but it also has a scene where a young boy is raped, so trigger warning. I'd have to say that this is my new favorite of this collection.
The Sun Dog- When a young boy in Castle Rock gets the Polaroid camera of his dreams, it turns out to be supernaturally menacing! So he takes it to Pops Merril (Ace Merril's greedy uncle), and Pops agrees to help, only to make things worse... because of course. It's Castle Rock, people! I think it's time to move when so many awful things keep happening in one small town, but yankees in Maine are a particularly stubborn lot. The camera only takes pictures of an ugly, mean looking dog. And it's getting closer. The ending has a delightfully sinister twist, which I enjoyed.
I'm not quite sure what to do with this collection. Of the four novellas, the first two are not good. The third is decent and the fourth is also decent (bordering on good) but with a pretty corny ending.
I will quickly roll through my opinions here.
The Langoliers? Not good. Interesting premise with mostly annoying characters but it's just too long for what it does and annoying overall.
Secret Window, Secret Garden? Essentially a not good version of The Dark Half. Nothing new happens or is done.
The Library Policemen? Interesting concept. Well executed. Relatable-ish characters and probably one of King's best executed scene of violence on a child. (As in it's done... tastefully and not overwritten.) Very creepy moments in here as well.
The Sun Dog? Interesting premise. Some very creepy moments. The novella works well overall but the epilogue almost kills my view of it.
So two of the stories are worth reading for sure. The other two maybe if you're a big fan of King or the adaptations which they begat.
I will quickly roll through my opinions here.
The Langoliers? Not good. Interesting premise with mostly annoying characters but it's just too long for what it does and annoying overall.
Secret Window, Secret Garden? Essentially a not good version of The Dark Half. Nothing new happens or is done.
The Library Policemen? Interesting concept. Well executed. Relatable-ish characters and probably one of King's best executed scene of violence on a child. (As in it's done... tastefully and not overwritten.) Very creepy moments in here as well.
The Sun Dog? Interesting premise. Some very creepy moments. The novella works well overall but the epilogue almost kills my view of it.
So two of the stories are worth reading for sure. The other two maybe if you're a big fan of King or the adaptations which they begat.
Creatures that eat the past? Getting stuck in a stale present? Feeling that deepest fear like being stranded in the middle of an ocean of oceans? Afraid of flying? This book will help you overcome none of those, but it remains a fun read built around an awesome concept. Plus bad dialogue!
Dragged down by Langoliers and Sun Dog is decent, but man Library Policeman and Secret Window are just wonderful, sad stories about how the past can affect you even more than it should.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this whole book in a weekend. My copy was at 935 pages, so I really devoured these four stories.
The Langoliers: 4/5. Pretty good starter, but I felt it was a bit too long for its own good. Also, too many random things thrown in about the characters. It was a good story, but definitely not my favorite of the book!
Secret Window, Secret Garden: 4.5/5. I was already familiar with this story thanks to the movie that was made. For a good portion of my life, I had no idea that this was a story. But wow was the story good. I enjoyed the movie ending, better, though!
The Library Policeman: 4/5. Again, good, but I felt it was too long in many ways. I liked the story and it had great, tense pacing to it. I think this is one of those short stories/novellas that could have been made into a full-length novel in some ways.
The Sun Dog: 4/5. Again, great pacing. This was nearly my favorite of the bunch, honestly. It reminded me of that Goosebumps book with the camera that can tell the future, but, obviously, a little different. Also, the ending really left it open for King to revisit it someday. I think he kind of did in If it Bleeds with the first story, but I'd be interested in knowing more about this particular set of characters.
The Langoliers: 4/5. Pretty good starter, but I felt it was a bit too long for its own good. Also, too many random things thrown in about the characters. It was a good story, but definitely not my favorite of the book!
Secret Window, Secret Garden: 4.5/5. I was already familiar with this story thanks to the movie that was made. For a good portion of my life, I had no idea that this was a story. But wow was the story good. I enjoyed the movie ending, better, though!
The Library Policeman: 4/5. Again, good, but I felt it was too long in many ways. I liked the story and it had great, tense pacing to it. I think this is one of those short stories/novellas that could have been made into a full-length novel in some ways.
The Sun Dog: 4/5. Again, great pacing. This was nearly my favorite of the bunch, honestly. It reminded me of that Goosebumps book with the camera that can tell the future, but, obviously, a little different. Also, the ending really left it open for King to revisit it someday. I think he kind of did in If it Bleeds with the first story, but I'd be interested in knowing more about this particular set of characters.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
WOW. It had been a while since Stephen King grabbed me like this, but the Langoliers had me going crazy... as did Sun Dog. The stories weren't even so much terrifying as uniquely gripping. They just held you in focus until you didn't think you could take anymore.
I tend to like his novella sets more than I do his short story collections. This is a great example. Fun fact: I first read The Langoliers on an airplane (not a great idea) and there's a good chance that The Library Police is the reason why I don't have a library card.
(No, I really don't have a library card.)
(No, I really don't have a library card.)
The thing about Stephen King's stories is that they suck you right in from the very beginning. They tend to make you impatient on what's going to happen next and how the story's going to end, so you have no choice but to keep reading. I was actually really impatient while reading The Langoliers, like "Hey, what the fuck is happening? Where did the majority of the passengers go, DAMMIT?" It's actually a very sneaky trick, and I respect him for that.
My favorite out of the four is Secret Window, Secret Garden. It's this psychological mystery thriller about a schizophrenic writer. My least favorite was The Sun Dog since it didn't really make much sense. But a good book, overall.
My favorite out of the four is Secret Window, Secret Garden. It's this psychological mystery thriller about a schizophrenic writer. My least favorite was The Sun Dog since it didn't really make much sense. But a good book, overall.