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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
I think it took it`s time a bit too much, once he killed his professor it was like “oh” but than he kept talking about his childhood later and I get it, it is mainly a character study but I don't think the main character is very redeemable at all he literally broke his house windows for the fun of it maybe is because his parents did not pay attention to him but whatever, hard DNF I might finish it later but I doubt it. Left on chapter 18, 34%.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Let us say this from the off... this is not a good book. However, for me none of the Bachman books have been much good so far (didn't enjoy Long Walk or Running Man). Also, it is not worth the crazy prices people are trying to sell this book for online! (I managed to find an original with teh front cover torn off for £40 so was pretty lucky I think?)
But the story is just weird and feels very much like a teenager has written it as a peice of school work.
King tries to 'act cool' or goes 'off teh wall' a bit too much in this one, and it feels fake.
The whole thing doesn't feel real and all the characters act in very unrealistic ways. The whole class are way too calm and collected, considering they've just witnessed two of their teachers being shot and killed. Then that ending where they all join in at the end was just a head scratching moment.
Like I said, this feels very mich like teh other books from "Bachman". Just odd and pointless, with bad endings. - Read this if you plan on reading all King's work. But if you are just thinking about it to see what it's like, I wouldn't bother. - A two star read at the very most.
But the story is just weird and feels very much like a teenager has written it as a peice of school work.
King tries to 'act cool' or goes 'off teh wall' a bit too much in this one, and it feels fake.
The whole thing doesn't feel real and all the characters act in very unrealistic ways. The whole class are way too calm and collected, considering they've just witnessed two of their teachers being shot and killed. Then that ending where they all join in at the end was just a head scratching moment.
Like I said, this feels very mich like teh other books from "Bachman". Just odd and pointless, with bad endings. - Read this if you plan on reading all King's work. But if you are just thinking about it to see what it's like, I wouldn't bother. - A two star read at the very most.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I was young I read the Dutch edition, but rereading it in English after all the school shootings that happened between the two reads its an even more sinister experience.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Given the history of this book, I expected the story to have more, you know, murder in it. It's not a school shooting story. It's a kinda sloppy teenage character study with a few shootings involved.
King wrote this when he was a freshman in college, and it shows.
King wrote this when he was a freshman in college, and it shows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings
Not King's best work, but an earnest attempt at imagining the mindset of a school shooter years before that was an actual thing. Kind of Breakfast Club meets Lord of the Flies.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Stephen King says he won’t reprint this book because of its violent content involving school children. I think it’s that and also because it’s the weakest book of his I’ve read.
The first hundered pages of this were a slog. The main character is so annoying and whiny. Once the hostage students started telling their stories it definitely picked up.
This reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye and The 80’s movie The Breakfast Club. Catcher’s Holden was a much better protagonist and Salingers message was much clearer and meaningful.
Charlie’s motivation was so weak. He kills 2 teachers and holds a class hostage because his dad was occasionally mean to him and said misogynistic things about his mom.
I had absolutely ZERO empathy for him.
Another annoying thing was Stephen King’s lack of firearm knowledge. If you’re going to have a gun be a major plot point in your story, please research the correct terms and mechanics of it so you don’t sound like a complete idiot when the character loads “Shells” into the “Clip” of his nondescript 22. Caliber hand gun.
The first hundered pages of this were a slog. The main character is so annoying and whiny. Once the hostage students started telling their stories it definitely picked up.
This reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye and The 80’s movie The Breakfast Club. Catcher’s Holden was a much better protagonist and Salingers message was much clearer and meaningful.
Charlie’s motivation was so weak. He kills 2 teachers and holds a class hostage because his dad was occasionally mean to him and said misogynistic things about his mom.
I had absolutely ZERO empathy for him.
Another annoying thing was Stephen King’s lack of firearm knowledge. If you’re going to have a gun be a major plot point in your story, please research the correct terms and mechanics of it so you don’t sound like a complete idiot when the character loads “Shells” into the “Clip” of his nondescript 22. Caliber hand gun.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes