Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Dead Zone by Stephen King

6 reviews

jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Reading this 45 years after publication,  I can say it made my heart pound. Stephen King somehow managed to anticipate our political future,  and create a compelling story of the nightmare of knowing too much. His hero is cursed with an ability to read people and their pasts and futures. Others don't believe him, and he is driven to act.
I appreciated the complexity of John and the important people in his life. King takes the reader in quickly and doesn't let go. I read this in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Gun violence, Murder, and Terminal illness

an early scene establishing the villian involves the killing of a dog

seeker42's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Violence, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical trauma, Child abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Medical content, Car accident, and Blood

Minor: Self harm, Alcohol, Cancer, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Cursing

rosereadsalot's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Animal death

travisppe's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

Classic King romp

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Medical trauma, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Grief, Gun violence, Chronic illness, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Medical content, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, and Blood

Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Drug use, Cursing, and Alcohol

yodamordecai's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Sexual violence

afittingdistraction's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I seem to make a subconscious habit of reading the right Stephen King books at the right time. I'm struggling with my health right now and I wont lie the themes of medical related grief were so well done in this that I had to actually put it down sometimes due to finding it overwhelming. Being chronically ill + disabled myself the idea/realisation that you've missed out on whole experiences and chunks of life is a constant companion. Not to mention the continuous cycle of grief and frustration at wondering how you're supposed to grieve something you never even had in the first place. 

And King does this brilliantly! Just like in Pet Sematary (which still remains my favourite King so far) the grief plays such a strong role, stronger even at times than the supernatural element. And like Pet Sem, if it was a book only about ghosts or ancient burial grounds, or in this case awakening with pre cognition after an accident, it would fall flat because those things have been written before. Its King's brilliant character writing that makes it so good.

You really feel for Johnny & he's one of the few truly good, kind guys. Which is what makes it such an emotional read since you really connect with him. Just a guy who's rolled double zero in life & luck and now has to deal with consequences. Halfway through I honestly couldn't imagine where it was going to go or how it was going to end but by the time I did finish it I couldn't imagine it ending any other way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Gun violence and Sexual violence