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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Over the course of a year and a half, finally finished this book!
This volume is a really good example of King's eclectic style, and how excellent he is at creating tension. (Especially good reads if you're having trouble falling asleep)
Although some of them are incredibly excellent, most of them are a bit of a slow-burn that take too long to get to the point to the point I would sometimes skip them. I'd say 75% of them were real good, while the other 25% were kind of misses for me personally.
The best stories in the book in my opinion were: Dolan's Cadillac, The End of This Whole Mess, Suffer the Little Children, Popsy, Chattery Teeth, The Doctor's Case, and Umney's Last case.
The best thing by far is also King's introduction and notes at the end of the book, where he gives anecdotes regarding the creation of some of the short stories and what inspired him to write them.
TL;DR: A set of incredibly imaginative short stories that make you legitimately tense.
This volume is a really good example of King's eclectic style, and how excellent he is at creating tension. (Especially good reads if you're having trouble falling asleep)
Although some of them are incredibly excellent, most of them are a bit of a slow-burn that take too long to get to the point to the point I would sometimes skip them. I'd say 75% of them were real good, while the other 25% were kind of misses for me personally.
The best stories in the book in my opinion were: Dolan's Cadillac, The End of This Whole Mess, Suffer the Little Children, Popsy, Chattery Teeth, The Doctor's Case, and Umney's Last case.
The best thing by far is also King's introduction and notes at the end of the book, where he gives anecdotes regarding the creation of some of the short stories and what inspired him to write them.
TL;DR: A set of incredibly imaginative short stories that make you legitimately tense.
I finally finished it!! I struggled a bit getting through this one. I ended up rating this book 2,6 stars, averaging all of the stories in this collection. I wasn’t very enthusiastic about this as you can see. I really liked these stories in theory, which I guess means that I’m all for the concepts King cooks up, but I’m not a fan of the execution. I’ll probably pick up other (popular) Stephen King books, just to try and see what they’re about, but I probably won’t be making my way through his entire back list.
Anyways, here’s what my thoughts were per story:
Dolan’s Cadillac - 2 stars
Loved the concept of this. Not sure about the writing. I mean, the writing was good, but I skimmed parts of the “technical” aspect of measuring and digging the grave. I can’t tell you if it would have been better without it, because then it probably would have raised more questions about the how from readers, but yeah. Wasn’t a big fan of that aspect.
The End of the Whole Mess - 2 stars
Interesting. Quite entertaining, but didn’t really vibe with the subject matter of this one. Not my cup of tea.
Suffer the Little Children - 4 stars
Short but “sweet”.
The Night Flier - 3 stars
Liked this one, but for the way it was written. I was also a little bit bothered by the two times female body parts were compared to a smooth and firm dirt landing strip and a tight squeeze. At this point I’m just starting to suspect I don’t particularly like Stephen King’s writing style...
Popsy - 3 stars
A companion to the previous one? Liked the concept, but like I often have with short stories, I felt it was too short to properly rate it, or something. I wanted a little bit more. I enjoyed this one though.
It Grows on You - 2 stars
I really don’t know what to think of this one... I guess I liked where it was going - if I ignore all of the misogynistic shit - but I hated the ending?
Chattery Teeth - 3 stars
Bro. Every time a woman is mentioned, King has something to say about her breasts or hips, either positively or negatively. I’m getting tired. But other than that I enjoyed this one
Dedication - 2,5 stars
Parts of this one were just plain fucking weird. Creepy and gross. But I guess that was to be expected. Lesson I learned: apparently it’s okay to be a complete asshole, as long as you can write good books, so you’ll still be seen as “quality”...
The Moving Finger - 3 stars
It’s not a King story if there isn’t a racist in there somewhere!
Sneakers - 3,5 stars
I actually kind of liked this one. Creepy enough, but tied up a bit too prettily in the end for my taste. I wanted that to be more creepy too.
You Know They Got a Hell of a Band - 3 stars
More funny (in a way) than anything else.
Home Delivery - 2 stars
Not at all creepy. I wished more happened with the one person we knew by name. A bit boring.
Rainy Season - 3 stars
This one was okay. Kind of creepy, with some humorous twist on it. Wanted more character development. But hey, it’s a short story, so I get it.
My Pretty Pony - 2 stars
This one didn’t really do anything for me. It felt a little bit too pretentious to me. Not a bad story, but it dragged on a bit too much for my liking
Sorry, Right Number - 2 stars
Oh god. Why isn’t this dude able to describe people and the way they look normally?! Bro only describes women as ‘pretty’ or ‘ugly’ or describing their boobs. Like what’s her hair colour? Just be normal and more respectful or something! Ugh.
Solid start, disappointing ending.
The Ten O’Clock People - 3 stars
I liked this one.
Crouch End - 2 stars
I’m getting tired. These descriptions are ruining my reading experience. Not anything special, a bit boring actually.
The House on Maple Street - 4 stars
The best one. This was a little more wholesome and fun.
The Fifth Quarter - 2,5 stars
Not much, kind of thrilling I guess, but nothing special.
The Doctor’s Case - 3 stars
Fun to read, but not sure why this one was in here...?
Umney’s Last Case - 3,5 stars
This one I really liked the concept of! But it sometimes dragged a little too much, but very solid
Head Down - 1 stars
I totally wasn’t interested in baseball as a subject matter. There were waaaay too many technicalities for me to get invested. The writing of King is kind of known for its meandering and I’m not a big fan of it, I have realised, but this one was particularly rough for me to get through because of it. I didn’t enjoy reading it (but that doesn’t mean it’s bad btw)
Brooklyn August - 1 stars
This also does nothing for me, because baseball
The Beggar and the Diamond - 3 stars
Enjoyable enough, short and sweet. I’m not sure what King’s “adaptation practices” entail exactly though...
Anyways, here’s what my thoughts were per story:
Dolan’s Cadillac - 2 stars
Loved the concept of this. Not sure about the writing. I mean, the writing was good, but I skimmed parts of the “technical” aspect of measuring and digging the grave. I can’t tell you if it would have been better without it, because then it probably would have raised more questions about the how from readers, but yeah. Wasn’t a big fan of that aspect.
The End of the Whole Mess - 2 stars
Interesting. Quite entertaining, but didn’t really vibe with the subject matter of this one. Not my cup of tea.
Suffer the Little Children - 4 stars
Short but “sweet”.
The Night Flier - 3 stars
Liked this one, but for the way it was written. I was also a little bit bothered by the two times female body parts were compared to a smooth and firm dirt landing strip and a tight squeeze. At this point I’m just starting to suspect I don’t particularly like Stephen King’s writing style...
Popsy - 3 stars
A companion to the previous one? Liked the concept, but like I often have with short stories, I felt it was too short to properly rate it, or something. I wanted a little bit more. I enjoyed this one though.
It Grows on You - 2 stars
I really don’t know what to think of this one... I guess I liked where it was going - if I ignore all of the misogynistic shit - but I hated the ending?
Chattery Teeth - 3 stars
Bro. Every time a woman is mentioned, King has something to say about her breasts or hips, either positively or negatively. I’m getting tired. But other than that I enjoyed this one
Dedication - 2,5 stars
Parts of this one were just plain fucking weird. Creepy and gross. But I guess that was to be expected. Lesson I learned: apparently it’s okay to be a complete asshole, as long as you can write good books, so you’ll still be seen as “quality”...
The Moving Finger - 3 stars
It’s not a King story if there isn’t a racist in there somewhere!
Sneakers - 3,5 stars
I actually kind of liked this one. Creepy enough, but tied up a bit too prettily in the end for my taste. I wanted that to be more creepy too.
You Know They Got a Hell of a Band - 3 stars
More funny (in a way) than anything else.
Home Delivery - 2 stars
Not at all creepy. I wished more happened with the one person we knew by name. A bit boring.
Rainy Season - 3 stars
This one was okay. Kind of creepy, with some humorous twist on it. Wanted more character development. But hey, it’s a short story, so I get it.
My Pretty Pony - 2 stars
This one didn’t really do anything for me. It felt a little bit too pretentious to me. Not a bad story, but it dragged on a bit too much for my liking
Sorry, Right Number - 2 stars
Oh god. Why isn’t this dude able to describe people and the way they look normally?! Bro only describes women as ‘pretty’ or ‘ugly’ or describing their boobs. Like what’s her hair colour? Just be normal and more respectful or something! Ugh.
Solid start, disappointing ending.
The Ten O’Clock People - 3 stars
I liked this one.
Crouch End - 2 stars
I’m getting tired. These descriptions are ruining my reading experience. Not anything special, a bit boring actually.
The House on Maple Street - 4 stars
The best one. This was a little more wholesome and fun.
The Fifth Quarter - 2,5 stars
Not much, kind of thrilling I guess, but nothing special.
The Doctor’s Case - 3 stars
Fun to read, but not sure why this one was in here...?
Umney’s Last Case - 3,5 stars
This one I really liked the concept of! But it sometimes dragged a little too much, but very solid
Head Down - 1 stars
I totally wasn’t interested in baseball as a subject matter. There were waaaay too many technicalities for me to get invested. The writing of King is kind of known for its meandering and I’m not a big fan of it, I have realised, but this one was particularly rough for me to get through because of it. I didn’t enjoy reading it (but that doesn’t mean it’s bad btw)
Brooklyn August - 1 stars
This also does nothing for me, because baseball
The Beggar and the Diamond - 3 stars
Enjoyable enough, short and sweet. I’m not sure what King’s “adaptation practices” entail exactly though...
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Honestly this collection, more than the other short story compilations of his is truly a mixed bag. Some stories are fantastic and others are dull. I will go over them quickly.
Rainy Day- Great written but hate Yearly Smith as a reader. There is nothing scary about a story narrated by Lisa Simpson. The story itself is absurd but creepy in a gross way.
Moving Finger- Silly but good fun tale about a finger coming up from the drain in the sink.
Sneakers- A slow burn tale that is more haunting than scary
Popsy- Dark humor and suspenseful
It Grows On You- Not the best and a bit dull
You Know They Have A Hell of A Band- One of the best in the compilation
Home Delivery- Another highlight and memorable story
Dolan's Cadillac- Good story and one of the highlights of the collection as well.
Sorry, Wrong number- A rehash of an old story by Richard Matheson, forgettable
Rainy Day- Great written but hate Yearly Smith as a reader. There is nothing scary about a story narrated by Lisa Simpson. The story itself is absurd but creepy in a gross way.
Moving Finger- Silly but good fun tale about a finger coming up from the drain in the sink.
Sneakers- A slow burn tale that is more haunting than scary
Popsy- Dark humor and suspenseful
It Grows On You- Not the best and a bit dull
You Know They Have A Hell of A Band- One of the best in the compilation
Home Delivery- Another highlight and memorable story
Dolan's Cadillac- Good story and one of the highlights of the collection as well.
Sorry, Wrong number- A rehash of an old story by Richard Matheson, forgettable
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While this wasn't as good as Skeleton Crew or Different Seasons, it was still a great short story collection. I thought all the stories were strong in their own ways, with a few that were phenomenal.
Disclaimer: I listened to this on audiobook which I highly suggest -- it helps with pacing and any weak points in the writing.
Dolan's Cadillac (4 Stars) - The fact that this was read by Rob Lowe made it 10x better.. anyways, I thought this was a really great pastiche to Poe's Cask of Amontillado.
The End of the Whole Mess (4 Stars) - There's something so compelling to me about a devolving narrator. King has used this trope a couple of times in his other stories, but I thought it was really well done here and was horrifying to listen to.
Suffer the Little Children (5 Stars) - For some reason this reminded me of a Bradbury story. Children can be so unsettling and King especially knows how to capitalize on this. Plus, the dubious reality at the end makes for such a spooky ending.
The Night Flier (3 Stars) - I got really bored during this story, but the idea of it was cool. The thought of a serial killer vampire is kind of kick-ass.
Popsy (5 Stars) - Apparently this story and Night Flier are connected?? I think that's unnecessary because this story is so great on its own. Again, King really knows how to use kids to breed terror.
It Grows On You (2 Stars) - This is supposedly an epilogue for Needful Things, which I haven't read. I think this is a case of "it's not you, it's me." I'm sure if I had read and enjoyed Needful Things this story would have made more sense for me and would have been more enjoyable.
Chattery Teeth (5 Stars) - This was my favorite story in the collection, which, if you know me at all, shouldn't be a surprise. I love stories that deal with inanimate objects killing people. This story also heavily reminded me of King's other story, The Monkey, which I enjoyed quite a bit.
Dedication (3.5 Stars) - I get what King was trying to do with this, I do, but most of it didn't sit right with me and parts of it were fucking disgusting. It read as extremely racist to make the main plot be a black woman who is engaging in black (voodoo) magic and using it on a white man. Especially when taking into account the primal things she does when under the influence of said magic. That being said, it was an interesting commentary on class difference that could have been a lot better if more thought towards political correctness had occurred.
The Moving Finger (4.5 Stars) - This story really freaked me out. Where did the finger come from??? WHERE???
Sneakers (3.5 Stars) - This story actually surprised me with its political correctness regarding the LGBTQIA+ community. Unfortunately, most of King's writing involving queer characters had heavy homophobia, but this one didn't, even if its queerness did play such a small part. I'm unsure if that's because he wrote it in the mid-90s?? Regardless, this story was pretty middle of the road.
You Know They Got A Hell of A Band (4 Stars) - As someone who has an obsession with the 27 club, this story was pretty cool. I enjoyed the premise and the overall message it was trying to push; most musicians do die a young and tragic death. (Also, I found out from this story that Jim Croce died at 30??? I thought he was still alive :( )
Home Delivery (3.75 Stars) - You can't really go wrong with a zombie apocalypse story. I did find the introduction of the virus by a biblical angel to be interesting and new.
Rainy Season (4 Stars) - RIP to that couple, but I simply would have left when the locals warned me about impending doom.
My Pretty Pony (1.5 Stars) - I'll be honest, I didn't understand this story at all. I'm not a huge fan of philosophy or existentialism, so this was a big miss for me.
Sorry, Right Number (3 Stars) - This screenplay seems so familiar to me?? I think I've seen something eerily similar to it on tv before. Anyways, it was really confusing to listen to on audiobook, so I'm taking points off for that (through no fault of King's).
The Ten O'Clock People (4 Stars) - Again, RIP to the main characters, but I simply would have minded my own business and ignored the giant bat-people.
Crouch End (3.75 Stars) - I think this is a Lovecraft pastiche, and it reads like one. I'm not the biggest Lovecraft fan, but this story has its own merit.
The House on Maple Street (5 Stars) - I was on the edge of my seat the entire story. I think it was a really great examination of familial bonds as well as an homage to classic sci-fi tropes.
The Fifth Quarter (1 Star) - Lmao I literally read the title of this and could not remember what it was about. I think that sums up my feelings about this story.
The Doctor's Case (5 Stars) - Umm why are people not talking about this story?? I've read some Sherlock Holmes, and King's style and characterization was eerily identical. I forgot multiple times that this story was by King and not Conan Doyle himself. I feel like this story needs to be talked about more because it was one of the most perfect non-canonical writings I've ever read.
Umney's Last Case (4.5 Stars) - Again, this was another pastiche, this time to Raymond Chandler I think?? It was really good, and I liked the exploration into what it means to be an author.
Head Down (3 Stars) - I really didn't enjoy this but it would be unfair to mark it any lower. It's an essay on baseball and while sports writing isn't my thing, it was exceptionally written. I could see myself easily recommending this to someone who has played or enjoys watching baseball.
Brooklyn August (2 Stars) - Again, I don't like King's poetry and I found this lackluster.
The Beggar and the Diamond (2 Stars) - What was the point of changing this re-telling from Hindu to Christian religion?? It would have gotten the point across just the same.
Disclaimer: I listened to this on audiobook which I highly suggest -- it helps with pacing and any weak points in the writing.
Dolan's Cadillac (4 Stars) - The fact that this was read by Rob Lowe made it 10x better.. anyways, I thought this was a really great pastiche to Poe's Cask of Amontillado.
The End of the Whole Mess (4 Stars) - There's something so compelling to me about a devolving narrator. King has used this trope a couple of times in his other stories, but I thought it was really well done here and was horrifying to listen to.
Suffer the Little Children (5 Stars) - For some reason this reminded me of a Bradbury story. Children can be so unsettling and King especially knows how to capitalize on this. Plus, the dubious reality at the end makes for such a spooky ending.
The Night Flier (3 Stars) - I got really bored during this story, but the idea of it was cool. The thought of a serial killer vampire is kind of kick-ass.
Popsy (5 Stars) - Apparently this story and Night Flier are connected?? I think that's unnecessary because this story is so great on its own. Again, King really knows how to use kids to breed terror.
It Grows On You (2 Stars) - This is supposedly an epilogue for Needful Things, which I haven't read. I think this is a case of "it's not you, it's me." I'm sure if I had read and enjoyed Needful Things this story would have made more sense for me and would have been more enjoyable.
Chattery Teeth (5 Stars) - This was my favorite story in the collection, which, if you know me at all, shouldn't be a surprise. I love stories that deal with inanimate objects killing people. This story also heavily reminded me of King's other story, The Monkey, which I enjoyed quite a bit.
Dedication (3.5 Stars) - I get what King was trying to do with this, I do, but most of it didn't sit right with me and parts of it were fucking disgusting. It read as extremely racist to make the main plot be a black woman who is engaging in black (voodoo) magic and using it on a white man. Especially when taking into account the primal things she does when under the influence of said magic. That being said, it was an interesting commentary on class difference that could have been a lot better if more thought towards political correctness had occurred.
The Moving Finger (4.5 Stars) - This story really freaked me out. Where did the finger come from??? WHERE???
Sneakers (3.5 Stars) - This story actually surprised me with its political correctness regarding the LGBTQIA+ community. Unfortunately, most of King's writing involving queer characters had heavy homophobia, but this one didn't, even if its queerness did play such a small part. I'm unsure if that's because he wrote it in the mid-90s?? Regardless, this story was pretty middle of the road.
You Know They Got A Hell of A Band (4 Stars) - As someone who has an obsession with the 27 club, this story was pretty cool. I enjoyed the premise and the overall message it was trying to push; most musicians do die a young and tragic death. (Also, I found out from this story that Jim Croce died at 30??? I thought he was still alive :( )
Home Delivery (3.75 Stars) - You can't really go wrong with a zombie apocalypse story. I did find the introduction of the virus by a biblical angel to be interesting and new.
Rainy Season (4 Stars) - RIP to that couple, but I simply would have left when the locals warned me about impending doom.
My Pretty Pony (1.5 Stars) - I'll be honest, I didn't understand this story at all. I'm not a huge fan of philosophy or existentialism, so this was a big miss for me.
Sorry, Right Number (3 Stars) - This screenplay seems so familiar to me?? I think I've seen something eerily similar to it on tv before. Anyways, it was really confusing to listen to on audiobook, so I'm taking points off for that (through no fault of King's).
The Ten O'Clock People (4 Stars) - Again, RIP to the main characters, but I simply would have minded my own business and ignored the giant bat-people.
Crouch End (3.75 Stars) - I think this is a Lovecraft pastiche, and it reads like one. I'm not the biggest Lovecraft fan, but this story has its own merit.
The House on Maple Street (5 Stars) - I was on the edge of my seat the entire story. I think it was a really great examination of familial bonds as well as an homage to classic sci-fi tropes.
The Fifth Quarter (1 Star) - Lmao I literally read the title of this and could not remember what it was about. I think that sums up my feelings about this story.
The Doctor's Case (5 Stars) - Umm why are people not talking about this story?? I've read some Sherlock Holmes, and King's style and characterization was eerily identical. I forgot multiple times that this story was by King and not Conan Doyle himself. I feel like this story needs to be talked about more because it was one of the most perfect non-canonical writings I've ever read.
Umney's Last Case (4.5 Stars) - Again, this was another pastiche, this time to Raymond Chandler I think?? It was really good, and I liked the exploration into what it means to be an author.
Head Down (3 Stars) - I really didn't enjoy this but it would be unfair to mark it any lower. It's an essay on baseball and while sports writing isn't my thing, it was exceptionally written. I could see myself easily recommending this to someone who has played or enjoys watching baseball.
Brooklyn August (2 Stars) - Again, I don't like King's poetry and I found this lackluster.
The Beggar and the Diamond (2 Stars) - What was the point of changing this re-telling from Hindu to Christian religion?? It would have gotten the point across just the same.
dark
slow-paced
Forgive me people, for I have blasphemed. It’s been a week or so since my last review and since the last time I finished a book.
I have rated Stephen King’s work a 2 star.
I am not proud of it, as King is my first love, my first literary kiss, my reading Godfather and yet...here we are.
There’s a small ray of redemption in this review for me: it’s a book of short stories. So it’s not really King King. That’s what I tell myself anyways.
I mean, this did not even FEEL or read like a Stephen King’s work. His other 2 short story collections weren’t my favorite either, I admit it they weren’t anywhere near this bad.
Yes, sure there were a couple of stories that peaked my interest, but overall it was very disappointing of a read.
Let me guide you through it.
1. Dolan’s Cadillac. This belongs in crime fiction. Ok story, I expected more “King” from an opener. This did the opposite to warm me up for the next story. I’m not a fan of crime fiction, so this was 1 star for me.
2. The End of the Whole Mess. Umm what did I just read? Kinda reminds me of Flowers for Algernon. Not terrible. 3 stars.
3. Suffer the Little Children. Ok. Now we are talking! I thought. This was a great story. 4 stars.
4. The Night Flyer. Ugh. Good potential. Modern Dracula. Just so much focus on the technical details of random stuff that I was bored most of the time. 2 stars.
5. Popsy. Good story #2! Solid, feels fun to read. 3 stars.
6. It Grows on You. What....I’m not sure what this was. Can’t tell you. I still don’t know what this story was about. Was confused in the beginning and more confused at the end. 1 star.
7. Chattery Teeth. Solid. Very solid. 3 stars.
8. Dedication. Disturbing story, I’ll give it that. But disturbing in a disgusting and confused way. It was ok, I suppose. At this point in the book, I’m happy with just OK. 3 stars.
9. The Moving Finger. Finally a good Stephen King like story, I felt was worthy of a name. Simple concept yet makes me take a glance and listen for scratching in my bathroom sync still. 4 stars.
10. Sneakers. Another solid one here. Very slow paced but also very creepy. Ghostlike, one might even say. 3 stars.
11. You Know They Have a Hell of a Band. This story did not age well pretty much at all. It is also very VERY heavy on American pop culture (or Rock culture I should rather say). It might have read better if I knew who all the people were but other then Elvis...it was just blah. I totally get how someone who knows all the names, would love this story. For me it was ok. 3 stars.
12. Home Delivery. Zombie apocalypse take. I think I’m just so over zombies at this point that I just sighed and chugged along through the story. I’m zombie burnt out. If you’re not, might be different for you. 2 stars.
13. Rainy Season. Another one where King came through for me. Solid, creepy, weird. 3 stars.
14. My Pretty Point. Get ready for a philosophical discussion about time. 30 pages long one. No real story here. Just a philosophical mind-break. For what it was, fine... 3 stars.
15. Sorry, Right Number. Finally. Finally. Finally. Yes! A great story. I think I was so excited after a mind numbing 200 pages or so that this just came thought really good. Why was it a play though? Why.... that was the only deterrent for me. 4 stars.
16. The Ten O’Clock People. Here I really thought things were beginning to look up. King saved the best of his stories for last. What a fun one. Really loved this story. 5 stars.
17. Crouch End. Yyyess! Another one I totally lost myself in. Lovecraft shines sooo good here. A perfect story. Loved it. 5 stars.
18. The House on Maple Street. Another really solid one. Funny idea. I would like to read a sequel. There probably won’t be one. But still an alien story of sorts is always fun. 4 stars.
19. The Fifth Quarter. Interesting take on heist/hitman story. Overall pretty short, packed with action and ok. 3 stars.
20. The Doctor’s Case. I like Sherlock Holmes but I just did not expect this in a volume of short stories by Stephen King. It caught my brain off guard. It was a good story though. Not a King’s story, but everyone is allowed to mess around here and there. Why not? 3 stars.
21. Umney’s Last Case. Really enjoyed this one. A fun and intriguing look inside the writer’s mind. Questions of identity. Reality. Duality. Who are we anyways? And while we’re at it what is real? 4 stars.
22. Head Down. And we plunged right down the gutter and into oblivion. It didn’t help that I’m not a baseball fan, obviously. But this entire story felt like I just read a transcription of a baseball game. That’s all this was. There was no spin to it...nothing. Just basically reading a baseball game. What.... 0 stars.
So here you go. I felt like I needed to pay a penance for my rating of 2 stars, but I stand by it. This did not feel like a book of Stephen King. It had its sparks but there were many times I wondered if I was not going to finish this. If I would put it on the shelf of DNF and move on.
Well...can’t win them all, right?
Personally, I’d suggest to skip this one. I couldn’t wait to put it back in my shelf so that it can collect dust for the next ever after.
Roman.
I have rated Stephen King’s work a 2 star.
I am not proud of it, as King is my first love, my first literary kiss, my reading Godfather and yet...here we are.
There’s a small ray of redemption in this review for me: it’s a book of short stories. So it’s not really King King. That’s what I tell myself anyways.
I mean, this did not even FEEL or read like a Stephen King’s work. His other 2 short story collections weren’t my favorite either, I admit it they weren’t anywhere near this bad.
Yes, sure there were a couple of stories that peaked my interest, but overall it was very disappointing of a read.
Let me guide you through it.
1. Dolan’s Cadillac. This belongs in crime fiction. Ok story, I expected more “King” from an opener. This did the opposite to warm me up for the next story. I’m not a fan of crime fiction, so this was 1 star for me.
2. The End of the Whole Mess. Umm what did I just read? Kinda reminds me of Flowers for Algernon. Not terrible. 3 stars.
3. Suffer the Little Children. Ok. Now we are talking! I thought. This was a great story. 4 stars.
4. The Night Flyer. Ugh. Good potential. Modern Dracula. Just so much focus on the technical details of random stuff that I was bored most of the time. 2 stars.
5. Popsy. Good story #2! Solid, feels fun to read. 3 stars.
6. It Grows on You. What....I’m not sure what this was. Can’t tell you. I still don’t know what this story was about. Was confused in the beginning and more confused at the end. 1 star.
7. Chattery Teeth. Solid. Very solid. 3 stars.
8. Dedication. Disturbing story, I’ll give it that. But disturbing in a disgusting and confused way. It was ok, I suppose. At this point in the book, I’m happy with just OK. 3 stars.
9. The Moving Finger. Finally a good Stephen King like story, I felt was worthy of a name. Simple concept yet makes me take a glance and listen for scratching in my bathroom sync still. 4 stars.
10. Sneakers. Another solid one here. Very slow paced but also very creepy. Ghostlike, one might even say. 3 stars.
11. You Know They Have a Hell of a Band. This story did not age well pretty much at all. It is also very VERY heavy on American pop culture (or Rock culture I should rather say). It might have read better if I knew who all the people were but other then Elvis...it was just blah. I totally get how someone who knows all the names, would love this story. For me it was ok. 3 stars.
12. Home Delivery. Zombie apocalypse take. I think I’m just so over zombies at this point that I just sighed and chugged along through the story. I’m zombie burnt out. If you’re not, might be different for you. 2 stars.
13. Rainy Season. Another one where King came through for me. Solid, creepy, weird. 3 stars.
14. My Pretty Point. Get ready for a philosophical discussion about time. 30 pages long one. No real story here. Just a philosophical mind-break. For what it was, fine... 3 stars.
15. Sorry, Right Number. Finally. Finally. Finally. Yes! A great story. I think I was so excited after a mind numbing 200 pages or so that this just came thought really good. Why was it a play though? Why.... that was the only deterrent for me. 4 stars.
16. The Ten O’Clock People. Here I really thought things were beginning to look up. King saved the best of his stories for last. What a fun one. Really loved this story. 5 stars.
17. Crouch End. Yyyess! Another one I totally lost myself in. Lovecraft shines sooo good here. A perfect story. Loved it. 5 stars.
18. The House on Maple Street. Another really solid one. Funny idea. I would like to read a sequel. There probably won’t be one. But still an alien story of sorts is always fun. 4 stars.
19. The Fifth Quarter. Interesting take on heist/hitman story. Overall pretty short, packed with action and ok. 3 stars.
20. The Doctor’s Case. I like Sherlock Holmes but I just did not expect this in a volume of short stories by Stephen King. It caught my brain off guard. It was a good story though. Not a King’s story, but everyone is allowed to mess around here and there. Why not? 3 stars.
21. Umney’s Last Case. Really enjoyed this one. A fun and intriguing look inside the writer’s mind. Questions of identity. Reality. Duality. Who are we anyways? And while we’re at it what is real? 4 stars.
22. Head Down. And we plunged right down the gutter and into oblivion. It didn’t help that I’m not a baseball fan, obviously. But this entire story felt like I just read a transcription of a baseball game. That’s all this was. There was no spin to it...nothing. Just basically reading a baseball game. What.... 0 stars.
So here you go. I felt like I needed to pay a penance for my rating of 2 stars, but I stand by it. This did not feel like a book of Stephen King. It had its sparks but there were many times I wondered if I was not going to finish this. If I would put it on the shelf of DNF and move on.
Well...can’t win them all, right?
Personally, I’d suggest to skip this one. I couldn’t wait to put it back in my shelf so that it can collect dust for the next ever after.
Roman.
After averaging all the individual ratings of each story I got 2.8 stars so I'm rounding to 3 stars. I really enjoyed the first half of this book but as I got into the second half the stories just didn't do it for me. 😞