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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
This “lesbean” loved it. I thought it was a nice story, almost cried at the end. The psychological horror elements were subtle but present. I highly recommend the audio book, King reads it himself.
Perhaps it's fitting, given its premise, that this is such a featherweight wisp of a novella from King, but I'll be damned if I didn't find myself ultimately charmed and moved by it.
Honestly, it's a heartening thing to see King reckon with mortality this way. And, even if it's a bit cheesy or silly at times, the conclusion King builds to is one of the most beautifully-rendered scenes he's ever conjured.
Honestly, it's a heartening thing to see King reckon with mortality this way. And, even if it's a bit cheesy or silly at times, the conclusion King builds to is one of the most beautifully-rendered scenes he's ever conjured.
Oof. I was so looking forward to this. I see the words 'new Stephen King novel' and salivate. I pre-ordered it, and was very excited for it to arrive. And then it did, and it turned out to be SO short, and, I'm sorry, but massively disappointing. The ending was just ridiculous, and very unsatisfying, and it felt like King was just basically phoning it in. For a long-term - basically a lifelong - fan, this is hard to write. I don't like to diss anything King writes, but at the same time, it would be unfair and dishonest of me to give credit to a story that left me feeling actually like I'd been ripped off. I can't say any more about it really.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is the first Stephen King novel , I have read in at least 15+ years. I read the early Stephen King novels, but stopped somewhere in the middle. This is a very surprising book by King, and a brisk, entertaining read. It would make a great novel for a short plane or Amtrak trip. Two consistent trends from early Stephen King novels remain in this one. First, the main characters are portrayed with empathy and optimism. Secondly, the story moves along at a brisk pace; King's storytelling skills are still very strong. It is more of a novella than a full novel. No one is possessed by demons in storm drains, or ripped limb from limb. Scott Carey, the main character, is a web designer and editor, afflicted with sudden and dramatic weight loss in the conservative town of Castle Rock, ME. The novel takes a different turn than King's early novel Thinner (written as Richard Bachmann). Meanwhile, Deirdre and Melissa, a married lesbian couple have opened a restaurant in town, and are facing some blowback. There are more than a few allusions to past King novels set in Castle Rock, and a couple of oblique references to the real life former governor of Maine, Paul LePage, a right wing wing-nut. It says a lot of positives about King's storytelling skills that he can use something as common as a 5K benefit charity run, and still create suspense.
Interesting story. I enjoyed it, but I usually do enjoy Stephen King's stories. Kind of wish that this was in the collection release a while back.
fast-paced
I didn't realize "Laurie" was on the tail end of this. A nice little bonus since I've only read that one when Mr King offered it as a pdf a few years back.