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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A true feel good book for 2018 and one that makes a decided statement on the divisiveness that plagues society today. Absolutely wonderful novella worthy of being read by all. Throw your ideas about Stephen King out the door. While supernatural, it is heartwarming.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Short and sweet, a change for Castle Rock as I understand it.
Scott is a 40-something single man that begins losing weight while his appearance remains unchanged. He confides his condition in his friend, Dr. Ellis. His newfound lightness helps him challenge his curmudgeonly lesbian neighbor to a race, and a friendship is formed.
I think the biggest issue I have with this book is that Scott reads like he’s much older, it’s hard to believe he’s as young as his 40s. He persistently admires women’s bodies in a distracting way and at the same time thinks about his own body as… kind of rickety.
Overall, I liked this lighter (literally) twist on terminal illness. It was a treat to read about this little charming group of friends coming together at the end of Scott’s life. It’s also always heartening to think of such a seemingly simple seed of an idea growing into a fully formed work.
^^ I wrote this before reading Laurie, a bonus short story that was included at the end of the audiobook and surprised me since it was never mentioned in any description!
Laurie is about an old man whose wife recently died, and his sister gets him a puppy. Following Elevation, an almost too sweet story, when I learned the premise of Laurie I definitely judged it as saccharine. I found myself wondering if King had become too much of a softie as he aged.
But I kept going, the whole book is only under 4 hours after all. And I’m so glad I did!! I’m hesitant to describe why I’m so glad since I was pleasantly surprised by Laurie, but… I will. The turn this little story takes is gruesome and scary! There’s an alligator and I think (eh I know) I have a soft spot for scaly creatures and things with TEETH.
Scott is a 40-something single man that begins losing weight while his appearance remains unchanged. He confides his condition in his friend, Dr. Ellis. His newfound lightness helps him challenge his curmudgeonly lesbian neighbor to a race, and a friendship is formed.
I think the biggest issue I have with this book is that Scott reads like he’s much older, it’s hard to believe he’s as young as his 40s. He persistently admires women’s bodies in a distracting way and at the same time thinks about his own body as… kind of rickety.
Overall, I liked this lighter (literally) twist on terminal illness. It was a treat to read about this little charming group of friends coming together at the end of Scott’s life. It’s also always heartening to think of such a seemingly simple seed of an idea growing into a fully formed work.
^^ I wrote this before reading Laurie, a bonus short story that was included at the end of the audiobook and surprised me since it was never mentioned in any description!
Laurie is about an old man whose wife recently died, and his sister gets him a puppy. Following Elevation, an almost too sweet story, when I learned the premise of Laurie I definitely judged it as saccharine. I found myself wondering if King had become too much of a softie as he aged.
But I kept going, the whole book is only under 4 hours after all. And I’m so glad I did!! I’m hesitant to describe why I’m so glad since I was pleasantly surprised by Laurie, but… I will. The turn this little story takes is gruesome and scary! There’s an alligator and I think (eh I know) I have a soft spot for scaly creatures and things with TEETH.
I don't normally read Stephen King, this is only second novel of his that I've read...the first being 11/22/63, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. (I wish he would write more like those since I just cannot handle the incredibly scary stuff that are in his other books.)
To say that I enjoyed this book would absolutely be an understatement. And I truly just cried through the last 20-25 pages of this story. King is such an incredible writer; he can take a strange and sci-fi-esque premise and turn it into a heartwarming, community-building, completely relatable experience.
*SPOILERS BELOW*
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The way that King handled the "death" of the main character, Scott, made me reconsider the anger I have been feeling towards the death of my mom a year and a half ago. She chose to die on her terms while battling cancer...terms that none of us agreed with or wanted for her. But the final moments as Scott floats into space were eye opening for me. It was beautiful. I just hope that my mom was able to feel that same lightness and acceptance as she moved on from the earth.
To say that I enjoyed this book would absolutely be an understatement. And I truly just cried through the last 20-25 pages of this story. King is such an incredible writer; he can take a strange and sci-fi-esque premise and turn it into a heartwarming, community-building, completely relatable experience.
*SPOILERS BELOW*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The way that King handled the "death" of the main character, Scott, made me reconsider the anger I have been feeling towards the death of my mom a year and a half ago. She chose to die on her terms while battling cancer...terms that none of us agreed with or wanted for her. But the final moments as Scott floats into space were eye opening for me. It was beautiful. I just hope that my mom was able to feel that same lightness and acceptance as she moved on from the earth.
Nice couple of 'short' stories as read by Stephen King (I got the audiobook through the library). "Laurie" hit pretty close to home for me because the main character is a widower and he gets a dog. My dog has been one of the best ways to cope with the widow life.
As always King is a master at creating interesting characters and dialog.
As always King is a master at creating interesting characters and dialog.