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jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
On the first of May 100 boys volunteer (yes they volunteer) to complete the long walk. The winner gets an elaborate prize. As the novel goes on, Garraty and the other boys start to descend into madness as they relentless keep walking.
They need to keep to 4mph, and if they drop below it they get a warning. 3 warnings and they got shot. Soldiers are near by to hand them food at 9am every day and water whenever they need it.
This is one of the better Stephen King novels that I read. The story was quick and it was interesting concept. The writing kept me intrigued the whole time. I felt physically tired for these boys as they walked for days on end. It's a good starting place for King, since it's not as long/daunting as IT or some of his other works. Plus, it's dark but not as dark as some of his other works.
I didn't like the ending, which is shocking I know. A bad King ending is just a given at this point and is even a running gag in It 2. There also was zero world building. We start out right at the beginning of the Walk. Why do the boys volunteer? Why is this happened yearly? Why only boys? What created this dystopian world? What happens to the winner? It's hinted that they die soon after finishing because of the psychological and physical fatigue afterwards. But it's not said how so many die. This is why I knocked down points for the story.
4/5
I'd recommend this to fan of King novels, horror novels or dystopians. If you like dystopian novels or psychological novel you will probably really enjoy it. If you are looking for a novel with good world building, this really isn't for you.
They need to keep to 4mph, and if they drop below it they get a warning. 3 warnings and they got shot. Soldiers are near by to hand them food at 9am every day and water whenever they need it.
This is one of the better Stephen King novels that I read. The story was quick and it was interesting concept. The writing kept me intrigued the whole time. I felt physically tired for these boys as they walked for days on end. It's a good starting place for King, since it's not as long/daunting as IT or some of his other works. Plus, it's dark but not as dark as some of his other works.
I didn't like the ending, which is shocking I know. A bad King ending is just a given at this point and is even a running gag in It 2. There also was zero world building. We start out right at the beginning of the Walk. Why do the boys volunteer? Why is this happened yearly? Why only boys? What created this dystopian world? What happens to the winner? It's hinted that they die soon after finishing because of the psychological and physical fatigue afterwards. But it's not said how so many die. This is why I knocked down points for the story.
4/5
I'd recommend this to fan of King novels, horror novels or dystopians. If you like dystopian novels or psychological novel you will probably really enjoy it. If you are looking for a novel with good world building, this really isn't for you.
vererito's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Blood, Death, Classism, Mental illness, Child death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, and Violence
teoru's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Vad som gör Maratonmarchen speciell är att handlingen inte är det viktiga. Vi får inte veta speciellt mycket om varför de går eller hur världen de är i ser ut. Vi får bara små glimtar men på det stora hela är det ett mysterium. Vi får inte ens veta vad huvudpersonen har för mål med marschen. Inte ens i slutet får vi reda på det då slutet är ganska öppet om han faktiskt överlevde eller inte.
Hela poängen med boken är som sagt att handlingen inte är viktig, marschen är meningslös. Boken handlar istället om alla karaktärer som alla slängts in i en situation som de inte tänkt över fullt ut. Det känns som en liknelse till livet. De flesta har inte något större mål med livet, men de trampar på ändå. Vad annars finns det? Man kan undra över syftet över det hela och drömma om något paradis i slutändan. Men i det yttersta så har vi människor en inre kraft som får oss att bara fortsätta, även om vi inte alls vet varför.
sonofali's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen King writes as Richard Bachman when he wants to write something "funky"
gdsunshine's review against another edition
3.0
This story had a very simple plot yet felt complex in its plumbing of human nature. SK just is profoundly good at his craft to do that, even as a tender young college student. It really didn't have a tidy clear ending but I'm not sure if one would've served this book very well. It was good for 3 but not so fabulous to push further up the scale.
pb914's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
mathematicalcoffee's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars for my personal enjoyment vs the quality of writing (which I'd otherwise give 4 stars, but it's just not quite my genre). Interesting premise which is purely a setting to evoke lots of commentary on human nature and how mentality degrades (which I can appreciate is meaningful but goes over my head, I'm not smart enough for books like this). He did a good job of sustaining the dark intense introspective atmosphere throughout. A nice one shot and probably the closest I will get to reading Stephen King (his main books too creepy/dark/horror for me)
ambrose_7's review against another edition
4.0
I was gruesomely aware of how I couldn’t put this book down, it was one of those books I found myself always wanting to read when I couldn’t read it. I finished it in two days and stayed up later then I should have one of them. I think that part of it was certain aspects of this book really hit me personally. I was fascinated by King’s way of writing about people getting to their final limits and then pushing on beyond that. I was painfully aware of all of the characters and turning the page to see what would happen to them, who would be the next one down. My favorite character was Stebbin’s he reminded me of Sevro from Red Rising, one of my favorite characters ever. I’ve heard theories about how this book is all a allegory for the walk of life. I like that, the walk of life is brutal, and this book shows that side. That to become something you have to be willing to fight through the hardest parts of life. If you don’t, you become just another boring and uninteresting person. It was a riveting book. The ending however… what the hell King. But I won’t talk about that. Read if for yourself.
carmenpeerezm's review against another edition
5.0
4,5/5
No sé como sentirme con respecto a este libro, no le encuentro ninguna pega (bueno si, quizás me gustaría saber porque existe la Larga Marcha ya para empezar) pero no tengo ni idea de que me ha transmitido.
Ha sido crudo, pero a la vez muy entretenido, creo que solo este autor puede escribir un libro de gente caminando y que sea muy adictivo.
Sorprendentemente el protagonista me ha gustado, aunque quizás el personaje que más me llamaba la atención es Pete McVries, ni yo sé muy bien porque pero me ha encantado la relación entre los dos.
Sinceramente no sé qué más decir, me ha encantado? Si, tengo idea de que quería transmitir el autor con esto? Pues mucho y nada a la vez.
Solo puedo decir que esta es mi primera novela de Stephen King pero no será la última.
No sé como sentirme con respecto a este libro, no le encuentro ninguna pega (bueno si, quizás me gustaría saber porque existe la Larga Marcha ya para empezar) pero no tengo ni idea de que me ha transmitido.
Ha sido crudo, pero a la vez muy entretenido, creo que solo este autor puede escribir un libro de gente caminando y que sea muy adictivo.
Sorprendentemente el protagonista me ha gustado, aunque quizás el personaje que más me llamaba la atención es Pete McVries, ni yo sé muy bien porque pero me ha encantado la relación entre los dos.
Sinceramente no sé qué más decir, me ha encantado? Si, tengo idea de que quería transmitir el autor con esto? Pues mucho y nada a la vez.
Solo puedo decir que esta es mi primera novela de Stephen King pero no será la última.