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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I love pretty much everything King writes, including this. It wasn't my favorite, by far, but it still had me in that enthralled Stephen King place that he takes me to. Messed up villian, good guy who we're not totally sure about, strong female character, loyal and dependable police figure. Add in the otherworldly elements, plenty of blood and gore, and the suspense (King is the king of the climax ;) and this made for a pretty darn good novel.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In a sea of profoundly compelling narratives, Stephen King's imagination usually takes readers on heart-stopping journeys that echo in their minds long after the book is closed. Unfortunately, this standard isn't met in "The Dark Half", one of my most regrettable reading experiences.
King's usually captivating, fear-induced storytelling is conspicuously absent in this work. Mirroring a train derailing from its tracks, the plot stumbles along in a disjointed fashion, creating a disorienting mess rather than a cohesive narrative.
The story introduces novelist Thad Beaumont, whose pseudonym begins a murderous rampage once he aims to abandon it. The premise, while intriguing initially, quickly descends into a well of implausibility. The narrative resorts to clichéd horror tropes, lacking the usual element of suspense that one expects and cherishes in King's works—no bone-chilling tension, no goosebumps.
Character development, typically King's strong point, falls shockingly flat in "The Dark Half". Beaumont and his titular "Dark Half" never truly evolve beyond the page; they remain two-dimensional without the thought-provoking complexity typically associated with King's characters. This missed opportunity leaves their fate and experiences to ring hollow, disconnecting readers from any emotional investment.
King's signature fluid writing style also seems to falter. The pacing is inconsistent, wading through laborious stretches of exposition only to be jolted by hasty plot advancements. Additionally, the dialogue is unimpressive and comes off as artificial, impeding the ability to connect with or even believe in the characters.
"The Dark Half" is a disappointing venture that fails to match the literary genius of King's other works. It lacks the compelling plot, developed characters, and enthralling chills that are classically King. Nevertheless, one miss is but a blemish in the grand landscape of brilliant works King has gifted to the world of horror literature. If "The Dark Half" is your first brush with King, I implore you not to judge his entire catalog based on this one experience.
Looked to be the most interesting from the limited selection of books at the FT Irwin PX. Not my favorite Stephen King but I liked it enough
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I NEVER read these kinds of books, but I had to for a class. So to me, this was a whole new kind of experience.
I had heard a lot about Stephen King and I must say I think he's a very skilled writer. He really knows how to build tension, he knows how the show us a convincing character in just a few sentences and the story was original enough that I didn't become totally bored.
However, it is a certain genre that I still don't like. This is simple entertainment, and I prefer my books to be art. There was no deeper meaning to this, it was just a (good) scary story and that's it. Which is fine. It's just not what I'm looking for.
I had heard a lot about Stephen King and I must say I think he's a very skilled writer. He really knows how to build tension, he knows how the show us a convincing character in just a few sentences and the story was original enough that I didn't become totally bored.
However, it is a certain genre that I still don't like. This is simple entertainment, and I prefer my books to be art. There was no deeper meaning to this, it was just a (good) scary story and that's it. Which is fine. It's just not what I'm looking for.
King took a lot of liberties in fictionalizing On Writing.
dark
mysterious
medium-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:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes