Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Institute by Stephen King

43 reviews

thebookkeepers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

This was my first Stephen King book and WOW. I can see why he is the revered author that he is. This book was a psychological thriller with sci-fi themes. I was immersed in the story and could not put it down. I was a little confused with the opening Part since it didn't align with the blurb, but trusted the process and it all made sense. I was on pins and needles reading this and it consumed my attention. I loved the Netflix show The OA and this reminded me of parts of that show. I loved all the characters and thought the execution of the story as well as the reveals of the mysterious parts were done with expert attention. I will be reading more Stephen King, especially next time I crave a page-turner. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Medical trauma, Child death, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Suicide, Child abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Violence, Cursing, and Gun violence

Minor: Excrement and Vomit

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

very good book!! dark but well-written and interesting worldbuilding

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Dementia, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, War, Gun violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Self harm, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Vomit, Addiction, Racism, Excrement, and Stalking

Minor: Racial slurs

beaniebabybecca's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Kidnapping, Child death, Medical trauma, and Death

gethin_burke's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Confinement

Moderate: Violence and Cursing

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, War, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug use, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Medical content, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

eyyline's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Torture, Death, Cursing, Child death, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Medical trauma and Suicide

ajay913's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense slow-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Torture, Body horror, Violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Cancer, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Gaslighting, War, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

booksandsnacks31's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This is my first (and probably last since I am not a horror girly) King novel. My sister bugged me for MONTHS to read this and I’m so glad I finally did. It had the perfect creepy, mysterious vibes and while it had horrific moments it didn’t feel horror or too scary to me. The characters were great, the story had me excited to keep reading, it’s so well written, and had through provoking themes that I’ll be thinking about for a while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Sexual assault

sebnia_05's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Self harm, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Dementia, Medical content, Grief, Gun violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Chronic illness, Cancer, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Vomit

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

The Institute focuses on two stories. In the first Tim Jamieson an ex cop who was let go due to a reckless decision and ends up hitch hiking to a small town in South Carolina. He decides to stay a while as both a night knocker and an unloader at the train station, and gets to know the town. In the second, Luke Ellis is a very intelligent 12-year-old boy about to attend both MIT and Emerson. But in the middle of the night he is kidnapped and taken to The Institute a place that doesn't care about his intelligence, only about his minor telekinetic ability. All the kids here are used and abused, but the employees have gotten a little lax. It will take everything look has to be able to escape. 

I think Stephen King really excels when he writes stories about children. His stories with adolescent teen boys are some of the most compelling and well written. The story doesn't have the normal tendency to go off the rails but is a great analysis of power and what those who have too much of it choose to do with it. Stories where "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" are where King shines the most, the absolute horror of having zero power and control in a situation reaches into some deep fear inside of us. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Death, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, and Cursing

Moderate: Racial slurs, Addiction, Bullying, Chronic illness, Racism, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Ableism