Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

82 reviews

lmm0's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

This is the first Stephen King book I’ve read - I listened to a short story a couple weeks ago (2 hour audiobook), but besides that, I’m still a newcomer to his works. I decided to listen to the audiobook when one of the hosts of Book Talk etc said it was narrated by Michael C Hall - Dexter Morgan? Seriously? Sign me up.

I particularly liked that the author’s note was at the beginning, and it discussed how absolutely haunted King was by this book. To the point where he put it in a drawer when he was finished, seeming to be in disbelief with what he just wrote/completed. I felt like that hooked me before the chapter 1 even started. It truly holds a dark and twisted message - one that is sure to resonate deeply with those who are familiar with grief and loss.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Fire/Fire injury

luisaveras's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Cultural appropriation

kathleenwho's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

3 stars because, like any other King novel, I could not put it down. Only 3 because this is maybe my least favourite so far - the build-up was suspenseful and well-written, but very long compared to the climax, which was a bit disappointing and cringey.  

There is a lot of outdated language and ideas with regards to Native American cultures, disability, and chronic and terminal illness - mostly in-character for the time and culture of the story, but still jarring. 

Particularly strong book for King's weird horny comparisons that seem completely inappropriate, e.g.

describing hills in a graveyard while the main character is digging up his son's grave as being "as natural and beautiful as a woman's breasts."

.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail

itsjustgrumpy's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

The concept of the Wendigo and the 'sematary' is great... but the slow and laboured execution and anticlimactic ending really soured this book for me. I had to listen at x1.5 to actually finish it. Meh.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Colonisation

Minor: Alcohol

pholcidae's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Aside from the casual racism (using outdated terms for Native American people and unnecessarily bringing people’s skin colour to attention), a near-flawless book.

The story is paced perfectly and I have been reading it nonstop. The author’s use of language to create suspense and terror is reminiscent of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. 

This was my first King novel and I think it was the perfect one to start on! Very tense and lots of fun easter eggs in there :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and War

drybay's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Horror hasn't been my genre, but this book might have changed that. The horror setting was just a place to handle the themes of loss and grief which was done beautifully. Also the slowly built suspence was great. A really good book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Medical content and Colonisation

ee_comins's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty

alixsbooktherapy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book had me needing therapy afterwards stephen king I'll see you at my next appointment, this book will have you questioning your decisions I now know why this known as his most frightening book I just wish it was more realistic like the cops would of showed up multiple times if this actually happened this book is not for the weak I buddy read this with Emily and holy I hope she's okay🤣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

zebacorey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism

sommarborne's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

If you are new to Stephen King then this is the best book to begin with. It is a classic for a reason. The story is incredibly gripping and is, to this day, genuinely one of the scariest books that I have read. It sticks with your soul.

If you are concerned about excessive animal violence or gore because of the title and general premise: don’t worry! The animal death in this is completely off screen and surprisingly tame compared to the rest of the book. I think King really wanted the focus to be on the death of the child. 

Im personally sensitive to animal violence in stories, but as far as King goes & horror in general, this book is far easier to get through than most horror based animal deaths. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail