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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
While I’m not the biggest King fan, I’ve liked other books of his. Nothing really stood out to me here though, except the Dark Tower short story reminding me that I still want to read that series - the tone of that story is just so much more intriguing and appealing than his horror vibe.
The horror stories mostly just didn’t really engage me, though they were all generally fine - the one the book is named after was the best (also the least horrific), and the one King’s note says he likes best was inscrutable. I remember enjoying Night Shift a great deal more than this.
The horror stories mostly just didn’t really engage me, though they were all generally fine - the one the book is named after was the best (also the least horrific), and the one King’s note says he likes best was inscrutable. I remember enjoying Night Shift a great deal more than this.
Really great collection of short stories, including his famous Ride the Bullet and 1408, which was turned into a movie and the reason I picked up this book. However I just kept reading and reading until next thing I knew I had finished it. My personal favorite is Lunch at the Gotham Café! Check it out! I don't know how Stephen King does it, but he continues to do it!
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Même si j’apprécie toujours autant la plume de cet auteur, il faut reconnaître que ce recueil de nouvelles est assez inégal. On passe de très bon (1408, Salle d’autopsie 4) à vraiment très bof (La mort de Jack Hamilton, la theorie de L.T.). Et puis quelle obsession pour la cigarette! Stephen King était-il en train d’arrêter de fumer qu’elle soit mentionnée à ce point partout?
Je fais néanmoins une découverte intéressante avec « les petites sœurs d’Eluria » ! Faites-moi un procès si vous voulez, mais je n’ai jamais lu « La Tour Sombre ». Je suis désormais intriguée par cette histoire et pourrais me laisser tenter!
Je fais néanmoins une découverte intéressante avec « les petites sœurs d’Eluria » ! Faites-moi un procès si vous voulez, mais je n’ai jamais lu « La Tour Sombre ». Je suis désormais intriguée par cette histoire et pourrais me laisser tenter!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
fast-paced
I love his short story collections so much. There's always such a variety of stories and shows that he can branch out from just horror and still write a damn good story. My favorites in this one were 1408, Little Sisters of Eluria (was nice to see Roland of Gilead again), and the opening story - Autopsy Room Four. There were a few stories I was indifferent to - didn't love, but didn't hate either. But overall, I enjoyed it.
I'll admit I'm biased in favor of King's novels, to the point that I'm always a bit disappointed when a new release from him is a story collection. True to that bias, I was underwhelmed by this book when I first read it.
On a second reading, however, and after rereading Night Shift, it became clear to me how far King has come as a short story writer (and as a writer generally) since the release of that first collection. Whereas many of the stories in Night Shift were simple gross-outs, the stories in Everything's Eventual employ fantastic elements to more sophisticated ends. For example, "Riding the Bullet", at first glance, is simply a ghost story. But on the second reading, I realized that the ghost of the young man who died in a car crash is exhorting the protagonist to embrace life. It's a really affirming story. "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away" offers a great idea for a bathroom book, if someone should ever choose to compile it. "That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is In French" is a satisfying exercise in non-linear storytelling. "Everything's Eventual" ends where a King novel usually begins. It reads like the prelude to Dink Earnshaw's adventure. (And I guess it sort of is, since his story continues in the Dark Tower series). "The Little Sisters of Eluria" is a full-on episode in the saga of Roland Deschain, and a great one. "In the Deathroom" is a taut geopolitical thriller without any paranormal in it. And "The Death of Jack Hamilton" is straight-up historical crime fiction in the vein of Max Allan Collins. It made me want to read more about the Depression-era American outlaws.
Nothing in this collection seems phoned in. Every story has something different to offer. Okay, maybe "The Road Virus Heads North" is a bit King-standard, but that's not a bad thing. This book would be a great introduction to King that I'd recommend to anyone.
On a second reading, however, and after rereading Night Shift, it became clear to me how far King has come as a short story writer (and as a writer generally) since the release of that first collection. Whereas many of the stories in Night Shift were simple gross-outs, the stories in Everything's Eventual employ fantastic elements to more sophisticated ends. For example, "Riding the Bullet", at first glance, is simply a ghost story. But on the second reading, I realized that the ghost of the young man who died in a car crash is exhorting the protagonist to embrace life. It's a really affirming story. "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away" offers a great idea for a bathroom book, if someone should ever choose to compile it. "That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is In French" is a satisfying exercise in non-linear storytelling. "Everything's Eventual" ends where a King novel usually begins. It reads like the prelude to Dink Earnshaw's adventure. (And I guess it sort of is, since his story continues in the Dark Tower series). "The Little Sisters of Eluria" is a full-on episode in the saga of Roland Deschain, and a great one. "In the Deathroom" is a taut geopolitical thriller without any paranormal in it. And "The Death of Jack Hamilton" is straight-up historical crime fiction in the vein of Max Allan Collins. It made me want to read more about the Depression-era American outlaws.
Nothing in this collection seems phoned in. Every story has something different to offer. Okay, maybe "The Road Virus Heads North" is a bit King-standard, but that's not a bad thing. This book would be a great introduction to King that I'd recommend to anyone.
Favorite short story: L.T.'s Theory of Pets so hilarious.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated