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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I chose to read this book because it was getting close to Halloween but I was also reading another book and so I thought short stories could be perfect. I was hoping to get scared real bad but was a little let down in that area. The only story that really scared me was The Road Virus Heads North. Although I was let down in the scary department this book still had wonderful writing and was the light read I wanted. I could sit down and finish a whole story in one sitting and Stephen King was as entertaining and creative as always. I especially liked the added touch of the little notes he wrote before/after the stories!
Wonderful collection. Old school Stephen King at his best, providing one creepy yet mesmerizing story after another. I grew up on the movie adaptations of those stories without even realizing when starting this book. Also this is the first time I've read a Stephen King collection where I enjoyed every single story almost equally. 5/5
I read this years ago and remembered enjoying it, as I always do King's short stories. I recently got the audiobook and listened again because I've been on a big King audio kick for comfort listening. And returning to this years later I still liked it, but with one caveat (about the titular story in particular) -
Stephen, my boy - tr*nny? How did no editor say "oh, Stephen, no honey..."? I mean, I wasn't offended because it was honestly funny as hell, but damn, son. How do you reach into your little power-naming hat and pull out "tr*nnies"? When I was at my sink doing dishes and Justin Long said in my ear "You're a tr*nny, son, better get used to it" I was knocked right out. I was screaming like a hyena in my little kitchen. It was priceless.
(context - am trans)
Stephen, my boy - tr*nny? How did no editor say "oh, Stephen, no honey..."? I mean, I wasn't offended because it was honestly funny as hell, but damn, son. How do you reach into your little power-naming hat and pull out "tr*nnies"? When I was at my sink doing dishes and Justin Long said in my ear "You're a tr*nny, son, better get used to it" I was knocked right out. I was screaming like a hyena in my little kitchen. It was priceless.
(context - am trans)
Perfect no-critical-thought-involved reading. The Road Virus Heads North is the eeriest in the collection, but there's a good assortment. Great if you're interested only in content with not too much concern for form.
What can I say? King at his best. Those who say King's writing ideas headed for idea heaven in the 80s need to read this collection. The ones I re-read the most are Riding the Bullet, Man in the Black Suit, and The Road Virus Heads North. Only King can take traditional ghost stories and put his a modern, creatively terrifying spin on them that keeps you awake all night (lights on, of course).
3 stars for the book on tape that I listened to on my library app. The book is my favorite so I wanted to listen to it on tape, but this version only has 5 tales not 14. And the biggest chunk of this version is related to The Dark Tower series and Roland. Hence the 3 star rating.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A