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cantbeatthebeets 's review for:
The Institute
by Stephen King
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is a bit slow paced during the second section, and can seem disjointed at times, almost as if King started writing this decades ago and picked up and finished more recently.
The sheer number of characters you need to track makes this the kind of novel you can’t put down for a few days/weeks (or you’ll find yourself flipping back to try and remember who someone is). Which is unfortunate because the subject matter makes it hard to get through at times. I found myself needing a break from the heaviness.
Once we got about 300 pages in, things started to move faster. Not my favourite of King’s work, but a decent read.
The sheer number of characters you need to track makes this the kind of novel you can’t put down for a few days/weeks (or you’ll find yourself flipping back to try and remember who someone is). Which is unfortunate because the subject matter makes it hard to get through at times. I found myself needing a break from the heaviness.
Once we got about 300 pages in, things started to move faster. Not my favourite of King’s work, but a decent read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism