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A review by dans_bookscape
Later by Stephen King
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Later follows the childhood of Jamie Conklin, who has a secret he keeps from almost everyone...he can see and communicate with dead people. The story starts with the day his mother starts to acknowledge his gift and follows along as he grows up with his gift and the dangers it presents.
Soon Jamie is haunted by a ‘ghost’ that won’t move on and by his mother’s former partner who now sees Jamie as her ticket out of a shitty situation she’s finds herself in.
I really enjoyed Later, it was such a fast paced story that kept me hooked throughout. I wouldn’t say a lot actually happens in it but what does was intriguing enough to keep me turning the page, this includes elements from some of King’s most famous stories including ‘Deadlights’ and ‘Ritual of Chüd’.
It is easy to feel sympathy for Jamie, he’s dealing with his abilities from an early age and it is first ignored or he’s told to keep it to himself but then he is used for others gain even if it puts him in danger.
Jamie repeats throughout that this is a horror story, and while to the reader it may not seem like the horror we are used to reading, this story is told through the eyes of a child that is having to deal with some gruesome deaths and then talking to those that have suffered from it.
This is a good hybrid of crime and supernatural from Stephen King, I really like his books that have this kind of split to them.
Soon Jamie is haunted by a ‘ghost’ that won’t move on and by his mother’s former partner who now sees Jamie as her ticket out of a shitty situation she’s finds herself in.
I really enjoyed Later, it was such a fast paced story that kept me hooked throughout. I wouldn’t say a lot actually happens in it but what does was intriguing enough to keep me turning the page, this includes elements from some of King’s most famous stories including ‘Deadlights’ and ‘Ritual of Chüd’.
It is easy to feel sympathy for Jamie, he’s dealing with his abilities from an early age and it is first ignored or he’s told to keep it to himself but then he is used for others gain even if it puts him in danger.
Jamie repeats throughout that this is a horror story, and while to the reader it may not seem like the horror we are used to reading, this story is told through the eyes of a child that is having to deal with some gruesome deaths and then talking to those that have suffered from it.
This is a good hybrid of crime and supernatural from Stephen King, I really like his books that have this kind of split to them.