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ethaninglis72 's review for:
Just After Sunset
by Stephen King
A great collection of stories that adds up to my first short story collection from King. My ranking of the stories from Best to Worst, the top 4 could easily switch around at any given time:
1. The Things They Left Behind— feels intensely personal with the central figure (even if he has a shady past) and the feelings of survivor’s guilt and grief. When King allows the stories to be about loss, it is the strongest work of the collection and also the stuff I relate to the most. 5/5
2. Willa— another moving story about death and the things we may or may not leave behind. Maybe the most optimistic King has been about romantic love I’ve experienced yet. 5/5
3. N.— an unsettling little story within a story within a story. Moved me to tears in its last few pages with its cruelty. TW: heavy warning for discussions on suicide. 5/5
4. The Cat from Hell— a delicious little number on cursed animals and their devious methods. Had so much fun with this one. 5/5
5. The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates— as I’ve said with some of the top selections, this collection was at its best with stories about loss. 5/5
6. A Very Tight Place— gross, timely, and full of dark humor. Not my favorite of the bunch but one of the most well written of the collection. 5/5
7. Stationary Bike— Intriguing concept I did not see coming at all. 5/5
8. The Gingerbread Girl— reminds me of the film of Gerald’s Game (excited to read the book someday) so I loved. 5/5
9. Ayana— King finally becomes aware of his use of the magical POC trope, but still indulges in it. It’s still moving as all hell though. 5/5
10. Mute— a twisted little story with an ending that actually shook me. Would be a nice companion piece to The Exorcist 3. 5/5
11. Graduation Afternoon— was moved by this one, even if after some reflection, it seemed to take the easy way to conclude this story. 4.5/5
12. Harvey’s Dream— pretty basic in execution but with an ending that flips the whole story on its head. Marriage eventually is just another annoyance and that’s heartbreaking. 4.5/5
13. Rest Stop— an interesting twist on split personality disorder that ultimately culminates in some of the sexism that the lead believes he’s saving the victim from. 4.5/5
1. The Things They Left Behind— feels intensely personal with the central figure (even if he has a shady past) and the feelings of survivor’s guilt and grief. When King allows the stories to be about loss, it is the strongest work of the collection and also the stuff I relate to the most. 5/5
2. Willa— another moving story about death and the things we may or may not leave behind. Maybe the most optimistic King has been about romantic love I’ve experienced yet. 5/5
3. N.— an unsettling little story within a story within a story. Moved me to tears in its last few pages with its cruelty. TW: heavy warning for discussions on suicide. 5/5
4. The Cat from Hell— a delicious little number on cursed animals and their devious methods. Had so much fun with this one. 5/5
5. The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates— as I’ve said with some of the top selections, this collection was at its best with stories about loss. 5/5
6. A Very Tight Place— gross, timely, and full of dark humor. Not my favorite of the bunch but one of the most well written of the collection. 5/5
7. Stationary Bike— Intriguing concept I did not see coming at all. 5/5
8. The Gingerbread Girl— reminds me of the film of Gerald’s Game (excited to read the book someday) so I loved. 5/5
9. Ayana— King finally becomes aware of his use of the magical POC trope, but still indulges in it. It’s still moving as all hell though. 5/5
10. Mute— a twisted little story with an ending that actually shook me. Would be a nice companion piece to The Exorcist 3. 5/5
11. Graduation Afternoon— was moved by this one, even if after some reflection, it seemed to take the easy way to conclude this story. 4.5/5
12. Harvey’s Dream— pretty basic in execution but with an ending that flips the whole story on its head. Marriage eventually is just another annoyance and that’s heartbreaking. 4.5/5
13. Rest Stop— an interesting twist on split personality disorder that ultimately culminates in some of the sexism that the lead believes he’s saving the victim from. 4.5/5