Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Running Man by Stephen King

12 reviews

rikh's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Violence, and Classism

lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Appreciated the dystopia and general plot. Did not appreciate all of the racist language. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, and Car accident

Minor: Homophobia and Rape

voxlunae's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I've nearly read all of King's books, and I committed this year to finishing the ones I haven't gotten to yet. The problem is, the ones I haven't gotten to are pretty much all of the ones that are supposed bad to middling, including the Bachmann books and some of the bad '80s years. The Running Man wasn't terrible, but it's a rough hang, to be sure. The premise is interesting, and the world-building is effective, but it paints a picture of such a dreary and dismal world, where pretty much everyone is deplorable and vile. The casual racism, sexism, classism, fatphobia, murder, etc. just make this a really unpleasant journey, despite the propulsive plot and the messaging at its core. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia

dibiz116's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 Overall I enjoyed this book, but I feel like there are just so much better dystopian reality tv books out there (including King/Bachman's other book The Long Walk). I imagine this was fairly original in its year of publication (1999) but even aside from that I don't feel like this had the depth of character that Stephen King is known for and that I have grown to love so much. I know the Bachman books tend to be much faster paced and less suspenseful, but this didn't accomplish the balance the other Bachman books do (the adrenaline packed character study that is Roadwork will forever be one of my favorite books so it's not an issue with King's style when writing as Bachman). It honestly feels like he tried to make something too fast paced for his own writing style and ended up with a story that fell flat. It didn't help that the attempted social commentary didn't make sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Violence

11black_cats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Good book, I didn't love Richards but I didn't hate him either. All in all a solid main character and a good dystopian book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, and Classism

Moderate: Racial slurs and Kidnapping

timmeh's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ro_lux's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

hayleycurtis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I was conflicted with this book. The way that King describes women is challenging. Is the author projecting his world onto the reader or is he attempting to submerse us into the mind of someone who sees women from Richards’ perspective? Maybe both is the answer. I just wish the women characters were more hashed out, I guess. Someone to sympathize and not pity. 

Moving on past my mini rant, the story immediately places the reader into the lowest of low classes - introducing Richards - a solid character rooted in his own beliefs and only wanting to help his family. King takes you on a whirlwind of a chase, leaving the reader flipping through the short chapters begging to see what happens next. The futuristic scene gives us a glimpse into the harrowing potential forecast of what may come to our society.  And it all ends spectacularly. I would recommend this book for the plot alone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Miscarriage, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity and Rape

pointvirgule's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing and Classism

_mack_jack_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

if it weren’t for the racism, homophobia, and misogyny this book would get 5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

Moderate: Rape and Vomit