Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Holly by Stephen King

114 reviews

trinammorris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense 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? No

4.25

This is traditional Stephen King. Horrible & Wonderful all at the same time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder

civilchick's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved everything about this book! King has made Holly an incredible character and surrounded her with incredible, smart friends who have their own personal growth alongside and with her. The plot of this book was great- I always love when he writes a horror book that doesn’t involve supernatural. It adds another level because these are the stories that it’s harder to say “that can’t actually happen.” He brings this all to life, and I think the inclusion of current events helped to make this more realistic. And it added some light comedic moments. Bravo. Time to go re-read everything with Holly Gibney in it,

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder

Moderate: Cannibalism

joyce_porter's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love Holly Gibney so much. She is one of my favorite literary characters. I can't thank Stephen King enough for her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Pandemic/Epidemic

elerah's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism

Moderate: Death and Murder

jclanders's review against another edition

dark funny medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia and Racism

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

lizzieinmt's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Racism, Grief, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Medical content, and Murder

hawksquill's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

author_d_r_oestreicher's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 

 

Caveat: This review of Stephen King’s novel, Holly, is a certified outlier, but you didn’t need my opinion of King, one of the great American novelists. It features two aging emeriti professors–Emily Harris, who taught English Literature, and her husband, Rodney, who was in the Life Sciences Department. She suffered from sciatica and arthritis, and he had Alzheimer’s. Over the years they have become estranged from their respective faculties until they only had each other. The novel finds them ostracized, disrespected, and deeply in love, with only each other for support. It asks the question: what would you be willing to do for your life partner as death approaches? A touching love story. 

 

For my extended notes: https://1book42day.blogspot.com/2024/06/holly-by-stephen-king.html 

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Check out https://amzn.to/3vfHVqc to see my books. 

Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

eadrianschmitz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

What a horror! Really enjoyed this and love that Jerome and Barbara are still with us for the ride. Holly didn't seem as neurotic as portrayed in the prior three novels which I kinda miss but it shows her growth which I'm pleased with.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

annfran's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, and Murder