Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Institute by Stephen King

14 reviews

em_chata's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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? No

5.0

I’ve read this book twice now. It is by far one of my favorite books of all time, partially because of Stephen King’s writing and partially because it can appeal to people from a variety of age groups. I’ve always admired his way of researching and incorporating that into his work, and Luke Ellis is one of my favorite characters. He’s not made out to be anything incredibly special, and he doesn’t turn into a superhuman, but his character develops incredibly over the course of the book. I will always give it five stars:)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Child death, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Violence, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

pkc's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I finished this in conjunction with the audiobook, reading the last 200+ pages in my physical copy and…King remains one of my favourite authors BUT this just wasn’t it for me. It felt a bit like he’d bitten off more than he could chew and the end was rushed with a resolution that could be described as shaky at best. I rated it as highly as I did because the final set piece was epic. It either needed to be expanded or drastically cut back. I can’t decide which. I will say though. The authors note at the end of my copy brought a wee tear to my eye.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide, Confinement, Cursing, Self harm, Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

justin_depresso's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Death, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Violence, Trafficking, Bullying, Child death, Torture, Classism, Alcohol, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Confinement

heckinchimken's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Torture, Death, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Child death

Minor: Suicide, Murder, and Cursing

ellagewerwhite's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Child abuse, Murder, Child death, Drug use, Slavery, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racial slurs

mandaraffe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Stalking, Suicide, Vomit, Alcohol, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Addiction, and Bullying

Minor: Misogyny, War, Racial slurs, Sexism, Islamophobia, and Police brutality

alysson's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Cursing

maddycumerlato's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I’ve put off writing my review for this book because I felt like I couldn’t find the words to describe how much I loved it. I still don’t think I have the words but I’m going to try. 

This is my first Stephen King novel, and as soon as I put it down after reading the last page, I went to my local bookstore and bought two more of his titles. I never understood the hype about King before, but now I get it. His writing is superb, more immersive and emotional than the dozens and dozens of authors I’ve read in the last few years. It’s incredibly fitting of the horror genre.

This story is not the type of strange paranormal horror we expect from King, but commits instead to dark and eerie “realistic” horror, something that could affect people just like ourselves. Hundreds of kids go missing every year and wake up to find themselves in The Institute, <spoilers> a facility in rural Maine meant to test and strengthen the very limits of their minds. These kids are special, have proven in one way or another that they can traverse mind and space in ways others cannot </spoilers>. The people running this facility <spoilers> have plans to use these abilities for their own benefit in a twisted illusion of saving the world, but </spoilers> must train them in brutal procedures. It’s torture, to be completely honest. If child torture a dealbreaker, turn away now… although if you enjoy Stephen King, I figure you’re numb to that sort of thing anyways. 

Move with me now to South Carolina, where a man decides to trust his instincts and start a new life for himself. His story seems plain and disconnected, and will become a forgotten memory by the time the stories of the Institute children take the spotlight. But let me tell you… <spoilers> as soon as the word Dupree once more caught my eye halfway through the novel, I had to put my copy down and sit with it for a few minutes. The transition and combination of these two stories was GENIUS. I know it’s possible and probably easy with enough planning, but the way King pulled it off was so stellar. I don’t think I will ever forget that moment.

King’s talent in writing young kids comes out strong in this novel. There’s the immaturity we expect from their outer selves, but also the maturity that stays hidden and unused in many young kids unless absolutely needed. Having to learn so much about death and pain so quickly developed these senses so strongly, it makes you want to cry for these kids. I did.

Each character is immensely thought out and perfectly brought to life, and the story falls into place so effortlessly and clearly. I’m shocked this is not King’s biggest novel yet, and am thoroughly anticipating the same hype for the Institute that It and The Shining get. 

Truly some of the best art to leave Stephen King’s mind.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Gaslighting, and Gun violence

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, and Cursing

ging090803's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

3.0

Well, well, well... It was something. I took me fooorever to read it. The story is good. Well, the idea of it. Great start, great end. The middle though... It was endless. It's like nothing was happening.   

Spoiler

yeah they were kidnapped and stuff, but nothing was really happening. They were only getting tested infinitely

I have to say that, for a good week, I hardly read the book because I didn't want to keep reading those endless pages/chapters. On the other hand, I didn't give up, and I was surprised by the end. Finally some actions. I can even say it was sad. In conclusion, maybe I won't recommended this book on a daily basis, but I also won't talk sh*t about it. It's really up to the reader. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Drug use, Medical trauma, Death, Medical content, and Cursing

Minor: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Alcoholism, and Confinement

rugsnotdrugs's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence