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diedenb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
It was a bit too slow-paced for me. And I didn’t really like the ending. But overall a nice book.
charliewalt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
absj's review against another edition
5.0
A novel I put down 100 pages from finishing because I didnt want it to end! Beautifully written
blueberry31's review against another edition
4.0
This was another great Stephen King novel (and this sentence is starting to feel like a pleonasm). The more I read King, the more I feel a sort of comfortable familiarity starting another one of his books: the style, the story-telling, the characters, the vibe you get from it... you open a Stephen King book and you know you're in for some sort of a ride, you're pretty much guaranteed that it'll be a page turner (in my experience so far at least... I am not even close to having read all of his classics alone).
Here's the deal with Stephen King's books, including this one, it always feels more like I'm watching a movie or series rather than reading a book. There's something about the writing that makes it incredibly visual for me and often I'll even remember the book as I would remember having watched a movie... it's almost to the point where I'm confused on whether it was a book in the first place? Is that making any sense? Does that happen to anyone else or am I crazy?
I think my only small pet-peeve with The Institute (and it's one I've had with his other works) is the constant wittiness and sarcasm of "the good guys" towards the end. It tends to get a little too cliché and cheesy for me - a tad "mainstream blockbuster movie" like, when the heroes fight the bad guys, and they do it with humor, irony and high-fives. Makes me roll my eyes a little bit... but the plot is so excellent that I just go along with it.
I see many people are recommending Firestarter so I might try that next.
Here's the deal with Stephen King's books, including this one, it always feels more like I'm watching a movie or series rather than reading a book. There's something about the writing that makes it incredibly visual for me and often I'll even remember the book as I would remember having watched a movie... it's almost to the point where I'm confused on whether it was a book in the first place? Is that making any sense? Does that happen to anyone else or am I crazy?
I think my only small pet-peeve with The Institute (and it's one I've had with his other works) is the constant wittiness and sarcasm of "the good guys" towards the end. It tends to get a little too cliché and cheesy for me - a tad "mainstream blockbuster movie" like, when the heroes fight the bad guys, and they do it with humor, irony and high-fives. Makes me roll my eyes a little bit... but the plot is so excellent that I just go along with it.
I see many people are recommending Firestarter so I might try that next.
archiegitdog's review against another edition
5.0
Not read a Stephen King book in 20 years as I wanted to broaden the writers out there in the big wide world. My god, how fantastic is Stephen King, this book was brilliant and I need to catch up on all the great books I have probably missed out on. Clap clap clap - well written, going to miss the Averster!
jadelaite's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
becca1219's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
darth_vader's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this novel. I’ve not read much of Steven King and was surprised how much I enjoyed the consistency of the flow, story lines and character development.