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beth_pattison's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
wavymave's review against another edition
4.0
All of the short stories in this collection were really good. My personal favorite was “The Life of Chuck”.
bigdaddystout's review against another edition
Only wanted to listen to the Holly Gibney story
charliegirl21's review against another edition
This is a great collection of short stories. I like the first and third story the best. Holly and Jerome never fail to satisfy. I have now read all of the Holly stories. I sure hope there are more.
ellieavery's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
mjensen614's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
gracenebowman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
erickibler4's review against another edition
3.0
As always, King tells a good story. Two of the four novellas in this book, though, are the sort of things he's done many times in his short story collections. In Mr. Harrigan's Phone, a boy finds he's still able to communicate with his deceased employer via an iPhone. In Rat, a writer is given a chance to overcome his writer's block and finish a novel, in exchange for a dark sacrifice. I couldn't help but feel I'd read these stories before. Both have shades of "The Monkey's Paw" and old Twilight Zone episodes.
If It Bleeds is a Holly Gibney story. King readers know Holly from the Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider. This story's theme is the the way the news media latches onto and exploits human tragedy. I suppose that theme is what differentiates it from The Outsider, but not by much. Still, there is a suspenseful climax, and it was good to reconnect with Holly, Jerome, and Barbara.
The Life of Chuck is something different and very welcome. A three part story that's told in an unusual way. I'll just leave it at that and say I liked it a lot. Overall, I'd give this book three and a half stars if possible.
If It Bleeds is a Holly Gibney story. King readers know Holly from the Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider. This story's theme is the the way the news media latches onto and exploits human tragedy. I suppose that theme is what differentiates it from The Outsider, but not by much. Still, there is a suspenseful climax, and it was good to reconnect with Holly, Jerome, and Barbara.
The Life of Chuck is something different and very welcome. A three part story that's told in an unusual way. I'll just leave it at that and say I liked it a lot. Overall, I'd give this book three and a half stars if possible.
brandidean's review against another edition
4.0
These ranged between 3 stars and 4.5. I really, really loved ‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone’ — the concept, the characters, everything. ‘The Life of Chuck’ was really interesting, but a little choppy. ‘If it Bleeds’ was great, but probably would have been better if I’d read the other books. (Have just seen The Outsider on HBO.) Didn’t love ‘Rat,’ but it was OK.
I think this is the second or third set of short stories I’ve read of his, and I maybe even like them better than the full length novels.
I think this is the second or third set of short stories I’ve read of his, and I maybe even like them better than the full length novels.
blove0312'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? Yes
4.25
Technical final star review is 4.375.
<b>Mr. Harrigans Phone:</b>
If I could find some of Ray Bradbury’s short stories that are this length, 100 or so pages, I’m sure it’d be like heaven. 10-20 pages is too short for me, but this was perfect. At first I was kind of sad, when I realized it was 4 novellas, because I’m in the thick of Bill/Holly’s series, and though I could’ve easily just read hers, then <i>Holly</i>, and then finished the other novellas, I’m reading them in order because that’s how my brain works.
Anyway. This was excellent, with just a hint of creepiness while we watch Craig go from a preteen reading to the rich old man up the road, to post-college at his job. Quickly, of course because this is about 95 pages. When Mr. Harrigan passes away, he leaves some money to Craig, and Craig writes a thank you note in Mr. Harrigan’s phone and puts it in his coffin. Some time goes by, and a bully is messin with Craig, so on reflex he calls Mr. Harrigan’s phone, that’s somehow still holding charge, and leaves him a voicemail about how he wishes the kid would leave him alone. The next day, his wish is granted in a permanent way. Craig grows up, goes away to college, gets a a job, and then tragedy strikes in his hometown. Will he call Mr. Harrigan to fix the outcome? (4.5/5)
<b>The Life of Chuck:</b>
Eh, idk. The story opens with the world ending essentially; the internet is about to go down for good, roads are crumbling, power isn’t promised. And everywhere the people look, there’s a photo congratulating Chuck for his 39 years of service on billboards, then the TVs, then people’s windows. Only no one knows who Chuck is.
And then we meet Chuck. I’ll be honest, I liked the story of Chuck’s childhood and teenage years way better than the beginning. It’s eerie in an <i>Under the Dome</i> way, except not nearly fleshed out enough because it is a short story. (3/5)
Now onto the one I was after, <b>If It Bleeds:</b>
Holly’s come a long way from the timid woman who couldn’t step into the funeral home. In this novella we watch her deal with her overbearing and highly disappointing mother several times, assist in moving her Uncle Henry to an assisted living place, fly to Maine to speak with someone who is aware of an Outsider, and then to Pennsylvania to confront said Outsider.
And all because she noticed a mole on a reporters cheek, that disappeared soon after, and was in none of his previous reportings.
It is dark and creepy as hell, but only when she’s dealing with said Outsider, the rest is like a peak into Everyday Holly, and I enjoyed it. Though she was going through the motions required for her investigation, and though she frequently wished she had Bill or even Ralph Anderson to help, she pushed on anyway. And did what she could to protect Pete, Jerome, and Barbara.
Only the Robinson siblings aren’t so easily fooled, and they show up right as the showdown is planned to begin, throwing way more than a wrench into Holly’s plans. (5/5)
<b>Rat:</b>
Drew, an English teacher with tenure and author of several short stories, has been rearing to write a full length novel for years. His previous attempts have failed, with the most recent one resulting in a breakdown and extended time off from work. But this time is going to be different, he swears to his wife. So he heads up to his dad’s old cabin in the backcountry of Maine not long before a huge storm heads that way. He’s off the line like an ‘06 Cummins with an inline six, spitting out 18 pages a day, and then he starts getting sick. In his fevered state he saves a rat from the elements, the storm has hit, and brings it inside to die. He then has a fever dream that’s he’s conversing with the rat, who promises to help him finish his book, a damn good book, if Drew will trade the life of someone he cares about. Drew knows this is a dream, and his older buddy/former teacher has pancreatic cancer already, so no harm no foul.
To prevent this from becoming as long as a short story, let’s just say for awhile things are great, there’s a bidding for his novel, he gets a very nice advance, his buddy seems to have beaten cancer, alls well that ends well. Except that’s when tragedy seems to strike, when the waters are calm and you’re just scooting along.
I really enjoyed this one. If I didn’t love Holly so much, I’d say it was easily my favorite, but it’s gotta take the silver because of Holly. <i>Rat</i> is a short, quick read, that’s fast paced and fairly straightforward. There’s a lot of internal dialoguing because Drew is by himself in a remote cabin, but between the book, calls home, and the rat, there’s plenty to break it up. (5/5)
<b>Mr. Harrigans Phone:</b>
If I could find some of Ray Bradbury’s short stories that are this length, 100 or so pages, I’m sure it’d be like heaven. 10-20 pages is too short for me, but this was perfect. At first I was kind of sad, when I realized it was 4 novellas, because I’m in the thick of Bill/Holly’s series, and though I could’ve easily just read hers, then <i>Holly</i>, and then finished the other novellas, I’m reading them in order because that’s how my brain works.
Anyway. This was excellent, with just a hint of creepiness while we watch Craig go from a preteen reading to the rich old man up the road, to post-college at his job. Quickly, of course because this is about 95 pages. When Mr. Harrigan passes away, he leaves some money to Craig, and Craig writes a thank you note in Mr. Harrigan’s phone and puts it in his coffin. Some time goes by, and a bully is messin with Craig, so on reflex he calls Mr. Harrigan’s phone, that’s somehow still holding charge, and leaves him a voicemail about how he wishes the kid would leave him alone. The next day, his wish is granted in a permanent way. Craig grows up, goes away to college, gets a a job, and then tragedy strikes in his hometown. Will he call Mr. Harrigan to fix the outcome? (4.5/5)
<b>The Life of Chuck:</b>
Eh, idk. The story opens with the world ending essentially; the internet is about to go down for good, roads are crumbling, power isn’t promised. And everywhere the people look, there’s a photo congratulating Chuck for his 39 years of service on billboards, then the TVs, then people’s windows. Only no one knows who Chuck is.
And then we meet Chuck. I’ll be honest, I liked the story of Chuck’s childhood and teenage years way better than the beginning. It’s eerie in an <i>Under the Dome</i> way, except not nearly fleshed out enough because it is a short story. (3/5)
Now onto the one I was after, <b>If It Bleeds:</b>
Holly’s come a long way from the timid woman who couldn’t step into the funeral home. In this novella we watch her deal with her overbearing and highly disappointing mother several times, assist in moving her Uncle Henry to an assisted living place, fly to Maine to speak with someone who is aware of an Outsider, and then to Pennsylvania to confront said Outsider.
And all because she noticed a mole on a reporters cheek, that disappeared soon after, and was in none of his previous reportings.
It is dark and creepy as hell, but only when she’s dealing with said Outsider, the rest is like a peak into Everyday Holly, and I enjoyed it. Though she was going through the motions required for her investigation, and though she frequently wished she had Bill or even Ralph Anderson to help, she pushed on anyway. And did what she could to protect Pete, Jerome, and Barbara.
Only the Robinson siblings aren’t so easily fooled, and they show up right as the showdown is planned to begin, throwing way more than a wrench into Holly’s plans. (5/5)
<b>Rat:</b>
Drew, an English teacher with tenure and author of several short stories, has been rearing to write a full length novel for years. His previous attempts have failed, with the most recent one resulting in a breakdown and extended time off from work. But this time is going to be different, he swears to his wife. So he heads up to his dad’s old cabin in the backcountry of Maine not long before a huge storm heads that way. He’s off the line like an ‘06 Cummins with an inline six, spitting out 18 pages a day, and then he starts getting sick. In his fevered state he saves a rat from the elements, the storm has hit, and brings it inside to die. He then has a fever dream that’s he’s conversing with the rat, who promises to help him finish his book, a damn good book, if Drew will trade the life of someone he cares about. Drew knows this is a dream, and his older buddy/former teacher has pancreatic cancer already, so no harm no foul.
To prevent this from becoming as long as a short story, let’s just say for awhile things are great, there’s a bidding for his novel, he gets a very nice advance, his buddy seems to have beaten cancer, alls well that ends well. Except that’s when tragedy seems to strike, when the waters are calm and you’re just scooting along.
I really enjoyed this one. If I didn’t love Holly so much, I’d say it was easily my favorite, but it’s gotta take the silver because of Holly. <i>Rat</i> is a short, quick read, that’s fast paced and fairly straightforward. There’s a lot of internal dialoguing because Drew is by himself in a remote cabin, but between the book, calls home, and the rat, there’s plenty to break it up. (5/5)