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celina246's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Bullying
joshkiba13's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This seems to be a fan-favorite among King fan groups - it certainly lived up to its reputation. People often talk about King's talent for immersing readers in a small town (Derry, Castle Rock, Jerusalem's Lot, etc), and now I get it. It was a little overwhelming at first to be introduced to SO many characters across the town (especially with names like Mark, Matt, Mike, Roy, Randy, Richie, Royal, Sandy, Susan, etc.), but it payed off in the long run. We get an overview of the town and its residents at the beginning, and return to them throughout the story as the town falls into ruin. Beautifully done (I just wish the names had been a little more distinct from each other hehe).
King always describes evil so well. Not only are the vampires in the story evil, but there seems to just be a foul air across the whole town. The Marsten house looms above them all on the hill, watching like a black sentinel. Ben's memories of terror inside the house, as well as its omnipresence during all the character vignettes, really solidified that element of the story as foreboding and creepy. But even just regular parts of the town were made freaky. For example:
"The town had a sense, not of history, but of time, and the telephone poles seemed to know this. If you lay your hand against one, you can feel the vibration from the wires deep in the wood, as if souls had been imprisoned in there and were struggling to get out."
Or . . .
"It was as if the dump had gained a heartbeat and that beat was slow yet full of terrible vitality."
I've never been scared reading a book until one night reading this one in the dark with a flashlight a mosquito flew right past my ear and made me jump. That was fun :)
I do wish the relationship between Susan and Ben could have been a little more developed
It took me a while to get into this one, but once I did I was all in. A great story overall :)
This was my last stop before resuming and completing my Dark Tower journey. Excited to see the return of
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
shannonredwine8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
ggcd1981's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence
Religious Themesjovanh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Blood, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism and Sexual content
_marycappiello3's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
wykirsty's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, and Religious bigotry
lostinthelibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I don't think the concept of an ensemble horror had really been honed at this time (before slashers became a popular genre) and the attitudes of the characters are also quite dated. Even once the action ramped up I was still lost as didn't feel like I had a sense of the characters to pin the action to.
I'm also a bit disappointed as this is an homage to one of my favourite books, Dracula, and Dracula it is not!
I would like to try another Stephen King but perhaps one where the plot is more straightforward.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Pedophilia
erafact's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Cannibalism, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Set in a rural area in the 70's, lots of slurs thrown around. A man catches his wife cheating, then beats her and rapes her over the next couple (?) Weeks. Several children die. A dog is killed but not graphically, we just find its body.risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol