Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The Outsider by Stephen King

38 reviews

sethers's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

wafeeliz's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

TOUGH read in the first half... Between repeated descriptions of a horrifically graphic, violent crime and a mountain of exposition, I can understand why Stephen King may not be everyone's speed. That being said, the second half of the novel did go by quickly. Personally, the unveiling of The Outsider as a supernatural entity wasn't much of a revelation as the seed for a venture outside of the bounds of reality had already been sown.

I can acknowledge old Steve's strengths as a writer, I really can. Here: I enjoyed his unconventional metaphors, descriptions, and narrative integration of character thoughts. He really knows how to build a world and flesh out characters and their relationships. I've heard he is a pretty successful guy, so good for him! We won't dwell too much on the considerable amount of typos, erroneous use of various words and phrases, and casual 80s racism in this novel.

This book was lovingly gifted to me and I AM glad that I read something outside of my comfort zone. Hell, I might even watch the miniseries if I can stomach the visuals. How wonderful that Mr. King was inspired by my culture's folklore <3 This section does NOT resemble a message my kidnappers would have made me send to reassure my loved ones that I am safe.

What I WILL say: Holly Gibney you have captured my heart! And the scent of a new book?? NOTHING COULD EVER SURPASS THE SENSATION OF PURE ECSTASY! (Took a good sniff just now.)

#MexicanIt #HowLatinosSpeakInMovies #LearnedANewSlur<3 #DidAnyoneCatchThatYuneSabloWasLatino?ItWasUnclearToMe

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Rape

Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

c4rn4ge's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

natmorrall's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

pretty boring and slow to start with and then goes in a super weird direction but it's stephen king so like kinda expected 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Gore and Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal death

chadconnecticut's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was my first sampling of King’s later work, and while I didn’t hate it, I miss the fervor of his earlier years. 

Despite the harrowing nature of the crimes depicted in the book, it’s hard to root for a cast of characters who are all different flavors of middle-aged white cop (plus a Mexican character who does make me doubt King’s ability to write diversely). Holly Gibney, clearly a favorite of King’s, was charming, and I can see why he and readers both attached to her. 

Overall, there were moments of tension, but the mystery lacked the tautness I’ve seen demonstrated in King’s other work. More than that, I didn’t feel the same loving attention paid at the sentence level, which made it easier to look past some oversimplified characterization on King’s part in the past. But the moments I loved, I really loved. Lovie Bolton will go down as an example of King’s ability to craft a memorable character when he truly tries. I just wish I could say the same for Ralph Anderson and the rest of the protagonists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

This is a book whose plot hinges on the graphic, sexually sadistic murder of a child.

devynkeith's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Rape, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

hilary_v's review against another edition

dark

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Murder

bittie_bee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death and Vomit

stardustvein's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pregnancy

jossywright's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.0

Takes an unusual turn which you will either love or hate 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail