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bohemian_yogini's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Rape, Sexual violence, Gore, and Adult/minor relationship
violetturtledove's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Usually when reading short story collections there are some you love and some you are less enthusiastic about.. but with this collection of four novellas there isn't one that didn't have me hooked and i had to make myself pause between stories just to have a rest. Each is just the right length for the story.
I personally thought 'The Library Policeman' was the creepiest, although 'The Sun Dog' wins for out-right gore. My only criticism would be that in 'The Langoliers' (and to a lesser extent 'Secret Window, Secret Garden') issues of mental health are used more to fit the plot than the characters. Still, with stories like these it's a minor complaint.
I personally thought 'The Library Policeman' was the creepiest, although 'The Sun Dog' wins for out-right gore. My only criticism would be that in 'The Langoliers' (and to a lesser extent 'Secret Window, Secret Garden') issues of mental health are used more to fit the plot than the characters. Still, with stories like these it's a minor complaint.
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, and Animal cruelty
bruinrocks'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
4.5
This was a great collection of novellas, albeit a little long in my opinion. But each one had it’s strong points, with the exception of the third one which I found rather long and boring.
The Langoliers - 4.5/5 A really fun adventure into the unknown and back, strong character development, with a terrifying concept, and I found The Langoliers to be one of Stephen King’s scarier entities, even if the description sometimes came off a little silly.
Secret Window, Secret Garden - 3.75/5 It was a tense novella with a very predictable plot, still really well written, and a lot of fun, the predictability lowers my ranking for it though.
The Library Policeman - 3/5 A long and boring story in the middle, and very intense climax followed by a lacklustre ending.
The Sun Dog - 4.75/5 Not perfect but damn near close. I love taking pictures and this story rocked my socks. The best of the four, it gripped me from start to finish and I believe it’s the shortest of the four novellas and it moves at a great pace with a ending that closes out the collection nicely.
The Langoliers - 4.5/5 A really fun adventure into the unknown and back, strong character development, with a terrifying concept, and I found The Langoliers to be one of Stephen King’s scarier entities, even if the description sometimes came off a little silly.
Secret Window, Secret Garden - 3.75/5 It was a tense novella with a very predictable plot, still really well written, and a lot of fun, the predictability lowers my ranking for it though.
The Library Policeman - 3/5 A long and boring story in the middle, and very intense climax followed by a lacklustre ending.
The Sun Dog - 4.75/5 Not perfect but damn near close. I love taking pictures and this story rocked my socks. The best of the four, it gripped me from start to finish and I believe it’s the shortest of the four novellas and it moves at a great pace with a ending that closes out the collection nicely.
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
Moderate: Racial slurs and Animal death
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, and Alcoholism
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