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erickibler4's review
5.0
I was always in the habit, when asked, of pointing to The Stand as my favorite King, but on rereading Hearts in Atlantis, I have to say it has edged out The Stand for the number one spot. There are five stories in this book, two of which are long enough to be considered novels on their own.
The first of these long stories is "Low Men in Yellow Coats", which is as beautiful and sad and aching an evocation of American childhood and coming of age in the 20th century as anything by Ray Bradbury. In fact, if it had Bradbury's name on it, it would be considered one of his best. If King had written only this story, he'd be a legend.
The second, "Hearts in Atlantis", is King's very personal (although fictionalized) statement on what it was like to be a college student during the war in Vietnam. Specifically, a scholarship student, for whom slippage in grades could be a life or death matter. In this situation, the peer pressure to goof off has potentially dangerous consequences. There's no supernatural stuff in this story. Just 18 year old kids making choices, good and bad.
"Blind Willie" is a story about penance, and has to do with an event that occurred in "Low Men".
"Why Are We in Vietnam" shows us what some of the characters in the previous three stories were up to in Vietnam, and finally, "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling" ties everything together in beautiful fashion.
"Low Men" ties into King's Dark Tower series. But it's self contained. Reading it, though, could whet your appetite to find out what all this Dark Tower stuff is all about.
Try the audiobook, narrated by William Hurt and Stephen King. Hurt gives the greatest audiobook performance I've ever heard, and that includes many by my previous favorite narrator, the late great Frank Muller.
The first of these long stories is "Low Men in Yellow Coats", which is as beautiful and sad and aching an evocation of American childhood and coming of age in the 20th century as anything by Ray Bradbury. In fact, if it had Bradbury's name on it, it would be considered one of his best. If King had written only this story, he'd be a legend.
The second, "Hearts in Atlantis", is King's very personal (although fictionalized) statement on what it was like to be a college student during the war in Vietnam. Specifically, a scholarship student, for whom slippage in grades could be a life or death matter. In this situation, the peer pressure to goof off has potentially dangerous consequences. There's no supernatural stuff in this story. Just 18 year old kids making choices, good and bad.
"Blind Willie" is a story about penance, and has to do with an event that occurred in "Low Men".
"Why Are We in Vietnam" shows us what some of the characters in the previous three stories were up to in Vietnam, and finally, "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling" ties everything together in beautiful fashion.
"Low Men" ties into King's Dark Tower series. But it's self contained. Reading it, though, could whet your appetite to find out what all this Dark Tower stuff is all about.
Try the audiobook, narrated by William Hurt and Stephen King. Hurt gives the greatest audiobook performance I've ever heard, and that includes many by my previous favorite narrator, the late great Frank Muller.
vampirespawn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3knuckledloosey's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
wblaketharp's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite story was Hearts in Atlantis (the novella)
stepf7's review
5.0
I loved this book. The movie pales in comparison.....miserably.....but this book was my escape from reality during a difficult time of my life. It takes place in the 1960's and then catches up to current day, but it's a great story with lots of detail, but not difficult to read. I highly recommend it.
caffeinated_cassade's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.0
I have a special place in my reading heart set aside for Stephen King novella collections. The weight of the overarching impact the Vietnam War has on these stories is heavy and apparent. There are references to The Dark Tower in here that were beyond me, but did just enough to push this dramatic series into a slight fantastical setting that I was not expecting.
immovabletype's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wimzie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
matthew_pawlyszyn's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0