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akvolcano's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Honestly I expected more from Stephen King. There is so much hype about him. This book is messed up, and there is a lot of dehumanizing/gross parts that are unnecessary. The story was interesting, but it was due to the multiple personalities. I think out of all the book, I only enjoyed three or four chapters. I kept hoping it would get better, but it never really did. The writing itself wasn’t that great….I don’t see myself reading any more books from this author. He is a sick man. Don’t really recommend. #disappointedanddisgusted
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
herbivorehaunts's review against another edition
the beginning was alright, if not a little bit cumbersome and slow, but I'm DNFing this one once Alice was introduced. I probably won't ever finish this one but I guess never say never. If you're interested in a King story with a similar premise to the first 200 or so pages of this book I suggest 11/22/63, it's a way better novel. If you're looking to read a Stephen King for the first time might I suggest literally any other title by him.
spoilers without context I guess butdo men actually keep their underwear until it's sliding off their body when they move or was that just an excuse to "save" the rape victim naked? What the fuck was that. Am I supposed to feel any sort of appreciation for a man who "saves" a rape victim butt ass naked, who then decides the best course of action is to (in graphic detail) examine her genitals and then put her to bed, and then go to bed next to her and wake up with a boner and from then on continously states how he doesn't want to fuck her, not really, but she is barely legal and pretty? I might take a break from King for a bit. This book was really upsetting, but not in a horror way, just kinda felt like torture porn.
spoilers without context I guess but
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Rape
Moderate: Child death and Death
sheryl_reads's review against another edition
dark
slow-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? It's complicated
SPOILERS - LOTS OF SPOILERS. AND THE BIGGEST TRIGGER WARNINGS YOU CAN THINK OF.
The things I’m going to point out aren’t down to preferences, or being sensitive to subject matter. As you read this, I would like you to bear in mind that none of this really serves the story and could have been done in any number of different ways, which still would have worked.
- The main character has a ‘dumb self’ which is likened to being on ‘the spectrum’. Being autistic doesn’t make you less intelligent (or dumb as King insists on calling it. Billy Summers is meant to be a paid killer who is very well respected - best of the best sniper type guy. I’m not sure how believable it is that his associates (who presumably are good at reading people, to be successful criminals) think he’s not smart.
- Just because people are ‘bad guys’ or ‘gangsters’ doesn’t mean they have to be homophobic, racist etc. It’s not banter. It’s lazy writing and King can do better.
- Alice’s story. I’ve put details right at the end of this review so you can avoid it if you find sexual assault triggering. I accept the main character has to save her, thus saving himself a little. But there is NO NEED for her attack to be so brutal. And the examination of her whilst she’s still unconscious… disgusting. We all know what’s likely happened to her - there’s no need for the graphic description and further violation of that character. Frankly, I don’t understand how anyone reads this and doesn’t think ‘this isn’t right, WTF?’.
- The blackface (apologies if this isn’t the correct term) - Billy decides to go visit his associates and has to sneak into their compound. He decides to disguise himself as a day labourer. Who obviously must be an illegal Mexican immigrant who is a deaf/mute… I don’t care that it’s spray tan - the character is darkening his skin to disguise himself as a day labourer (who has to be an illegal Mexican? Why? Stereotypes are just lazy)
- Throwing in an old rich guy paedophile when there could be all sorts of explanations which wouldn’t involve yet more sexual assault elements. I can think of so many other reasons why the hit had to be done, none of which would involve child abuse.
- Randomly mentioning that Bucky, who is Billy’s go to guy for ID and jobs etc, is probably gay, even though it adds nothing to the story or character. It’s like a throwaway thought the Billy has, but it adds nothing to our understanding of Bucky or their relationship.
Perhaps some people would say that the book should have come with trigger warnings. And I think it should have. But I’d also say that perhaps King should just have thought a bit more about what he was writing. There’s no need for most of the things I’ve pointed out.
I’m a long term King fan and I have to say that this might be the end of the road for me. I’m sure his future releases will be successful, and losing one fan isn’t gonna bother him. But if he genuinely thinks that this kind of content is ok… I think he’s got a problem. And I’d extend that to all the fans out there posting 5 ⭐️ reviews of this.
TRIGGER WARNING FOR ALICE
Alice is sexually assaulted (gang raped by 3 men) and then tossed out of a van outside Billy’s hideout. To avoid attention, he takes her into his apartment and tends to her. She’s unconscious as she’s been drugged, she’s also wet and cold. Billy strips her naked and towels her off (I accept this is probably what you’d need to do) but then proceeds to examine her intimately. We already know she’s been attacked - there’s bruises on her and he’s noted blood on her uppers legs. So, we get it. She’s been raped. It isn’t necessary for us to get a graphic description - but King insists on Billy spreading Alice’s legs and giving us the details of the damage done to her vagina. Oh, and he’s also naked cos in the rain and exertion of carrying Alice indoors his underwear fell off.
Billy also gets revenge on Alice’s attackers - and again, this is gratuitously violent.
I understand Billy needed a redemption of sorts. But the details of the attack on Alice, and the frankly disgusting violation when she’s unconscious doesn’t add anything to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder