Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Billy Summers by Stephen King

2 reviews

imstephtacular's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Overall, I really enjoyed the story in this book. However, I was very put off by some problematic content (lots of fatphobic language, one particular scene of questionable choices around race). I wanted to like this book much more, but I could not ignore these instances. I liked the characters and the plotting overall, it’s just unfortunate that a lot of little moments built up and left a bad taste in my mouth and overshadowed the storytelling. I will say that I did like the ending of this one. King is hit or miss with endings and I thought this was handled well. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sheryl_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

  1. 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. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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?’. 
  4. 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)
  5. 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. 
  6. 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. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings