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yellowpurple500's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I went into this expecting to enjoy a story about a pandemic. Nothing prepared me for the emotional journey I was taken on. I love the cast of characters and how everyone gradually links together. I love how all of kings stories have a supernatural element and I enjoyed the "is this supernatural or are we just going insane".
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. It's not an easy read but it's so worth it.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
urnee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lilashelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
calypso_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
As usual, Stephen King has unprotected sex with racial slurs. Just something to be aware ofjoshkiba13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
People often say that King is a great character writer, and that rings true here. I don't know that I've read a book with so many main characters and perspectives, but I was never really confused. Larry, Frannie, Lloyd, Stu, Tom, Nick, Harold, Nadine, etc. were all so distinct and unique from each other, it was relatively simple to follow their stories and intentions, and to become invested in their doings.
I loooooved the premise and rising action of the story. Spoiler-free: A new superflu ravages society and kills nearly everyone in its path. Some people mysteriously survive without symptoms, and despite being separated by hundreds or thousands of miles, these characters all begin to have the same dreams and nightmares, pulling them to one place or the other. It was so intriguing and satisfying to watch them begin to move and meet.
King builds a lot of dramatic irony for the readers, since we know the doings of certain characters that other characters do not. At one time I had to put the book down and take a break because I was so anxious.
I'll say that the third act became a little dry and anti-climactic in a way, but not overall disappointing. Just maybe not what I expected. And the dark man wasn't quite as scary or powerful as he was built up to be in the rising action, but I am looking forward to seeing more of him in other King books :)
A pretty amazing story with great characters. M-O-O-N, that spells a pretty great book but not his best by any means.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror and Rape
Minor: Suicide and Trafficking
dflemmons's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Murder, and Pregnancy
zoinkie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mpcronin11's review against another edition
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
kirtreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book starts off so strong. I was gripped from the beginning and couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what happened to each of the characters. Everyone was interesting and dynamic. The book moves along at a nice pace until it doesn't. It comes to a screeching halt
Then, the story picks up again finally and there is movement again towards some kind of resolution.
There also are some frustratingly huge issues with the ending.
This book really highlights the best and worst of King.
- Pro: Characters are amazing and really fleshed out. You end up feeling connected to each of them and rooting for them
- Pro: It has a great premise and he has great world building at the beginning of the novel
- Con: The ending blows and falls flat
- Con: It is so long and needed some heavy editing. I know that people say that it "fleshes out the world" but you know what I didn't need?
Chapters of council meetings that had literally no hold on the plot.
If you are a die hard King fan and you want to complete all his works, then this book provides some really great highs and I recommend it for the great characters.
If you are not a huge King fan and are not sure if you are willing to put in the work, just stay away. The pay off is not worth it.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
nilescrane's review against another edition
2.0
Also theres a pun at the climax of this book that was so silly it really took me out of the experience. It was the audiobook listening format of looking into the camera like you're on the office.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation