A review by colin_s
Pet Sematary by Stephen King

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.25

 Quote:

“And the most terrifying question of all may be just how much horror the human mind can stand and still maintain a wakeful, staring, unrelenting sanity.”

Setting:

Pet Semetary takes place in the small town of Ludlow Maine. We follow Louis around the town but the majority of the story takes place primarily at his house and the house of his neighbor Jud. This allows us to get very comfortable with the setting before things start to spiral out of control.

Plot:

The majority of the plot follows Louis with the trials that come with moving his family half way across the country for a new job to a house they haven't seen yet. They quickly form a friendship with their neighbors Jud and Norma. Several events then happen that challenge Louis and family in new and hard ways as the story progresses.

Writing:

This is my second Stephen King book and boy does he know how to write great characters and dialogue. You find yourself routing for people even when you aren't sure they are doing the right thing cause you can understand why they are doing it. 

Characters:

Our main character Louis is flawed, not deeply but enough for people to connect to him. All of the characters in this novel are in fact so that helps the story feel very grounded even when the more supernatural things start to take place.

Pros:

Realistic characters
Down to earth setting

Cons:

Very quick lean into supernatural
Very rushed ending

Recommendation:

I read this book at the wrong time as it's topic was really hard to hear. However the story kept me wanting to read more. I found myself finding an excuse to go a little longer, to get a little further. I will say however that I've heard that Stephen King can't write endings and I'm starting to see that as a pattern here. The majority of the book I'd give it a 5, however the ending brings it down a bit. 
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