Scan barcode
A review by jourdanicus
The Outsider by Stephen King
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Should have had my King bingo card ready for this one ๐
SK is a comfort author for me at this point. There were some parts of this book that would make it an immediate DNF if written by an author I'm less familiar with. The random Spanish words/phrases spoken by everyone else in the presence of the one Latino character? ๐คจ "Considerable bosoms" and mild fatphobia? ๐ค Plot and setting exposition blurted out by characters in phrasing that wouldn't make sense coming from someone of that demographic? ๐
And yet, I listened along anyway. This definitely wasn't one of my favorites, I think he could have better developed the premise. But the idea of a shapeshifting serial killer is pretty spooky, and I appreciated Holly's point towards the end that a supernatural explanation isn't any less plausible than whatever reason a human being might do something so horrible as to maim and kill a child. This did make me want to read more Holly content so I will likely be checking out the Bill Hodges trilogy next!
SK is a comfort author for me at this point. There were some parts of this book that would make it an immediate DNF if written by an author I'm less familiar with. The random Spanish words/phrases spoken by everyone else in the presence of the one Latino character? ๐คจ "Considerable bosoms" and mild fatphobia? ๐ค Plot and setting exposition blurted out by characters in phrasing that wouldn't make sense coming from someone of that demographic? ๐
And yet, I listened along anyway. This definitely wasn't one of my favorites, I think he could have better developed the premise. But the idea of a shapeshifting serial killer is pretty spooky, and I appreciated Holly's point towards the end that a supernatural explanation isn't any less plausible than whatever reason a human being might do something so horrible as to maim and kill a child. This did make me want to read more Holly content so I will likely be checking out the Bill Hodges trilogy next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Fatphobia, Racism, and Alcohol