Bag of Bones
Published: 21, October 2008
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literary, Literature, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Bag of Bones, Stephen King's horror thriller, was released in 1998. It follows a novelist who suffers from acute writer's block and delusions at an isolated lake cottage even four years after his wife's death. In 1999, it won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel, the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and the Locus Award for Best Dark Fantasy/Horror Novel.
The show adoption was not awful and felt similar to the tale in the book, but a lot of things were altered and many readers may be disappointed with this rendition, so watch the show as if you are seeing a movie inspired by this novel rather than expecting a word-for-word masterpiece like the book.
The audio version of Bag of Bones is notable in various ways. The audio edition, like other Stephen King works, is unabridged.
It's one of numerous works Stephen King has read personally for audio version publishing, including Hearts in Atlantis, Lunch at the Gotham Cafe, The Wind Through the Keyhole, and In the Deathroom.
Bits of music and a song performed by Sara Tidwell are interspersed with the narrative; this music and song were recorded particularly for the audio version of Bag of Bones. Finally, an interview with Stephen King is included in the audio edition of this book.
The book re-uses many basic plot elements from Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, which is directly referenced several times in the book's opening pages; however, the relationship of these elements, which include a wife who is dead as the book opens, her posthumous effect on future romance, a drowning, and a house haunted by the memories of previous inhabitants, to the plot and characters is significantly different.
The protagonist's internal battle and dreams made me wonder whether everything that is occurring to him is really some type of crazy illusion, the result of his mental breakdown that has been building up over the years since his wife's death.
It was enigmatic. It was pleasant. Also, the interaction between him, the small girl, and her mother were frequently uplifting.
His nocturnal longing. His irrationality. And his willingness to assist her in a lawsuit against her father-in-law, who essentially wants to take the girl away from her mother.
Two well-crafted tales ran parallel to one another, with occasional crossover from one to the other.
When comparing the author's early works to his later and most current novels, I see a noticeable contrast. His subsequent works are a tad milder and focused on the characters.
The phantom and monster impression remains powerful, but the newest volumes have a deeper, richer tale texture and substantially better character development.
I believe this has the effect of making fresh stories stick with you for a longer period of time. They create a deeper enduring bond with the reader that his earlier works did not.
Bag of Bones is an excellent illustration of the new King in comparison to the old. Duma Key is another outstanding example.
The idea that King has lost his capacity to weave a tale is, in my opinion, unjustified. He is, in fact, as excellent as ever, if not better.
Bag of Bones is highly recommended. Great narrative with a vibrant plot delivered in first person.
Each of the various characters has an intriguing role to play in the plot. Suspense, fear, and romance dominate the seven hundred-plus pages.
I found myself sitting for extended periods of time reading the text, and I felt a twinge of frustration when I had to put the book down to do other things like eating and sleep.
That is excellent praise from a reader, and when you can't stop reading or feel frustrated when you have to stop reading, the book is a success in my opinion.
Don't worry, the book is eerie. It's a pretty bleak narrative. If you came here hoping to be scared out of your wits by King's reputation, I believe you will be amply rewarded.
In some portions of the story, the author is incredibly long-winded, and they tend to be the darkest and most eerie.
You will not be disappointed. This novel, in my opinion, belongs in the same category as the author's other works, which include 11/22/63, The Shining, The Dead Zone, Salem's Lot, Misery, Dolores Claiborne, Lisey's Story, and many others.
Bag of Bones is a lengthy book, yet it never seems overly long, even though there are sections that should have been trimmed.
The world King portrays here is incredibly real, and his characters became real to me as well. I had a fantastic time reading this book, as I feel with all of his works.
There is so much I want to say about this book, but I don't want to reveal any of the surprises for those who haven't read it.
All I can say is that if you want a truly terrific narrative with a fantastic cast of characters, this is the book for you.
Just watch the show after you finish the book, but don't be disappointed if you find a change. It was extremely simple to become engrossed in this novel, and it was quite difficult to pull myself away from it.
I slept less in the evenings when I read this before going to bed. I just couldn't put the book down, and it took practically falling asleep in it for me to do so.
Final Thoughts
This novel appears to represent the beginning of Stephen King's metamorphosis from a horror writer to something greater. I'm sure this book was written to appeal to a more traditional audience. I believe it was intended to entice those who had never read a Stephen King book before.
I adored this book yet again! It can give you shivers when reading it, so avoid watching the program before reading the book to avoid ruining the experience.
This was not a horror novel in the same way as Christine was, but it was creepy throughout. If you are alone and hear a sound nearby, you may feel shivers go up to your spine and goosebumps start on your wrists and spread up your arms, and even your neck hair may rise and tingle.
While Bag of Bones is definitely scary in parts, it probably doesn't qualify as a true horror for many readers and true horror fans like me, but it is quite good, and what it does for the new reader is it excites them about the knowledge that King has written a plethora of other books, which are now looking rather appealing.
Synopsis
“Set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King, a powerful tale of grief, of love's enduring bonds, and the haunting secrets of the past.
Set in the Maine territory King has made mythic, Bag of Bones recounts the plight of forty-year-old bestselling novelist Mike Noonan, who is unable to stop grieving following the sudden death of his wife Jo, and who can no longer bear to face the blank screen of his computer.
Now his nights are plagued by vivid nightmares, all set at the Maine summerhouse he calls Sara Laughs. Despite these dreams, or perhaps because of them, Mike returns to the lakeside getaway. There he finds his beloved Yankee town held in the grip of a powerful millionaire, Max Devore, who will do anything to take his three-year-old granddaughter away from her widowed young mother. As Mike is drawn into their struggle, as he falls in love with both mother and child, he is also drawn into the mystery of Sara Laughs, now the site of ghostly visitations, ever-escalating nightmares, and the sudden recovery of his writing ability. What are the forces that have been unleashed here—and what do they want of Mike Noonan?
First published in 1998, Bag of Bones was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. It was lauded at its publication as “hands down, Stephen King’s most narratively subversive fiction” (Entertainment Weekly) and his “most ambitious novel” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Character Development, Dark Tower, Green Mile, Highly Recommend, King At His Best, Max Devore, Mick Garris, Mike Noonan, Pierce Brosnan, Sara Laughs, Sara Tidwell, Summer Home, Wife Dies
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 95/100 Yes.
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