https://discord.com/invite/eTZuVZXycX https://www.facebook.com/Book.Reviews.by.Namsu https://www.instagram.com/namsu_corp https://www.pinterest.com/namsucorps https://www.reddit.com/r/Book_Reviews_by_Namsu https://alltop.com/my/Namsu https://twitter.com/NamsuCorp https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_pSnAi4ji3dx8HWMpHmYBQ

Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts

It Review

Stephen King, American, Coming Of Age, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf

It

Published: 15, September 1986
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Coming Of Age, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's "It" is a terrifying horror tale. It was his 22nd novel and 17th written under his own name. The narrative follows the exploits of seven children as they are frightened by an evil creature that uses its victims' anxieties to conceal itself as it hunts its prey. To entice its favorite prey of young children, "It" takes the shape of Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

These lines are actually written at the end of the review, but I'm including them here because I just want to say that I wrote a lot of stuff, but I still feel like I need to add more, but it won't be enough, and another reason is simple: I'm afraid to reveal anything that might spoil the book for new readers, and even if you've seen the movies, remember that you only saw a fraction of the actual masterpiece. So I'm telling you right now that the book is incredible in every way and that I wholeheartedly recommend it.

For a long time, I wanted to write "It" review, but something always stopped me, and I stopped after a few lines until now, either because of my hatred for this character or the nostalgia this book and the kids in it bring me. 

But, at long last, I'm writing it, and I'm not sure if it's about how Stephen King wrote it; it's turning out exactly like I anticipated it would, and it's all about nostalgic memories.

The novel is told mostly in third-person omniscient form, with storylines rotating between two times. It explores themes that would later become King's mainstays, including the power of memory, childhood trauma and its repeating echoes in adulthood, the malevolence lying under the bucolic façade of the American small town, and the triumph of good over evil through mutual trust and sacrifice.

According to King, he originally had the idea for the narrative in 1978 and began writing it in 1981. In 1985, he finished writing the book. 

He also said that the title character was initially intended to be a troll, similar to the one in the children's fable "Three Billy Goats Gruff," but one who lived in the local sewage system rather than simply the region beneath one bridge. 

He also intended the plot to tie together the tales of youngsters and the people they grow up to be.

In 1987, the novel won the British Fantasy Award, and it was also nominated for the Locus and World Fantasy Awards. 

It was named the best-selling hardcover fiction book in the United States by Publishers Weekly in 1986. 

It was turned into a two-part miniseries directed by Tommy Lee Wallace in 1990, as well as a film duology directed by Andy Muschietti, with It Chapter One premiering in September 2017 and It Chapter Two in September 2019.

The first moment in the movie "It 1990" that has resonated with me is when a little boy is attempting to get his ship in the rain and is killed by the monster. 

I used to despise "It" so much that I became incredibly protective of my younger brother, beating the heck out of anyone who even touched him or even thought about threatening him. 

Basically, Stephen King wrote this devil so well that I will never forget him and others who were beaten by me will never forget me too, thanks to Stephen King's writing. 

The gore and scare tactics in the movie were toned down from the novel, but I was still sad and angry at the same time, and I couldn't get over the kid's death.

I started with the movie and then moved on to the heavy-duty book. It may be a marathon for many readers to finish this book, but it was only a few hundred pages above thousand for me, and I loved it, not "It." 

So, yes, I must warn casual readers that reading and actually finishing this book is a huge commitment to oneself, but I am confident that if you can finish it, it will stay in your mind for a long time.

When I read this book as a kid or a youngster of the same age as the losers' club, I could identify with the kids but not with the older version of them, but when I read it as an adult, I could connect with both age groups, and I must warn adult readers who are going to read it for the first or second time, be prepared for the nostalgia and flood of memories of those young times and friends and family. 

These feelings can be really powerful, and I believe Stephen King understood exactly what he was doing when he wrote the book and detailed descriptions of those children's lives and activities. 

I have a suggestion for you on this topic: whenever you feel nostalgic, phone your old school buddies because if you never left on a poor note, you can still be friends and chat to family members who you know are good; believe me, you and these people will like it.

This book is just stunning. This novel provided me with more than simply entertainment. It gave me hope and encouraged me to be more hopeful about my life. 

Of course, the "horror" sequences are actually revolting and horrifying, and they might cause nightmares. 

The major topic of the book, however, is about the specific talents and capabilities that children have that adults do not, and how we need to repair or seal the split that divides the kid (whom every one of us once was) from the adult (that we have become). 

To defeat "It," the grownups must recollect their childhoods in order to "glue the present to the past" and rediscover who they once were. 

It is about memory and transformation, and what makes each of us a "person" despite our constant transformations... for each human who grows to adulthood is a shape-shifter, just as "It" is a shape-shifter, and part of our power comes from this, but also from our twin abilities to remember and to forget and obliterate who we once were.

There is a section where something happens that can divide the readers, and new readers will understand what I mean when they read it because some will be disgusted and may think that Stephen King needs to go and get himself mentally evaluated, but for me and many others, it was a very clever metaphor he added for the next stage of life and no coming back plus unity and the doors that only open and have passage to one way.

I attempted to hide a lot of information in the previous few lines and used very few words to explain that portion, so just come back and read the lines after you read that point of the book and you'll understand what I stated in a few words as a riddle or jumbled words.

Final Thoughts

The writing is brilliant because Stephen King utilizes meanings themselves to create tales, braided almost smoothly into shades of context and colors of insinuation and occasionally vivid, clear splashes of emotion that startle you. 

After all, that's how it works in real life. And in doing so, King manages to normalize seemingly improbable features such as "It's" supernatural nature and the link "It" has with the town of Derry and its citizens. 

This may have occurred. It's entirely possible. And it's that esoteric horror that King skillfully wields. The ramifications and the options are endless.

This novel would not be the same without the Derry Interludes at the conclusion of each section. 

In my perspective, the interludes are what made the novel so horrifying. They recount all of the historical tragedies that have occurred in Derry and have mostly gone unnoticed and forgotten. 

This is where you can truly witness the actual wicked nature that It puts upon this community. I could read a whole novel based only on the history of Derry, Maine. It's both fascinating and terrifying.

It's true that Stephen King can ramble on and on when he gets going, and some readers enjoy it, but I know some don't so be advised that this book has some of those portions.

A couple of things will happen if this is your first time reading a Stephen King book. Specifically... 

The term "journey" best characterizes this work. You have no clue what you're getting yourself into if you buy this novel because of a homicidal clown.

This novel will terrify you, and you will be astounded by author's attention to detail in character interactions.

This is a fantastic book that everyone should read at least once in their lives.


Synopsis

“Stephen King’s terrifying, classic #1 New York Times bestseller, “a landmark in American literature” (Chicago Sun-Times)—about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled on as teenagers…an evil without a name: It.

Welcome to Derry, Maine. It’s a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real.

They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But the promise they made twenty-eight years ago calls them reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city’s children. Now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that terrifying summer return as they prepare to once again battle the monster lurking in Derry’s sewers.

Readers of Stephen King know that Derry, Maine, is a place with a deep, dark hold on the author. It reappears in many of his books, including Bag of Bones, Hearts in Atlantis, and 11/22/63. But it all starts with It.

“Stephen King’s most mature work” (St. Petersburg Times), “It will overwhelm you…to be read in a well-lit room only” (Los Angeles Times).”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Andy Bean, Andy Muschietti, Annette O'Toole, Back And Forth, Barbara Muschietti, Bill Hader, Bill Skarsgård, Chosen Jacobs, Dan Lin, Dark Tower, David Katzenberg, Dennis Christopher, Derry Maine, Finn Wolfhard, Harry Anderson, Highly Recommend, Isaiah Mustafa, Jack Dylan Grazer, Jackson Robert Scott, Jaeden Lieberher, James Mcavoy, James Ransone, Javier Botet, Jay Ryan, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jess Weixler, Jessica Chastain, John Ritter, King At His Best, Losers Club, New Movie, Nicholas Hamilton, Olivia Hussey, Owen Teague, Richard Masur, Richard Thomas, Roy Lee, Seth Grahame-Smith, Sophia Lillis, Stephen Bogaert, Teach Grant, Tim Curry, Tim Reid, Tommy Lee Wallace, Town Of Derry, Warner Bros, Wyatt Oleff


Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

It (1990) (R)

It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

Needful Things (1993) (R)

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:

Desperation Review

Stephen King, Classic, Drama, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literary, Literature, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Desperation

Published: 24, September 1996
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Classic, Drama, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literary, Literature, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King wrote the horror-thriller Desperation. It was released at the same time as its mirror novel, The Regulators, which was also published under King's alias Richard Bachman. In 2006, it was also adapted into a TV film starring Ron Perlman, Tom Skerritt, and Steven Weber. The two novels depict parallel worlds in relation to one another, and the majority of the people in one novel's world also live in the other novel's reality, albeit under different circumstances.

A cross-country journey in 1991 inspired the author to write Desperation, during which he saw the little desert village of Ruth, Nevada, near U.S. 50. His initial assumption was that the town's residents were all dead. He then pondered who had killed them, and it occurred to him that it may have been the town's sheriff.

The author establishes the scene right away, and you, the reader, get to feel it. The powerlessness, the out-of-control paralysis that befalls these unfortunate people as they journey over Nevada's lonely, ancient stretch of roadway known simply as Interstate 50, or "the loneliest place on Earth."

Is it by chance that a chosen few become victims of the evil that masquerades as a savior in the shape of a cop? Do his victims have the destiny to meet in Desperation or do they have no choice?

Stephen King is a master at expressing how it feels to be so fragile and susceptible. In Desperation, he creates a one-of-a-kind thriller and page-turner that is sure to make you nervous!

Although the story reminds me a touch of Dean Koontz's "Phantoms," in which a wicked, age-old creature lurks beneath the ground, ready to wreak havoc and ruin on a little isolated village. 

But that's where the similarity ends; Stephen King has built and developed compelling and realistic characters who entice you to read the novel as much as the narrative. 

It's the sort of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to race through the pages to find out what happens next. I believe this is one of Stephen King's scarier books, ranking with It and Pet Cemetery.

I'm a huge admirer of Stephen King's and Dean Koontz's work, but it doesn't mean I think King isn't good. 

In fact, I'm sure he's written works that would make Dean Koontz jump out of his skin! This one has a good chance. And, like "Phantoms," this novel may make the reader uncomfortable and jittery for several days. 

So, if you're looking for anything to keep that nightlight on, read this book. However, this novel contains a lot of graphic violence, so if you're easily offended by blood and guts, you might want to skip it.

This novel was very appealing to me since it was set in such a remote location. I can fairly state that I can draw parallels between this and his other epic, The Stand, and I can understand why. 

In Desperation, a tiny group of characters must make a stand, although it is on a much smaller scale. Aside from that, The Stand's characters were all over the place. 

The wickedness shown in that book was enormous. I enjoyed how this really scary narrative took place in one specific location. 

When you read this, you nearly feel as lonely and miserable as the folks you're reading about, and unlike The Stand, you don't feel like the rest of the world is continuing on while the six people in Desperation, Nevada are stuck in hell.

David Carver, who is ten or eleven years old, is without a doubt the most interesting character in the entire novel. Because he'd gone through so much, I felt sympathy for him when I read about him.

Few linkages to Stephen King's universe may be discovered here, since he usually always leaves hints and doors for a connection between his works, such as Cynthia Smith, who first appeared in Rose Madder. 

Ellen Carver is shown reminiscing over a book called Misery in Paradise, which was authored by Stephen King's fictional character Paul Sheldon in his novel Misery. 

Tom, one of the main characters, mentions the Tommyknockers. And Tak features prominently in The Regulators as well.

The Low Men in Yellow Coats, who are weird animal-human hybrids, are referred to as can-toi in the Dark Tower series. The vampiric Sisters employ this language in the Dark Tower short story "The Little Sisters of Eluria." 

The context of the following few lines is basically what is printed on the back of the book, so I don't consider it a spoiler, but if you don't want to know the background of the narrative, go to Final Thoughts.

Desperation is a narrative about a group of individuals who are abducted while driving down Nevada's barren Highway 50 by Collie Entragian, the deputy of the fictitious mining town of Desperation. 

Entragian utilizes a variety of pretexts for the abductions, ranging from a narcotics arrest to "rescuing" a family from a nonexistent shooter. 

The hostages realize that Entragian has been possessed by an evil monster named Tak, who has influence over the surrounding desert fauna and must switch hosts to stay alive. 

They continue to struggle for their freedom, sanity, and lives before concluding that if they are to ever leave Desperation, they must imprison Tak where he came from.


Final Thoughts

This was a nerve-racking read! I didn't want it to finish, and I certainly didn't want it to be put down! A thrilling page-turner! Stephen King had a lot going on in this story, and I liked how it all came together. 

You're so engrossed in the plot that you can't stop reading to find out what happens next. Very well written!

If you're into religion, this book is obviously a religious experience of sorts for you, but if you're turned off by religion or just don't feel comfortable confronting your own views about God, you really shouldn't read it. 

But, away from the religious component, this was one of those readings that, at least for me, had me wondering how these bunch of very diverse individuals were going to escape the misery they were in. 

And I believe it is preferable to read it as a fantasy novel rather than delving deeply into religion and to simply have fun since that is what this book is all about.


Synopsis

“The terror is relentless” (Publishers Weekly) in Stephen King’s #1 national bestseller about a little mining town, Desperation, that many will enter on their way to somewhere else. But getting out is not easy as it would seem…

Located off a desolate stretch of Interstate 50, Desperation, Nevada, has few connections with the rest of the world. It is a place, though, where the seams between worlds are thin. And it is a place where several travelers are abducted by Collie Entragian, the maniacal police officer of Desperation. Entragian uses various ploys for the abductions, from an arrest for drug possession to “rescuing” a family from a nonexistent gunman. There’s something very wrong here, all right, and Entragian is only the surface of it.

The secrets embedded in Desperation’s landscape, and the evil that infects the town like some viral hot zone, are both awesome and terrifying. But as one of the travelers, young David Carver, seems to know—though it scares him nearly to death to realize it—so are the forces summoned to combat them. “Stephen King’s knack for turning the stray junk of pop culture into sick, darkly engrossing thrills has rarely been this much in evidence as in Desperation” (Salon).”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Annabeth Gish, Charles Durning, Collie Entragian, Dark Tower, Edge Of My Seat, Good And Evil, Henry Thomas, Highly Recommend, Johnny Marinville, Kelly Van Horn, King At His Best, Mick Garris, Mining Town, Page Turner, Ron Perlman, Steven Weber, Tom Skerritt, Town Of Desperation


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:

Misery Review

Stephen King, American, Classic, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Media Tie-In, Psychological, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller

Misery

Published: 8, June 1987
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classic, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Media Tie-In, Psychological, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's novel Misery is a psychological horror thriller. The title of the novel has two meanings: it is the name of the major heroine in Paul's book series, and Stephen King described such an emotional condition when writing the novel. The plot of the story revolves around the relationship of its two major characters, romance author Paul Sheldon and his insane admirer Annie Wilkes. When Paul is gravely injured in a vehicle accident, Annie transports him to her house, where he receives care and pain medicine. Paul understands he is a prisoner and is obliged to cater to his captor's desires.

Misery received the first Bram Stoker Award for Novel in 1987 and was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1988. 

The story parallels Stephen King's own life as well as the study of celebrity and fan relationships. 

The novel, which debuted at number four on the New York Times bestseller list in 1987, was turned into a film directed by Rob Reiner in 1990 and a theatrical play starring Laurie Metcalf and Bruce Willis in 2015.

In his memoirs, Stephen King described the origin of Misery, claiming that the vision of Annie Wilkes came to him in a dream. 

The novel was supposed to be published under the alias Richard Bachman, but Stephen King's identity was uncovered before the book was published.

I've noticed Stephen King has a habit of creating a lot of his fictionalized works based on personal experience, and Misery appears to follow the trend. 

On TV, I was watching a biography about his life and career as an author. It was said that frenzied followers of his had a habit of bursting into his house, even while his wife Tabitha was alone. 

This prompted him to construct a fence around his Maine property so that admirers would not overstep their bounds. This, I believe, is where he got the concept for this novel.

If you've watched the film starring James Caan and Kathy Bates, you'll be familiar with some of the horrors that Paul Sheldon suffers while being kept hostage at a remote site in Colorado following an almost deadly automobile accident. 

However, the novel and which is true more often than not provides far more than the film. In the film, Annie Wilkes conducts a procedure on Paul known as "hobbling." She takes a small piece of wood, a sledgehammer, and... Well, if you know what happens, don't say anything, and I won't ruin the surprise either. However, those who have seen the film will tell you that it is far worse than what is depicted on screen if you can imagine that. 

Stephen King is unrivaled when it comes to characterization and steadily building tension. As cruel as Annie Wilkes is, the author has a strange ability to make the reader sympathize with Paul's tormentor, albeit only slightly. Annie appears to be a real person, not just a cardboard cutout thrown on the page for our entertainment, so I suppose that's true. 

While reading the book, I could picture Kathy Bates' face and hear her voice, which added to my enjoyment. Kathy Bates also won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her outstanding performance in 1990. 

One of the things I like about Stephen King's writings is how complex and interconnected his fictional universe of inhabitants is, and you never know what reference will be thrown in at random that will make you smile, and in many cases laugh out loud, and in this book, I smiled at something that was said about an old hotel called the Overlook, which, if you are a Stephen King fan and have read all of his books, you will recognize as the Overlook from The Shining.

The author is at his finest in this work. Here's a horror and torture story that may be occurring right next door. Instead of clowns, vampires, and superheroes wreaking havoc on a tiny town, a crazed lady wreaks havoc on a man's body and psyche. 

It's violent, disturbing, and unsettling since there are no supernatural components that allow the reader to console oneself by repeating, "It's just a ghost story! Or it is supernatural! 

Annie Wilkes may be following your every move, waiting for you to slide on a sheet of ice in your driveway so she can scoop you up and nurse you back to health. 

I don't dislike Stephen King's more creature-feature novels; I enjoy them. But, in the end, humans disturb me more than ghosts and goblins, and Annie Wilkes is one monster of a person.

In terms of film vs. novel debates, I try to avoid them and embrace both pieces for what they are. In this situation, if you've watched the film a dozen times and believe there won't be any shocks in the novel, you'd be wrong. 

There are just enough variances to make the novel feel as fresh as seeing the film for the first time. You also get the added benefit of Katy Bates' insane face gazing up at you from the pages below.

To summarize my straightforward response to this discussion, I believe that novels are nearly always superior to film adaptations.

This film was not as faithful to the text as one may assume. There are a lot of things taken out of the film that were in the book, and the crazy woman is a lot meaner and a pure sadist in the novel, but it was still a fantastic film. 

Pick up this gem and give it a go if you want my recommendation. And I am confident that after reading this book, you will never drive under the influence of alcohol in a blizzard.


Final Thoughts

This is a Stephen King classic in every sense of the word. Hopefully, you haven't seen the movie, so Kathy Bates isn't playing in your head as you read this book...it unfolds in Stephen King's typical style, with his fully realized narrative structure that drives the reader to an awakening that shifts your point of view on, well, everything that you've known up to this point, before jumping straight to the climax that only he could create. 

If you haven't read it yet and haven't seen the movie, it's far preferable to start with the book and then see the movie, as it will truly blow your mind.

I was going to give 95 points because of some stuff written by Paul Sheldon in the book (in the book) on Annie Wilkes' "request" and how ridiculous it felt, but then I realized the genius of Stephen King behind those lines because those aren't lines from Stephen King or Paul Sheldon, they're actually a request from a crazed fan with a crazed mind, so I changed the points to 100%, and the same goes for recommendations.


Synopsis

“The #1 New York Times bestseller about a famous novelist held hostage in a remote location by his “number one fan.” One of “Stephen King’s best…genuinely scary” (USA TODAY).

Bestselling novelist Paul Sheldon thinks he’s finally free of Misery Chastain. In a controversial career move, he’s just killed off the popular protagonist of his beloved romance series in favor of expanding his creative horizons. But such a change doesn’t come without consequences. After a near-fatal car accident in rural Colorado leaves his body broken, Paul finds himself at the mercy of the terrifying rescuer who’s nursing him back to health—his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. Annie is very upset over what Paul did to Misery and demands that he find a way to bring her back by writing a new novel—his best yet, and one that’s all for her. After all, Paul has all the time in the world to do so as a prisoner in her isolated house...and Annie has some very persuasive and violent methods to get exactly what she wants...

“King at his best…a winner!” —The New York Times
“Unadulteratedly terrifying…frightening.” —Publishers Weekly
“Classic King…full of twists and turns and mounting suspense.” —The Boston Globe”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Andrew Scheinman, Annie Wilkes, Car Accident, Edge Of Your Seat, Ever Read, Fast Cars, Frances Sternhagen, Highly Recommend, James Caan, Jeffrey Stott, Kathy Bates, King At His Best, King Book, Misery Chastain, Number One Fan, Paul Sheldon, Richard Farnsworth, Rob Reiner, Steve Nicolaides


Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:

Mr. Mercedes Review

Stephen King, Action, American, Crime, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Murder, Mystery, Police Procedurals, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller

Mr. Mercedes

Published: 3, June 2014
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Action, American, Crime, Drama, Fiction, Hard-Boiled, Horror, Media Tie-In, Murder, Mystery, Police Procedurals, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller
Book 1 of 3: The Bill Hodges Trilogy

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's Mr. Mercedes is a detective thriller. This narrative was inspired by a true story of a lady who drove her automobile into a McDonald's restaurant. Stephen King refers to it as his first hardboiled detective novel, but after reading these words, you'll remember the other three hard-boiled novels he produced for Hard Case Crime (Colorado Kid, Joyland, and Later.)  But don't worry, those three novels aren't like this one and can't be termed true hardboiled detective novels, therefore yes, the author is accurate in claiming this to be the first hardboiled detective novel. 

It's the first of a trilogy, with Finders Keepers following in 2015, with the first draft completed around the same time as Mr. Mercedes, and End of Watch following in 2016. The novel received the 2015 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America, as well as the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery and Thriller.

If you haven't read The Outsider yet and want to learn more about some of the characters in that novel, this is the best place to start. Since Holly Gibney was introduced in the Bill Hodges trilogy, it's best to wait until you've finished this series before diving into The Outsider. 

If, on the other hand, you are not an obsessive reader and only read randomly or on occasion, it will not matter and you will be able to pass this trilogy, although you may become confused at times when the characters from this series begin to emerge in The Outsider. Unless you're a voracious reader, this isn't a significant deal.

Mr. Mercedes is essentially the story of a retired investigator who comes out of retirement to seek the one who escaped — The Mercedes Killer — after being provoked by the killer to attempt suicide.

The novel begins on a high note, with the Mercedes Killer driving a stolen Mercedes into a job fair, murdering several people, and injuring many more. 

Then we go to retired detective Bill Hodges, who is sitting in his living room considering gulping down a bullet when a letter arrives through the mail chute, a letter that basically urges him to go ahead and do it. That suggests the assailant has been keeping an eye on him.

Instead of driving Hodges insane, it energizes him, and before you know it, he's back on the case, although unofficially.

The story proceeds at a quick speed, at least for the first half of the book, and then I have to say, the author lost me, and I was inclined to put the book down. It was a true eye-roll moment for me when something that a lady does, since it can't really be called straightforward, and you just sit there in dumb astonishment, wondering, "Really, is this happening?"

After that, I lost interest in the book, which was my fault, but I had to remind myself that this is a Stephen King novel, and anything can happen at any time, with a hidden purpose. So I kept going, and... It never happened... 

I actually enjoyed it, and what I just said was intended for some readers who may not understand what Stephen King is doing when he writes. He actually shows us the reality of our lives with so many twists that people sometimes despise him because he is just showing us the mirror and we despise our reflection.

As a result, when the legendary Stephen King writes a novel, and now a trilogy, like this one, it takes some time and effort for his fans, particularly those who are accustomed to an otherwise dominant style and themes, to adapt to and comprehend this new form and design to his writing and appreciate the genius that he brings. 

I, for one, was astounded by the breadth of knowledge the author gathered and then flawlessly incorporated into this super duper thriller. 

This work, in my opinion, is on par with anything Connelly, James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver, or Lee Child has done and, as such, deserves the same level of real criticism and acclaim. 

Mr. Mercedes is a fantastic novel and a dramatic departure for the author, one that every fan should look forward to in the series' subsequent works. We see a creative talent at work here, with outstanding research, terrific writing, and completely convincing characters.

I usually avoid discussing movies or television shows because I am 90% disappointed when an adoption is ruined. I recently re-read Stephen King's Mr. Mercedes series. It was quite appealing to me. Then I saw the Peacock miniseries. 

I wish I could ask Stephen King why he allows these people to change so much of his work for TV and film adaptations. 

It irritates me greatly. The worst thing is that he not only permits them, but he is also one of the executive producers. 

It's not the first time this has happened to him and his books, but it's something that almost always happens to books and comics regardless of the author, with the exception of some amazing adaptations where it's the word for word from the book directly to the big screen or small screen and always turns out to be a hit. 

Other of his writings have been adapted for television or film, and it makes my blood boil to watch my favorite stories and characters transformed into something they were never meant to be.

Mr. Mercedes' greatest sections were either omitted or completely redone. Characters that weren't in the novels were added. Characters that have previously appeared in the novels were eliminated. "THAT didn't happen!" I said many times as I shook my head. Or "Just who the hell is that?" Jerome's character was not nearly as charming as he had been in the books.

Warning: There may be a lot of spoilers here that may ruin the shows and the novels for you. If you don't want to know anything that will make you lose interest in the show or the novels then jump to the Final Thoughts. 

I don't believe the program is horrible, and it is really a nice show using content from the novels, but I still wouldn't call it a Mr. Mercedes adoption.

Barbara did not attend a boy band concert, which I believe would have been a fantastic addition to the show. They assassinated Hodges' former colleague, Pete, who survived to see the end of the series. 

In the book, Holly was in her fifties, while in the TV show, she was 31. In the novels, Lou didn't kill Brady or go to trial. 

Brady was not found in a cabin in the woods in the dead of winter by Hodges, Holly, or Jerome. 

There were so many changes that I didn't think were for the best. Why bother naming the TV show "Mr. Mercedes," I kept thinking. The narrative contains so many twists and turns that you could just name it something else and ignore the books!


Final Thoughts

This novel also has portions in which the narrative shifts into the head of the murderer. For the most part, these are more unsettling than gruesome, particularly the killer's bond with his mother.

This really kicks in around halfway through, and you get a sequence of typical Stephen King characters: the friendly older man, the young man who grows connected to the older guy, the young character who is different or autistic or super powered, etc... The middle-aged lady who is drawn to the older, kindly man, etc... All of these characters are believable and lovable, thanks to the author's touch.

The second half picks up speed, and there are a few surprises that I won't reveal.

So, if you like Stephen King, you'll probably enjoy this book. If you're unfamiliar with him, don't stop reading after the first fifty pages, which are a touch talkative and seem like a draft, with lots of authorial references to other writers and societal themes.

I wish authors would stop writing cheap "mind of the killer" sections and flashbacks. They appear to be a low cost method of incorporating thrills and gore. Just my perspective, but when Stephen King does it, it becomes flawless.


Synopsis

“Now an AT&T Audience Original Series

WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL
#1 New York Times bestseller! In a high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands. “Mr. Mercedes is a rich, resonant, exceptionally readable accomplishment by a man who can write in whatever genre he chooses” (The Washington Post).

The stolen Mercedes emerges from the pre-dawn fog and plows through a crowd of men and women on line for a job fair in a distressed American city. Then the lone driver backs up, charges again, and speeds off, leaving eight dead and more wounded. The case goes unsolved and ex-cop Bill Hodges is out of hope when he gets a letter from a man who loved the feel of death under the Mercedes’s wheels…

Brady Hartsfield wants that rush again, but this time he’s going big, with an attack that would take down thousands—unless Hodges and two new unusual allies he picks up along the way can throw a wrench in Hartsfield’s diabolical plans. Stephen King takes off on a “nerve-shredding, pulse-pounding race against time” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) with this acclaimed #1 bestselling thriller.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Bad Guy, Bill Hodges, Breeda Wool, Brendan Gleeson, Cat And Mouse, David E. Kelley, Harry Treadaway, Highly Recommend, Holland Taylor, Jack Bender, Jharrel Jerome, Justine Lupe, Kelly Lynch, King Novel, Looking Forward, Marty Bowen, Mary-Louise Parker, Page Turner, Really Enjoyed, Retired Cop, Retired Detective, Robert Stanton, Scott Lawrence, Twists And Turns, Well Written, Wyck Godfrey


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:

Thinner Review

Stephen King, Richard Bachman, American, Classics, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Supernatural, Thriller

Thinner

Published: 19, November 1984
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classics, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Supernatural, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Thinner is a Stephen King horror thriller written under the pen name Richard Bachman. The plot revolves around lawyer Billy Halleck, who ends up killing a Romani lady crossing the street in a car accident but avoids legal punishment due to his connections. Billy Halleck, on the other hand, is cursed by the woman's father, who makes him lose weight uncontrollably. I'm freely revealing the plot because it's listed on the back of the book, so it's not a spoiler in my opinion, and the same goes for some of the things I mentioned under Final Thoughts at the conclusion of this review.

Following an annual medical inspection, Stephen King, who was overweight at the time of the novel's composition, conceived the novel's outline. 

Stephen King was at his most creative in the 1970s and 1980s. He was, without a question, the King of the literary world at the time. Thinner is from this epoch. That, of course, means that this novel is fantastic! 

I read it once before, and I just completed listening to the audio version. The narrative is just as compelling today as it was then. Wonderful characters, tremendous plot, great prowess, and a fantastic finish! I really suggest this book; whether you read it, listen to it or both!

While reading Thinner, I had a lot of fun and experienced a lot of different emotions. It's another of my all-time favorite Stephen King works, written under the pen name Richard Bachman. 

It stands among Misery, The Stand, The Shining, and The Running Man in my opinion. I mean, I had a great time. I purchased it in hardcover, then the Kindle edition, and then the audiobook. 

The ominous soundtrack played between chapters added to the unsettling effect of the audiobook. Unlike many audiobook soundtracks, it enhanced the story's atmosphere rather than detracting from it. 

I usually read or listen to many novels at once; alternating between them depending on my mood, but this was not the case with Thinner.

In my spare time, I read and listened to it all the way through, eventually staying up too late one night to finish it. All three times I've read or listened to it, it's been the same.

The plot appealed to me more than the plots of previous Stephen King works. He left a lot to the imagination, including the whole detail of what transpired the night of the disaster, which kept me guessing. 

I also didn't see the finale coming or guess it. With a less talented writer, I usually figure who the bad people are, who's going to get it, who's going to win or lose, and so on halfway through, if not a quarter of the way through, but not with Thinner.

I honestly wanted Billy Halleck to be in more pain than he already was. I was basically with Taduz Lemke, the father of the unlucky dead lady, and I thought the same thing in real life. 

Yes, it was the mistake of the lady who died, since she essentially rushed in front of the car. So it's a mistake on both sides, but still I didn't care for Billy Halleck. I'm not shocked by how I felt while reading the book since Stephen King's writing style is so fantastic, and he clearly wants the readers to despise Billy Halleck or be undecided about how to feel about him and the circumstance he was in.

The characters were among Stephen King's most memorable. Thinner is an outstanding illustration of his ability to create real individuals with true motivations, virtues, and weaknesses. 

Each character was believable in every way, from their habits to their conversation to their actions. In fact, I didn't feel like I was reading characters at all; instead, I felt like I was watching portrayals of real people doing real things.

The conclusion came as a shock. It wasn't a happy conclusion, but then again, they aren't often in real life. All of my friends and reading groups with whom I discussed the novel were enthusiastic. 

Some people experienced problems with this novel, and they were all unhappy with the finale. Okay, let's just say this narrative isn't for you if you want your books to have happy endings. 

I thought it was reasonable, though not pleasant. People are forced to live with the repercussions of their decisions but those decisions might have a negative impact on others.

Readers may have noticed that I didn’t talk about the movie adaptation of this novel, the reason is that I don’t recall the full movie except for some scenes because I watched it a long time ago and can’t pinpoint the difference between the movie and the novel, but one thing that I remember is that my cousins were on Billy’s side for some reason so maybe it was twisted into making him the hero. 

And what I remember is that the movie was almost as it was in the novel but some details are different in some parts except for the ending because the ending is the same and some details relating to the wife of Billy. 

One of the most stunning aspects of the film was the creepy makeup of Taduz Lemke, performed by Michael Constantine, which was almost precisely as I envisioned him while reading the novel.

I encourage readers to write comments and email me about the film so that I may edit this section of the review. I'll try to watch the movie again if I have the time, so I can fix the problem myself if necessary.

Thinner was an unexpected and really entertaining book for me, and one of Stephen King's best as Richard Bachman.


Final Thoughts

Stephen King has always astonished me with his fertile imagination; how does he come up with ideas like a rabid dog holding a family hostage, as in Cujo, or a haunted automobile, as in Christine?

With Thinner, the Stephen King's deranged imagination runs wild as he conjures up a scenario about what it would be like if an overweight guy was cursed with losing weight at an alarming pace and if he could discover a method to reverse the curse or whether he would waste away. This is the core of this work; it is not classically written, yet it is nevertheless a page-turner due to the well-conceived tale.

If you're a voracious reader like me, you might have found parallels between Thinner and Dark Melody of Madness, a short novel by Cornell Woolrich published in 1935. Woolrich's novel likewise has a guy condemned to die in agony — except this time it's a voodoo spell rather than a gypsy curse. But I wouldn't call it a knockoff.

As with all Stephen King works, this one moves quickly as we see Billy Halleck, a humdrum Connecticut lawyer, lose a lot of weight after his trial for hitting and killing a gypsy lady is completed. 

Halleck's sole explanation for the weight reduction is the acts of the gypsy lady's father, who caressed Halleck's face and muttered the phrase "thinner" in his ear as he went on at the end of the trial. 

When Billy's weight loss becomes worrying, he concludes that the curse is genuine and decides to face the gypsy and convince him to remove the curse...the ensuing chase and denouement become more of a psychological game than a physically gruesome narrative.

The conclusion is unexpected and "classic" Stephen King...as in much of the author's writing, the least expected consequence is the one that follows, leaving the reader surprised.

This is a fantastic summer light read for most fans of psychological thrillers. It's an easy book that passes by quickly.


Synopsis

“The “extraordinary” (Booklist) novel of a cursed man’s quest to find the source of his nightmare and to reverse it before he becomes…nothing at all. This #1 New York Times bestseller from Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, “pulsates with evil…[and] will have you on the edge of your seat” (Publishers Weekly).

“You can’t do anything… It’s gone too far. You understand, Halleck? Too…far.

Attorney Billy Halleck seriously enjoys living his life of upper-class excess. He’s got it all­—an expensive home in Connecticut, a loving family…and fifty extra pounds that his doctor repeatedly warns will be the death of him. Then, in a moment of carelessness, Halleck commits vehicular manslaughter when he strikes a jaywalking old woman crossing the street. But Halleck has some powerful local connections, and gets off with a slap on the wrist…much to the fury of the woman’s mysterious and ancient father, who exacts revenge with a single word: “Thinner.” Now a terrified Halleck finds the weight once so difficult to shed dropping effortlessly—and rapidly—by the week. Soon there will be nothing left of Billy Halleck…unless he can somehow locate the source of his living nightmare and reverse what’s happened to him before he utterly wastes away…”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Alarming Rate, Billy Halleck, Even Though, Gypsy Curse, Gypsy Woman, Highly Recommend, Joe Mantegna, King At His Best, Lucinda Jenney, Main Character, Old Gypsy, Pen Name, Robert John Burke, Tom Holland, Weight Loss, Word Thinner


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Follow This Blog