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Summary: A Heart in Maine
Review: Young, carefree children start King's latest and in my opinion best novel in their home town of Harwich struggling with the pressures every eleven year old faces. They eventually grow apart and like in so many King novels all face greater problems and the hardships that follow us all into adulthood. The content for me isn't overly important in this novel but never has a King novel touched me on so many different levels and never have I read a book where almost everything from childhood to college seemed so familiar to me and my own life. Not since I first read Christine have I ever read an entire novel in one sitting and that was over a decade ago. The monsters in this book aren't as big as usual, you won't find them hiding under the bed either. They are small demons in your face and by God do they have sharp teeth. They are real lifeKing has produced a masterpiece. Like the vulgar DeSoto found in the first story this book is alive.
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Summary: Engaging story!
Review: This book is actually 5 separate stories that meld into 1. The first story takes place in 1960 and centers around 11 year old Bobby Garfield and his friends. Stories 2 thru 4 tells the story of Bobby's friends (and 1 enemy) at different points of their respective lives and how the Vietnam War affected them. Story 5 brings Bobby back home. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was pleased and surprised by the storyline and how Stephen King managed to pull the main character out of the middle stories completely and focus on the supporting characters. A very original and engaging story! Note: Dark Tower fans will especially enjoy the first story.
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Summary: Great American Novelist Continues to Grow
Review: The opening piece, LOW MEN IN YELLOW COATS could (should?) stand alone as a single short novel. It reminded me of THE BODY (published forever ago in DIFFERENT SEASONS and incarnated as Rob Reiner's STAND BY ME in film). I've always held that King's greatest strength is character development. There's nothing more horrific than learning to know and love a character, then seeing something horrible happen to them. As King continues to grow and mature as a writer (an intriguing thought that his best work is yet to come, isn't it?) I think he's recognizing his strengths. The horror in this opening salvo is muted (though still creepily evident) but the character development of Bobby, his mother, and the old man, Ted, is King at his best. They all unfold as people we know and are. Bobby's mother may be despicable, but King lets us know her and understand her in the same way many of us came to know our own parents; this is a subtle literary feat which many might miss. The second and title story, HEARTS IN ATLANTIS, is "pretty good" but suffers from the overplay of everything about the 60's. King's honesty as a writer is overwhelmed by our own memories, understandings, and stereotypes of the 60's. I told my wife it's like Michael Jackson's music - it's brilliant but when you hear it a million times it loses its charm. He's done as good a job as anyone could, though. LOW MEN IN YELLOW COATS is the best because it takes place IN the 60's, but doesn't depend upon the era as a part of the story. The final works are worth reading, but don't stand up to the first two works, in my opinion. Perhaps if they had been published separately I wouldn't have to compare them to the other works in the collection. Summary: An uneven work (as much of King's collections are), but worth borrowing, buying, or stealing and reading as this is one of King's more accessible works for the non-King afficionado. Write more, Mr. King!
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Summary: Good Book!
Review: I liked, this book interesting eventhough I wasn't born in the 60's it's good, I read few of the stories there good and, some humor which I like this is good.
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Summary: disappointing
Review: Hearts in Atlantis was an effort for me to complete. I wqnted to put it away many times, but forced myself to stay with it. It did redeem itself somewhat, but I can't say i enjoyed it. King seemed to be reaching for something but was unable to find the right words. I have lived through this era, also, and I found his characters to be unbelievable and boring. I had a hard time trying to remember Pete's name (hearts in atlantis) I'm not really sure what King's message was in the book. It was plodding and overdone. king's writing has usually been entertaining and well paced. This was not the case in this try. His voice so strong that it is a distraction. In his effort to try for a depth in his writing he seems to have lost his way and wallows around in verbosity. I'm sorry I wasted my precious summer reading time on this one.
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Summary: oh great another "horror" story from King
Review: I fell asleep reading this. As i did with bag of Bones. I suppose when you've made a qaudzillion bucks you can get away with not dealing in horror anymore. oh wait - it is horror. Just a differnet kind of horror. Umm ok...I suppose I'll give it one star then for "horror" Hope he gets back to writing what made him rich in the frist place.
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Summary: young vs. old
Review: As I have now read over 300 reviews regarding King's "Hearts in Atlantis", I understand what these critiques are all about. If you are anywhere from 20 - 40 years old, you are probably not aware of the important events that shaped my life. The Viet Nam War and the importance of my college years were so special to me and my friends...especially those who had to go and fight. I felt such a camaderie with Stephen King as I read Hearts of Atlantis. Yes, he grew up during my era. The 60's are a decade that will live forever in my heart...my friends who died in Viet Nam, and those who survived. We played Bridge. Just let those young people out there know that there is a world that Stephen King remembers...A world that I remember...A world that remembers the Viet Nam War...Hearts in Atlantis remembers ALL of those. King also remembers all of my thoughts.
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Summary: One of King's finest, certainly his most honest
Review: One gets the sense that Stephen King is becoming more and more obsessed with honesty, and that Hearts in Atlantis, at least that novella of the same name within the collection, is intensely autobiographical fiction. Some say they are disappointed that King is no longer writing scary stories. Others say that they are glad he's finally writing real stories. I would say that he's writing both, and if you're not scared by the actions of some of the characters in Hearts in Atlantis, you should be, because those characters are every bit as human as you and I. Low Men in Yellow Coats is a coming-of-age story about Bobby Garfield. For the first time, Bobby has to make adult decisions, and like many of us, his decisions are made poorly and people suffer because of it. Saying more would give away the plot, but this is most likely the best of the stories in the collection. A close vote for best would be the novella from which the collection takes its name, Hearts in Atlantis. Tracking the downward spiral an entire dormitory floor takes in the late '60's at the University of Maine, King tells a story which so many college survivors can appreciate. But again, the main character comes of age through his first sexual partner and a chance to defy the powers that be. Blind Willie doesn't seem to fit, but it is a tale of greed and complete moral descent which may epitomize many of the people of King's generation, who sold out peace and love for BMW's and Armani suits. The madness to Willie's method, however, is an interesting look at his psychological state of mind. Why We're in Vietnam continues the melancholy, despairing theme established in Low Men in Yellow Coats. Sully-John, Bobby Garfield's friend from Harwich, is not a Chevy salesman attending the funeral of a fellow platoon member from Vietnam. His companion, however, haunts him all the way home. "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling" is King's wrap-up piece, in several ways. Bobby Garfield reappears, as do other characters from the collection. The sense of hope which still remains after all else is gone is a familiar theme for King fans, and King's brutal eloquence, honesty, and faith shine especially bright here. Friends and lovers always have a connection, according to King, even if the continent which birthed it has sunk below the sea.
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Summary: This is not typical Stephen King - or is it?
Review: In many of his previous books and stories, SK has shown a flair and instinct for recreating the ambiance of "growing up" or coming of age in the `60's. The difference here is that the "horror" at the centerpiece is not some made-up monsters but the specter of the Viet Nam conflict. These are cleverly interwoven novellas which share "carry-over" characters. One segment metaphors the "60's generation" as citizens of the since-sunken-and-gone-forever civilization of Atlantis. (These citizens also become engrossed in the card game of Hearts - hence the unifying title.) There is a memory tweaking trip about the advent and proliferation of the peace sign (sparrow track?) Where were you when you first saw it? One of my favourite King-isms in another segment: "Agent Orange - the gift that keeps on giving." (talking about the high incidence of lung & brain cancer, dental problems, etc., in Viet Nam veterans.) In the premier story in this book, King has a wise old character say that some books have a great story and some books have great writing. "read sometimes for the story, Bobby. Don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. Read sometimes for the words - the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers that won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book." Me thinkest that in this compilation, King writes both good story and good words, and that he dost sell himself short. It is a grand accomplishment. I read the book last winter and it "zinged" many dormant memories. This summer, I listened to the Unabridged audiocassette. The bonus with the Audio version is that both William Hurt (harking back to The Big Chill and some of my other favourite quotes about the 60's) and the author himself give excellent readings. On audio, there is also a 'free surprise bonus" at the end.
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Summary: Amazing these are real people to me
Review: Steven King has always been reliable to fill that gap on long flights or kill a slow weekend enjoyable, but never to be taken too seriously. Hearts of Alantis changed all that, as boy who grew up in Ausralia in the 60's (and yes it may come as a surprise to many Americans that we were in the Vietnam war too) I suddenly found myself reliving all those childhood loves and fears. More strangly after serving 23 years in the military and with its natural right wing leanings, I was surprised to find I understood and even supporting Carol and her peace protests. The men in their Low Coats was a interesting diversion..was this Bobbies child like view of a every day adult trauma or something magical..does it matter... For two days after I read this book I seemed to suffering depression until i realised that I was missing Carol like some composite of girlfriends and times past. If you remember your childhood just a little ..read this book.. And Mr King..thank you for such developed and real characters, I have been reading for 40 years and never have I fallen in love with a fictional character before.
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