Hearts in Atlantis: New Fiction

Rating:
Summary: how the children we were became the adults we are
Review: "Hearts in Atlantis" contains some of the best writing of Stephen King's career. In five stories of varying length, King traces the path from childhood through adolescence to adulthood and (inevitably) death. He mourns and celebrates his own lost generation -- tracing the missed opportunities, the squandered promise, but also finding the redemption still possible at the end of the road. A heartbreakingly beautiful book.

Rating:
Summary: A different approach
Review: It took me a while to get into it, but once you start seeing the Dark Tower references, then the real essence comes through. Mr. King is telling a story about people who are not listened to enough. I think the book has to be thought about and really digested to enjoy it, it is one that you can read over and over and get something new each time. Also we DT fans now have more info on the Dark Tower.

Rating:
Summary: A surreal experience
Review: Firstly there are better SK books than this. Books that are scarier and perhaps more interesting, however few leave you pondering life the way this one does. It takes you on a surreal journey that brings you down to become part of the characters. It was about 3 months ago that I finished reading this book and it still leaves me asking questions and thinking about the characters. Its not a story (or stories)that is easily forgoten. While not being a war novel, it directly and indirectly explores the effects of war on individuals, and it does this from a number of different angles with related characters. It is a great story which is superbly written, had it been any shorter I think it would have lost something.

Rating:
Summary: Loved his storytelling
Review: Have been reading Stephen King since I was a child, and have gone from hating some of his books to absolute adoration for the story telling ability of this genius. I quickly tire of the gorey overly bloody details of some of his earlier tales, yet I truely enjoy a tale that wraps around and around and ends where I least expect. (that in itself is very difficult to do) The Stand is my favorite all time novel, yet I did not enjoy the Tommyknockers at all. He weaves a tale of suspence and ties it into stories from other books. I love being surprised by this author.

Rating:
Summary: Hearts of Atlantis
Review: Another "wordy" King book. The first part was ok but nothing else happens that would warrant all these pages/words. The stories are related, but big deal, they go nowhwere. I wonder at how King can come up with excellent stories (Shawshank, Misery, Needful Things, The Stand to name a few) and then come out with wordy go nowwhere stories. I've started to check him out of the library before I invest...not something I use to do with King.

Rating:
Summary: Stephen K. at his Best!
Review: This was a very easy read.Even though I read it more than 4 months ago, I can remember every page. You really get to know the characters and bond with them. This is great for a vacation or a few nights of bad weather. Get it, Read it, Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Really Disappointing!
Review: I was a great Stephen King fan but my interest in him dwindled rapidly over the years. After receiving two copies of this book for Christmas, I decided to give him a second (third, fourth, fifth...) chance in the hope that Mr. King had regained his old writing skills. Unfortunately this book confirmed for me has not. I really advise any newcomers to Stephen King to read his early works like Carrie, Different Seasons, Pet Sematary, Night Shift, The Stand, etc. Anything else will only prove to be a disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Aftertaste
Review: Its a personal book. Low men is probably the best story, but it was the title story that really hit me. I'm an Indian, born after the vietnam war and all the things that may make this book significant to US readers, but the title story struck so close to home, the obsession that sweeps through a dorm and leaves a trail of damage, the scholarships at stake, the game that was always going to be the last game, it really took me back, though its been nearly seven years since i left college- so much so that I kept thinking about my college days a week after I finished the book. Any book that can keep me thinking about it for a week afterward, I think, deserves 5 stars. The other stories are good, with probably the exception of "Heavenly Shades of Night are Falling", but thats probably because it was more of an epilogue than a story.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: This collection of stories is one of King's best works. The first story "Low Men in Yellow Coats" is prime King, featuring a story that plays into the "Dark Tower" mythology. This story was probably the most exciting and action-packed. I liked it alot. The second story "Hearts in Atlantis" was my favorite though. There's nothing supernatural or unusual in this story. It's basically about college kids obsessed with the card game, Hearts. There's a bit more to it then that though. I thought this story was just incredibly well written and interesting. The third story I found to be enjoyable but somewhat odd and maybe a bit too short. The last 2 stories are mostly just there to bring everything to a closing. The middle 2 stories serve as a bridge between the first story and the last 2. The last 2 bring us back to the characters we started out with but all grown up. It's kinda sad. This is a summertime book, I think. It feels that way. It's about youth gone by and vietnam and nostalgia. I loved it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: This collection of stories is one King's best works. The first story "Low Men in Yellow Coats" is prime King, featuring a story that plays into the "Dark Tower" mythology. This story was probably the most exciting and action-packed. I liked it alot. The second story "Hearts in Atlantis" was my favorite though. There's nothing supernatural or unusual in this story. It's basically about college kids obsessed with the card game, Hearts. There's a bit more to it then that though. I thought this story was just incredibly well written and interesting. The third story I found to be enjoyable but somewhat odd and maybe a bit too short. The last 2 stories are mostly just there to bring everything to a closing. The middle 2 stories serve as a bridge between the first story and the last 2. The last 2 bring us back to the characters we started out with but all grown up. It's kinda sad. This is a summertime book, I think. It feels that way. It's about youth gone by and vietnam and nostalgia. I loved it.