Rating: Summary: A real novel Review: If you're looking for the usual potboiler horror story, look elsewhere. If you are obsessed with tales of fantasy and monsters, look elsewhere.But, if you're looking for a real BOOK, this is it. I've told my King loving wife and kids that SK would be forgotten in 50 years, but this time he's produced something that may last.
Rating: Summary: A must read for any die-hard King fan. Review: This is a collection of five Vietnam-haunted small-town New England stories that are woven together. The title seems to fit well, as King shows the reader the lost, time-sunken continent of Eisenhower era. King has a wonderful way of finding the simplest of phrases that invoke childhood memories in those of us who lived through this era.The first story is the spookiest. It is about 11 year old Bobby Garfield, who lives with his widowed and embittered mother. A boarder, Ted Brautigan, who lives on the third floor of Bobby's house, introduces him to the joys of great books life Lord of the Flies. But Ted is not what he seems. He is hunted by "Low Men in Yellow Jackets", who are right out of King's Dark Tower series. Ted can also read minds and turn into "other worlds." King makes his characters real by mixing the familiar with the make-believe. This is by far the creepiest of the five stories. The others: "Hearts in Atlantis", "Blind Willie", "Why We're in Vietnam" and "Heavenly Shades of Night are Falling" all tie into the lead story as Bobby returns to his boyhood home. A must read for any die-hard King fan. Different, but well worth the read.
Rating: Summary: I'm still in a hypnotic state. Review: This is a must read, even for non-Stephen King fans. Someone has already said it, but I'll say it again... No one scares like King, no one builds characters like King and in this book, if you have a soul and a heart you will be touched.
Rating: Summary: King's Viet Nam Review: O.K. we baby boomers eventually go back to the 60s and Viet Nam - but hey who could tell it better than King. I have read King's evolution from a shock doc. to a great writer, and in this one he finally breaks through and gets over. King, we don't need the shock any more, we lived it, just give us great characters and great writing. Loved it.
Rating: Summary: NO POINT TO IT Review: The first part should be a book on its own. It has little to do with the rest of the book. I'm disappointed--the book is just 5 stories "sort of" relating to each other.
Rating: Summary: This book can't decide what it wants to be. Review: I can't say I've always been a King fan. I tend to enjoy those that are shorter on horror and longer on character development and plot i.e The Green Mile or Shawshank Redemption. I hated his stuff like The Pet Semetary and Desperation. So, I picked up this book with great anticipation. Low Men in Yellow Coats is the best of the lot. Since I had not read the Dark Tower series, I must say that the references to the Dark Tower lost me. King does such a great job of capturing the real and imaginary worlds of children. The real horrors are not in ghosts but in real people like the pedophile in the park or the bullies. Hearts in Atlantis, although introducing us to what will be continuing characters, is far too long and very redundant. From there on, the book becomes just a jumble of who's connected and why, what happens to many of them and why, and then a lot of unanswered questions. Would somebody please tell me how the glove got from Blind Willie to Sully. And, what was that stuff with Jasper the Smurf cop and getting rid of him? Where did that go? I know this book was supposed to be about the 60's and the war's effect, but haven't we been there done that with the bloody jungle scenes (nice slap at The Deer Hunter). I read this on two overseas flights, and it kept my attention. But, if I'd have been at home, I don't know if I would have finished it.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful group of interrelated stories. Review: I have been a King fan for many years, and have enjoyed all his books. This one is no exception. I enjoyed the way he tied the Dark Tower into the first story. The other stories, while not having elements of horror like "Low Men" were well written and following the characters through the years was interesting. I hope to see Ted again in the Dark Tower series.
Rating: Summary: King's Best work! Review: OK. Maybe second best. The Stand will likely always be first in my heart. Not that anyone will read review number 96 anyway... This is simply an exceptional work. Each story stands on it's own, taken together, the sum is fantastic. Somewhere in the future, this will be required reading in a high school literature class. Much as 'Lord of the Flies' was in mine. You have written the 'Lord of the Flies' of the 60's Mr. King. Bravo.
Rating: Summary: Genuine gooseflesh crept up when I read the last pages Review: Bag Of Bones and Rose Madder made me believe in King again. Hearts of Atlantis is the book I am going to recommened to all the people who say King cannot write or lost his touch. Atlantis is about people, about life and love and lost souls. It is about growing up and looking back and making ammends. And yeah, it is also about the sixties.
Rating: Summary: The first 2 sections were great, but the rest.... Review: The first 2 sections of this book were very, very good. The story-lines & characters were very interesting and intriguing. But the final 3 sections really didn't do anything for me. I guess since King went to the trouble of intertwining the stories, I expected some sort of resolution or closure at the end, which never really came. IMO, King would've been better off making individual books out of the first 2 sections. IMO, some of King's early books were masterpieces, but in recent years, it seems like his books are just thrown together haphazardly, with not enough editing or fine-tuning.
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