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Summary: King's senility finds cure for Insomnia
Review: Oh dear... Stephen King has presumably given up, after reading nearly all of his previous books, and marvelling at his imagination and just having been totally impressed by his wonderful books - I'll be the first to NOT run out and buy his next tome. The first story "Low Men in Yellow Coats" really whet my appetite, with references to his series "The Dark Tower". It was a genuinely interesting tale, and left me feeling the rest of the book would be worth reading. However... I only read the rest of the book in the mis-guided belief that there was a point to all the rest of the dross. Alas no, while I'll concede the title story looked like it may have been going somewhere - by Kings standards it completely failed - this was unlike any of his other books - which all seemed to have a plot and a significant ending. I got the impression the whole purpose of this story was to arrange for a group of children to carry a friend in need - which was similar to an event in the first story. It just didn't need 144 pages, and an obsesison with a card game to tell it. I dont really know what the end was all about - I'd lost all interest by then and had given up on reading a good ending. I thought The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon was bad enough, but PLEASE STOP RESTING ON YOUR LAURELS MR KING... I'm looking forward to the next edition of The Dark Tower, but worried King will churn out more mediocre drivel instead of putting any effort into something to rival his previous works of masterpiece. In summary to all King fans, buy this book to complete your collection, and either dont bother reading it or only read the first story and keep your book in REALLY good condition.
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Summary: CHALK ANOTHER ONE UP FOR THE KING
Review: This book was very well done the references to the Dark Tower series was great. It did drag a little in the second story but over all i really thought this was one of his better books in quite a while
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Summary: One of King's best
Review: I'm an avid King reader, and eagerly await the next Dark Tower novel. So I appreciate the few Tower references thrown into Hearts in Atlantis. But this book is just so much more than a bridge between his other novels. To those who can't appreciate anything of King's if it doesn't have Roland or a some element of the supernatural in it, and judging by some of the reviews below that's quite a few, I truly feel sorry for you. I've always thought the best thing about King's novels was his characters, not what happens to them, and this is a powerful work about real characters and themes that I think all of us can relate to. I'm only 22 and still a college student myself, obviously with little knowledge of what the 60's were really like. But after finishing this incredible book (I read it straight through), all I could do for at least half an hour was lie in bed and contemplate the twists and turns that life (my life, maybe) may take. And to leave me truly thinking and deeply affected, as well as being a great read, well... I can't ask for anything more from any author.
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Summary: A Profoundly soul-satisfying experience.
Review: I just finished listening to the finest audio book I have ever experienced, "Hearts In Atlantis," by Stephen King, read by William Hurt and by King. Heartfelt appreciation to Producer-Director-Composer Eve Beglarian , and all concerned. (I put in close to 20 years in ADR, Eve, and know whereof I praise.) The reading, direction, music, editing and production work on this presentation are entirely worthy of the book, itself. I can think of no higher praise. The book is a masterpiece. A classic. One of the most rewarding literary experiences I have ever absorbed. And if one can afford the unabridged audio version, I recommend it as being worth infinitely more than said sticker price. I've read a lot of Stephen Kings work, and have enjoyed it, but this time the experience was so profound, King has risen, in my esteem, to the level of the Masters. How can I possibly let King know how affected I am by his work? Just let me say that I am every bit as stricken by "Atlantis" as King, himself, is by "Lord Of The Flies. Sincerely, Robert V. Barron
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Summary: Best Steven King novel so far...........
Review: Mr. King remembers what it's like thinking and feeling like a kid and how as grownups, we are still pretty much that same little kid. I liked how the characters connected between stories of youthful relationships, college life in the sixties, how music of that time impacted us, and with Vietnam War always in the background. I had quit reading Steven King, but for some reason I was inclined to read this one and very glad I did.
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Summary: Hearts is great, of course.
Review: Isn't it amazing how this man manages to turn out a masterpiece of contemporary American literature every six months or so? Hearts in Atlantis is great, so are they all. A note to all the arrogant academic imbiciles who seem obsessed with distinguishing the high, exalted SERIOUS LITERATURE from that low, popular genre trash; the books that are truly great are the ones people read. The obsessive nature of King's fan base is anagolous to that of Dickens. ALL of King's books (yes even the great, maligned automotive-Orestia, Christine) are not only good, but "serious". Hearts is no exception. As one who appreciates GOOD literature (I am not one of the snobs who claims that if it ain't Updike, it ain't good, nor am I one who drools over every bad bit of horror, fantasy, or sci-fi drek that comes along)I loved all the stories in this remarkable book, and was neither dismayed by the supernatural occurences in the first piece, nor the lack of any in the rest. (This is, by the by, not entirely true; there is a supernatural being waiting in the wings in the latter parts of the book, or am I the only one who noticed that the man who seduced Carol into the violent activist group bears the initials R.F.?)Hearts is great, but not because "King has finally written a SERIOUS book; Pet Semetary and IT are just as serious. The book is great because of King's power to write whatever he chooses well. Along with Salman Rushdie, Umberto Eco, Tom Robbins, and Kurt Vonnegut, he is one of the absolute masters of modern literature. Hearts in Atlantis is simply one more reason that Stephen King will be around centuries after the last of his "literary" detractors are turned to clay and stopping a hole to keep the wind away.
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Summary: So Real It's UnREAL
Review: Masterful. Stephen King at his absolute best. Perhaps this book will finally grant him the praise he deserves as one of the world's greatest writers. Hearts in Atlantis is an emotional tour through the soul of all human beings. It is an ABSOLUTE masterpiece. The canon will never reserve a place for King, yet he is without a doubt one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century...hopefully he will get his due credit while he is alive to hear it.
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Summary: Stephen King is the best!!!!!!
Review: "Hearts" was a good book!!!! "Low Men In...." was really good with Bobby, Carol, and Ted. The "Hearts" story was long and boring, but "Blind Willie" was great. "Why We're...." was another dragged out story, but all-in-all this was a good book!!!!!! Keep 'em coming, King!!!!!
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Summary: Lost for two days
Review: I spent two days reading the book and loved every hour of it. I'm not old enough to remember Vietnam but the stories gave a nice view of the era that I've not seen elsewhere. The compulsiveness of human nature is a frightening theme I'd like King to return to again and again. It allows one's imagination to run wild.
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Summary: HIS BEST YET, AS NEW FICTION GOES!
Review: I always eagerly await his new books, hardback and paperback, even when I have the hardback. In my opinion, the title story, Hearts in Atlantis is probably one of his most powerful works of fiction yet. Simply beautiful. I loved how he weaved the first story, The Low Men In Yellow Coats, into his Dark Tower series. This book makes me wished I have lived growing up in the sixties, rather than the eighties. And I think I finally learned how to play Hearts from this book, though I still don't like the game.
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