Rating: 
Summary: Impressed... Very impressed!
Review: Although I must admit, I haven't read the other stories yet, and I stress YET, I was very impressed by the Langoliers! Man, what a cool book! I loved the whole idea of a group of strangers thrown into an adventure they have no control over! And just what are the Langoliers... woah! They were so cool! For those of you who didn't know, there is a movie by the same name! If you enjoyed the book as much as I, then you'll love the movie. Its a very good adaption!
Rating:
Summary: an underestimated brilliant book
Review: Truely excellent and Stephen King's best collection of short storys. The langoliers started slowly and I first thought it would be another dead wife guilty thing like bag of bones but that soon trailed off and it really got going. I'm glad also not to see Nick Hopewell as a stereotypical snob or a stereotypical wimp. Though Dinar saved them all, kind of) I couldn't help myself getting a little bit irritated with her. Close second. Secret window, secret garden was actually my favourite. In so many films/books you see characters wrestling against their mind and saying stuff like "but I know that's true" So I was interested to see the character actually go insane and become the character he created through his guilty past and his anger about his ex-wife's boyfriend and the scene where he realises it was amazing. The library police had a very disturbing and controversiable scene which I'm sure readers are well aware of. But I think this shows that Stephen King will write it and won't avoid dodgey subjects like that which some writers will. I also thought the posters of simple simon were quite frightening even if I couldn't see them. A pretty good book and readers of needful things will want to read it just to make the ending that little extra better. Third. The Sun Dog was fair and it was fortunate it had the brilliant character of Pop Merril (shame Ace couldn't've made an appereance, oh well) to fall back on and the Castle Rock setting otherwise the good idea wouldn't've been enough for some people even if it was the shortest. The worst, but still good That's it. Thanks for reading this review and enjoy the book
Rating:
Summary: Another great short story book.
Review: This book kept me glued to each page. Story after story. Truly a well written, entertaining book.
Rating: 
Summary: interesting stories
Review: I liked all the stories, some more than others. The Langoliers - This was definitely my favorite story out of them all. It was interesting and different from the other things that I've read. Sometimes the characters got a little boring though. I think the ending seemed a bit rushed so it was a let down from the rest of the story. You should read this if you're on the plane or if you're planning to fly soon... it'd make you think again. Secret Window, Secret Garden - At first I found this story quite boring and simple, but then it turned out to be much more. My favorite part of this story was the ending because it was just completely unexpected. It was a nice twist. The Library Policeman - I think that this story just progressed too slowly. Many parts seemed to drag on forever. The Sun Dog - Like "The Library Policeman", this story progressed too slowly. Some parts of it were interesting, but there were a lot of parts that I just wanted to skip! The ending was a disappointment as well What I like about all the stories is the detail that Stephen King often includes. While reading certain parts, you can see the whole scene happening in front of you in slow motion because of the detail.
Rating:
Summary: Older Stephen King
Review: I have had this book on my bookshelf for quite awhile now - not usually being a fan of shortstories - I had received it as a gift and never read it. Yet, when I started I was completely mystified (as I always am by King) and couldn't put it down. I agree with an earlier reviewer that said that 'Secret Window, Secret Garden' gave him or her the 'Bag of Bones' feel. I felt similarity also with 'The Langoliers' and the first short story in 'Hearts in Atlantis'. I love the subtitle things used on every chapters beginning...I wish he had used them in all the stories. This was much better reading in my opinion than 'Nightmares and Dreamscapes' and 'Different Seasons'. Maybe this writing came from a transitional period in Kings life....all the stories had the same sort of 'feel' to them which is a good thing for me. There was a continuity that kept me wanting to see how the next story was going to be similar somehow. If you are reading this review to see if you should read the book - you should if you are part of Stephen King's Constant Reader-ship. You wont be disapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Three Great, One Mediocre
Review: I LOVED "Secret Window, Secret Garden", it was reminiscent of "Bag of Bones". The story is extremely suspenseful, poetic, and intelligent. "Library Policeman" is similiar to "It" and a short story in "nightmares and dreamscapes" about a teacher and "changed" children. "The Sun Dog" is great because of its connection to the Castle Rock tales and a must if you liked "The Dark Half", "Needful Things", and "Cujo", many characters from these stories turn up. I was surprised to find that I HATED "the langoliers", like a Rod McKuen poem, this story reeked of false sentiment. It was corny and unbelievable. King isn't always really original, I can say that and still be a huge King fan, but in this story he doesn't even put his usual great twist and special magic to a tired premise. After I finished the story, I felt let down and wanted to know who exactly the Langoliers were! The only likeable character was the bad guy, Mr. Craig Toomy. The others were just caricatures. I especially disliked the use of Dinah the "little blind girl" blechhhhh. But the other 3 stories make up for this stumble.
Rating:
Summary: Past midnight, King is at his best
Review: The shorter Stephen King keeps his stories, the better they often are. "Four Past Midnight" is very effective because he doesn't have room for unnecessary flourishes and simply sticks to the story. The first of the four stories, "The Langoliers," is one of his most imaginative and all time best. The other three stories are also quite good. Frankly, King would be an even better writer if he told all of his stories with the economy of words that he gives the tales in "Four Past Midnight."
Rating:
Summary: Uncanny Psychological Thriller
Review: These four tales took seven years to get my attention, but once I started, I did not want to stop. All four stories are written well, with developed characters and gripping plot lines. Secret Window, Secret Garden was exceptional! There is no other word to describe the tension King manages to build in this novella-it is nothing short of spectacular. I had difficulty concentrating on my job during the two days it took me to finish this story. The extent of the mental anguish suffered by the main character created a genuine feeling of stress for me. The Library Police was not far behind. The story contains an awesome power to suspend the reader's belief. The creature/Librarian was vaguely reminiscent of the creature from "It" in the sense that it played on the worst fears of the Sam. The similarities were easy to ignore as the reader gets lost in the plight of the characters. At this stage of Stephen King's career, one cannot help noticing the shift in Mr. King's attentions. He seems to have gotten away from the blood-and-guts style of horror and has opted to get inside the reader's head. I find the change refreshing and challenging at the same time. I began reading Stephen King when I was in seventh grade, and I have not looked back. I have argued with many a friend over the difference of today's writing versus yesterday's writing. Whereas his older work was accessible to anyone with a middle school education, his newer work requires the reader to pay attention and even use a little brainpower. I guess that doesn't set well with everyone. Many have remarked that King has stepped over some imaginary line into perversion. Perhaps Mr. King is merely treading a little to closely to reality. Children are raped every day, and Mr. King has taken that horror and made it more tangible. Personally, I have enjoyed being witness to the evolution of King. The Sun Dog was above average, and very entertaining. I had read "Needful Things" before "Four Past Midnight," and getting to know Pop Merrill was fun. The nature of Pop was exquisitely sinister. I was not especially fond of The Langoliers. While it moved along at a good clip and was certainly suspenseful, I didn't find it nearly as riveting as the other stories. I suppose others like it so much because it is closer to King of the past. All in all these are four beautifully crafted stories, told brilliantly and thoroughly enjoyable to read.
Rating:
Summary: Why does everybody hate "Secret Window, Secret Garden?"
Review: I don't understand why so many readers hated "Secret Window, Secret Garden." Let me say first of all that all four of these are great stories; as far as I'm concerned, there isn't a loser in the bunch. However, while I would say that the best of the four is indeed "The Langoliers," in my opinion the weakest tale in the book is "The Sun Dog," and that only because it is just a bit dragged out compared to the others. "The Library Policeman" is wonderfully creepy, and "Secret Window, Secret Garden" a harrowing look inside a disturbed mind. Four more prizes from the King!
Rating:
Summary: An instant #1
Review: I have not personaly read this book, but my brother did and he says he would rate it a number one and I go with what he says.
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