Rating: Summary: Exciting and scary Review: This, Desperation, is one of Stephen King's very very best books. Although, it does not quite Bag of Bones or The Dark Half as being my favourite Stephen King book. This book is one of the most "pageturning" (i do despise that term) of King's current catalogue. The plot is incredibnly exciting, and very fast paced, watched over by a "who will go/what will happen next", form of suspense. The characters are great, and very likeable. They are hauntingly human. they have human virtues and human faults, only serving to heightening the care that the reader feels for them all. This, as well as being a brilliant horror novel is also a book about God, and Good and Evil. As such it does carry theological messages and ponderings, and the inclusion of the religious element does serve to give it an even more "supernatural" feel. This is a superb, superb book. I could not turn those pages fast enough, and this huge book was finished within three of four days. Definitely one of King's best books in years. Guaranteed to be enjoyed by all his fans, and shoudl even create a few converts.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Incredible Review: I felt like picking up another Stephen King book since I can recall the horror of The Langoliers - which I read when i was merely 10 years old. After the first page I knew I would be hooked for the long run. I wasn't exactly enthralled with horror as I read the book, but more with suspense and wonder. I loved the idea of supernatural forces at war with eachother in a desolated mining town. When you enter the world of the very detailed characters you too have the fear of always knowing that the zombie is near and you are always vunerable. I suggest to anyone that hasn't picked up this book to do so and enjoy every page that is filled with the wonder and suspense that I so very enjoyed.
Rating: Summary: G vs E Review: Good versus evil. That is this book in a nutshell. The cast of good characters pitted against almost insurmountable odds. Against an evil presence that consumes and kills. Pretty standard for a Stephen King Novel. There are many references to the killings in this novel and many ways of death. Again, typical of King. One thing that was not typical of King was the power and presence of God. In this novel it is God's will that people survive and it is God's will that evil will lose. The suspense is engrossing from the first page to the last. You grow to feel for the characters and most of all you HATE the villain, the unformed entity TAK. Most horror novels have a villain that you can't get behind and loathe. There is no worry for that in this book, TAK is pure evil on paper and it is easy it hate it. Which makes the ending (which is a little predictable) more uplifting. All in all this is a fine read which failed to get 5 stars only because I have read a few too many horror novels and could see cliches littering the pages. Thanx for your time. T
Rating: Summary: Plain weird Review: The audio version of this book is out of print so I was glad when I stumbled upon a copy at my local library. The plot sounded good and I have enjoyed King's books before. Like most reviewers here I truly was hooked in the beginning. I thoght, Wow, a psycho cop in an abandoned town; imagine the possibilities. After however when the psycho turned out to be some kind of demon thing I thoght, okay, elements of the Evil dead; even better. Then the religious mumbo jumbo began combined with an 11 yearold brat which I kept hoping would buy the farm and my interest quickly faded. King has a knack for creating great beginnings and then disintergrating into complete nonsense. I could not stand the constant religious references and the David character got totally on my nerves. Waht was up with sucking on a candy bar wrapper anyway? The audio version is abridged; rare for this author's work. Reading the reviews though I see this was a 700 plus book. the audio was six tapes long; nine hhours in total. maybe that was why I simply had a hard time getting the ending. yes I finished it only because I hoped against hope it would become more better towards the end. King must have written this while having some religious experience or something. I found it at times a bit offensive in regards to all the homophobic statements. I simply don't see why he could not keep it at a horror level and dispense with the religious stuff. It wasn't after all like he was trying to rewrite the Exorcist. Kathy Bates does a pretty good job in narrating the story and the text is enhanced at times with scary music and the odd sound effect. In the end however I'm glad I did not buy it but picked it up at the library. I would not go as far to say don't read it but don't expect great things either.
Rating: Summary: One of his best books Review: I read this book in a few months, and was not able to put it down. It is terrifying and comical in some parts. The characters seem so real you could almost imagine meeting them on the street. On every page there is something going on. The book is a little complex so you really have to read each page word for word. I was kept entertained throughtout the entire book, and the ending had a nice twist. There were aspects of the book that made me a little squeamish, laugh, and even surprised me. I gave this book five stars because I enjoy reading Stephen King books and found this to be the most interesting that I have read so far. This book is a great one to read on a stormy night.
Rating: Summary: One of his greatest books! Review: I read this book within a few months, and I just couldn't put it down. Each page held a new clue to the mystery of Desperation. There was always something going on on each page. I enjoyed the fact that each character seemed real, as if they were someone you could meet on the street. This book was about a group of people who meet in the town of Desperation, Nevada. This town is deserted and no one knows why. This book is kind of complex if you don't read every page word for word. There is alot of information about the old mines, the townfolks, and the odd stones that have been found. All of these factors lead to the answer of what makes this town so special. The old mines are where the stones were first discovered years back. The stones turn people mean and dangerous, making them killing machines. This helps you understand what happened to all the townfolks. When the stones were found in the mines all the workers were infected with the terrifying "disease". They brought this back to town and everyone started to kill everyone else. The stones are the doorway to the real evil. He is an ancient demon that lives in the mines waiting for his day to rise and destroy the world. The people who end up in Desperation have to stop him before it is too late.
Rating: Summary: I recently tried to read this book..... Review: .....but, after about 10 chapters I remembered why I quit reading King's work (after Misery), and put it down. Unbearable silliness. You would think that a mature author whom has mastered the art of the horror novel would eventually allow his sense of humor to mature also, but Mr. King has one of the most juvenile senses of humor of any author, in any genre, and it appears to be trapped in a 9 to 12 year old age bracket with no signs of ever maturing. So silly and unfunny is his humor, that it destroys any horror, suspense, or drama that he masterly brings forth. I don't consider myself to have an intellectual funnybone, but jeez, I do know the difference between silly and funny, and my ability to detect between the two caused me to put the book down...with no intentions of ever picking it (or his future work) up again.
Rating: Summary: OK but have seen better from King Review: This movie deals with another good vs. evil plot, set in the remote town of Nevada with the same name. It starts out at a reasonable pace then drags in the last third. I'm an avid King fan and much of his work is variable. I would not recommend against buying this book. Just don't get your hopes up too high.
Rating: Summary: Genius...Almost... Review: This book starts out STRONG! From the beginning it grips you like a vise. The middle is very, very suspenseful, but I was dissatisfied with the explanation behind what was happening. Perhaps I have read too many King Novels and see the ending before it gets there. Too familiar with the writer. Maybe I just didn't like the ending. Honestly, I thought the book was EXCELLENT...until King EXPLAINED what the thing was. Once he did that, it seemed like the mystery was gone and I had no desire to continue on with the story...I did though. I love this man, he is a master.
Rating: Summary: Awful! Review: A pointless combination of gore, profanity and obsession with sex. Don't waste your time, let alone your money.
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