Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as I expected...
Review: Being one of the most famous books S. King has ever written, & since the back of my book said that this book was creepy enough to make S. King scared - I decided to give this book a try... Personally, I don't feel that the story was as scary as all that buildup promised. Also, logic doesn't seem to be the story's strong point: for example - if the force of the burial ground was THAT strong - why didn't it attract Judd to bury Norma there, while it was strong enough for the cat?
Rating: 
Summary: unlikely to provoke a thought
Review: I have no argument with the view that Stephen King is a master storyteller. But he has, either consciously or no, limited himself to being only that; he is content to simply tell stories without trying to imbue them with any depth or signifigance. His well chronicled shortcomings, overuse of pop product placements, weak endings to most of his books, etc., are annoying, but they are not fatal. The thing that keeps him from being considered a really first class writer is his general unwillingness to grapple with serious ideas in his fiction, or, when he does deal with them, to simply put his own gloss on classic concepts. Pet Sematary amply illustrates all of his strengths and weaknesses. Dr. Louis and Rachel Creed and their two children, Ellie (5 years old) and Gage (a year old), have just moved to Ludlow, ME. They live on a surprisingly busy road for such a rural setting, but there's a thriving local chemical company. Jud Crandall, an aged neighbor, befriends Louis and shares beers and local lore with him. Then when Ellie's cat, Church, is killed, Jud shares the darkest bit of local lore; the nearby "Pet Sematary" is actually capable of regenerating life. Louis hoping to avoid breaking Ellie's heart, decides to bring Church back to life, but the horrid smelling misshapen beast that comes back from the grave is pretty creepy. The rest of the story is pretty obvious--Louis will inevitably bring back a person, with catastrophic results for all. The reason that King sells a kajillion books is because he makes the whole thing grippingly creepy, striking just the right balance between the peacefulness and the mystery of his bucolic setting. Supposedly, King put the book aside several times while he was writing it because it was scaring even him. And it is truly scary at times. But overall the book will not stand even mild critical scrutiny. First, it is totally predictable--as soon as the secret power of the cemetery is revealed, you know exactly where the plot is headed (for the thickheaded, there's even the added element that Rachel Creed can not deal with the concept that those she loves will one day die). Second, perhaps he's his own worst enemy, but King makes the reborn cat so creepy, that I didn't buy someone trying to do the same for a loved one. The key to any good horror story is, of course, to keep the audience on your side so that they are willing to suspend their disbelief, but his grip starts to slip here and, after a reasonably good set up, the book sort of tails off to it's gory conclusion as even King seems to lose interest. But the most important weakness is that the whole thing seems derivative and devoid of fresh ideas. It reads like a grab bag of elements ranging from Frankenstein to The Monkey's Paw. The central premise of trying to return animation to dead flesh is so well trodden that unless you have some startlingly original twist to put on it, perhaps it is best left alone. Final Verdict: a perfectly acceptable airplane or beach book, but it's not likely to provoke any thought nor to linger long in your mind. GRADE: C+
Rating: 
Summary: Pet Sematary
Review: This book was interesting to read. It has some vrey dramatic turns throughout the book. The thing I didn't like about this book was the long periods of time that Stephen King spends talking about every little detail. It got really long and boring in some parts. For the most part I thought it was an excellent book. If you like horror books, Stephen King writes the best. I recommend this book to anyone who likes horror books. Stephen King is an excellent author.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite Possibly Mr. King's Darkest Work
Review: Pet Sematary is one of those must read novels, exploring the very depths of human nature. The terror is all too real (ask anyone who has kids what their worst fear is). King mixes real life tragedy with the supernatural so well in this book that upon finishing the novel you gasp for breath and then shudder, not with fear but with satisfaction. This is one damn fine novel, scary and just the right length. You'll find no filler here, just one hell of a Horror novel involving ghosts, indian burial grounds, the wendigo, and things best left as they are. Another strong aspect of this novel is the characterization. Probably some of the most memorable and loveable characters in any Stephen King novel. The Creed family is just right, all-American, semi-dysfunctional, with very real problems and emotions. Jud Crandall, the kindly next door neighbor is standout. His appearances aren't overbearing and his character moves the story along nicely. The characters are people we all know and people we'd all like to meet. The supernatural elements of this novel are great, the characters superb, and the story is moving and terrifying. Quite possibly Mr. King's darkest work, Pet Sematary is a novel not to be missed. The very definition of a page turner!
Rating:
Summary: A Very Scary Book
Review: This book about the Creeds adjusting to moving and finding out about the many legends of Pet Sematary which is near to their new house, is very well written. This is the first Stephen King book I have read, and I could hardly put it down. The scariest part of the book to me was when the little child, Gage, came back to life evil after being buried in the Pet Sematary. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, scary book to read.
Rating:
Summary: Stephen King at his Best!
Review: This is one of the most twisted, and bizzare books that I have ever read in my life. Dark and void of any happiness this book will leave you feeling like your intestines have been scrambled. Never have I read a book so dark as this one. For these reasons, I consider Pet Semetary to be one of the best books ever written. Sure, it's a bit cliched with the whole "Indian Burial Ground", but that doesn't take anything away from one of the best books of all time. If you are looking for something a little twisted, with the lack of a happy ending then buy Pet Semetary. Read this, and you might just want to leave the lights on when you go to bed.
Rating:
Summary: Not a book for young kids.
Review: Another far fetched story and I wouldn't bother seeing the movie because it really doesn't do this book justice. The book is very well written but I wouldn't want my children to read this mainly because of the little boy and his accident with the truck. It upset me so I don't think it's appropriate for kids.
Rating:
Summary: A first-rate case of the heebie-jeebies.
Review: It's novels like this that made Stephen King the premiere horror writer on the planet. This is horror on a small stage, in the relationships between a father and his son, a husband and wife. The story itself is a delicious expansion on the "monkey paw" campfire story. What if someone you loved very much died, and you found out you could have them back again? But what if what came back wasn't *quite* what you lost? Was, in fact, something else entirely wearing a body you know and love? King explores these questions and more with the meticulous attention to character and detail that is his hallmark. Because the characters are sympathetic, the scares are depth charges that detonate deep in the base of your spine. Horror, dread, and despair dance through your brain -- don't read this in the dark alone, as clichéd as that may sound. This book also features King's most unnerving ending, a scene that gave me nightmares when I first read the book and still gives me shivers 8 years later.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite King books.
Review: I've read this book three times in the past 10 years. I always remember the parts that stick out, but there's enough detail included in the pages that make each reading seem almost brand new. What can I say that hasn't been said already? The idea is original and actually quite believable, as most King's ideas are (this is what helps make his 70's & 80's books so good). The story moves along very quickly and bounces around from character to character so you can't stop reading or get bored with what's going on with one person. I also appreciate King's writing style and humor, that wasn't as prevalent in his earlier works like "Carrie". By this I mean all his quips about the "Ramones" and the gravedigging jokes that have been thrown in to keep the writing fresh. King also makes his characters seem very human. The way he described the Creed's family's grief about losing a child was realistic and made you truly understand why Louis would want to chance burying him in the Micmac ground. In short, there are a lot of horror writers out there but none come close to Stephen King's: original ideas, believable plots, human characters, and fast-paced story telling. This is one of his best books and one of my personal favorites of all time.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless
Review: I just finished re-reading Pet Sematary, which I first read 7 years ago. This novel may stand the test of time as one of the best horror stories, capitivating and frightening in the same breath. Death has plagued man for eternity, and given the chance, would you bring loved ones back from the beyond, knowing that their may be grave consequences? The power and haunting madness of Louis Creed in his hysterical conflict. The power and draw of a secret burial ground tied with the extreme grief of losing a child provide a frighening result. As King states, Death is unknown, and burial a mystery. This novel goes beyond the fictitious evils of other King worlds and deals with emotions that rip families apart, death. Beware of Oz the Gweat and Tewwible.
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