Bag of Bones

Rating:
Summary: Fire the editor
Review: Bag of Bones is an engrossing yarn, and I agree with other reviewers that it is probably the best King written recently - but it is way too long. I found myself just flipping through a lot of pages - particularly the extremely tedious "dream sequences". The story itself is likeable enough, even though I have some reservations about the Mattie and Kyra characters. Mattie is modern day Cinderella living in a TR - pictureperfect and without any flaws. And Kyra... well. So perfect and glowing I had to read the sections with her with my sunglasses on. But 700+ pages!!! I wish King had written Bag of Bones on exactly the IBM Typewriter with the Courier typeface Noonan uses in the novel - never would it have become this lengthy. Compare this 700 page tome with his earlier work (Salem 430, Carrie 245, Shining 460, Misery 350) and it becomes clear that this story has just too much stuffing. What are editors payed for these days anyway? And why does Steven King thank his editor (the natural enemy of any author) on the first page? Probably for doing nothing.

Rating:
Summary: ONLY KING CAN MAKE A CLOCK SCARY
Review: Just when I thought he forgot about ghosts and spiritual entities, he reads my mind and delivers a legend of folk-lore..Everytime I consider waiting for paper-back, the hard-covers become a Have-To-Have...I can't wait for him to go on a tour..Please at least visit St.Loius..

Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down!
Review: I bought the book before we went on vacation and was glad I did. I Pretty much read non-stop for two days until I finished late the second night. Definitely kept my interest and kept me on the edge of my seat. I was actually sad that I finished the book. Stephen King is bright and witty and it comes through in his work. Great job!

Rating:
Summary: His best work yet!!
Review: I have to admit that it was a little tough to get into. But when I did, I was absolutely hooked. It took me no time at all to finish this wonderful piece of literature. I feel that King has gone to a new level with this particular drama. I just wish he would write a follow up on Kyra and Mike.

Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: I really liked this book but I feel that he just wrote the story and character of Sara the ghost so well, that you felt her pain, and I thought that he was a bit hard on her - it's like Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice", the character is so justified in his/her anger and you just have to side with the underdog.

Rating:
Summary: Stephen King In The Literary World
Review: I suppose I am the last person on this earth who has never read a Stephen King novel until Bag of Bones but...I just finished last night so take me off that list. My thoughts as a first time King reader who usually spends his time on the likes of Faulkner, DeLillo and Ross MacDonald. King is amusing, slick and, with this novel (perhaps because of the writer being the main character)gets a chance to toss out all the publishing word and writing references (and music loves as well) while he paints this picuture of horror and multi-generational layers of revenge. King wants to make the step to being considered a 'serious' writer and I think Bag of Bones is a step in that direction but full of flaws. It drags, it's filled with filler and the ending is kind of up in the air. But having said that, it WAS a cool book, it held my attention, I loved the little 'side trips' into narative rambling, and if this is Stephen King's (sort of) real life persona, then it would be great have a beer with him someday. The tip of the hat to Ray Bradbury was a nice touch too, but I think trying to toss soooo many literary touchs was a bit much at times. While this is my first King novel, it won't be my last.

Rating:
Summary: You Spook Me Out!
Review: I don't like reading your books because I get back to my normal self after a month of frieked out and scared to death with nightmares and illusions to add.How do you think up these stories?I don't like horror movies or books but I read a lot.But my sister loves horror(and you)so she has a lot of your books lying around the house.Reading is my hobby so when I have nothing to read I see"'Salem's Lot"by Stephen King(even typing it makes me shiver)I read it.Now I am bored sick and my sister has "Bag Of Bones"and I'm torn between reading it and scaring myself or leaving it alone and being bored.I know I'll read it in the end anyway.Thankyou for scaring me to death(but you are a goodwriter anyway)

Rating:
Summary: A perfectly self-contained little masterpiece
Review: It's nice to see Stephen King finally taking himself seriously and moving away from a cast of sceptical characters, disbelieving everything about the supernatural situations they end up in, right up until the end when they either go crazy, get killed, or save the day and have it wiped from their minds. How nice he's finally moved away from trying to over-analyse every event in the novel, inquesting each occurrance to death. How nice. This book is a good read. King finally does a hauntingly romantic tale about a haunted house. True, the beginning made me a bit suspicious about what was going to happen, but as soon as Michael, the book's narrator, gets out to Sara Laughs, the mystery really begins. Don't read any reviews about this book which are likely to tell you what happens. If you get stuck into it with an open mind, you'll be really surprised, and delighted, too, probably. And scared. "Bag of Bones" will leave you haunted forever. But in a nice way, of course. (CAUTION: do not read this novel if you do not want to know something that happens at the end of King's other supernatural adventure "Insomnia"!)

Rating:
Summary: I'm a harsh critic and I loved this book.
Review: Bag of Bones drew me in from page one. I simply could not put it down. The main character in this book is realistic and the plot is believable. This is NOT a book to be read when you are home alone at night!!!

Rating:
Summary: A True Roller Coaster
Review: This story resembles the classic roller coaster ride. It starts out slow making the reader wonder if it is worth the effort. It then pulls us gradually upward keeping us guessing when the thrill is going to happen. As soon as we are at the top we realize we are in for a ride. Quickly we plummet through twists and turns, enjoying every minute of it until we come to a satisfactory conclusion. My only criticism is that it takes a long time to get to the top.