Rating: 
Summary: Haunting!!
Review: Mr. King still knows how to draw upon our hidden fears and bring them to life! All in all, a remarkable book. From page one I was riveted. As usual, S.K. still creates characters that are believable and interesting. This book ranks up there with Insomnia and The Dead Zone!!
Rating: 
Summary: HAUNTING...INTENSE...GREAT FANTASY READ!!
Review: This is one of the better King books. A real ghost story! I've not ready every King book, but up to this point Pet Semetary has been my favorite for scary page-turning enjoyment. This is a tie for favorite so far. More like these pleeezzz!
Rating:
Summary: Mr. King has a new fan!
Review: I don't know why, but I was particularly looking forward to this book, being Mr. King's first under his new back-loaded book contract, wherein he shares the "perils & profits" of the publisher. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Although I've read parts of a number of King books, this is the first one I've read cover-to-cover. The reason was Mr. King's ability to rein in his penchant for rambling, as well as a reluctance to head straight for "shock-gore" content. I thought this was one of the most elegant books King has written and elevates him out of the junk-food, "McDonald's of fiction writers" knock he has taken from his critics over the years. He suspended my belief to the point where the ghostly hijinks fit in reasonably with the plot and characters. I was definitely upset that he did away with one of my favorite characters, but the fact it disturbed me just meant he had succeeded in making the character real enough for me to care deeply about. I applaud the direction Mr. King's writing has taken, and I look forward eagerly to his next release.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing, boring, drivel
Review: This book is NOTHING like It or The Stand.A self-pitying widower (Insomnia) finds himself in a house with a violent past (The Shining). In the process of helping a typical damsel in distress, he runs afoul of a typical evil businessman, and mayhem ensues. Snore. Ironically enough, the protagonist is a has-been horror writer who butters his bread with worn-out plots involving worn-out characters. Talk about art imitating life...
Rating:
Summary: not his best but very entertaining.
Review: although I will have to admit that this was not one of his best. It still is KING all the way, I guess after Roland, captain tripps,and mrs. todd I have gotten spoiled on all the intense moments of pure terror. I miss that in his books and as for his mental condition well we are all in need of headshrinkers just look at the world. In KINGS case at least he has a vent for himself and through him we also have that mental release. Maybe we like to see Gage meet his maker or maybe we have to let a little of our own Gray Matter out every now and then.
Rating:
Summary: Classic King, less blood&guts horror--more humanity
Review: Stephen King may never be compared to James Joyce or Tolstoy, but, of all current authors except maybe Pat Conroy, he has the greatest love affair with the English language, and uses it to paint the most startlingly vivid portraits of life. The fact that these portraits display the qualities of a surreal world takes nothing away from their brilliance. Giving credence to the theory that the best writer is the one who writes of that which he knows best, King seems to speak with a special eloquence when his protagonist is a writer. In this case, the odd, but touching combination of grand tragedy and commonplace existence (the putting of one foot in front of the other, so to speak) engulfs the reader from the very first paragraph, and the growing sense of impending doom is all the more poignant for the contrast of brilliantly sketched moments of treasured innocence. The characters all seem fully-fleshed--not a stereotype in the bunch, and, as always, one feels that a quick glance through a nearby window would reveal that marvelous Maine landscape that is so vivid in one's mind. This is, most definitely, NOT happily-ever-after, but then, King never really is, is he? He always manages to leave those unanswered questions that prod the reader to fill in the blanks with as much imagination as possible. If I have a criticism of this novel, it is that, at occasional moments, the author almost seems to disparage his own craft, through the words of his character. I know--it's only fiction, but there is, nevertheless, a ring of truth in Mike's observations. Nevertheless, the final verdict is an overwhelming victory for King. Loftier than the bloody violence of CUJO and CHRISTINE, more intricate and involving than INSOMNIA and PET SEMATARY, as scary as SALEM'S LOT but subtler in tone. BAG OF BONES comes very close to his very best--as deft and gripping as THE STAND and THE SHINING, although not so sweeping, more intimate, more personal, and, just maybe, more meaningful to the human experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Like slogging through molasses
Review: The thing I like most about Stephen King's writing is his unerring ability to look at everyday things (events, people, circumstances, emotions) and help you see with unusual depth what we ordinarily ignore or hardly notice. I find myself wondering, "Wow! Why didn't I see that relationship before." And BAG OF BONES was full of these observations. However, reading this story was like slogging through molasses to get to the point. To paraphrase a line from the movie AMADEUS, I believe there were too many words. To finish the book I had to start skimming through whole sections of interminable text. Regretably, reading it was a long way to go for half a tank of gas. I had just read TROUBLE IN PARADISE by Robert Parker and the contrast was positively Scandinavian, like going from a sauna into an ice cold pool. Parker's writing is sparce compared to most writers and especially King's. Yet Parker too places an insightful search light on everyday things we ignore. I'll stick with Parker.
Rating:
Summary: Bag of Bones Almost Made Me Forget the Search For the Tower.
Review: After reading the first two chapters of Bag of Bones on the Internet, I knew I would not be disappointed by this book. I expected good...but not great. I got more than great: this book is excellent. The characters are real and deep, the story is spell-binding, and at times, the drama is so intense, you'll have to throw down the book just to remember where you are. I have heard it said that this book is not typical King. I would assume "typical King" would be gory details, numberous "boogeymen" in the shadows, and above all, something to make us shiver while reading. I would then also assume that examples of "typical King" books are Carrie, Cujo, Firestarter, and Desperation. This said, I really don't think The Dark Tower is "typical King," either. But, it's great. And so is THIS book. With that out of the way, maybe we can understand that what makes a "typical King" book is great and original writing. Bag of Bones is certainly no exception, and towers far above the rest in my opinion. Story aside, it is, hands down, King's most well-written book. As far as the story goes...well, saying it's unpredictable is like saying the Twilight Zone was sometimes ironic. There are some scenes in this book (one at a picnic in particular) that shocked me more than anything I've ever read. Bag of Bones finally shows something that I have felt has been lacking from King's novels: a method to the madness. King really flexes his writing muscle. Perhaps John Grisham could read this semi-law story and take notes. And lots of them. Fans of King have to like this book. Fans of great writing have to like this book. Just buy the thing.
Rating:
Summary: one of King's best
Review: Thank you Stephen King! It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a novel this much. It is not the usual horror that everyone has come to expect from Mr. King, instead it truly is a haunted love story. It seemed that SK had lost his touch, but this book is evidence that he is still alive and kicking. Once again, Thank You.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical Stephen King!
Review: I was a little leary when the cover read "a haunted love story" but fear not Stephen comes through again! As spooky as ever. Excellent characters and a great story that got me involved right away. This could bring him many new fans!
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