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sarahrolinski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The first portion of this book is slow. It drags. Elements are not cohesive, and I found my eyes drooping at every mention of a Maine landscape. I trudged through to the early 200's pages, and only then did I find the excitment worth the vast commitment. Our main character, Jake Epping's, internal monologue rivals one of a juvenile, immature man. Phrases repeated throughout the book are spaced and written as though they are to be perceived as profound when they are lackluster. "Dancing is life," is a phrase mentioned time and time again. Tone is inconsistent, and King so earnestly wants to juxtapose diction so it may come across as witty when it just creates distrust with the reader. How can I trust the narrator who talks out the side of his mouth when he is speaking to the reader?
Additionally, the ending left me in a complete, total fit of rage. Though the implications of a changed world depended on a "the past is obdurate" notion, the society at the end of the book feels like a slap in the face to the hopeful American citizen.
Nevertheless, I read the entire book over the course of four days, sometimes not eating in order to read. I was overjoyed to share the narrative revelations to coworkers and family. I was enthralled, and it hurt to put the book down. I was obsessed. Never in my life have I read a book that forced me to fall in love with reading. Despite the Jake Epping flaws and the Mary Sue-ification of Miss Sadie Dunhill, I reckoned with the fact that the book gripped me and relentlessly satisfied a snobby reader such as myself.
If you wish to read this as a piece of high literature, move on to the next book on your shelf. But it was fun and inventive and possessed a tenacity to illustrate romance in way that literally transcends time. I would read it all over again (I will probably will) and hope others grip onto adventurous nature of 11.22.63.
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Cursing, Gun violence, Vomit, Excrement, and Gore
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicide
Minor: Animal death
ligiandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
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⚠️
Graphic: Racism, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gun violence, Gore, Racial slurs, Suicide, Death, Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Grief, Stalking, Alcoholism, and Cancer
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident, and Body shaming
calimie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Torture, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Racism, Domestic abuse, and Stalking
jourdanicus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I'm sure this is a good read for many out there, if you like a slower plot or you just wanna read anything and anything by Stephen King (there are definitely a LOT of King-isms, many I'm sure I didn't pick up on).
Oh yeah also I really could have done without the antiquated language regarding race. Too much of the context in which it was used was quite a stretch when it comes to justifying that kind of language in such a recent publication.
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Racism, and Car accident
cassandraxd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
frillyflutee's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Antisemitism and Racial slurs