Tag Archives: stephen king

Nov25

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Regulators By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Regulators By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! After accidentally borrowing a book from the library I had read before, I was in a literature limbo. So, I decided to consult mine and Johnny’s own library for a new book. We have been really enjoying watching Welcome To Derry and I had Stephen King on the mind. From Johnny’s collection of his works, I chose The Regulators which was written as Richard Bachman. The kooky cover screamed out at me and I devoured the almost five hundred page book in three sittings. This will be a spoiler free setting, as always. Before we begin, however, a big fat trigger warning will be placed on The Regulators for highly disturbing content, suicide, and violence in all possible forms. Now, let’s get to it:

Poplar Street is the perfect slice of suburbia located near Columbus, Ohio. A place where neighbors barbecue, talk sports over their fences, and kids toss frisbees and footballs all summer long. It is a buzzing community and everyone is constantly out enjoying the weather and freedom of sweet summertime. Except for Audrey and her little nephew, Seth. The neighbors haven’t seen much of them since Audrey’s husband committed suicide and their house sits like a storm cloud on picturesque Poplar Street.

If the house looks uninviting from the outside, just imagine the state indoors. Audrey and her late husband took Seth in after his entire family was killed in a freak drive by shooting. Seth has autism and inside his secret world in his mind and body is the host to something terrible. A vampire named Tak. Tak called to Seth on a family road trip and the little boy answered back. Tak desires strength, to procreate, and shares a passion for everything Seth loves: Chocolate milk and Chef Boyardee and his favorite forms of entertainment. Old westerns like Bonanza and The Regulators as well as a cartoon called MotoKop 2200.

An evil unlike anything the world has ever known is living in her home. A home that is littered with trash, ant infestations, and rotting food. When Tak goes away, Seth is still the same sweet little boy that Audrey loves with all her heart. When Tak returns, he has the power to make people hurt themselves. To slap themselves silly, fall down the stairs, and even end their own life. Tak is growing stronger by the day no matter how hard Audrey and Seth try to block their minds to hinder him. The vampire feeds on pain and negativity and he needs more than what this poor aunt and nephew can provide. So, he takes matters to the streets.

In Tak’s world, anything goes. All he has to do is call on what is already in Seth’s imagination: Outlaws in a shootout and cartoon MotoKops saving the world from destruction. In this skewed reality, the residents of Poplar Street are dead center in a mishmash of Seth’s favorite things. Cowboys and cops wreak havoc on the once quiet neighborhood. Destroying homes, causing fires, and killing everyone that stands in their way. As Tak feeds on the dead, his power increases and he transforms the entire world around them. They are no longer on Poplar Street but a world where Tak reigns supreme. Will the survivors live another hour let alone another minute? Will Seth forever be doomed to be Tak’s host? Read The Regulators to find out!

WOW. What a whacky story right?! Totally and completely insane. And you know what? I loved it! The Regulators was so unlike anything I have ever read before or seen in a movie or show and I couldn’t stop turning the page to save my own life. In a way, Richard Bachman created a dream scenario – a child whose favorite shows have come to life. It’s a fantastical idea but the cause and cost are so horrific that the dream is a full fledged nightmare.

My heart absolutely shattered for Seth and Audrey during the entirety of my binge read. This family has already been through so much and now a vampire is added to the mix?! And all they could do was suffer on their own because who would believe a story like this? All the while, life on Poplar Street continued as normal as evil festered a few houses down. It just goes to show that you never know what is going on behind closed doors.

The Regulators was action packed and was a cross between vampire horror, sci-fi, and bang bang shoot em’ up westerns. Right off the jump, this book kicked it into overdrive. So much so, that it took a while to gather my bearings around the other residents of Poplar Street. As this book dealt with so many people, it was hard to get a grip on who was who and form any meaningful connections with them. For me, this didn’t happen until beyond halfway through for some of the key players. At times, it made comprehending everything a bit difficult because all of the insanity was happening to people whose names I barely remembered. However, chaos was exactly what Bachman wanted and The Regulators had it in spades!

Overall, I am going to rate The Regulators with an eight and a half out of ten stars. The story was excellent but I could have done without the countless character overload!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). As a huge horror movie gal, I am most interested in seeing the movie based on this book that recently came out. Of course, I had to read the book first! After reading through the sweet and cute as can be Chocolat series, I was very excited to delve back into my usual horror and suspense novels. I can’t think of a better place to start than with Stephen King – especially since spooky season is upon us! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this book for graphic violence, child abuse, sexual assault references, harm to animals, and disturbing content all involving children. If you’re up to it, let’s get to it:

The Long Walk is the nation’s favorite yearly pastime. It is a contest in which one hundred teenage boys simply walk under the watchful gaze of soldiers and the mysterious Major. The catch? You must maintain a pace of four or more miles per hour. Should you hit below four, you will receive a warning. There is no additional warning after the third one – you will be dead before you blink. One by one, the boys will be eliminated until there is one lone Walker to claim the prize: Fame and money beyond your wildest dreams and wishes granted. This is a contest that is not for the faint of heart and for boys who have nothing in their lives to lose.

Ray Garraty is our primary contestant and has a strong backing from his state of Maine. Did he enter The Long Walk for the glory, for repentance, or because he has a death wish? Who’s to say? But he is here and he is going to give it his best shot. Some boys compete in The Walk with a plan like to lone wolf it or frustrate other people into making mistakes. In Garraty’s case as with many others, they linked up in groups. Regardless of how you go about The Walk, there can only be one winner. There are no runner ups, no honorable mentions, and death is imminent for ninety-nine other competitors.

Despite these horrible circumstances, the boys trudge on. Armed with nothing but the clothes on their backs, a canteen of water, and food concentrates they must withstand whatever The Walk brings: Stormy weather, the delirium of no sleep, intense mental duress, and the pain that shoots through every inch of their bodies. Yet, they walk on. They walk until their death is the only option they desire. Only the strongest will survive. Will it be Garraty? Read The Long Walk to find out!

I have really mixed feelings about The Long Walk because it was written in a way that told us so much but also told us nothing. The Walk was, obviously, the focal point of this book and was the main character. It surpassed Garraty as the lead meaning that we knew next to nothing about the boys competing and everything about The Walk itself. This left little time to learn full back stories of the key handful of competitors and I wish that that was explored more. In a way, it was a mercy on King’s part. There were several teens that you wanted to see succeed and knowing more would have made their probable failure even more harrowing. The thing is, is that I’m nosey and still would have liked a bit of background information. On the other hand, it gives you the opportunity to draw your own conclusions.

Although I have some qualms with where the plot lacked, that is not to take away from the fact that is was expertly written, as always, by Mr. King/Bachman. He has a style that is undeniably his own and it continues to radiate. The way he describes horror is almost in a casual sense, then he surrounds the situation with joy wherever it can be found. A funny joke told by one of the boys, a competitor helping a fellow Walker to their feet, a rally by someone you thought was done for. In these moments of beauty, whatever painful situation that comes next hits even harder. There were sections in this book where it literally felt like I was being punched in the gut. Love or hate his books, there is no arguing in that they are a masterclass in pure horror.

Overall, I am going to rate The Long Walk with a six and a half out of ten stars. It wasn’t my favorite King/Bachman novel but it was still pretty good. I am looking forward to seeing the movie!

Have you read The Long Walk or seen the movie? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr7

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Crash By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Crash By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! My sister, mom, and I tend to read a lot of the same books and I love our little makeshift family book club. The most recent book my sister read was The Crash by Freida McFadden and she quite enjoyed it so I thought I would give it a try too. It was pretty good and I finished it in just two days. In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing my sister’s book club pick. The Crash also is a big fat trigger warning as it deals with infertility, sexual assault, violence, and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Tegan may be young, flat broke, and heavily pregnant but her luck is about to turn around big time. She might not remember the one night stand that resulted in her daughter’s conception but that’s okay too. The man who got her pregnant, Simon, is married, rich, and willing to pay a jaw dropping sum to keep Tegan quiet. Simon’s lawyer, Jackson, assists in all of the details of the contract and Tegan simply has to sign at the dotted line for more money than she can imagine when Simon and Jackson visit her tiny studio apartment. She’s ecstatic, until she smells Simon’s cologne and it helps her remember the night she had forgotten. It wasn’t consensual sex at all that got her pregnant.

After this memory resurfaces, Tegan refuses to take the hush money and decides to stay with her older brother for a few days. She picks up one last shift at the grocery store she works at before her trip, packs her meager belongings, and hits the road. There might be a heavy snowstorm coming but Tegan is confident she can beat it and arrive to her destination safely. After all, it’s barely snowing once she’s on the highway. As Tegan continues her journey, the light snowfall turns into a full fledged blizzard and her beat up car is struggling. At this point, she has no idea where she is, the snow and ice are devastating, and she ends up running into a tree.

The baby is okay from the crash but Tegan isn’t. Her ankle is completely shattered and she can’t get out of her car. She is convinced this is the end until a stranger in a pickup truck helps her. This man should be her savior but his huge build and looming presence scare her. She is in no position to wait for someone else, though, and agrees to his help. His name is Hank and he carries her into his truck and takes her back to his home in the woods that he shares with his wife Polly. The snow is piling high and there is no way she can get to the hospital until the next day.

Once Hank and Tegan arrive at his home, him and Polly decide the best place for their guest to stay is in the basement. Polly, a former nurse, took care of her sick mother and converted the space into a hospital room. Tegan doesn’t like this idea one bit but the living room couch she is laying on is uncomfortable and she reluctantly agrees to the hospital bed. The roads will be plowed tomorrow and she can go to the hospital so what’s one night? Or two? Or three? Tegan has something that Polly wants desperately and her stay will be extended until she gets it. What happens next? Read The Crash to find out!

As I ravenously read The Crash, I couldn’t help but to laugh because this book honestly felt like reading a reboot of Misery by Stephen King. Misery also just so happens to be one of my favorite Stephen King books. The similarities between both books was striking – the plots might have been slightly different but the circumstances were basically the exact same. I wouldn’t say it was a bad thing but it almost felt… lazy on Freida McFadden’s part. Countless scenarios in The Crash felt so “been there done that” or should I say “been there read that” because I most certainly have. I think Freida McFadden got the cliche of “steal from the best and make it your own” wrong because it was more like “steal from the best, change things ever so slightly, and make it your own” lol.

Despite The Crash being a LifeTime movie remake of Misery and the fact that I spot on predicted everything but one twist, there was still a lot I liked about it and this was primarily because of Tegan. I absolutely loved her as the leading lady and she was so easy to root for. Yes, The Crash was very predictable. However, that didn’t take the worry I felt for Tegan away but almost intensified it. I knew what was coming next and the only question was how she was going to get out of it. And, of course, Freida McFadden is an extremely gifted writer regardless of the deja vu plot. She kept The Crash at a one hundred mile per hour pace and it completely solidified the urgency of the situation and kept me turning the pages.

Overall, I am going to rate The Crash with a four out of ten stars. Was it worth the read if you have read Misery before? That’s up for you to decide, but I’m still glad that I gave it a shot!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? What are you currently reading? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan9

Lil Red’s Book Club: Joyland By Stephen King Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Joyland By Stephen King Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we are going to be discussing a super fun read by Stephen King called Joyland – without giving any spoilers away, of course. Set at the old fashioned amusement park, Joyland, in Heaven’s Bay, North Carolina, this book was completely charming. And, yes, I realize that Stephen King’s books don’t get described as that often but Joyland was such a far cry from his usual full fledged horror writing and I couldn’t put it down! Before we begin, I will be putting a trigger warning on Joyland for violence and murder. Now, let’s get to it:

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Summertime is approaching for twenty-one year old college student, Devin Jones, and he is in desperate need of a job. He is utterly heartbroken from his previous relationship, broke, and wants to be anywhere but cleaning up in the dining hall. On a whim, he decides to apply at Joyland as a general employee after seeing an ad in the classifieds. During his trip to the park in Heaven’s Bay, North Carolina for his interview, Devin decides that there are worse places to spend his summer and accepts the gig.

During his tour, Devin learns that Joyland is an old school amusement park with carny flare. There are a few big rides but the majority of attractions offered are for the entire family, making it an ideal summer destination. The games, rides, and vending stands are all ran by year round “carny from carny” folks, which is The Talk for a family of carnival workers. Don’t worry, you’ll get familiar with The Talk (Joyland’s secret lingo) soon enough! Joyland is in the business of selling fun but there is one ride that even the bravest employees don’t like to be around – the Horror House. A young woman, Linda Gray, was murdered on the ride and it is believed to be haunted. Oh yeah, and the murderer is still at large.

After a few short weeks, it’s time for Devin’s summertime job to begin and he enjoys it immensely. Kind employees like Lane, Fred, and Pop take him under their wings and show him the ropes about everything from operating rides to “wearing the fur”. AKA dressing up as the park’s mascot: Howie The Happy Hound. He has even managed to make a few friends, Tom and Erin, who live in the same boarding house as him and also work the park. Devin spends his days working hard and is eager to get a glimpse of the Horror House ghost and maybe even solve the mystery of her death.

As summer continues on, Devin becomes a staple in the lives of Annie and Mike Ross who live in a beautiful beach home that he walks by every day to and from work. Annie is a young mom and her son, Mike, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which confines them to their home. And, let’s just say that Annie makes it a bit easier for Devin to forget his ex girlfriend! In fact, Devin decides to stay on as a full time employee at Joyland – half for the Rosses and half for Linda Gray.

Thanks to some research from Erin, who is now back at school, her findings show a pattern of other young ladies killed in a similar fashion. Linda Gray’s killer has murdered several girls and Devin is nowhere closer to solving the crime. But, there’s something about the photos that Erin shows him that bothers him. The pictures of the killer at the park with Linda has a familiarity to them that he can’t put his finger on. Perhaps, the killer has been under everyone’s noses the entire time. Will Devin be able to bring the killer forward and put Linda Gray’s ghost to rest? Read Joyland to find out!

I seriously loved everything about Joyland and my only regret is that it wasn’t longer. After I read the last page, I told Johnny that I wished there was more or that a TV series was made about it. It was just so good and, honestly, really cute. And, once again, it feels weird to me to describe a Stephen King book as such! King’s writing made you feel like you were walking along the Joyland boardwalks with Devin and the carny Talk that the employees used further enhanced the old time park vibes. It was such a fun read that I wanted to take a ride on the Carolina Spin and Delirium Shaker myself!

While this book was based around solving a murder, it was really not as gruesome as you could imagine for a King book. It almost seemed like an afterthought to the story of Devin growing into an adult. It was exciting to read about the unsolved crime but it was even better to read about Devin’s sweet relationship with Mike and the other characters that made Heaven’s Bay special. I enjoyed how character rather than plot driven Joyland was and I wanted to be friends with all of the people who graced the pages.

I will say that the grand reveal was very easy to solve and that’s okay. I think anything too convoluted would have taken away from the overall simplicity of the story. I actually wouldn’t mind reading it again from the perspective of knowing who the killer is because certain parts immediately popped out at me and I’d like to find more. If you like to play detective like me, just keep in mind that everyone puts on a mask when they are in the business of selling fun.

I am going to award Joyland with the coveted ten out of ten stars. Stephen King might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I think that everyone will be able to find something that they like about this book. I highly recommend it and plan on reading it again in the future!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Dec2

Lil Red’s Book Club: Cell By Stephen King Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Cell By Stephen King Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! I have been on a huge Stephen King kick as of late and there was no better time than the present to reread one of my all time favorites – Cell. This is probably the sixth or seventh time that I have read this book and it truly never gets old. In fact, it has been several years since I have read it and some parts that I had somewhat forgotten left me SHOOK. As always, we will be discussing Cell with no spoilers and before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on this book for intense violence, disturbing content, and suicide. Now, let’s get to it:

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Clay Riddell is having a great day as he steps outside to a sunny Boston afternoon with his portfolio in hand. Actually, scratch that. He is having an excellent day because he just sold not one but two volumes of his graphic novel series, The Dark Wanderer. In his other hand he has bags of gifts for his wife, despite being separated at the time, and their beloved son, Johnny. Clay decides he could use a treat too and stops for an ice cream cone. Then, The Pulse begins.

In what feels like an eternity but is only a matter of minutes, the streets of Boston break out in extraordinary violence and the people committing the acts seem plain crazy. Havoc ensues with planes crashing, fires burning, and Duck Boats being driven into the streets. From Clay’s post at the ice cream truck, he notices that every single person going bonkers had just been using a cell phone. In his mind, Clay thanks his lucky stars that he refuses to own one and also knows that he needs to find shelter and fast.

As he tries to avoid the chaos from the murderous, frenzied phone-crazies, Clay runs into Tom. The two men seek sanctuary in Clay’s step above a fleabag hotel and watch from the windows as The Pulse continues. During this period, Clay and Tom also bring fifteen year old Alice who is being chased by a phone-crazy into the hotel. Little do they know that they will be forming a three person crew fighting against the end of the world.

Kind Tom, panicked Alice, and straight to the point Clay know that they need to make a move before Boston burns to the ground. As darkness falls and the streets clear of the crazies, they begin their trek to Vermont because Clay has bigger problems on his mind. His son owns a cell phone. But first, they decide to stop at Tom’s house for provisions. During their trip on foot, they notice that the phoners have all but disappeared at night and quickly become savvy that the day now belongs to them.

Once supplies are secured and weapons are acquired from Tom’s neighbor, they post up for the day in his home and begin to notice the flocking. Seemingly out of nowhere, the phoners begin to fill the streets and pack it like sardines in their strange, violent trance, always heading north. The crew can’t quite put their finger on it but the crazies are evolving somehow. For example, they are using items as a tool to open garden pumpkins to munch on. Clay, Tom, and Alice don’t like it one bit.

The weary wanderer’s nighttime travels bring them to Gaiten Academy where they link up with The Head and his very last pupil, Jordan. The relative safety of the academy seems to disappear before their very eyes when they learn that a massive flock of phoners have been sleeping on the soccer field. With nothing else to do but try, they develop a plan. They are going to destroy the flock. And they do – but not without repercussion.

In all of their dreams that night, they are visited by “The Raggedy Man” and are placed on pedestals while a crowd of phoners call them crazy. But not with their mouths – with their minds. Oh yes, they have telepathic powers and made it known by forcing The Head to kill himself. After burying The Head, the flock killers move onward with Jordan in tow and begin to notice spray painted signs on the street saying “KASHWAK = NO-FO”. And, it’s true. Kashwak is a dead zone.

Could the normies live peacefully there as the phoners rule the world? Will Clay find his son there? There’s only one way to find out. In their guts, they know it’s a bad idea to go to Kashwak and their dreams confirm it. It seems to be a conversion point where the remaining normies will be transformed to phone-crazies. However, they don’t have much of a choice when the telepathic force of the phoners continue to push them forward. Will any normies live to tell the tale? Read Cell to find out!

I don’t know what it is about Cell but it has never failed to blow my mind. This book is terrifying for the simple reason that almost every single person over the age of eight seems to have a cell phone nowadays. Stephen King targeted this item that no one really thinks about anymore and turned it into the ultimate weapon. This device that we always have in our pocket or purse could burn the world to the ground in King’s eyes and it’s so wild to read the story as it unfolds.

After reading this book countless times, the characters are so cherished by me and I love them all so much. They also showcase the humor that King incorporates into his books that I can’t get enough of. Wry Clay, sassy Tom, too cute Alice, and smart-alek Jordan all showcase different sides of King and the ragtag crew still manages to shine a bright light in so much darkness.

Feeling like I know each of these characters personally after reading their tale so many times only enhances the reading experience. The situation in Cell is crazy but reading it happen with the eyes of reading about old friends adds to the urgency and terror tenfold. Because of this, there were scenes that I was simply gutted by despite knowing what was going to happen in advance. In fact, I daresay it’s even better the seventh time around!

I am going to award Cell with the coveted ten out of ten star rating. This is hands down one of the best Stephen King books in my humble opinion and if you are a horror fan, I think you’ll like it just as much as me. If not, then you can definitely skip on Cell!

What is your favorite Stephen King book? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct24

Lil Red’s Book Club: Thinner By Stephen King Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Thinner By Stephen King Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, without giving any spoilers away, we will be discussing Thinner by Stephen King. There is never a bad time to read one of the kings of horror but it just hits differently during spooky season. I have been on a huge King kick as of late and have recently enjoyed Carrie and Fire-Starter. Thinner was a fun, quick read and before we get started, I will be placing a trigger warning on it for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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Billy Halleck is a family man who is living the good life. He has a beautiful wife, beloved daughter, expensive home, and a great job as a lawyer. From this standpoint, he is the picture of success. Then, you look at the man who is being discussed and find out that he is very overweight and cruising dangerously to the heart attack zone. Constant binge eating has brought Billy’s weight to roughly two hundred and fifty pounds. Sure, he might say he’s on a diet but the empty snack wrappers and soda cans tell a totally different story.

Billy’s success in his small Connecticut town is a double edged sword. On one hand, he is making lots of money. On the other, his ins with judges and police officers helped sweep a crime that Billy is culpable of under the rug. Due to a bout of distracted driving, Billy ran over a wanderer whose caravan was camped in town. Instead of serving jail time, Billy got a slap on the wrist and his life went back to normal… So normal that he almost forgot about the ringleader of the fortune tellers and performers. His nose was suffering from necrosis and he touched Billy gently and whispered “thinner” to win justice for the victim.

Soon, Billy began to lose weight despite eating more than ever before. At first, it was nothing major and his scale stayed comfortably in the 240s. Then, the weight loss became rapid and within a few short weeks he lost forty pounds. Trips to the doctor and multiple tests confirmed that nothing was “wrong” with Billy medically. But, then again, a curse doesn’t show up on a blood test.

As Billy continues to go from dangerously overweight to dangerously thin, other strange phenomena is happening to the people involved in Billy’s courtroom coverup. The judge has inexplicably began growing scales and the chief of police has sprouted oozing, weeping pimples all over his body. They, too, were cursed by the caravan leader.

Time is running out and Billy has lost well over one hundred pounds in two months. He knows he will not find a cure at a medical facility that his wife insists on him checking into. So, he begins a road trip along the Northeast coast to track the wanderers down and get his curse lifted. Will he find them before the emaciation and arrhythmia in his heart kills him first? Read Thinner to find out!

Like Carrie and Fire-Starter, I had a great time reading Thinner. Was it my favorite Stephen King book that I have ever read? No. But, like all King books, it was a campy and fun page turner. I have always enjoyed King’s books not just for the horror but because of the humor! Stephen King has such a dry, silly sense of humor and so many lines in Thinner made me and Johnny laugh out loud.

Thinner wasn’t as much of a jump scare read as it was plain disturbing. “The Incredible Shrinking Man”, as Billy calls himself, is such a simple yet terrifying punishment. Most chapters in the book were marked by Billy’s new weight and reading his deterioration into a gaunt, skeletal man almost made me happy to have some areas of my body with extra padding lol. 

While I liked the story line, I didn’t care as much for Billy as a main character as I have in other King books. He seemed to play the blame game for his situation a lot instead of taking full responsibility for running a woman over. And, although he didn’t serve time in jail like he should have, he let the whole issue slip his mind almost completely rather than feel any guilt for it. Not a good look!

I am going to rate Thinner with a seven out of ten stars. This is a perfect and fast paced read to get you into the Halloween spirit. Although it wasn’t as groundbreaking as other King books, I still recommend it!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Sep27

Lil Red’s Book Club: Fire-Starter By Stephen King Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Fire-Starter By Stephen King Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! I have been visiting my own personal library and after rereading Stephen King’s Carrie for the first time since freshman year of high school, I thought that I would give Fire-Starter a try. I have never read it before and it was AMAZING and such a fun reminder of King’s greatness. From start to finish, I was hooked and I can’t wait to watch the movie of it soon. Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Fire-Starter for gruesome violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it – without giving any spoilers away, of course!

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Young Andy McGee is strapped for cash in college and decides to take part in an experiment for a quick two hundred bucks. In this experiment, some students would be injected with a hallucinogenic drug and others would get a placebo. It sounded easy enough and eleven other students thought so too, including Vicky, whom Andy would eventually marry and have a little girl with.

During the experiment, strange and violent things happened but the facilitators claimed that it was just the effects of the drugs causing these visions. Still, Andy can remember vividly when a drugged student clawed his own eyes out and others were being encouraged to move items with their minds. Apparently, this drug was thought to awaken certain mental abilities like telekinesis, levitation, pyrokinesis, and mental domination.

Because of the deaths of two students during the experiment, it was immediately shut down and covered up. Fast forward to present day and Andy and Vicky are the only two remaining from the original group. The happy couple is perfectly ordinary aside from a few quirks. Vicky can occasionally open the refrigerator door from across the room. Meanwhile, Andy can use his mental domination to “push” people into anything from losing weight to having more self confidence. Their daughter, however, is a different story.

Little Charlie McGee has the power of pyrokinesis – the ability to make and control fires with her mind. You can imagine the scares she gave her parents when she was a baby! Despite their powers that they inherited for a measly two hundred in college, the McGees live a fulfilling and normal life. They also have no idea that they have been watched and followed since the experiment ended and that an allusive group called “The Shop” is very much interested in Andy and Charlie.

After Andy has a hunch of something bad happening at his work as a college professor, he rushes home to find his wife dead and Charlie missing. He learns that his daughter was taken from a friend’s home and time is of the essence before The Shop has her for forever. He uses his power of the push to locate her and they have been on the run from Charlie’s captors ever since.

The Shop believes that Andy and Charlie are incredibly dangerous and could also be very useful for their own personal gain. They will not stop hunting father and daughter until they have them locked up at their compound. And, once they have Andy and Charlie, there is no telling what will happen to them next. How long can the McGees evade The Shop’s clutches? What’s going to happen when they’re caught? Read Fire-Starter to find out!

I am so freaking obsessed with Fire-Starter and cannot believe that I haven’t read it before. From beginning to end, the tension in this book was so high because Andy and Charlie are so easy to root for. Andy is such a doting father and Charlie is just sweet as can be. However, it wouldn’t be a Stephen King book if they were on the run for forever. They had to get caught eventually but you didn’t know when and it made the book simply unputdownable.

Fire-Starter went back and forth from past and present and shifted narrators every couple of chapters. You all know how much I love that in a book so that was a huge plus. It was also interesting to know what Charlie and Andy were doing and what The Shop was planning to do about it in tandem. There were so many times when this read lulled me into a false sense of security and I would hope that The Shop would slip up. Then, something major would happen and it was heartbreaking. Trust and believe, my jaw dropped like five hundred times throughout the book!

Fire-Starter was such an easy, enjoyable read and it was a fresh take on what horror is because it’s not always things that go bump in the night. Sometimes, it’s people who are horrifying. Stephen King really embraced that in Fire-Starter and further solidifies him as King Of Horror in my mind. Like Carrie, I will be awarding Fire-Starter with the coveted ten out of ten stars and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a perfect spooky season read!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah!

 

Sep13

Lil Red’s Book Club: Carrie By Stephen King Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Carrie By Stephen King Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! With minimal time to go to the library, I have been pulling from mine and Johnny’s book nook for something to read. After finishing In Cold Blood, I decided on Carrie by Stephen King. I haven’t read Carrie since freshman year of high school and it is MESSED. UP. Before our discussion (with no spoilers, of course), I will be placing a trigger warning on it for disturbing content, abuse, and bullying. Now, let’s get to it:

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Carrie White is a sad and lonely girl and has been since the day she was born to her religious fanatic mother. Her days consist of being beaten, locked in a closet to pray, and being the butt of everyone’s jokes at school. However, Carrie is special and has a power deep within her that didn’t get unlocked until a particularly nasty incident.

Poor Carrie got her first period in the shower after gym class and thought that she was bleeding to death. Rather than help her, all of the girls in her class began throwing tampons and pads and yelled at her to “plug it up”. In her despair, Carrie made the lights in the bathroom burn out – just by using her mind.

Carrie is, indeed, special and has the power of telekinesis or being able to move objects just by thinking of it. While Carrie spends her time perfecting her craft, other plans are set into motion. Popular Sue Snell feels remorse for the bathroom incident and wants to make things right. So, she asks her boyfriend, Tommy, to take Carrie to the senior prom.

Meanwhile, mean girl Chris is enraged that she has to miss the prom because she skipped out on the detentions given for tormenting Carrie in the bathroom. Chris and Sue have a very different idea of making prom an unforgettable night for Carrie. As Carrie prepares for the prom by making her own dress and watching what she eats, Chris and her boyfriend begin planning the ultimate revenge.

Fast forward to prom night and Carrie shows up on the arm of Tommy Ross. She feels beautiful and is entranced by the magic of the event. People are complimenting her, talking to her, and for once in her life Carrie feels seen. Her and Tommy are even voted prom king and queen. Then, everything goes downhill rapidly.

While standing on stage and accepting their new title of high school royalty, two buckets of pig’s blood are spilled all over Carrie. The metaphorical straw broke the camel’s back and a murderous rampage ensues compliments of Carrie’s special gift. Prom night was unforgettable. Will anyone make it out alive? Read Carrie to find out!

My husband and I are huge fans of Stephen King and rereading Carrie after so long is a perfect reminder why. This book is terrifying and, honestly, heartbreaking. It was SO hard to read about the torment that Carrie is subjected to on a daily basis. She is not safe at home or school and is utterly alone in her misery. I couldn’t even imagine.

I often see memes on Facebook of “reading or watching Carrie” with the picture of the mom from Arrested Development saying “good for her”. And to be real, I was rooting for Carrie the entire time, even during the grand finale. It is such a prime example of the hunted becoming the huntress and essentially making the bullies eat their words. So, yes, GOOD FOR HER – especially because it was impossible to root for any of the people who were so awful to her!

I am going to rate Carrie with the coveted ten out of ten stars. If you haven’t read it and are into the horror genre, then I cannot recommend it enough. It is such a great introduction to Stephen King books and is, easily, one of his most powerful novels.

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May4

Lil Red’s Book Club: Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep Edition

Hello! Before Ohio’s stay at home order was put in place, I took my brother to the library to get some books. I ended up picking out Doctor Sleep by Stephen King for myself and, since all of the libraries are closed, it has been sitting in my apartment this whole time. So I read it. And, let me tell you, I am so glad I did because it was EXCELLENT! Let’s get started:

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Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The Shining, which follows the infamous Jack Torrence’s son, Dan. Despite constantly being drunk, Dan still shines and every once in a while, he gets contacted by a little girl named Abra who writes on the chalkboard of his rented room. Fast forward, and Abra grows up into a preteen, Dan gets sober, and becomes a hospice orderly with the nickname of “Doctor Sleep” because he helps people who are close to death pass over.

Everything is looking good, until Abra becomes aware of a wandering group called the True Knot. The True Knot are a vampire like people who feed off of “steam” to help promote their longevity. What is steam? It’s the vapor that comes out of the children who they like to torture that are able to shine. And Abra? She shines a lot. So much so that the True Knot, lead by a beautiful viper women named Rose The Hat, picked up on her and they want her bad.

Will the True Knot continue to prosper from their evilly acquired steam? Or will Abra, Dan, and some unexpected friends along the way be able to finish them off once and for all? Read the book to find out!

Before reading Doctor Sleep, I saw the movie with my sister and boyfriend in theaters and was less than impressed. I loved the story line but, oh my god, did it drag on for what felt like forever. I believe it was just under three hours. So, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the book because I didn’t want it to be so drawn out that it read like a dryer manual.

Thankfully, it was the movie that was flawed and not the book because it was a wild ride. There was excitement with every turn of the page of Doctor Sleep and I found myself reading it for hours on end without feeling any desire to stop. The “good guy” characters were all just so likeable and I was mentally cheering them on the whole time. As for the bad guys? They were awful. But, I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that I was eager to find out what they were going to do next.

Doctor Sleep was an amazing read and my only regret was that I didn’t start it sooner. I loved it so much that I’m even willing to give the movie another shot! I reward Doctor Sleep with the prestigious ten out of ten stars and I can’t recommend it enough if you are a Stephen King fan!

What book are you currently reading? What did you think of the movie or book of Doctor Sleep? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov25

Groovy Movies: Doctor Sleep Edition

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Groovy Movies: Doctor Sleep Edition

Hi there! This past weekend, my sister, boyfriend, and I headed off to the movies to see Doctor Sleep, the sequel to Stephen King’s The Shining. We are all avid fans of Mr. King so we were definitely looking forward to an afternoon viewing of Doctor Sleep. I am not proud of this, but I never got around to reading the book. Believe you me, I’m just as ashamed of myself as all of you!

However, this allowed me to see the film with no preconceived notions of how it should be because I really didn’t know too much about it. This was a good and a bad thing so, without giving away any spoilers, let’s discuss:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video!

Danny Torrence is all grown up, an alcoholic, and is still shining despite his efforts to stifle it through his addiction. And, can you blame him after his traumatizing stay at the Overlook Hotel as a child? But, what does it mean to shine, you might ask? Well, the shining is kind of like your intuition working on overdrive. You might be able to tell someone where they lost their watch. You could see people who have been dead for years. Or you can communicate with others telepathically. It all depends on the person who is shining.

To shine is an amazing gift and there are those who want to harvest in on that power by tracking down the shiner, killing them, and inhaling their “steam”, which is released through fear and pain. With this group of baddies on the prowl, the shining population is dwindling down leaving some with hardly any shine at all and a handful of mega powerful minds whose shine is impossible to dim.

Cue Danny Torrence and his new friend, Abra, a teenage girl who he meets through telepathic communication. The shine hunters are on to them but can they turn those chasing them into the prey? Watch Doctor Sleep and find out!

Okay, so let’s get to the good things about watching Doctor Sleep without reading the book. Let me start out by saying that this flick was close to three hours long, so not knowing anything about the story line helped keep my attention for most of the film. It made every new development exciting but, as with any long movie, I found myself wondering throughout the viewing just when the hell it would be over so I could go pee.

Had I known where the plot was going and would ultimately end up, maybe the jitters of mentally begging the movie to finish up would have gone away. I also wish that I had a better appreciation of who the characters were and where they were coming from. Don’t get me wrong, the cast was cool and the baddies were badass. But, I think I would have liked them all a bit more if I had a book description to compare them to.

Do I have a problem with long movies? Absolutely not. I could watch the Lord Of The Rings on repeat for days. But, I do have a problem when movies are long and they don’t necessarily have to be. For example, a healthy half hour could have easily been shaved off of Doctor Sleep and the movie would have still been good, if not better. The beginning and ending were exciting but the middle was so drawn out that it made me wish that the grand finale would just hurry up and finish.

My sister happened to read Doctor Sleep and commented that the beginning and ending were very true to the book but it strayed hard in the middle. I can’t comment on this but just going off of what she said, the movie rendition could definitely have been shortened.

I am still happy that I saw the movie in theaters and I had a fun outing with my favorite people but it wasn’t the best film that I’ve seen, by far. In fact, the more I think about it the less I like it. But, it was still good by my standards and I will rate it with a six out of ten stars.

What were your thoughts on Doctor Sleep if you have seen it? What is your favorite Stephen King book or movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: IMDB