Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
New York : Scribner, 2010.
Description
Prolific author Stephen King presents a collection of four new novellas. In the story 1922, a man plunges into the depths of madness when his wife attempts to sell off the family home. A mystery writer, who was beaten and raped while driving home from her book club, plots her revenge in Big Driver. Diagnosed with a deadly cancer, a man makes a deal with the devil in Fair Extension. And in A Good Marriage, a woman discovers her husband's darker side while he is away on a business trip.
Media reviews
Mr. King’s “Full Dark, No Stars” has a lot of straight-up horror. The sheer size of its rodent population is enough to stamp it with the horror label. But it will serve as a page turner even for the reader who is aghast at some of the whisker-twitching particulars.
User reviews
LibraryThing member michelle_bcf
In his latest novel, King brings us four tales, linked by the theme of retribution. The first and longest of these, 1922, takes us deep into rural America. Here we witness the murder of Arlette James by her husband, and all that follows, including the effects on their son.
In Big Driver, a mystery
The shortest tale, Fair Extension, is a darkly humorous story about a dying man who makes a deal with the devil, whatever the price.
Finally, A Good Marriage brings us full circle, looking at a marriage gone wrong. Darcy Anderson discovers there’s far more to her husband than she realised, even after twenty years of being married. After she discovers his terrifying secret, how will she react?
When it comes to Stephen King, this is one of my favourite formats. It allows for more scope than short stories, allowing the story and characters to expand. However, that story needs to be compact and to the point – and in this quartet, he pulls it off brilliantly.
In his afterword, King says that these are harsh stories, with ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. He’s looking to evoke a reaction in his readers, which these tales certainly do. However, they also have a dark humour to them – whilst flinching at some of the descriptions or characters actions, you’ll also find yourself wondering if it’s normal to be giggling.. and whether it’s a nervous giggle!
Even with the shorter format, King still manages to build interesting and believable characters, including Tessa who talks back to her sat nav as she plans her next step, and Wilfred, who tries to do his best for his son, but fails.
They are four different types of story, bound together with the theme of retribution, and the nagging question of how you would deal with a similar situation. 1922 captures living in a rural area in the 20′s, whilst Big Driver takes you deep into the heart and thoughts of a woman looking for revenge. Fair Extension looks at the price we may be willing to pay, and A Good Marriage starts as a great suspense tale, and soon moves into something completely different.
Full Dark, No Stars took me back to the older days of King, with characters and stories which get under your skin, and stay in your memory. It’s a book to devour on a cold winter’s night – I wanted to keep reading, and yet I was sad to finish.. always a sign of a good book! Every Stephen King fan should add this to their collection, and for anyone who hasn’t yet experienced his writing, this could be a good place to start!
Read it!
In Big Driver, a mystery
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writer is attacked driving home from a book-club engagement. After being raped and left for dead, she finds it in her to plan her revenge, and changes herself for ever.The shortest tale, Fair Extension, is a darkly humorous story about a dying man who makes a deal with the devil, whatever the price.
Finally, A Good Marriage brings us full circle, looking at a marriage gone wrong. Darcy Anderson discovers there’s far more to her husband than she realised, even after twenty years of being married. After she discovers his terrifying secret, how will she react?
When it comes to Stephen King, this is one of my favourite formats. It allows for more scope than short stories, allowing the story and characters to expand. However, that story needs to be compact and to the point – and in this quartet, he pulls it off brilliantly.
In his afterword, King says that these are harsh stories, with ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. He’s looking to evoke a reaction in his readers, which these tales certainly do. However, they also have a dark humour to them – whilst flinching at some of the descriptions or characters actions, you’ll also find yourself wondering if it’s normal to be giggling.. and whether it’s a nervous giggle!
Even with the shorter format, King still manages to build interesting and believable characters, including Tessa who talks back to her sat nav as she plans her next step, and Wilfred, who tries to do his best for his son, but fails.
They are four different types of story, bound together with the theme of retribution, and the nagging question of how you would deal with a similar situation. 1922 captures living in a rural area in the 20′s, whilst Big Driver takes you deep into the heart and thoughts of a woman looking for revenge. Fair Extension looks at the price we may be willing to pay, and A Good Marriage starts as a great suspense tale, and soon moves into something completely different.
Full Dark, No Stars took me back to the older days of King, with characters and stories which get under your skin, and stay in your memory. It’s a book to devour on a cold winter’s night – I wanted to keep reading, and yet I was sad to finish.. always a sign of a good book! Every Stephen King fan should add this to their collection, and for anyone who hasn’t yet experienced his writing, this could be a good place to start!
Read it!
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LibraryThing member klarsenmd
Dark, dark, dar, darkest. The title of this set of 4 long fiction works does not lie. While not gore filled, this one is not for the faint of heart. A great look into the deepest blackest places in the human soul. What makes it so great is that piece of humanity in each of the characters that make
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them so real and relatable. Each tale is good on it's own, but the set of four seem to really sit well together. Show Less
LibraryThing member daynawinters
Full Dark, No Stars (978-1439192566) by Stephen King, is a hardback book consisting of 384 pages; the book was released by Scribner as a first edition in 2010. This book contains four short stories including “1922,” “Big Driver,” “A Good Marriage,” and “Fair Extension.” In
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“1922,” the story revolves around a farmer who convinces his son to help murder his wife, and the tragic consequences that follow. “Big Driver,” is a story where a woman ends up taking a dangerous back road on her way home from a book lecture, only to wind up with a flat tire. A man seems to offer her help, only to end up raping her and leaving her for dead. “A Good Marriage is the story of a woman who discovers she is married to a serial killer; this story allows the reader to consider how well you can really know someone, even if that person is close to you. Finally, “Fair Extension,” is a story of a man filled with jealously and resentment, so much so that he is willing to make a deal with the devil to pass on his perceived misfortunes to another. Full Dark, No Stars is definitely entertaining, and despite the fact that the book contains four shorts, you won’t want to stop reading when you reach the end of a single story. Show Less
LibraryThing member gac53
Horror is right. Not supernatural or ghost stories. Just people and what they can do; and reflects what some people have actually done.
LibraryThing member bohemiangirl35
I like his horror books better. These four stories are about everyday murderers and sadists and their consciences or the effects of their behavior on those around them.
As for the audio book, I will definitely not be listening to anything else narrated by Jessica Hecht. As a woman, I'm really
As for the audio book, I will definitely not be listening to anything else narrated by Jessica Hecht. As a woman, I'm really
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surprised that she made the female characters sound so weak and stupid. Show Less
LibraryThing member calum-iain
“Full Dark, No Stars” is a set of four harsh and brutal tales from the master storyteller. I remember reading my first Stephen King in hospital in Woolwich (‘Salem’s Lot”) back in 1979 and have been a “Constant Reader” ever since. The four stories contained in this book rank with his
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very best and provide chilling portraits of desperate people being pushed over the edge. “1922” concerns the murder of an unsympathetic wife in rural Nebraska; “Big Driver” sees a woman taking revenge on the man who raped her; “Fair Extension” provides a chilling twist on the selling your soul to the devil tale and “A Good Marriage” finds a wife discovering that her husband is a serial killer. These stories are bleak, disturbing and uncompromising. King describes them in his after-word as “harsh” and this is fairly accurate; there is very little light offered at the end of the tunnel of these tales; it is indeed “full dark, no stars”. What makes these stories riveting, however, is King’s uncanny ability with characterisation and his ability to capture an authentic voice for each tale. His narrative technique is effortless and powerful and he portrays the detail of “ordinary lives” like no other writer. In my view King is the Charles Dickens of our age – in 100 years time people will look back to King to understand Americana and the state of the human condition in the early 21st Century. The four tales in this book are grisly and graphic but ultimately they are about what makes us human (or in some cases inhuman). They make for a superb, disturbing collection. Stephen King firmly remains The King. Show Less
LibraryThing member andsoitgoes
Good, old-fashion Stephen King stories. Remenisicent of his early days but better written. Horror without too much horror. Favorite of the 4 was Fair Extension -- best ending!
LibraryThing member ComaCalm
Blurb: "I believe there is another man inside every man, a stranger . . ." writes Wilfred Leland James in the early pages of the riveting confession that makes up "1922," the first in this pitch-black quartet of mesmerizing tales from Stephen King. For James, that stranger is awakened when his
In "Big Driver," a cozy-mystery writer named Tess encounters the stranger along a back road in Massachusetts when she takes a shortcut home after a book-club engagement. Violated and left for dead, Tess plots a revenge that will bring her face-to-face with another stranger: the one inside herself.
"Fair Extension," the shortest of these tales, is perhaps the nastiest and certainly the funniest. Making a deal with the devil not only saves Dave Streeter from a fatal cancer but provides rich recompense for a lifetime of resentment.
"A Good Marriage" When her husband of more than twenty years is away on one of his business trips, Darcy Anderson looks for batteries in the garage. Her toe knocks up against a box under a worktable and she discovers the stranger inside her husband. It’s a horrifying discovery, rendered with bristling intensity, and it definitively ends a good marriage.
1922: This is not a pretty story. In fact it was the worst of them all. Wilfred is annoyed at his wife, Arlette so he decides to kill her. As you do. That's just the beginning. If you thought that Wilfred's son, Hank, watching his Mother being murdered was bad, the story grows steadily more depressing the more you read it.
Big Driver: Another happy story. A writer is heading home after meeting some fans and her truck breaks down. After being raped and left for dead she decides to do the decent thing and call the police. Only kidding! After listening to her Sat Nav and her cat, Fritzy, she decides to kill him. Pretty boring ending too.
Fair Extension: Deal with the Devil? Wasn't actually proven that the guy Streeter met was the Devil, it was only suggested. Funny? Tedious would be closer. Streeter is dying from cancer and hates his best friend, purely because the guy is doing better than him. So he makes a deal and watches as the poor guy's life is torn apart. Hilarious!
A Good Marriage: The above description sums this up. It finished with a weak ending. That is all.
Fans of Stephen King might enjoy this (although I'm one of them and I didn't) but I'd recommend that you stay away from it.
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wife, Arlette, proposes selling off the family homestead and moving to Omaha, setting in motion a gruesome train of murder and madness.In "Big Driver," a cozy-mystery writer named Tess encounters the stranger along a back road in Massachusetts when she takes a shortcut home after a book-club engagement. Violated and left for dead, Tess plots a revenge that will bring her face-to-face with another stranger: the one inside herself.
"Fair Extension," the shortest of these tales, is perhaps the nastiest and certainly the funniest. Making a deal with the devil not only saves Dave Streeter from a fatal cancer but provides rich recompense for a lifetime of resentment.
"A Good Marriage" When her husband of more than twenty years is away on one of his business trips, Darcy Anderson looks for batteries in the garage. Her toe knocks up against a box under a worktable and she discovers the stranger inside her husband. It’s a horrifying discovery, rendered with bristling intensity, and it definitively ends a good marriage.
1922: This is not a pretty story. In fact it was the worst of them all. Wilfred is annoyed at his wife, Arlette so he decides to kill her. As you do. That's just the beginning. If you thought that Wilfred's son, Hank, watching his Mother being murdered was bad, the story grows steadily more depressing the more you read it.
Big Driver: Another happy story. A writer is heading home after meeting some fans and her truck breaks down. After being raped and left for dead she decides to do the decent thing and call the police. Only kidding! After listening to her Sat Nav and her cat, Fritzy, she decides to kill him. Pretty boring ending too.
Fair Extension: Deal with the Devil? Wasn't actually proven that the guy Streeter met was the Devil, it was only suggested. Funny? Tedious would be closer. Streeter is dying from cancer and hates his best friend, purely because the guy is doing better than him. So he makes a deal and watches as the poor guy's life is torn apart. Hilarious!
A Good Marriage: The above description sums this up. It finished with a weak ending. That is all.
Fans of Stephen King might enjoy this (although I'm one of them and I didn't) but I'd recommend that you stay away from it.
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LibraryThing member Sararush
As Craig Wasson launches into the first lines of 1922, “My name is Wilfred Leland James, and this is my confession. In June of 1922 I murdered my wife, Arlette Christina Winters James, and hid her body by tupping it down and old well.” You can feel how much you’re going to love this audio
And then, Jessica Hecht begins to warble through Big Driver, the story of a Tess, a mystery novelist, who is brutally attacked and that’s just the beginning. Though none of the women in all four stories are treated with particular care (the men don’t fare much better), Hecht’s Tess was particularly weak and a little whiny.
Wasson comes back with King’s clever take on the deal with the devil tale in Fair Extension. The story of Dave Streeter terminal cancer patient who is seduced by the idea of extending his life, this is easily the most uplifting of the four stories, and it almost feels out of place amongst the sheer dire straits some of the other characters land in.
But of course, Hecht begins to prattle and baby talk her way through A Good Marriage. Though the story of a longtime wife who makes a gruesome discovery about her husband, is hands down the most fear inducing story of the four (King states he was inspired by the BTK murder and his wife in a killer afterword), it’s the worst performance.
Thankfully, some merciful producer selected Wasson to read the afterword in which King describes the collection: “I have tried my best to record what people might do, and how they might behave, under certain dire circumstances”. He does that in spades. He also investigates the many incarnations of duality in all the stories. And all in all, he written four unforgettable stories that are sure to haunt readers long after the book is finished. If I had read the text copy I may have given the story five stars, as for the audio book, I can only justify four stars soley on the merits of the terrifyingly good Wasson, and the perennially wonderful Mr. King.
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book. Even if you feel like a sick deviant as you delight in their sinister plot lines and unshakably vivid characters. And then, Jessica Hecht begins to warble through Big Driver, the story of a Tess, a mystery novelist, who is brutally attacked and that’s just the beginning. Though none of the women in all four stories are treated with particular care (the men don’t fare much better), Hecht’s Tess was particularly weak and a little whiny.
Wasson comes back with King’s clever take on the deal with the devil tale in Fair Extension. The story of Dave Streeter terminal cancer patient who is seduced by the idea of extending his life, this is easily the most uplifting of the four stories, and it almost feels out of place amongst the sheer dire straits some of the other characters land in.
But of course, Hecht begins to prattle and baby talk her way through A Good Marriage. Though the story of a longtime wife who makes a gruesome discovery about her husband, is hands down the most fear inducing story of the four (King states he was inspired by the BTK murder and his wife in a killer afterword), it’s the worst performance.
Thankfully, some merciful producer selected Wasson to read the afterword in which King describes the collection: “I have tried my best to record what people might do, and how they might behave, under certain dire circumstances”. He does that in spades. He also investigates the many incarnations of duality in all the stories. And all in all, he written four unforgettable stories that are sure to haunt readers long after the book is finished. If I had read the text copy I may have given the story five stars, as for the audio book, I can only justify four stars soley on the merits of the terrifyingly good Wasson, and the perennially wonderful Mr. King.
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LibraryThing member beckylynn
Classic King.This is King's best writing in a few years. In Full Dark, King goes back to his roots of 'true horror'. In this compiliation there are 4 different stories, all of which are mesmorizing and entrancing, in a dark way.
The stories that you will read in this novel and the ones that 'stick
Unhappy with your marriage? Ironically the story titled, 'A Good Marriage' and '1922' might help you figure out something to help with that situation.
The stories that you will read in this novel and the ones that 'stick
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with you'. Stranded on the side of the road with no help? 'Big Driver' will make you start eyeballing every car that drives by.Unhappy with your marriage? Ironically the story titled, 'A Good Marriage' and '1922' might help you figure out something to help with that situation.
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LibraryThing member Spiceca
True horror for me is not monsters under the bed but rather it is humanity at our darkest hour. King captures these dark decisions and moments that are unfortunately all too real. It is the human heart and mind that unleashes the nightmares that I call truly scary. The four novellas in this set
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delve there and leave the reader with questions of how we might respond to those situations. Enter and you'll see the reprehensible acts that humanity can offer. Show Less
LibraryThing member StaceyHH
Ages ago I read two stories by King: “Chattery Teeth” (which I persist in remembering as “Clackety Teeth,”) and “You Know They Got a Hell of a Band,” both from Nightmares and Dreamscapes. The stories stayed with me, but I don't recall reading anything else by King for many years, until
Full Dark, No Stars did not disappoint. In fact, I consumed it whole on a train trip to and from Seattle this last week. Sorry, scenery, you lose. Two of the stories: “1922,” and “Fair Extension,” were so evocative, not only did I turn back immediately and read parts of them again, but as soon as I arrived home, I dug out my Poe and reread “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Monkey's Paw.”
These are driven stories of getting-away-with-it... depending on your perspective. “Fair Extension,” in particular, adds a twist to the classic cosmic balance concept of “if something good happens to you, something bad must happen to someone else.” The deviation is chilling in its simplicity, and of all the stories in the volume, this is the one I can't stop thinking about.
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a couple of years ago when I read The Gunslinger, whereupon I fell head over heels and went on a King-binge which included the rest of The Dark Tower series, Duma Key (the audiobook,) and the Marvel Comics series “The Dark Tower.” Full Dark, No Stars did not disappoint. In fact, I consumed it whole on a train trip to and from Seattle this last week. Sorry, scenery, you lose. Two of the stories: “1922,” and “Fair Extension,” were so evocative, not only did I turn back immediately and read parts of them again, but as soon as I arrived home, I dug out my Poe and reread “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Monkey's Paw.”
These are driven stories of getting-away-with-it... depending on your perspective. “Fair Extension,” in particular, adds a twist to the classic cosmic balance concept of “if something good happens to you, something bad must happen to someone else.” The deviation is chilling in its simplicity, and of all the stories in the volume, this is the one I can't stop thinking about.
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LibraryThing member TheTwoDs
Stephen King's aptly titled new collection offers a darker take on his tales of personal retribution. Supernatural elements play varying roles, but are generally more in the background, and non-existent in some cases. In "1922", a farmer murders his wife with the help of their teenaged son, whom he
As usual, King is more interested in the psychological interplay between his characters and how they react to the events consuming them. In the course of this, he provides enough shudder inducing moments to make some readers squeamish. Life can be brutal, and King does not flinch from that brutality in this collection.
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psychologically manipulated into the deed. The story tracks the downfall of the family after the crime. In "Big Driver", a woman is raped and left for dead, but plots her revenge against the perpetrator. In "Fair Extension" a dying man makes a deal with a roadside salesman. And in "A Good Marriage" a woman discovers her husband of nearly 30 years is not all he seems to be. Finally, the bonus story "Under the Weather" provides a tasty little dessert about a man and his sickly wife.As usual, King is more interested in the psychological interplay between his characters and how they react to the events consuming them. In the course of this, he provides enough shudder inducing moments to make some readers squeamish. Life can be brutal, and King does not flinch from that brutality in this collection.
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LibraryThing member DanaJean
A lot of people have said that these stories are like "the old Stephen." I don't agree with this at all. I think this is a Stephen who came to these stories with a new energy. I can't put my finger on it, but the writing is different. Mature, and very richly laid out, and still containing that King
Yes, very dark. Yes, very graphic, but I didn't feel anything rang untrue while reading. Very good stories.
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touch that we all adore--"the love of the empty coffin."Yes, very dark. Yes, very graphic, but I didn't feel anything rang untrue while reading. Very good stories.
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LibraryThing member manadabomb
In the Afterword, King admits that these 4 short stories are harsh and hard to read. Telling us that up front probably would discourage readers from even trying this book. Short stories are where King shines. This book is no exception.
What's noticeable in this book is the lack of the supernatural.
We have 4 mostly longish shortish stories. We start off with 1922, a story about a farmer, his child and his wife. The wife inherits land from her father and wants to sell it off while the husband wants to try and farm it. What ends up happening is on par with Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart.
Next we have Big Driver which was just a horrifying read. An author goes to a book reading and signing at a non-descript library and ends up on a shortcut that was just... horrific. That's the only adjective I can come up with for this story.
Along comes Fair Extension which did have a little help from the devil, but really, the human in this story didn't need the help. He just needed a reason.
Lastly, A Good Marriage shows us that decades of living with, loving and being friends with someone doesn't mean you know the person or the gruesome hobbies they indulge in.
Eek. I think the vampires, werewolves and bogeymen are less scary than people now.
What's noticeable in this book is the lack of the supernatural.
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No ghosts, aliens, scary creatures that you can only imagine. What we have here is the pure evilness of the human person. And, frankly, that's even scarier than anything supernatural. King delves deep into the black hearts of people, showing how they live normally among us but do deeds we can't imagine.We have 4 mostly longish shortish stories. We start off with 1922, a story about a farmer, his child and his wife. The wife inherits land from her father and wants to sell it off while the husband wants to try and farm it. What ends up happening is on par with Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart.
Next we have Big Driver which was just a horrifying read. An author goes to a book reading and signing at a non-descript library and ends up on a shortcut that was just... horrific. That's the only adjective I can come up with for this story.
Along comes Fair Extension which did have a little help from the devil, but really, the human in this story didn't need the help. He just needed a reason.
Lastly, A Good Marriage shows us that decades of living with, loving and being friends with someone doesn't mean you know the person or the gruesome hobbies they indulge in.
Eek. I think the vampires, werewolves and bogeymen are less scary than people now.
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LibraryThing member Cajunbooklady
I'll say that I'm a horror fan...always have been because I love a good "pretend" scare. In real life I'm a big chicken LOL! I checked this one out from the library and couldn't wait to read it. I know I'll have to buy it eventually to add to my Stephen King collection because I really enjoyed it.
I've seen mixed reviews on this book but I was satisfied with it. I enjoyed each story as they were each unique. I think if you enjoy horror you may want to check this one out.
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It's a collection of novellas that will make your skin crawl!I've seen mixed reviews on this book but I was satisfied with it. I enjoyed each story as they were each unique. I think if you enjoy horror you may want to check this one out.
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LibraryThing member jaymes2000
Wow...just Wow. Three of these four stories just blew me away, although every single one was enjoyable. Classic Stephen King! The first story, "1922" had me in awe of the man once again. It reminded me of his earlier works, and brought back a strong feeling of nostalgia for his writing. The second
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story "Big Driver" was also excellent with a slight twist towards the end. The third story "Fair Extension" was the shortest of the four, but I enjoyed it as well. Then we get to the final story "A Good Marriage". Probably my favorite one of the book. The sense of dread and despair it evokes in you is really powerful. I highly recommend this collection of novellas, even if you're not a "Horror" fan. The stories will move you in unexpected ways. Also, I think they should all be read in order. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tommie1
Have to say Steve still has it!! Great stories
LibraryThing member JeffV
My initial thought as I read through the four short stories making up Full Dark, No Stars was that once again, King gives writing students another great lesson in character development, but phones it in with plots that are overdone cliches. It was in his afterward though that gave me cause to
King takes us into the minds of those creating horrific crimes, and attempts to make us sympathetic to the character. His aim was to try and understand how seemingly normal people can short circuit in a manner where their crime is a logical extension of their tainted reasoning. In all but one story, the main character was clearly schizophrenic. That one outlier was a supernatural story along the plot lines of one selling ones soul to the devil, except in this case, he is selling out a friend and neighbor, the protagonist was cured of a deadly cancer, and in turn, he had to watch his friend suffer depredations on his life and livelihood that would make Job pity him. Another story was inspired by the BTK serial killer, told from the point-of-view of the wife who lived with the monster for decades but never suspected. She was a schizophrenic character in her own right, though.
The reader in me wishes King would have been a little more original in his stories. The writer in me can't help but once again admire his character development skills. The intellectual in me appreciates that original stories might have distracted the reader from his actual goal of trying to understand the mind of a killer. If you can appreciate either of the last two, then you'll like this book. If you're simply looking for some creepy scary brain candy, King doesn't do it for you this time.
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reconsider in light of his objectives, and I have to admit King was pretty successful setting out what he aimed to do.King takes us into the minds of those creating horrific crimes, and attempts to make us sympathetic to the character. His aim was to try and understand how seemingly normal people can short circuit in a manner where their crime is a logical extension of their tainted reasoning. In all but one story, the main character was clearly schizophrenic. That one outlier was a supernatural story along the plot lines of one selling ones soul to the devil, except in this case, he is selling out a friend and neighbor, the protagonist was cured of a deadly cancer, and in turn, he had to watch his friend suffer depredations on his life and livelihood that would make Job pity him. Another story was inspired by the BTK serial killer, told from the point-of-view of the wife who lived with the monster for decades but never suspected. She was a schizophrenic character in her own right, though.
The reader in me wishes King would have been a little more original in his stories. The writer in me can't help but once again admire his character development skills. The intellectual in me appreciates that original stories might have distracted the reader from his actual goal of trying to understand the mind of a killer. If you can appreciate either of the last two, then you'll like this book. If you're simply looking for some creepy scary brain candy, King doesn't do it for you this time.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Four novellas by King. They’re pretty grim: we have murder, rape revenge, wishing bad luck on a best friend, and a marriage with a deadly secret. Not King’s best, but not unreadable if you have a strong stomach for human awfulness.
LibraryThing member jules72653
The four stories in this book are all gripping. The tension started mounting early on and just built from there leaving me wanting more. I will be surprised if we don't see a movie based on one or more of these stories. Best writing he's done since The Green Mile.
LibraryThing member schatzi
The high ratings for this book baffle me; I found it to be okay, but nothing great. I think if some unknown author had written it, instead of Stephen King, the reviews would be much less glowing.
"1922," the book's opener, is a decent offering. The main character kills his wife to keep her from
The second story, "Big Driver," was rather blah. King's obsession with rape and violence against women disturbs me; it seems in many of his stories, a woman is victimized and abused. Oh sure, most of them get revenge, but do we really need all of this rape and abuse? I know that I don't. Once again, the story dragged on, and the ending was weak.
The third story, "Fair Exchange," was the shortest and the story that I liked the least. A man diagnosed with terminal cancer has the chance to extend his life...but for a price. And instead of there being any real plot or reason for this story, it's just a litany of abuses against the character's best friend. Meh.
The final story, "A Good Marriage," is possibly the best of the collection, but that's not saying a lot. A woman discovers her husband's nasty little secret, which destroys their marriage. Based loosely on real life events (I won't spoil which events), it was an interesting dip into the human psyche, but a little too late.
Altogether, I could have taken or left this book. I doubt I'll remember any of these stories in a month or two.
"1922," the book's opener, is a decent offering. The main character kills his wife to keep her from
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selling prime land she inherited to a big company. His life, and the life of his son, begins to unravel, especially when he's haunted by his wife...and her rats. As I said, it was decent, but nothing spectacular. It felt like it went on a little too long.The second story, "Big Driver," was rather blah. King's obsession with rape and violence against women disturbs me; it seems in many of his stories, a woman is victimized and abused. Oh sure, most of them get revenge, but do we really need all of this rape and abuse? I know that I don't. Once again, the story dragged on, and the ending was weak.
The third story, "Fair Exchange," was the shortest and the story that I liked the least. A man diagnosed with terminal cancer has the chance to extend his life...but for a price. And instead of there being any real plot or reason for this story, it's just a litany of abuses against the character's best friend. Meh.
The final story, "A Good Marriage," is possibly the best of the collection, but that's not saying a lot. A woman discovers her husband's nasty little secret, which destroys their marriage. Based loosely on real life events (I won't spoil which events), it was an interesting dip into the human psyche, but a little too late.
Altogether, I could have taken or left this book. I doubt I'll remember any of these stories in a month or two.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Full Dark is right. These stories are dark, and yes as Steve says in the afterword, sometimes hard to read. I'm relieved though that they aren't grim like Under the Dome was. At no time while I read these four did I feel like I was having the will to live crushed out of me. While each person does a
1922 is told with a distinctive voice which only falters here and there. It's the one that reads the least like King's typical story. The time and circumstances come through strongly and I especially liked the haunting madness as aftermath of Wilfred's crime. It's true he doesn't get caught, but he does pay. His downfall is complete, but not without pity.
Paying is what Big Driver is all about. For me it was the hardest to read. Probably men didn't have as much gnashing of teeth about it because what is rape to them except an impossibility, but King did a decent job trying to get into the mind of his victim. When the full conspiracy flowered in all its poisonous glory, I felt Tess's rage and rooted for her. Realistically though, her successful revenge was a bit too easy and complete for me to swallow, but I did enjoy it.
Fair Extension captures the secret glee of the vengeful. Rightfully or wrongfully it was fun to read about Goodhugh's downfall. At first. Then as the bad luck spread it became a lot less fun. I was surprised Streeter could stick it since his perceived bad luck never touched his kids or his wife and I was equally surprised at how King just let the revenge be. It worked and Streeter was happy and there were no consequences pulled out like a rabbit from a hat.
The interior of a marriage has been a King hobby horse for decades now and he's always coming up with new angles. This time he wonders what a woman will do when genuinely surprised by her discovery of her husband's secret life as a serial killer. So many wives are suspect after he's caught; she MUST have known what he was. Darcy didn't, and she handled it in a way that was technically wrong, but morally right (in an old testament kind of way).
None of these tales has any major supernatural element; three of them don't at all and they reminded me of Different Season's stories in a way. Darker surely and more of a kind. Purposeful. After reading them and evaluating them in my mind, I thought of when Gordie (or maybe it was Chris) reminded the rest of the boys that maybe they shouldn't be having too much fun on their way to see a dead kid. These stories are like that. There isn't a lot of levity in them, but there is hope. No need to run a bath and bring a razor blade along this time.
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morally reprehensible thing on the surface, underneath there is reason to at least understand why he or she did it, even if we can't condone it. 1922 is told with a distinctive voice which only falters here and there. It's the one that reads the least like King's typical story. The time and circumstances come through strongly and I especially liked the haunting madness as aftermath of Wilfred's crime. It's true he doesn't get caught, but he does pay. His downfall is complete, but not without pity.
Paying is what Big Driver is all about. For me it was the hardest to read. Probably men didn't have as much gnashing of teeth about it because what is rape to them except an impossibility, but King did a decent job trying to get into the mind of his victim. When the full conspiracy flowered in all its poisonous glory, I felt Tess's rage and rooted for her. Realistically though, her successful revenge was a bit too easy and complete for me to swallow, but I did enjoy it.
Fair Extension captures the secret glee of the vengeful. Rightfully or wrongfully it was fun to read about Goodhugh's downfall. At first. Then as the bad luck spread it became a lot less fun. I was surprised Streeter could stick it since his perceived bad luck never touched his kids or his wife and I was equally surprised at how King just let the revenge be. It worked and Streeter was happy and there were no consequences pulled out like a rabbit from a hat.
The interior of a marriage has been a King hobby horse for decades now and he's always coming up with new angles. This time he wonders what a woman will do when genuinely surprised by her discovery of her husband's secret life as a serial killer. So many wives are suspect after he's caught; she MUST have known what he was. Darcy didn't, and she handled it in a way that was technically wrong, but morally right (in an old testament kind of way).
None of these tales has any major supernatural element; three of them don't at all and they reminded me of Different Season's stories in a way. Darker surely and more of a kind. Purposeful. After reading them and evaluating them in my mind, I thought of when Gordie (or maybe it was Chris) reminded the rest of the boys that maybe they shouldn't be having too much fun on their way to see a dead kid. These stories are like that. There isn't a lot of levity in them, but there is hope. No need to run a bath and bring a razor blade along this time.
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LibraryThing member jlparent
King's most recent forays seem to be focused on the realistic horror of the darkness within us instead of made-up boogeymen and the collection of four novellas is more of the same. And I must say HUZZAH to that.
1922 - reminded me vaguely of Dolores Claiborne (a well to hide a body, a murder by the
Big Driver - a female mystery writer is raped and left for dead and takes matters into her own hands.
Fair Extension - Dying man meets a devilish street peddler who sells extensions of any kind and strikes a deal. Very slight supernatural bent re: the persona of the street salesman.
A Good Marriage - a woman, happily married for 27 years, discovers her husband's twisted secret, and solves matters her own way.
This is a dark book and many times it was like reading the paper or watching the news; the violence and brutalness of what a person can do is far more frightening than any made-up nightmare. I enjoyed the stories and found it impossible to put down.
1922 - reminded me vaguely of Dolores Claiborne (a well to hide a body, a murder by the
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husband instead of the wife, a poisoned relationship between child and remaining parent) but by no means is it close to the same story. This story does have a slight supernatural bent to it. The husband murders his wife to get what he wants, then is haunted by his deed - and rats.Big Driver - a female mystery writer is raped and left for dead and takes matters into her own hands.
Fair Extension - Dying man meets a devilish street peddler who sells extensions of any kind and strikes a deal. Very slight supernatural bent re: the persona of the street salesman.
A Good Marriage - a woman, happily married for 27 years, discovers her husband's twisted secret, and solves matters her own way.
This is a dark book and many times it was like reading the paper or watching the news; the violence and brutalness of what a person can do is far more frightening than any made-up nightmare. I enjoyed the stories and found it impossible to put down.
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LibraryThing member charitywoosley
I am normally not a big fan of the 'short story'. Part of why I read is to get lost in the story, and I often find that it's just hard as hell to do with short stories. There's not quite enough 'meat' to be able to really lose oneself. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did I enjoy
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these short stories, but I *loved* them. I was sad at how quickly I ripped through the book, but I *will* be reading these stories again. Classic Stephen King with ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances! Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Bram Stoker Award (Nominee — Collection — 2010)
British Fantasy Award (Winner — Collection — 2011)
Language
Original publication date
2010-11-09
ISBN
1439192561 / 9781439192566
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