2024 the best stephen king review

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(as of Dec 13, 2024 16:21:15 UTC - Details)

Winner of the 2023 Audie Award for Best Male Narrator

Master storyteller Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this #1 New York Times bestselling and spellbinding novel about a young man who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher—for that world or ours.

Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a horrific accident when he was seven, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself—and his dad. When Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. Sometimes strange sounds emerge from that shed.

Charlie starts doing jobs for Mr. Bowditch and loses his heart to Radar. Then, when Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe. What Bowditch knows, and has kept secret all his long life, is that inside the shed is a portal to another world.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Solid King!
Review: Stephen King's Fairy Tale (2022) is part horror, part fantasy, and even part young adult if you don't mind the colorful language. The book begins with a sad, lonely boy, Charlie Reade, who gets a rough start at life when his mother dies in an accident. His father turns to the bottle and neglects Charlie as alcoholism and depression takeover. Charlie spends his middle school years getting in trouble with an evil friend. His bad decisions are ignored by his father. Charlie turns to God in despair and prays for his father's sobriety. His prayers become bargaining tools. If God could bring Charlie's dad back from his blurry haze, then Charlie could change as well by doing good deeds instead of cruel shenanigans. And God hears him. Charlie's dad comes back from his personal hell through AA. Now it's payback time. Charlie gets an opportunity to pay it forward. His neighbor, Harold Bowditch, a cantankerous elderly recluse, falls in his yard as Charlie is on his way home from school. Charlie helps the man by getting an ambulance and then promising to watch his dog as he recovers. Several months go by and they form a relationship. Mr. Bowditch is a mystery. He oddly doesn't have Medicare or insurance to pay his medical bills. In his desperation, he asks Charlie to go into his safe and take some of his gold to a place that will buy it without questions. Charlie learns that Mr. Bowditch is beyond wealthy. Once Mr. Bowditch is released from the hospital, Charlie continues to care for him and Radar, his German Shepherd that is also not doing well due to old age. He discovers more odd things about his neighbor and friend. When it becomes clear that Mr. Bowditch is going to die due to other complications, he tells Charlie about his shed, a winding staircase that leads down to another world, and a magical sundial that will restore Radar by making the dog young again. After Mr. Bowditch dies, Charlie and Radar descend into the unknown where the fairy tale begins. NO SPOILER!The title, Fairy Tale, is just that. There are lots of tie-ins with the great fairy tales of the centuries. For example, Mr. Bowditch has a fairy tale library in his house. As Charlie reads these classics, King deftly reminds the reader about famous characters and story lines. There are many comparisons with lots of fairy tales, especially Jack and the Beanstalk. Charlie meets several princes, princesses, ogres, monsters, talking animals, and more once he descends into an alternative world below the shed of Mr. Bowditch's house. He gets put into a position to play the hero.Fairy Tale is not Stephen King's best. My personal faves are The Stand and The Shining, but it's solid King that keeps you turning the pages, loving the characters, and connecting with the plot. One of the many interesting things that King does throughout the book, is illustrate the beginning of each chapter. The pictures resemble old wood-cuts from the Hans Christian Andersen tales. Besides the fairy tale tie-in, King brings up God a few times with universal themes of good vs. evil. Besides the AA program with God as a higher power and Charlie's deal with God, King uses the name Gogmagog as the name of the evil force/character that has taken over the fairy tale world. Gogmagog is technically a famous giant and also goes with King's mention of Jack and the Beanstalk. Furthermore, Gog and Magog as separate words are biblical references from Revelation that focuses on the End of Days. The characters in both Charlie's life and his alternative fairy tale life are some of the same, like a mirroring effect. We all have princes, villains, fairy godmothers, ogres, and other archetypes that show up throughout our lives. We have also played these archetypal roles for others. Joseph Campbell, author of Hero with a Thousand Faces, wrote about how mythological and fairy tale characters are ingrained within our psyche. Lastly, Stephen King is currently 75 years old. For decades, he has never failed to entertain us with his infinite imagination. I will always be a fan. Fairy Tale does not disappoint! 5 Stars.

Reviewer: MommaLayne
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Spellbinding Journey Through a Parallel World of Good and Evil
Review: "Fairy Tale" by Stephen King is a captivating novel that showcases the legendary author’s remarkable ability to weave intricate, imaginative narratives. The story follows seventeen-year-old Charlie Reade, an ordinary high school student whose life has been deeply affected by the tragic loss of his mother and his father's descent into alcoholism. When he befriends a dog named Radar and her reclusive owner, Howard Bowditch, Charlie uncovers a life-changing secret hidden within Bowditch's mysterious shed: a portal to a parallel world teetering on the brink of war between good and evil.As Charlie takes on odd jobs for Mr. Bowditch and forms a bond with Radar, he learns of the extraordinary and terrifying challenges that await him in the other realm upon Bowditch's passing. Armed with the knowledge that the fate of both worlds hangs in the balance, Charlie must rise to the occasion and confront the malevolent forces threatening everything he holds dear. King expertly balances thrilling adventure with poignant themes of loss, love, and heroism, crafting a narrative that draws readers into a richly imagined world filled with danger and wonder. "Fairy Tale" is a must-read for fans of fantastical stories that explore the depths of courage and the eternal battle between light and darkness.

Reviewer: Austin Collins
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Worthwhile Tale
Review: I began my journey reading Stephen King, I would say this was a delightful read. The first half of the book was stellar and concluded satisfactorily. King is a master of writing characters and making the audience fall in love with them. I know this isn't one of his classics or more renowned, but I recommend this to anyone who loves fascinating characters and witnessing incredible storytelling.

Reviewer: PrivateShopper
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Not at all what I expected
Review: I am not, in the grand scheme of things, what anyone might call a big Stephen King fan. I have enjoyed a few of his works, appreciate his skill and talent, but overall, I prefer my fantasy reading of a lighter sort. However, I came across a book deal on this one and thought the premise sounded interesting and decided to give it a try. It was not at all what I expected, but I loved it anyway. Not in the way that perhaps I will go back and re-read it over and over again, but in the way where a story you read stays with you long after you’ve closed its pages, and you think of it fondly at random times for years and years later. I started by listening to the book through Audible (the narration was wonderful and “made” a big part of why I loved this so much), and became so enamored I went ahead and purchased the kindle version so I could surreptitiously read it anytime I had a free moment because I was in such a hurry to finish the story. I fell in love with Charlie, with Howard, with Dora, Woody, and most importantly, with Radar. I stopped the book only once, and committed the “sin” of googling a synopsis online to make sure that the one thing I feared did not come to pass in this book, because I was afraid my heart couldn’t take it. It didn’t, or so the summary said, and I progressed on, only to be sad when I reached the end that it was over so quickly. So, if you are like me, looking for something unexpected, an atypical fantasy- a little dark, perhaps, but not deeply or horrifically so- with flawed characters you cannot help but love, a book which reminds you both of all of the best of your childhood fantasies and the bittersweet tang of growing up, I encourage you to give this book (and its audible version) a try. I will give only one note, to those like me who might otherwise be afraid to read it without it— **SPOILER ALERT***(The dog does NOT die.)

Reviewer: Antonio
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Me gustó que llegara pronto y bien empaquetado, la encuadernación me gustó y creo aguantará mis viajes. Recomendada lectura.

Reviewer: Luiza
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I think everyone should read fairy tale, is one of my favorite king's stories. It's so original and moving, I'm reading for the second time already and can't stop turning the pages.I love how Charlie is very kind and gentle after all life gave him, in the end of the day it's really about the person we chose to be despite the bad things that happened to us

Reviewer: Jelena Petrovic
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Another excellent story by Stephen King! This book kind of took on a different approach then what I was expecting. Overall it is a great new world setting where the main character is faced with numerous challenges and surprises. There were many different themes and topics presented throughout to keep you engaged and entertained. There is definitely potential for future continuations within this story line!

Reviewer: P
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Ottimo

Reviewer: Geert Daelemans
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: King is not known for brevity, but this feels a bit too slow. It takes halh a book to get to the essence. Not bad, but not a masterpiece either.