Revival discussion thread *SPOILERS*
I've read a lot of books this year and I'm not sure it would make the top 10 - but it's a good one.
It's certainly my favorite SK book in a long time...I liked 11/22/63 but it was SO long. And I couldn't stand Dr. Sleep. And Under the Dome was good but sort of goofy. I really liked Full Dark, No Stars, though - so I guess it's my favorite since FDNS.
My review on Amazon is the "most helpful!" Haha
Overall, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I didnt really dislike the book, but I had such high hopes for it. When being compared to Pet Semetary as his scariest book, with his darkest ending to date, I managed to convince myself that this book would be a return to form for King, possible harkening back to the Bachman days. It fell short. I thought the first half or so was a good coming of age story with a great fall from innocence story entwined. As a guitar player for over 20 years, I could really identify with those parts relating to Jamie's life as a musician and enjoyed that aspect of the book. However, I felt like the book lost its bearings about 2/3 of the way through, and never fully recovered. I thought there was going to be some kind of Frankenstein ending, and too an extent there was, but it did not resonate with me. I love Lovecraft, and while I get the nod to one of King's major influences, I felt that it was trying too hard to be a nod to Lovecraft. The ending felt like fanfiction, something I never want to see from SK. All in all, it was a decent book, by no means bottom tier for King, but it was certainly not top shelf.
Sloth Love Chunk
Oh boy. Just finished, now have to go to the puppy kitten sunshine store.
I really enjoyed Revival for what it was, and I was re-reading Pet Sematary the day before I bought it, so the parallels were fully on display for me. While it may not be as scary as Pet Sematary (when people compare the two, I don't think that's what they're comparing), as an exploration on death, it makes for a perfect companion piece. If anyone's interested, I have a podcast review available on www.stephenkingcast.podbean.com
Just finished reading it last night. While I did thing the ending was a bit rushed, after I finished reading (at nearly 2am because I couldn't stop at that point), I sat there seriously creeped out for a bit before I went to sleep. I also really liked the character of Jamie and felt quite connected to him. Overall, I felt like it was pretty good, but not one of his best.
I am Daenerys Stormborn and I will take what is mine. With fire and blood.
I really enjoyed Revival. It's not one of his best (I'd put it in that 30-35 slot range), but it's King so it's pretty darn good. Lots of memorable scenes and quotes. I really liked the characters of Jamie Morton and Charles Jacobs. As a rock-n-roll guy, I absolutely adored all the music references and scenes. The scenes with Chrome Roses gigging were glorious! Best band name ever. I also really liked how the narrative covered a time period of over 50 years. The ending was a little bit of a let down for me, but it still built a heck of a lot of suspense. It was creepy and it made you think (which is always a good thing). Add Charles Jacobs to the list of particularly memorable SK characters. A man on a mission. Clinical trials be damned!
I thoroughly enjoyed it, but agree it's not his best work. The ending concept was very creepy and well written, but my first thought upon completion was, "This is basically a short story that got away from him".
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????
Finally finished this up last night and enjoyed the book. Following a character throughout stages of their life worked for me and I almost wondered if the author was reminiscing slightly about his own life and seriously contemplating the big mystery of the after life when creating this story.
I've never seen this Saul Bass movie but I wonder if it was a subliminal inspiration for Steve:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_IV
Is Steve trying to say something about human nature/fleetingness of life/live life to the fullest with this book? If the ending weren't so silly I would say maybe he is. I kind of want to be completely dismissive about this book but I want to give Steve the benefit of doubt. He's never been one to write allegories (besides the addiction AA stuff) before or maybe I just never noticed.
Phase IV i have seen that film. man is that a shitty film. anyways i got this for X-mas and it's nice to be on here. i got a new puter early this year. and i kept forgetting to add this on the new puter. anyways i'm only on Chapter 2 so i dunno what to think of it just yet.
I LOVES this book. It was really nostalgic and I loved the villain in many ways. Great King book and very happy with it!
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
Originally Posted by webstar1000
I MUST say that I can see this as a TV series with Anthony Michael Hall as Jacobs.
I don't see a series often at all so that IS saying something! I think it could be done.
All that's left of what we were is what we have become.
I would think more like, John Boy. Richard Thomas?
I MUST say that I can see this as a TV series with Anthony Michael Hall as Jacobs.
I don't see a series often at all so that IS saying something! I think it could be done.
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????
Finished it last night. Like some others said, I really liked the first 50-60 pages and thought it was a great intro. From there, though, it just seemed to go on and on without anything really exciting happening. It's almost as if SK was writing the story just to get to the few pages in the climax (which, while exciting, was kind of a disappointment after reading so many reviews and marketing materials that kept saying how dark it was). I kept thinking that Jacobs was going to try and resurrect Patsy and Morrie (now that would have been dark) rather than just wanting to glimpse what was after death.
Also, what are everyone's opinions on the "afterlife" that Jamie and Jacobs saw? To me it seems like it was a version of an afterlife, not the afterlife. Maybe a version of Hell? It would make sense, especially since Jacobs didn't really know what was behind the door he was opening. Maybe there are many doors and he just picked the wrong one to open.
A NEW GAME BEGINS
I just finished reading if last night. I thought the same thing about the afterlife. Jacobs had done so many twisted things throughout the years, that we were catching a glimpse of his Hell. Unfortunately, he was taking all of those he cured with him. I would think his wife and son, along with Jamie's sister ended up in a more peaceful place.
Still, reading the last 50 pages right before bed was not smart! Very creepy ending!!
Boy, does this book ever do well on a second reading. There is a lot of subtle foreshadowing that makes sense once you know what is going to happen at the end. Many, many mentions of ants and the evil female presence beyond (which is reminiscent of the Other from Bag of Bones). You have to realize that Jamie Morton is telling this story after his final encounter with Charlie Jacobs, so he knows where the story's headed from page 1.
I'm listening to the audio version. David Morse is a great narrator.
Author of The Road to the Dark Tower, Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work, Life, and Influences and The Dark Tower Companion. Co-editor with Stephen King of the anthology Flight or Fright.
Yes. Hope he does more.
*I've scrolled through this thread since I know there are spoilers abound.
I'm halfway through and I'm really enjoying it. I've just read the part where Jamie and Hugh are swapping stories about their experiences with being "healed". I must say, the part with Jamie waking up in the field behind the hotel, jabbing the fork into his arm, and repeatedly saying "Something Happened" was very eerie. I'm obviously dying to know just what in the hell happened while he was undergoing the shock treatment.
Also, I never get tired of King making reference to his other works in his stories; the former name of the band Jamie was in being called The Gunslingers, Rev. Jacobs mentioning working at Joyland, the number 19 being mentioned, etc.
Ultimately mediocre. I found the first 50 or 60 pages slow and the total mediocre... not just for King. It had some potential points. Had King explored the lightning and the particular pole...but he did not.
On to the next book hoping for more.
All that's left of what we were is what we have become.
I finished this the other day. I hate to say it, but I wasn't too happy with the ending. The story was great, but seemed to build and build up to nothing. As Ricky mentioned in his post, I was really expecting to find out that Jacobs was going to attempt to resurrect his wife and son. That would have been much darker (as reviews all over the place have implied that the ending was) than huge ants running some version of hell or purgatory or whatever it was.
A NEW GAME BEGINS
With all due respect, I think you need to go back and re-read the last chapter. That was extremely horrifying in its bleakness for the after life. JMHO of course.
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????
That's exactly how I felt. The ending seriously freaked me out! I made the mistake of finishing the book right before going to bed. It was awhile before I had that image of the afterlife out of my head.With all due respect, I think you need to go back and re-read the last chapter. That was extremely horrifying in its bleakness for the after life. JMHO of course.
Now, don't get me wrong. Should I get to the after life one day only to discover that it is just like the version in Revival, I'll scream in agony "No, they were right! This is horrifying."With all due respect, I think you need to go back and re-read the last chapter. That was extremely horrifying in its bleakness for the after life. JMHO of course.
But, as far as being the ending to a really good book, it just didn't do it for me. And it pains me to say that about a King novel.
Yeah I don't see what's so bleak about that ending. All I know is that, according to King at least, my neighbour with "Christians aren't perfect-just saved" bumper sticker is sorely mistaken.
Dunno, pick a random Brian Hodge (from his "The Misbegotten" mythos) or any Laird Barron story if you truly want bleak, unnerving and terrorizing. And they don't even show you the monster or the afterlife. Maybe I just built up an immunity after those two.
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