REVIEW: Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King & Richard Chizmar @cemeterydance @richardchizmar @stephenking
Gwendy's Button Boxby Stephen King & Richard Chizmar
Cemetary Dance Publications
🔲 AVAILABLE NOW 🔲
The little town of Castle Rock, Maine has witnessed some strange events and unusual visitors over the years, but there is one story that has never been told... until now.
There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974 twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong (if time-rusted) iron bolts and zig-zag up the cliffside.
At the top of the stairs, Gwendy catches her breath and listens to the shouts of the kids on the playground. From a bit farther away comes the chink of an aluminum bat hitting a baseball as the Senior League kids practice for the Labor Day charity game.
One day, a stranger calls to Gwendy: "Hey, girl. Come on over here for a bit. We ought to palaver, you and me."
On a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat like for a suit, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. On his head is a small neat black hat. The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat...
There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974 twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong (if time-rusted) iron bolts and zig-zag up the cliffside.
At the top of the stairs, Gwendy catches her breath and listens to the shouts of the kids on the playground. From a bit farther away comes the chink of an aluminum bat hitting a baseball as the Senior League kids practice for the Labor Day charity game.
One day, a stranger calls to Gwendy: "Hey, girl. Come on over here for a bit. We ought to palaver, you and me."
On a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat like for a suit, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. On his head is a small neat black hat. The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat...
My Review:
It takes a lot for a novella or short story to really WOW me. I realize how difficult it is to put everything you want into a short story - or rather, as a reader, to get everything I want from one. This isn't to say it can't be done because it most definitely can.. I just usually want MORE - and that's not necessary a bad thing! Sometimes collaborations don't work well, but in this case I think that it did.
What I loved about this book is Gwendy. King and Chizmar did well in her character development. From the age of twelve, when she is first approached, to her as an adult and trying to stay away from the power that has been bestowed upon her.
Imagine having a box where tiny chocolates seem to empower you with the ability to do no wrong and you have the power to destroy whatever you want at the push of... well, a button! How strong would you be to not abuse this power?
I enjoyed this book and read it in an hour. A feat even for my fast reading eyes as I was completely engaged. However, I felt like something was just ... missing... I don't know if I just needed more or what. Also, I felt the ending to be a little flat. That was it? I feel like maybe I missed something here (and I did go back and read the ending again just in case but felt the same), which is the only reason I drop this to a four star rating.
★★★★
Imagine having a box where tiny chocolates seem to empower you with the ability to do no wrong and you have the power to destroy whatever you want at the push of... well, a button! How strong would you be to not abuse this power?
I enjoyed this book and read it in an hour. A feat even for my fast reading eyes as I was completely engaged. However, I felt like something was just ... missing... I don't know if I just needed more or what. Also, I felt the ending to be a little flat. That was it? I feel like maybe I missed something here (and I did go back and read the ending again just in case but felt the same), which is the only reason I drop this to a four star rating.
★★★★
No comments
Leave a Comment