Jun 19, 2001 05:15 AM
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Hearts In Atlantis - Stephen King
Stephen King has often been accused of churning out boring old tosh year after year, and there are many that think that Hearts In Atlantis is the same as all the others. I'm inclined to disagree.
The book is a collection of five stories running from 1960 to 1999. These stories are linked by common characters, and by the fact that the characters all felt the effects of the Vietnam War.
Looking at the reviews that this book has received elsewhere, I was quite surprised at the extreme reactions - many King fanatics love it, and just as many absolutely hate it, since it isn't a horror. Non King fans criticise it heavily - where are the people who just aren't bothered?
I am not a Stephen King fan - I like a lot of his books - his non horrors especially. His horror stories often feel overdone to me - he lacks the subtlety and originality that I feel a horror novel needs to be truly scary. Or perhaps he loses that subtlety when he writes horror.
As a story of a bunch of kids growing up in the 60s, this book works well. The issue of how friendships change during life changing experiences is well handled, as is the issue of what happens when one friend is not involved.
The Vietnam feeling is covered fairly well - it's not a war book, although there are points where characters are seen fighting. The major point of the book is what the average person feels about the war - the teenagers are scared of being sent to fight if they do badly in their studies - the woman feels sorry for the veteran on the streets, etc.
The links between each story are good enough that you want to read on, although you may find yourself feeling a little let down after the first story, as it is the best in the book. It is especially strong because it features references to the Gunslinger novels. Hopefully a sign that there are more of these to come shortly!
If you buy this expecting a scary read then you will be disappointed. If you approach it with an open mind and simply wanting to read and see where it takes you, I think you will find the developments of the lives of the characters to be quite interesting. You may even find that you think it is a pretty good book. Not one of the best books on Earth, maybe not even the best that King has written, but pretty good all the same.
I urge you all to give it a chance, not a bad read at 672 pages long.
ISBN: 0671024248
