When bestselling crime writer Mike Noonan's wife dies, he suffers from writer's block. Until he is drawn from Derry to his lakeside retreat, Sara Laughs - a house once inhabited by a famous singer. It's a community run by rich, tyrannical, wheelchair-bound Devore and his terrifying, skeletal female bookkeeper. Devore is hell-bent on getting custody of his grandchild. Three year old Kyra and her young mother, Mattie, turn to Mike for help - and Mike, besotted by Mattie, is powerless to resist. But there are others at Sara Laughs determined to prevent Mike's success - and Kyra can feel them too....
Bag of Bones
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Amazon Review
Bag of Bones is partly inspired by Daphne du Maurier's classic Rebecca, but there's more than homage in this novel of horror and romance. Like du Maurier's Manderley, King's scary old place (on the shore of Maine's remote Dark Score Lake) is haunted by the late lady of the manor. There are many gory ghosts afoot though: men, women and wailing kids. The hero, a thriller novelist, stirs up hell's angry shades while investigating his wife's death. It turns out she either had a dark secret herself or was onto some dread scandal lurking in Dark Score Lake. As in King's previous book, Wizard and Glass, the fabric of reality is thin and nosy narrators are in peril of plunging right out of this world and into a rather hostile otherworld.
Bag of Bones is a writer-haunted book, too. The spirits of Herman Melville and Ray Bradbury are deeply felt, and so are the tale's two romances (the hero muses on his marriage and falls for a young single mum with a marvellous psychic daughter). There is also good- humoured satire of the real bestseller book world--the hero complains that "the publicity process is like going to a sushi bar where you're the sushi." In its deep concerns with love, sprawling families, the writer's life, endangered children and good old-fashioned storytelling, the book resembles a John Irving novel. It is also absolutely classic Stephen King, packed with nifty turns of phrase, irreverent wit and lurid ghouls who grab you from beneath the bed while you cower under the covers. --Tim Appelo, Amazon.com
Review
'Accomplished...unputdownable...his mesmerising best' (Robert McCrum, Observer )
'Splendid entertainment' (Frances Fyfield, Express )
'Will make perfect holiday reading' (Daily Mail )
'An incredibly gifted writer...so fluid that you often forget that you're reading' (Guardian )
'Splendid entertainment' (Frances Fyfield, Express )
'Will make perfect holiday reading' (Daily Mail )
'An incredibly gifted writer...so fluid that you often forget that you're reading' (Guardian )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was up until midnight last night finishing off this book, which has taken me ten years since it's original release - but unfortuneatly it was one of King's books that passed me by. However, I recently decided to go through all of King's work again, starting with Carrie, and Bag of Bones was next in line. I think the reason I delayed reading this book, was because it wasn't King's typical early "horror" style of writing - but a more developed of late King style, where he incroporates more of a supernatural, psychadelic thriller atmosphere, rather than going for all out horror and gore. This, however, isn't a bad thing, and to be honest, after reading this book, I have come to realise that King's more developed style is his best--and Bag of Bones, in my oppinion, is also his best.
Never before have I felt so involved with the characters--not to the same degree as I did with this book. It follows the story of Mike Noonan, and Irish writer living in Derry, America, who's mourning the sudden death of his wife Jo. So much so, that he encounters writers block--a writers worst nightmare. After confronting his fears of returning to his holiday home where they shared so many wonderful memories together, Mike encounters a young woman called Mattie, and her three year old daughter Kyra. Ironically enough, Mattie has problems of her own, after the death of her husband, now her extremely wealthy father-in-law is seeking custody of Kyra claiming that Mattie is not fit to be a mother. And so, the story unfolds as Mike gets involved with the case, and eventually finds the two girls irresistable.
Romance, horror, thriller, dark comedy--there's a lot of genres incorporated into one, and although my synopsis of the story makes it sound like a romance story, it's so much more than that.... Read more ›
Never before have I felt so involved with the characters--not to the same degree as I did with this book. It follows the story of Mike Noonan, and Irish writer living in Derry, America, who's mourning the sudden death of his wife Jo. So much so, that he encounters writers block--a writers worst nightmare. After confronting his fears of returning to his holiday home where they shared so many wonderful memories together, Mike encounters a young woman called Mattie, and her three year old daughter Kyra. Ironically enough, Mattie has problems of her own, after the death of her husband, now her extremely wealthy father-in-law is seeking custody of Kyra claiming that Mattie is not fit to be a mother. And so, the story unfolds as Mike gets involved with the case, and eventually finds the two girls irresistable.
Romance, horror, thriller, dark comedy--there's a lot of genres incorporated into one, and although my synopsis of the story makes it sound like a romance story, it's so much more than that.... Read more ›
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I thought this would be another top class gruesome horror but I realised last week that I was 2/3 the way through the book and nothing gruesome had happened compared to a lot of his most horrfic scenes. i found myself disapointed but also enjoying this whole other world that king was showing me other emotions that are in the human mind, not just fear. But now fear of the unknown. i also felt it was a bit of a crime novel than a horror. DON'T buy this if you want a horror novel or a classic King book but do if you want a couple of weeks on a book that will captivate and entertain you.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read most of Stephen King`s work and i think that this is one that would have been better if it was shorter as it left me having to make the effort to finish it,not terrible but not one of his best.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I have been reading SK novels for more years then I care to remember, but I have found his recent novel rather boring and hard to read. It took me months to finish 'Bag of Bones' (I could previously finish a SK novel in a day)! This novel could of been half the pages. I wish he would get back to some good old fashion writing. The Stand/IT etc. I will still carrying on reading SK hoping the old magic will come back.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I HAVEN'T READ A STEPHEN KING NOVEL FOR A WHILE, MAINLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE'D LOST HIS TOUCH AND THE BOOKS BECAME TOO HARD TO BELIEVE OR BECOME INVOLVED IN. BAG OF BONES IS DIFFERENT. FROM THE FIRST PAGE, KING MADE HIS MAIN CHARACTER TOTALLY BELIEVABLE AND HIS PAIN AND INTENSE FEELINGS TOWARDS HIS WIFE AND MATTIE DEVORE WERE EXTREMELY WELL OBSERVED. THE CHARACTER OF MAX DEVORE AND THE REVELATIONS ABOUT THE PAST WERE PURE EVIL AND ALTHOUGH NOT AS TERRIFYING AS "IT", GAVE ME NIGHTMARES. FOLLOWING THIS I'LL CERTAINLY BE BUYING THE NEXT STEPHEN KING AND HOPING IT COMES UP TO THIS STANDARD.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
A nice ghost story with the usual King detail touches (Ralph Roberts from Insomnia gets a brief mention) that allude to the greater King World of Horror, this book is definately a good page turner, if a little anti-climatic toward the end. Certainly a better read than some of his books from the early 90's, and far better than the dismal Rose Madder, you find yourself wondering if there isn't an element of autobiography in the story (with the storing of manuscripts). I hope not. The idea of Stephen King's pen running dry would be a truly miserable one.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've enjoyed several of Stephen King's books including Carrie & Salem's Lot, but this one left me cold, in fact I didn't/couldn't even finish it. It's far too long, half the number of pages would be more than enough to cover the plot. The rambling dream sequences are simply a waste of paper. I won't be buying anymore Stephen King.
If this book had been written by a new author, it's likely it wouldn't have got past first base!
If this book had been written by a new author, it's likely it wouldn't have got past first base!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By MrAsh
Format:Paperback
It's about a writer (no surprise) suffering from chronic writer's block. He retreats to a cabin in the woods (where else?) and battles personal demons, an evil tyrant, and a ghost. There is a love interest in the real world and his dead wife in the nether. It's classic King and I loved it. Detailed characters and enough wit, plot and surprise to maintain the pace. A meaty book, but a nimble one. Now we all know King can drop the baton towards the end, but not this time; the conclusion is honest, brave and satisfying. Definitely worth a look.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed
I love Stephen King but this was a drag to read not enuf action...too many dragged out scenarios which i found boring !
Published 3 months ago by mrs sheron daly
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent, slow- burn chiller
If all you're looking for is blood and gore, then no, this isn't the book for you. I loved King's earlier work, Christine in particular was a memorable fright fest, and 'salem's... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sarah S
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bag of Bones
The Tv version was good, but the book was twice as interesting. Not the best Stephen King, but a decent read all the same
Published 4 months ago by Mr. L. G. Pettefar
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bag of bones.
Very poor packaging but it came within time limit. Receipt with it also but not happy with the way it was wrapped.
Published 4 months ago by Elizabeth Thomson
4.0 out of 5 stars
great story
great story great read and really gripping at what it is about you really get interested in whats going to happen
Published 4 months ago by janwoolley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bag of Boines
stephen king at his best. unputdownable!!!! (and that's not even a word!!) I read it in two days and i only read at bedtime
Published 4 months ago by Steve Guest
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
An awful lot of padding and waffle may be his style, but it detracts from the telling of the tale. Gave up on it I'm afraid.
Published 4 months ago by Poggle
4.0 out of 5 stars
Usual Stephen King Story Telling
As a lifelong SK fan, i was a little disappointed with this one, takes a while to get started, rather long winded in the beginning.
Published 4 months ago by Karen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb writing
Dont know how I missed this one before, an excellent read - one of his best. Amazing how involved you can get in SK's characters, they are just so REAL! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Gail
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
What can I say It's by Stephen KIng, Love reading anything by him, highley recomend reading this book, He's the master of suspence
Published 5 months ago by P. Dunne
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