Bag of Bones
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk 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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 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. The story is well told, nicely paced, and the ending (although some have stated is a bit of an anti-climax) is superb. I really can't understand any of the complaints with this book, but I guess each to their own. The book leaves you satisfied, with everything that needed to be answered, answered, but leaving just enough questions to make you want to read it all again. I feel quite sad in a way to have finished this book, because the character are so real, that it's easy to get tied up in the problems that surround them. Amazingly enough, the book that surpassed me previously has ended up being possily my favourite book on my shelf. I really couldn't recommend this book enough.
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. The story is well told, nicely paced, and the ending (although some have stated is a bit of an anti-climax) is superb. I really can't understand any of the complaints with this book, but I guess each to their own. The book leaves you satisfied, with everything that needed to be answered, answered, but leaving just enough questions to make you want to read it all again. I feel quite sad in a way to have finished this book, because the character are so real, that it's easy to get tied up in the problems that surround them. Amazingly enough, the book that surpassed me previously has ended up being possily my favourite book on my shelf. I really couldn't recommend this book enough.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I seem to remember reading a review that said this was up to the standard of his earlier work, however, it isn't and it's defintely the weakest SK book I have read. I found it very slow, long winded, and the author seemed to repeat things over and over.
By the time I'd found out what was going on I'd almost lost interest and that whole custody case thing was utter rubbish, it was at odds with the whole climax of the story, I won't put it here as it might ruin the story for others, but email me if you want to know what I mean.
This book should have been a short story at most.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bag of Bones
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. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Abplanalp Freda
Great book
I am very happy of quick purchasing of my book. The book is new and it is in ideal condition. Defiantly worth the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Published 8 months ago by Agnes
Unbelievably disappointing
Stephen King woke up one day and thought what is it that makes me a great writer? He realised it is his ability to examine complex human feelings such as fear through original and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Nojiggerchick
Good Reading on Three Levels
I'll risk looking gushy and amateurish according to the standards of book reviewing (see The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing) by giving Bag of Bones 5 stars. Read more
Published 12 months ago by John M. Ford
Superb novel from the master of horror.
Stephen King's novels have matured gradually over the years, and "Bag of Bones" shows just how far he has progressed as a writer since the beginning of his career. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Alexander Wilson
Didn't like it- found it confusing
I read this book about a year ago and i couldn't tell you the story now if you asked. I found it rather confusing and didn't follow it. Read more
Published 22 months ago by megamarble
so close to perfection!
For this its between this and the green mile for my favorite step hen King book. (I haven't read the stand yet though! Read more
Published on 1 April 2010 by fenderman21guitar
100 words on Bag of Bones
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. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2009 by AJ
Bag of Bones
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... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2008 by Mr. J. C. Hull
Sorry to the fans!
I found this book really hard to get into. I have been reading King ever since I was 13 and this was one of the few I've really struggled with. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2008 by H. Butler
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