This has got to be one of the shortest books that Stephen King has ever written at a mere 292 pages, however he has not scrimped on the writing style and his sheer story telling ability. As with all Stephen King books that I have ever read, you get the feeling you are actually there and can almost visualise what is happening.
The story revolves around a 9 year old girl called Trisha McFarland. Her parents had got divorced a year ago, and their mother had gotten custody and moved from Boston to Southern Maine. Pete, Trishas older brother wasn't happy about this as it meant he would lose all his school friends, plus he secretly would have preferred to have gone and lived with their dad.
Ten o'clock one morning in early June, Trisha's mother decides that they will all go on an outing, and drives to a local woods, where she plans the route they will take along the Appalachian Trail. Whilst they walked Trisha's mother and brother Pete walked up ahead bickering all the while. Later on during their walk they come to a "Y" in the road and their mother decides they need to take the fork on the left. Shortly after taking this turning Trisha needs to go to the toilet, and keeps shouting to her mum and brother to let them know, but they don't hear her.
Trisha decides to walk the small way back to where the fork in the road was and go up the other fork slightly out of sight, so no one would see her going to the toilet. Once finished Trisha thinks she can see a short cut back to her mum and brother, which in actual fact isn't a short cut and leads her into the tangled undergrowth, deeper and deeper into the terrifying woods.
To begin with Trisha just becomes hungry, and then after a while starts getting stung by mosquitoes and other bugs, but being she has forgotten the insect repellent she smothers herself in mud. For solace, Trisha tunes into the local radio station on her Walkman which she had brought with her to listen to the 'Red Sox' baseball game and the performance of her favourite player and hero Tom Gordon. When the reception begins to fade, and the fact that Trisha is getting weaker due to lack of food, she starts to imagine that Tom Gordon is in actual fact with her.
As darkness begins to fall, Trisha begins to give up hope of being found alive, and as she struggles for survival and a way out, she realises that from within the depth of the woods, something sinister is watching her, and waiting.
I won't elaborate any more on the story of the book, but I personally feel that it is well written and very easy to read, as sometimes Stephen King books are a bit heavy on the eyes so to speak. However,I myself have just read it within 3 days.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I personally didn't think very much of this book. But I only rated it as helpful as I would have prefered to read a bit more about what you liked or disliked about it rather than so much about the story. It read a bit like the jacket of the book. Sorry about that
LICARUS 10.08.2002 22:27
Im afraid I have to disagree with you about not wanting to put it down, I really struggled with this King book - and didnt enjoy it at all! Emm
julietta 10.08.2002 22:19
I voted 'helpful' as I personally think you could have included less of the plot and more on the writer. King is one of those all or nothing writers (you either love his stuff or hate it) and his writing style possibly demands a little further discussion as it is thus so unique. This isn't meant to be patronising, I merely hope this helps to explain my rating. Cheers - J!
Stephen King has been for so long the master of the thick blockbuster horror paperback ... more
that it is salutary to be reminded of the quieter writer of shorter, tighter stories that he also is. His new novella could hardly be simpler--a nine-year-old girl...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Stephen King has been for so long the master of the thick blockbuster horror paperback ... more
that it is salutary to be reminded of the quieter writer of shorter, tighter stories that he also is. His new novella could hardly be simpler--a nine-year-old girl...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Stephen King has been for so long the master of the thick blockbuster horror paperback ... more
that it is salutary to be reminded of the quieter writer of shorter, tighter stories that he also is. His new novella could hardly be simpler--a nine-year-old girl...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
very helpful by (81%):
helpful by (19%):
