In Bradbury’s unforgettable modern Gothic masterpiece, Something Wicked This Way Comes, something evil arrives in a small Midwester... read full description
reviews
Aug 05, 2008
Douglas
rated it: 
I cannot imagine a better book for a father and, say, his teenage or even adult son to read togther and discuss. Try this question: what is this "something wicked"? Set in rural Illinois, after the war to end all wars, a father lives with his hidden disillusions and personal failures, while all the while trying to keep the magic and trust alive in his son. (The spirit of this is very much like William Stafford's poem, "To Kit On the Beach, Age 7.")
The father is t More...
The father is t More...
Apr 06, 2009
Okay! So I read this book like Middle School. (He was my favorite, then! I learned it from my mother.)
I even taught it one time. When? I'm not sure. Not L.A., 2001. Then, Fahrenheit 451. But sometime. (Maybe just a long-term sub. job.)
Anyhow, I'm reading it as a book-on-tape right now!
I was thinking...I'm writing some book right now. But I realized some of it I must have got inspired subconsciously by So.g Wicked. Slightly similar.
So, on one han More...
I even taught it one time. When? I'm not sure. Not L.A., 2001. Then, Fahrenheit 451. But sometime. (Maybe just a long-term sub. job.)
Anyhow, I'm reading it as a book-on-tape right now!
I was thinking...I'm writing some book right now. But I realized some of it I must have got inspired subconsciously by So.g Wicked. Slightly similar.
So, on one han More...
Sep 09, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
Some of the most beautifully written prose I've ever read, this story is truly a work of art. It also points out the difference between literary fiction -- which this is -- and popular fiction. Readers of popular fiction (which is what I write and I'm certainly not putting it down) expect things to move along quickly and don't enjoy chewing on dense poetic descriptions. I've seen some reviews of this novel, which make that clear. But Bradbury is a master wordsmith, and writers can learn a lo
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Dec 20, 2006
Courtney
rated it: 
Two boys, close friends but different as night and day, have left summer behind and have begrudgingly started a new year of school. One fall night, in the wee hours, a carnival comes to town...something about it doesn't seem quite right, and something creepy is happening to the townspeople.
This book is a great, quick read - themes of friendship, growing up, the dark side of human nature.
This book is a great, quick read - themes of friendship, growing up, the dark side of human nature.
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May 20, 2011
M.J.
rated it:
Exceptionally spooky and filled with the ghouls and monsters of your deepest nightmares, Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of Ray Bradbury's masterpieces for a reason. The themes are epic: the innocence and potential of youth are forced into combat with spiritual and moral corruption. Freedom is brought up against indentured servitude. In the simplest terms, good is pitted against evil. The halls of this madhouse are decorated with Bradbury's eternally capable and magical prose, and ins
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Sep 24, 2009
Shellie (Layers of Thought)
rated it: 
2nd Witch: By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. [Knocking:] Open locks, Whoever knocks! [Enter Macbeth:]
Macbeth: How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!
What is't you do? (Macbeth Act 4, scene 1, 44–49)
Summary:
This classic fantasy/horror tale was originally published in 1963. It revolves around Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade whom are the best of friends and live next door to one another. They are inseparable with Will being th More...
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Mar 28, 2007
Andrea
rated it:
This is one of my all-time favorites. It's a beautifully written story about two best friends and what happens to them when a carnival comes to their small town. It was an intense, moving, frightening read. Ray Bradbury is at the top of his game here.
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Aug 21, 2010
Bruce
rated it:
At hour of three in the morning Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show slips into Green Town, Illinois. Will Halloway and his best friend Jim Nightshade have awaited its arrival with both trepidation and anticipation. Late October is an unusual time of year for carnival to visit town. Visiting the carnival the next day they meet one of their seventh-grade teachers, Miss Foley. Miss Foley becomes disoriented after entering the Mirror Maze. When she comes out she’s babbling about a little girl lo
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Nov 03, 2009
Dana
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Note: this review is only for "A Sound Of Thunder"
Review in the least amount of words: Poor butterfly.
I got scared when I reached the end of this story, don't know why. Ray Bradbury's a genius, he thought of everything. But I would've thought, given the chain-reaction example given by Travis, time-travel would've been considered too dangerous. I still don't understand how the death of one butterfly could've caused people to forget how to spell and the change in the pr More...
Review in the least amount of words: Poor butterfly.
I got scared when I reached the end of this story, don't know why. Ray Bradbury's a genius, he thought of everything. But I would've thought, given the chain-reaction example given by Travis, time-travel would've been considered too dangerous. I still don't understand how the death of one butterfly could've caused people to forget how to spell and the change in the pr More...
Apr 24, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
A Sound of Thunder: You know how every once in awhile, you read (or watch) something in which the end causes your stomach to jump into your throat as if you were on a steep, steep roller coaster? Well, I had that experience when I was in 5th grade, reading a story about how some kids go back in time to see dinosaurs, and one of them steps off the path, and when they come back, he is horrified to find that things are almost, but not quite the same - and then finds a smooshed butterfly on his shoe
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Nov 03, 2009
Maria
rated it:
I struggled listening to this book, I found myself stopping after each chapter to digest it. I'm not a big fan of Ray Bradbury so I was surprised at how much I liked this one.
I loved that Will's father believed him when Will and Jim their story.
P.S. The Disney movie was dated. The special effects from 1982 did not stand the test of time. Not to mention that they changed the ending from the book. I liked the book's ending much more.
I loved that Will's father believed him when Will and Jim their story.
P.S. The Disney movie was dated. The special effects from 1982 did not stand the test of time. Not to mention that they changed the ending from the book. I liked the book's ending much more.
Jun 11, 2011
Tracy
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Ray Bradbury has such an amazing vocabulary that you find yourself almost one of the characters in the story. Something Wicked This Way Comes is the stuff of nightmares.
The Sound of Thunder is a short story but makes a good case for the theory that a butterfly flaps it's wings in Australia and creates a tornado in North America.
The Sound of Thunder is a short story but makes a good case for the theory that a butterfly flaps it's wings in Australia and creates a tornado in North America.
Jul 13, 2010
Karissa
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Loved this audio version but Bradbury's language is so poetic, I found myself wanting a book so I could re-read many of the descriptions. A scary read, recommended for fall/Halloween. The audio also comes with a short story "Sound of Thunder" on the last disc. Jurassic Park...Bradbury was way ahead of his time.
Jun 14, 2011
Kelli
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Too many words. The rambling got in the way of the suspense. Even the shorter story at the end had a fairly long and repetitive rant. Edit it down and I think it'd be much better and spookier.
Apr 25, 2011
Brent
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listening to this audiobook and totally falling in love with Bradbury all over again. Haven't been this juiced about him since I first read 'illustrated man' 20 years ago.
Nov 22, 2011
Brian
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Even after the "good guys" won, this book left me feeling creeped out. Very scary and very evil - I'm not letting my kids read this one until they are in high school at least. I also didn't appreciate Bradbury's choice of vocabulary - do the characters really need to use profanity to express their fright?
Oct 16, 2011
Jaq
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What a beautiful writer. the language is exquisite and the story is wonderful, especially if read in the autumn, as the chill creeps into the air and the sound of carnivals lingers on the wind...
Feb 02, 2011
Bebe
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Book on CD - still like it a lot, however my lower score is due to the fact that it was presented as a play instead of a straight read.
Aug 24, 2010
Mark
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Incredible use of the english language. Great story telling lets you experience the events!
Mar 06, 2010
andalucy
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Amazing. I listened to the audio version on my morning walks and I didn't want it to end! If I were teaching high school English, this would be our October read.
Feb 26, 2009
Katharine
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Listened to on CD, but probably would have liked it better on paper. Just not into the story or characters at all. I should probably try again. Now that I think about it though, I usually am not that interested in books that set around a Carnival or Circus.
Mar 10, 2011
Nick
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odd, eccentric in ways. tough to get into the story. I only got about 1/4 the way through it and gave up.
Oct 25, 2008
Denise
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I loved how this story flowed. It is so lyrical. The imagery is really creepy. I saw the movie ages ago and thought it was quite lame, but what do you expect when Disney gets their hands on a truley freaky story.
Oct 24, 2008
Kim
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The book isn't as scary as the movie. Extra wordy in places. Foul language. Though i liked the story, i wouldn't read it again.
