Featuring The Langoliers, Secret Window, The Library Policeman and The Sun Dog
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Apr 07, 2011
This is yet another re-read for me, and oh, I'd say it's been at least 8 or 9 years since I've read it, but I remember liking it a lot back then, my friend had a copy and I didn't, I had dark thoughts of booknapping and possible ransom. Happily, I have my own copy nowadays to read whenever I please. I don't know why it's taken me so long to re-read this book, but I'm glad it's been patiently waiting for me.
So far:
"The Langoliers" was excellent. SK does the "small-group More...
So far:
"The Langoliers" was excellent. SK does the "small-group More...
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May 22, 2011
stevie
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Feb 21, 2009
Nath
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Jul 10, 2007
Sadegh
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This book is consisted of 4 short stories (app. 200 pages each) and as all of King's works, the super-natural has a very important role in them.
1) The first one is called "The Langoliers" and is about a group of people who wake up in an deserted plane. Your in an unknown world where you don't know the rules. Fascinating. (I give it 4/5)
2) The second one is called "Secret Window, Secret Garden". I found this story somehow boring. It's about a writer which someone More...
1) The first one is called "The Langoliers" and is about a group of people who wake up in an deserted plane. Your in an unknown world where you don't know the rules. Fascinating. (I give it 4/5)
2) The second one is called "Secret Window, Secret Garden". I found this story somehow boring. It's about a writer which someone More...
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Feb 01, 2009
Amanda
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Four Past Midnight consists of 4 novellas(isn't it funny how one determines, no this is really too long for a short story, but too short to be considered a novel)and like any collection, there are some hits and misses. Overall, Stephen King continues to be fantastic, both in scare factor and depth.
"The Langoliers" would be my favorite of this collection, a bizarre airplane occurrence that deals with the capricity of time and children's fantasies. Also,can anyone say thinny More...
"The Langoliers" would be my favorite of this collection, a bizarre airplane occurrence that deals with the capricity of time and children's fantasies. Also,can anyone say thinny More...
Jan 02, 2009
I.haveanidea
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The Langoliers: One of my favourite novellas ever, the one just kept me reading and I couldn't put down. Every aspect such as the blind girl, the crazy man, the "coincidence" of the pilot being there, and in fact the entire concept up to the end (which is rare for King stories). And of course the langoliers themselves. Loved this one. 5/5
Secret Window, Secret Garden: Great concept/idea, love the entire plot, but in this case I think the movie might have exceeded the novella, More...
Secret Window, Secret Garden: Great concept/idea, love the entire plot, but in this case I think the movie might have exceeded the novella, More...
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Jul 27, 2011
A collection of 4 novellas by stephen king (supposedly too long for short stories and too short for novels (although 2 of the included stories are longer than the published Carrie)). a strange set of reads, all with an element of horror ('and time' the blurb says - but i never noticed this.
The Langoliers - utterly perfectly crafted story, danger, exposition, deduction, problems to overcome to get to the goal, and a great climax. it the story of a airplane that suddenly loses all its passengers e More...
The Langoliers - utterly perfectly crafted story, danger, exposition, deduction, problems to overcome to get to the goal, and a great climax. it the story of a airplane that suddenly loses all its passengers e More...
Jul 25, 2009
Robin
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I borrowed this indiscriminately from a friend in anticipation of a long Greyhound bus ride (uncannily similar behavior to that of John Shooter, a character in the second novella of four within this volume). Seeing the name on the cover, I knew it would at least hold my interest, if not contain some real storytelling gold. I was mostly correct. The novellas in "Four Past Midnight" certainly keep the reader going and, with varying levels of depth, one finds that they remember these stor
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Aug 10, 2011
Bobby
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The Langoliers
I had seen the movie before reading it but the story was a lot better, although both manage to be boring and drag on during some parts. Good to read while flying.
Secret Window, Secret Garden
I had also seen this movie before reading the story. I liked the ending of the movie way more, I found myself disappointed with the book ending. Still worth reading.
The Library Policeman
An interesting story. During the middle it veered off in a direction I was not expecting. Sam and Namoi's More...
I had seen the movie before reading it but the story was a lot better, although both manage to be boring and drag on during some parts. Good to read while flying.
Secret Window, Secret Garden
I had also seen this movie before reading the story. I liked the ending of the movie way more, I found myself disappointed with the book ending. Still worth reading.
The Library Policeman
An interesting story. During the middle it veered off in a direction I was not expecting. Sam and Namoi's More...
Feb 12, 2012
Ron
rated it:
This is a great book. Each story in here is suspenseful, sometimes shocking and peopled with characters that are at least interesting enough that you want to find out what happens to them. I am not a Stephen King devotee, he is usually hit or miss with me. A long time ago I stopped reading his work altogether. I am now taking my time to read some of the books I find interesting but passed up because I developed a bad attitude toward Stephen King's work. Four Past Midnight is definitely worth the
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Sep 03, 2011
Arun
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Many a time after reading Stephen King and closing the book I would wonder what just happened. This did not occur with every one of his works but I recollect this especially with tales he spun on larger canvases. There are four tales in this book and being one of his earlier works, they (most of them) stand out as really well crafted.
1.The Langoliers : It's one of the now-classic scenarios of a small group of survivors who fight tooth and nail to survive. The characterization is bri More...
1.The Langoliers : It's one of the now-classic scenarios of a small group of survivors who fight tooth and nail to survive. The characterization is bri More...
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Aug 06, 2011
M
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King crafts four unique tales in this anthology collection, offering snippets of the horros than race through his brain. He opens with the well-known Langoliers, as a group of airline passengers find themselves in an empty world. Realizing they have ended up in the past, the group must catch up with the present before being devoured. The Secret Window, Secret Garden places novelist Mort Rainey in a predicament. A man named named Jim Shooter claims that Rainey stole his ideas, and wants recompens
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Jul 14, 2010
Red
rated it: 
I read this book looking ahead at Needful Things, a King novel I've not read since high school or early college. So, 10 years or so. The last story in Four Past Midnight is "The Sun Dog," set in the same town as Needful Things and setting the stage for the novel as well.
Overall, I can only say, "Meh." "The Langoliers" was good, but too long. "The Library Policeman": the same thing. The stories feel bloated and overloaded, and I wish I kn More...
Overall, I can only say, "Meh." "The Langoliers" was good, but too long. "The Library Policeman": the same thing. The stories feel bloated and overloaded, and I wish I kn More...
Sep 26, 2011
Fridal
rated it: 
Book Review Frida Leon #13
The Lagoliers
By Stephen King
This is a story of horror and suspense where passengers of fly 29 were levied to another dimension where everything seemed the same but was dead and the objective was to return safe to their time.
All the characters helped each other but as product of the fear one of them turned help into betrayal.
The main characters in the story are the More...
The Lagoliers
By Stephen King
This is a story of horror and suspense where passengers of fly 29 were levied to another dimension where everything seemed the same but was dead and the objective was to return safe to their time.
All the characters helped each other but as product of the fear one of them turned help into betrayal.
The main characters in the story are the More...
Jun 13, 2011
Fairul
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 23, 2010
Tim
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I'm finished! What did I learn from these four not-quite-short-stories-but-not-substantial-enough-to-be-turned-into-novels?
First up is "The Langoliers." I was sort of aware of the premise of this one beforehand - people fall asleep aboard an airplane and wake up some time later to find that everyone who wasn't asleep is now missing. I had it in my head that this is one of SK's most well-known novellas, so I was surprised to find that I didn't like it a whole lot. It fol More...
First up is "The Langoliers." I was sort of aware of the premise of this one beforehand - people fall asleep aboard an airplane and wake up some time later to find that everyone who wasn't asleep is now missing. I had it in my head that this is one of SK's most well-known novellas, so I was surprised to find that I didn't like it a whole lot. It fol More...
Mar 01, 2009
Ryan
rated it:
I devoured Koontz and King back in middle school and part of high school. In retrospect, I could have spent my time on better books, but these chillers were an escape from things I didn't want to think about, especially at night when I couldn't sleep and my mind twisted my perceptions nauseatingly.
I'm not saying you should bother reading these, especially now that Koontz is openly being Christian and Stephen King thinks he is a writer, but I have a fondness for some of these books. I More...
I'm not saying you should bother reading these, especially now that Koontz is openly being Christian and Stephen King thinks he is a writer, but I have a fondness for some of these books. I More...
Oct 13, 2010
Annika
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I haven't read this for years, but the stories are written to stick with you. I remember "Langoliers" the best, still fascinated by the concept of a "rip in time" and people actually passing through that. But don't let the Langoliers catch up with you!
None of these are classic Stephen King in that they are gory/violent/horror (which I don't believe he should be classified as anyway), but more..."What if?" Creepy, suspenseful, that's Mr. King. Library polic More...
None of these are classic Stephen King in that they are gory/violent/horror (which I don't believe he should be classified as anyway), but more..."What if?" Creepy, suspenseful, that's Mr. King. Library polic More...
Aug 21, 2009
White
rated it:
This book was awesome! The best of the novelettes was The Langoliers. The story is magic and the concept is original. It was not another twist on an already established plot of time travel or physics. It is a unique perspective of "what if" and the realm of existence. The only weak part was the Langoliers themselves. But they were worth their ridiculousness in gold for the rest of the story.
The other stories such as The Library Police, and The Secret Window were unmemorabe More...
The other stories such as The Library Police, and The Secret Window were unmemorabe More...
Jun 12, 2009
Mrs_M
rated it:
This book was awesome! The best of the novelettes was The Langoliers. The story is magic and the concept is original. It was not another twist on an already established plot of time travel or physics. It is a unique perspective of "what if" and the realm of existence. The only weak part was the Langoliers themselves. But they were worth their ridiculousness in gold for the rest of the story.
The other stories such as The Library Police, and The Secret Window were unmemorabe More...
The other stories such as The Library Police, and The Secret Window were unmemorabe More...
Feb 08, 2012
Jesse
rated it:
This collection of four stories was entertaining and burdonsome at the same time.
I started with the "Langoliers". There is no doubt that King writes 'crazy' with an amazing flare (when I read "IT" the crazy people in the town were much more scary than the monster). The character of Craig Toomy was excellently writen and totally insane. THe other characters were also well done, but for me, Toomy really carried the story. The plot itself was a classic Stephen More...
I started with the "Langoliers". There is no doubt that King writes 'crazy' with an amazing flare (when I read "IT" the crazy people in the town were much more scary than the monster). The character of Craig Toomy was excellently writen and totally insane. THe other characters were also well done, but for me, Toomy really carried the story. The plot itself was a classic Stephen More...
Nov 23, 2010
Tara
rated it:
These stories stuck with me a lot more than the other Stephen King stories I read. (Well, aside from "The Langoliers," which I thought was stupid. The only time I ever think of that story is when I encounter something else that's awful and takes place on an airplane.)
I didn't realize how much I liked "Secret Window, Secret Garden" at the time; but I think about the story often-- when my thoughts travel to plagiarism and copyrights. I still think about "The Sun More...
I didn't realize how much I liked "Secret Window, Secret Garden" at the time; but I think about the story often-- when my thoughts travel to plagiarism and copyrights. I still think about "The Sun More...
Aug 14, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
I love reading Stephen King....he always scares the HELLOOOO out of me!!! This book was a great read....the first story "The Langoliers" really stuck in my head after I read it....I still often think about it. THEN....I read "Secret Window, Secret Garden"....OMG......I consider this the best short story/novel that Stephen King has ever written!...I was so engrossed in this story while reading it and absolutely STUNNED and SHOCKED by the ending....what an incredible story!!! I
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Sep 04, 2011
Torsten
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Nunja, die erste Geschichte 'The Langoliers' war richtig gut, typisch King halt, man nehme eine Gruppe Individuen, isoliere sie und konfrontiere sie mit etwas "Übernatürlichem" und daraus entwickelt sich schon was gescheites, und das tuts auch. Mit "Under the Dome" hat King das dieses Prinzip ja ganz groß ausgearbeitet. Dieser Kurzgeschichte allein würde ich auch 4 Sterne geben. Dann kommen aber mit "Secret Window, Secret Garden", "Library Police Man" und
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Jul 11, 2011
Erik
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This is one of the better of King's collections. "The Langoliers" remains the most memorable novella of the assortment.
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Sep 07, 2011
Amy
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All of the short stories in this book are worth it. Not just "Secret Window, Secret Garden."
Honestly, "The Langoliers" was probably my favorite. If anyone ever discusses evil Pac-Man that eat everything, I will think of this story.
The twist in "Secret Window, Secret Garden" was another good one. The story had me guessing up until the end and I enjoyed every moment of it. Keep in mind, Stephen King is a graphic author so there are some parts that make you s More...
Honestly, "The Langoliers" was probably my favorite. If anyone ever discusses evil Pac-Man that eat everything, I will think of this story.
The twist in "Secret Window, Secret Garden" was another good one. The story had me guessing up until the end and I enjoyed every moment of it. Keep in mind, Stephen King is a graphic author so there are some parts that make you s More...
Feb 01, 2010
Michelle
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I just LOVED this book!!
The Langoliers was my favorite of the four stories. A fascinating story about a group of people who are on a plane and then find themselves in a world that is different from our own. I read this on a plane ride and found it especially spooky. This was a story that I loved and couldn't put down, yet I never wanted it to end! My favorite King story of all time. Yes it was THAT good!
Secret Window, Secret Garden was the second story in this set and aft More...
The Langoliers was my favorite of the four stories. A fascinating story about a group of people who are on a plane and then find themselves in a world that is different from our own. I read this on a plane ride and found it especially spooky. This was a story that I loved and couldn't put down, yet I never wanted it to end! My favorite King story of all time. Yes it was THAT good!
Secret Window, Secret Garden was the second story in this set and aft More...
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Jun 02, 2011
Marianne
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I really should put down that I loathe ALL novels by Stephen King despite the fact that I haven’t read them all. His writing style is so verbose and tedious that even slogging through these short stories was painful. Add to that the repulsive subject matter in the two I read (I wouldn’t read the other two) and I'm sorry I put them in my mind. They weren’t even scary, just vile. The book was recommended to me by someone who apparently didn’t know me as well as I thought she did. She also, however
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Jul 01, 2011
Joe
rated it:
Sigh. One of the less worthwhile reads as a Stephen King Fan.
The Langoliers - movie was basically verbatim of the story.
The Secret Garden/ Secret Window - was good, but the ending was bad. I liked the movie better. I even believe they were making reference to the books bad ending when Johnny Depp was sitting there at the desk making his line about how the ending of a story is what really counts.
Library Police - what a stupid story. I could not wait to be done it. Had its good par More...
The Langoliers - movie was basically verbatim of the story.
The Secret Garden/ Secret Window - was good, but the ending was bad. I liked the movie better. I even believe they were making reference to the books bad ending when Johnny Depp was sitting there at the desk making his line about how the ending of a story is what really counts.
Library Police - what a stupid story. I could not wait to be done it. Had its good par More...
Jul 03, 2010
Matt
rated it:
I hardly remember the details of "The Library Policeman", "The Sun Dog" or "Secret Window, Secret Garden" (I remember more of that because of the movie that was made from it)... but "The Langoliers" makes this book worth picking up almost all by itself. What a terrific, creepy, exciting novella. The picture painted of a totally dead, totally lifeless world was so surreal and vivid. I visited Bangor International Airport once, and I was astounded to see how
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