Stephen King, whose first novel, Carrie, was published in 1974, the year before the last U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam, is the first hug...
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Feb 01, 2011
Wizzard
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King is the master of horror. The first story hinted at great horror while including enough realism to ring true emotionally. These interlinked stories deal with the loss of innocence that comes from leaving childhood behind using the Vietnam War as a backdrop. This is not a horror story but a gripping tale that displays a deep need for healing within our nation because of our relationship to war/violence.
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Jan 17, 2012
Richard
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It is as well written and engaging as any Stephen King book, which gives it a solid 3 stars, but it doesn't rate up with 5 star King like Misery, Different Seasons or Salem's Lot.
This book is made up of five linked stories - the main story, "Low Men in Yellow coats" is the best, being the coming of age story of Bobby, a 12 year old who gets to know a mysterious older man over the course of the summer, while dealing with local bullies, first true love and his difficult, wido More...
This book is made up of five linked stories - the main story, "Low Men in Yellow coats" is the best, being the coming of age story of Bobby, a 12 year old who gets to know a mysterious older man over the course of the summer, while dealing with local bullies, first true love and his difficult, wido More...
Nov 16, 2011
Mary_stephens
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This book is quite atypical for King. Despite this, I was pleased with the outcome.
First of all, normally whenever I get myself one of his books, then I want to read something in genres like horror, supernatural... or something else that scares the hell out of me. This book is different.
At first I din't even want to read this book, I just lend it from the library because I needed something to read and after 15 pages I was hooked.
It admittedly is a rather unusual book itself, in More...
First of all, normally whenever I get myself one of his books, then I want to read something in genres like horror, supernatural... or something else that scares the hell out of me. This book is different.
At first I din't even want to read this book, I just lend it from the library because I needed something to read and after 15 pages I was hooked.
It admittedly is a rather unusual book itself, in More...
Oct 06, 2011
Max
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This book is really split into three sections, with a very thin line of connection between them.
The first section was really cool. It describes a trio of youth and how one of them is helping an older man, who has moved into their upstairs apartment, look at for "men of low character" (especially ones wearing yellow coats). It was built-up well and had a good flow, and had an ominous foreboding of what could happen and hinted at a larger conflagration between two (assumed) e More...
The first section was really cool. It describes a trio of youth and how one of them is helping an older man, who has moved into their upstairs apartment, look at for "men of low character" (especially ones wearing yellow coats). It was built-up well and had a good flow, and had an ominous foreboding of what could happen and hinted at a larger conflagration between two (assumed) e More...
Jul 18, 2011
Dominica
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Hearts in Atlantis is a collection of two novellas and three short stories. The first entry is the novella “Low Men in Yellow Coats.” It is the longest piece, about 250 pages and nearly half the book’s entire length. It is also the best, and the rest of the book suffers by comparison.
“Low Men in Yellow Coats” is set in the summer of 1960 and tells the story of eleven-year-old Bobby Garfield. It starts out nostalgic, there is baseball, b-movie matinees, a day at the carnival and a cute g More...
“Low Men in Yellow Coats” is set in the summer of 1960 and tells the story of eleven-year-old Bobby Garfield. It starts out nostalgic, there is baseball, b-movie matinees, a day at the carnival and a cute g More...
Jun 10, 2011
Tommy
rated it:
this book counts as 3
this is my first time reading a book from the great Steven King. his writing is so detailed that you actually seem like your there and it seems like your watching a movie that's how detailed it is. for me it was a hard read. i understood a lot of the book and also didn't understand a lot of the book. im guessing its because it was so long that a lot of info slipped out of me.
hearts in altantis has a lot to the story, it was 700 pages!!! the reason why t More...
this is my first time reading a book from the great Steven King. his writing is so detailed that you actually seem like your there and it seems like your watching a movie that's how detailed it is. for me it was a hard read. i understood a lot of the book and also didn't understand a lot of the book. im guessing its because it was so long that a lot of info slipped out of me.
hearts in altantis has a lot to the story, it was 700 pages!!! the reason why t More...
Apr 08, 2011
BarkLessWagMore
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I read this in its unabridged audiobook format and was initially held spellbound. At first glance, this isn't a book I'd pick up and read on my own which is is probably why I didn't purchase it before now but I always enjoy Stephen King's voice and the first story "Low Men In Yellow Coats" is no exception.
It clocks in at 320+ pages and is a novel in and of itself. "Low Men" tells the story of Bobby, a young boy growing up in the 60's with a bitter, angry mother who More...
It clocks in at 320+ pages and is a novel in and of itself. "Low Men" tells the story of Bobby, a young boy growing up in the 60's with a bitter, angry mother who More...
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Mar 05, 2011
Kathleen
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There's a scene in one of the novellas, where the college kids are punch drunk and feeling wild, and one of the other students (a handicapped boy) is splashing and sliding on his crutches through ice and slush. Eventually he falls over. Total pandemonium breaks out. Everyone is laughing hysterically, and the laughter doesn't stop even as they're carrying the guy to the health center.
This is not funny. This is also one of the funniest sections of the book, for me.
We've all ha More...
This is not funny. This is also one of the funniest sections of the book, for me.
We've all ha More...
Jan 31, 2011
Alex
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The book Hearts in Atlantis was published a few years ago, and the movie came out last year with Anthony Hopkins. Now it is possible to listen to the entire story on audiobook, read by the soft, deep tones of William Hurt and the sharp but familiar nasal spats of Stephen King; complete and unabridged.
The first story is “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” read by William Hurt, it is essentially what the movie version of Hearts in Atlantis was based on. Though some prior Dark Tower knowledge is More...
The first story is “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” read by William Hurt, it is essentially what the movie version of Hearts in Atlantis was based on. Though some prior Dark Tower knowledge is More...
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Jan 30, 2011
Tancredi
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"Sometimes when you're young, you have moments of such happiness you think you're living in someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been? then we grow up and our hearts break into two."
Cuori in Atlantide è il primo libro di Stephen King che ho letto. E' anche il primo libro in inglese che leggo, fuori dai doveri scolastici ed escludendo la saga di Harry Potter.
Stephen King è un autore estremamente - ed esageratamente - prolifico, oltre che noto in tutto il pianeta, e certamente non
Dec 18, 2009
Hassan
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 17, 2009
Hassan
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Jul 05, 2009
Matt
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With "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald captured the spirit of America during the 1920's. With "Hearts in Atlantis," Stephen King has captured the spirit of America during the 1960's. Five novellas spanning from 1960 to 1966 to 1983 to 1999 brilliantly intertwine to create one solid novel embellishing an entire generation. The first novella, "Low Men in Yellow Coats," expresses the importance of expanding your mind and never assuming that something is exactly a
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Jun 20, 2009
Diamond
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An excellent book, and one that is easily in my top three for Stephen King's work.
It's a collection of stories that interweaves through the lives of several characters and tells how events early in their lives affected everything that happened after. It flows easily from one story to the next, even though they are almost all told from a different character's point of view. However like most of King's work, it is the characters themselves that makes the stories come alive, and als More...
It's a collection of stories that interweaves through the lives of several characters and tells how events early in their lives affected everything that happened after. It flows easily from one story to the next, even though they are almost all told from a different character's point of view. However like most of King's work, it is the characters themselves that makes the stories come alive, and als More...
Jun 05, 2009
Amanda
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I really loved the first story, but really couldn't get into the other ones. I don't know why, only I found myself skimming. The first story, the one of Bobby Garfield's childhood, had this Bradbudy-esque feel to it(not the first time I'll compare S.K. to Ray B.-look at "The Body"). It's the kind of childhood I always wished I could have. Well, minus the Low Men and the scary mother and the violent bullies. It was the only story that really shined for me. The next one, about the colleg
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May 23, 2009
Jessica
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Didn't realize when I picked this up that it had started out as a collection of short stories. I spent some time being frustrated and confused by the direction of the book, only to realize that it was supposed to be that way because of how they were written.
In reality, the only story that I really enjoyed was the first one, about Bobby's youth. I liked the interaction between Bobby and Ted, and the psychic connection that the two shared. For me, this short was conveyed the best, and More...
In reality, the only story that I really enjoyed was the first one, about Bobby's youth. I liked the interaction between Bobby and Ted, and the psychic connection that the two shared. For me, this short was conveyed the best, and More...
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May 19, 2009
Lindsay
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There are actually five interconnected stories here of decreasing length and quality. The first story, “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” is the longest (and the one on which the movie [which I haven’t seen:] was apparently based). It is also the best (independently I would give it a 4). I tend to enjoy child protagonists and coming-of-age stories, add in a supernatural element and it’s pretty much a recipe for A Story Lindsay Will Like as long as it’s decently written, so this worked for me. Next c
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Feb 06, 2011
Billy
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SPOILER ALERT!!!!
This book haunts me sometimes, parts of it are that beautiful. Its actually a book containing 2 novellas and 3 short stories, with a common thread of inter-connected characters throughout it. The first story, Low Men In Yellow Coats, is a direct Dark Tower related story. A coming of age tale for a young boy. This is the part that the movie was based on, although they left out all DT references. One thing I have always loved about King is that whatever time period he More...
This book haunts me sometimes, parts of it are that beautiful. Its actually a book containing 2 novellas and 3 short stories, with a common thread of inter-connected characters throughout it. The first story, Low Men In Yellow Coats, is a direct Dark Tower related story. A coming of age tale for a young boy. This is the part that the movie was based on, although they left out all DT references. One thing I have always loved about King is that whatever time period he More...
Sep 05, 2009
Stacy
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The book is split up into three sections: the first describing Bobby Garfield's encounter with Ted, a Breaker running from the Low Men in Yellow Coats, who are beings from another world.
Ted's role in some shady, dystopian Universal Plan is never explained: only that he has some power the Low Men need. Bobby's sole encounter with them change both his life and HIM.
The second section is more Carol Gerber's story, although even she is swept aside in a description of the
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Ted's role in some shady, dystopian Universal Plan is never explained: only that he has some power the Low Men need. Bobby's sole encounter with them change both his life and HIM.
The second section is more Carol Gerber's story, although even she is swept aside in a description of the
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Jul 23, 2011
Insert meaningless blubbering, meandering talk here....Sooooo...I've finished the first story, and I wish the rest of the book was about Bobby only. Unfortunately, it's switched out to another character, and I guess Bobby renters at the end. Noooo! Picked this up because a) it was the only decent thing on my bookshelf, and I needed a book for vacation, and b) I heard it had Dark Tower connections, which it did, thankfully. I hate when books change POV's suddenly, bleh. But I guess I need to find
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Nov 22, 2011
Ginny
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This was my first Stephen King book. I have always hesitated to read his work because of the scary-supernatural stuff, which can be terrifying for me. But after years of family debates about the quality of his writing, I can finally have an opinion of my own. During the first part there are quite a lot of supernatural elements--"Low Men" in yellow coats and an elaborate only partially revealed other-world. I have a hard time with this aspect--it seems unnecessary. Why can't evil be sho
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Jul 25, 2010
martin
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I think Stephen King is one of the greatest modern story tellers - some books are better than others though and the same is true of this collection of loosely connected stories.
The first is perhaps more typically "King" than the following stories as it blends possibly supernatural (or extra-terestrial?) elements into the formative years of a young boy in a fragile one parent family. There are even a few sideways hints of the Gunslinger and Dark Tower series of novels. The More...
The first is perhaps more typically "King" than the following stories as it blends possibly supernatural (or extra-terestrial?) elements into the formative years of a young boy in a fragile one parent family. There are even a few sideways hints of the Gunslinger and Dark Tower series of novels. The More...
Nov 27, 2011
Tasos
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The first time I tried to read this novel was about a year ago, it would be the second ever book I would read after my over a decade period that I had stopped reading books and although I had in mind that King was the ideal writer to read again since his novels were the ones I used to read back when I was a teenager I stopped after 60 pages or so and sort of lost interest in books again for the following 6 months.
Now that I started to dealing with books (since May that is) I thought th More...
Now that I started to dealing with books (since May that is) I thought th More...
Aug 18, 2011
Katy
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This is my second Stephen King novel, and he is quickly becoming my absolute favorite author. I LOVE his writing style-- I can see, smell, hear, etc the characters and the scene so clearly that I'm completely lost in the story-- as if I'm IN the story. It's incredible. But I LOVED this story. I am in my 20's, so needless to say I wasn't there during the 60's to say whether King captured the time correctly or not, but it FELT right. I don't know enough about the Vietnam War and the politics surro
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Jun 23, 2010
Dana
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This was my first Stephen King book. I bought it with Insomnia and It. At first, I really liked it, but with all the homework and everything, I realized I didn't want to read such a big book so I gave it up. And now I started again, and I LOVED it. Especially, the first part- Low Men In Yellow Coats. I love Ted in every literal meaning of the word. Several times I was about to burst into tears, and I think I did once. It's definitely one of my favorite books. Throughout reading it, I never went
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Jun 04, 2011
Katiem
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Reading other reviews here makes me wonder just what did I miss? For me, making it through this book was like doing a Saturday morning chore when all I wanted was to park in front of the t.v. and watch cartoons.
I have only read one other King book up until now and I'm beginning to wonder if I just don't like his writing. Or is it just the books I'm choosing? The first one was Cujo, chosen specifically because I have a very aggressive Saint Bernard. Though I didn't enjoy it as much as I More...
I have only read one other King book up until now and I'm beginning to wonder if I just don't like his writing. Or is it just the books I'm choosing? The first one was Cujo, chosen specifically because I have a very aggressive Saint Bernard. Though I didn't enjoy it as much as I More...
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Jan 26, 2012
Mnava
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Uno dei libri secondo me più belli dell'autore. Non giudicatelo dal film che ne è stato tratto, se lo avete visto, perchè il film non racconta nemmeno la metà della storia presente in questo romanzo. Una storia di amore, di amicizia, le storie di 3 ragazzi come tanti, cresciuti insieme, che hanno seguito percorsi diversi e che tornano a incrociarsi. La presenza misteriosa di un vecchio fuori dal comune che cambierà per sempre le loro vite. Cuori in Atlantide è uno dei libri più sinceri di Stephe
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Nov 16, 2010
Henry
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The book, Hearts in Atlantis, has a few stories in it . The first story is about a fatherless boy called Robert Garfield whose nickname is Bobby. This story is about Bobby's childhood where he discovers more about his neighborhood and more about adults. The second story is about a bunch of college kids. The third and the fourth is about the Vietnamese war where the characters try to fill the emptiness of the post-Vietnam era in an America. The last story is about Bobby's return back to his homet
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Sep 03, 2009
Dennis D.
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I’m a big Stephen King fan, but I somehow missed reading this one until now, even though I’ve owned it since it was first published in hardcover. Here, SK goes all literary with an ode to the 60s, the baby boomers, and to lost innocence.
Hearts In Atlantis is not a novel exactly, in that it’s a collection of five separate stories with only some characters in common. Tertiary people from the first story become primary figures in the later stories. There’s a central theme throughou More...
Hearts In Atlantis is not a novel exactly, in that it’s a collection of five separate stories with only some characters in common. Tertiary people from the first story become primary figures in the later stories. There’s a central theme throughou More...
Oct 14, 2009
L8blmr
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Very few people can tell a story as well as Stephen King, no matter the subject matter. This one was tough, though as there was an underlying sadness throughout that I don't usually want in my reading for pleasure. By the time I figured this out, though, it was too late; I was hooked.
King makes you believe his characters. He puts you in their heads and in their hearts; you know their real souls, and the reader may be the only one that ever knows so much about them as quite often, t More...
King makes you believe his characters. He puts you in their heads and in their hearts; you know their real souls, and the reader may be the only one that ever knows so much about them as quite often, t More...
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