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Stranger Things and the '80s: The Complete Retro Guide
SINCE ITS PREMIERE IN THE SUMMER OF 2016, Stranger Things has become a global phenomenon. It also restored in vivid detail the pulse and feel of a decade: the 1980s.
Indeed, the show's creators--the Duffer Brothers--describe the series as "a love letter to the '80s." From its synth soundtrack, to its retro fonts, to its nostalgic nods to Spielberg and Stephen King, Stranger Things is populated with references, homages, and artifacts from the Reagan era. This book dives deep into that world, revealing everything you wanted to know about the series and its influences, including:
The parallels to the show's biggest touchstone: the 1982 classic, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial
The significance of The Clash's hit song, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" The context behind Dungeons & Dragons--which incited a national panic in the '80s--and an explanation of how the game works in the show The connections to a host of '80s books and movies, including Stand By Me, IT, The Thing, Aliens, and The Goonies
Other stops on this "curiosity voyage" include: explorations of arcades, Ataris, BMX bikes, MTV, Radio Shack, Carl Sagan, Ronald Reagan, Eggos, Steve's hair, and mom jeans. Packed with detail and insight, Stranger Things and the '80s is the ultimate companion to the hit show and the era that inspired it.
Indeed, the show's creators--the Duffer Brothers--describe the series as "a love letter to the '80s." From its synth soundtrack, to its retro fonts, to its nostalgic nods to Spielberg and Stephen King, Stranger Things is populated with references, homages, and artifacts from the Reagan era. This book dives deep into that world, revealing everything you wanted to know about the series and its influences, including:
The parallels to the show's biggest touchstone: the 1982 classic, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial
The significance of The Clash's hit song, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" The context behind Dungeons & Dragons--which incited a national panic in the '80s--and an explanation of how the game works in the show The connections to a host of '80s books and movies, including Stand By Me, IT, The Thing, Aliens, and The Goonies
Other stops on this "curiosity voyage" include: explorations of arcades, Ataris, BMX bikes, MTV, Radio Shack, Carl Sagan, Ronald Reagan, Eggos, Steve's hair, and mom jeans. Packed with detail and insight, Stranger Things and the '80s is the ultimate companion to the hit show and the era that inspired it.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
172 people are currently reading
788 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Vogel
43 books49 followersJOSEPH VOGEL is the author of several books, including Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson (Sterling), James Baldwin and the 1980s: Witnessing the Reagan Era (University of Illinois Press) and This Thing Called Life: Prince, Race, Sex, Religion, and Music (Bloomsbury Academic). His work has appeared in the The Atlantic, The Guardian, Slate, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Boston Review, and PopMatters. He is an Assistant Professor at Merrimack College in Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 27, 2022
Stranger Things is the quintessential 80s TV show that originally isn't from the 80s. It is extremely well done citing all major movies (especially horror and coming of age), books (Stephen King), fashion, youth culture, video games, bikes, walkie talkies and music. I was a teenager in the 80s and completely felt at home with the show. The intro reminded me on all those Stephen King paperbacks I devoured back then. The author of this book revealed that it was intended that way by the Duffer brothers. Then there were the characters of the show. Marvelous, reminded me on my school days with the popular guys, outsiders and nerds. Back then I was also a latchkey kid and had all the time in the world to do what I wanted unobserved by working parents. This is the definitive book explaining the Stranger Thing phenomenon, its cast and its impact. Stephen King regarded it as a kind of best of of his works. The series is quintessential 80s and this guide too. Highly recommended. You travel back in time to an unforgettable time and age.
September 14, 2022
An interesting and insightful book for Stranger Things fans.
June 22, 2021
This book was super engaging and interesting—I read it cover to cover in a couple days! It goes in depth on all angles of the show Stranger Things, highlighting things such as the movies that inspired it and the Cold War era that it was set in. I love learning about how movies and shows are made, so this book seemed to be made for me!! In my opinion, this ‘Complete Retro Guide’ was even better than the official Stranger Things companion :))
December 7, 2020
Really enjoyable, engaging read! A great deal of interesting information about Stranger Things and other 80s tie-ins. My only complaint is that it was published before the third season came out! I hope there's an update to include more trivia!
November 8, 2018
I got this book in kindle form from the goodreads giveaway. I am a big fan of the television show "Stranger Things" Joseph Vogel the author is clearly a fan of this wonderful show too. Stranger Things takes place in the 1980s. the author compares the show to the writings of Stephen King and director Stephen Speilberg. He compares the show to other books and movies that have kids. Like "the Goonies" Stand by Me'' Et, Poltergeist, Carrie and many other books and movies from the 80s. He also writes of the music used from the 80s. the friendships of the kids etc. The author really went into to TV show and it taking place in the 1980s. If anyone has watched the fantastic TV series may enjoy reading the book.
November 4, 2018
"No helmets. No parents. Just kids."
So, to put this out there, I have never seen a single episode of Stranger Things but after reading this book, I think I might dive in and try it out.
If you are a Stranger Things fan this book is for you! It talks about how Stephen King, Stephen Spielberg and everything in the 1980's inspired this hit show. I absolutely love how they have brought everything that I grew up on from the 80's into this book and it brings back precious childhood memories that I have long forgotten about.
So, to put this out there, I have never seen a single episode of Stranger Things but after reading this book, I think I might dive in and try it out.
If you are a Stranger Things fan this book is for you! It talks about how Stephen King, Stephen Spielberg and everything in the 1980's inspired this hit show. I absolutely love how they have brought everything that I grew up on from the 80's into this book and it brings back precious childhood memories that I have long forgotten about.
November 17, 2022
This is how I wish people in the 'Stranger Things' fandom would presents their thoughts. This is an intelligent deep dive into the show and where the creators got their inspiration. I did not learn much about the show but I did learn some random fun facts here and there about the eighties. This reads really fast, I read it in half the time it usually takes me to finish a book. I liked it but I did not love it and therefore not a new favorite but I would recommend if you are a fan of the show and have lesser knowledge on the time period that it is set in.
January 28, 2020
This was SO enjoyable! What a fun escapade into the 80's and all the reasons Stranger Things is such a standalone show.
This book is full of flashback, insights, explorations of the show and it's workings...it's just plain awesome!
Only complaint: a lot of typos. Fire your editor!
If you're a fan of ST, you will undoubtedly appreciate this fast-paced, engaging read.
This book is full of flashback, insights, explorations of the show and it's workings...it's just plain awesome!
Only complaint: a lot of typos. Fire your editor!
If you're a fan of ST, you will undoubtedly appreciate this fast-paced, engaging read.
October 22, 2025
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I started watching Stranger Things and I enjoyed it, but like a lot of TV shows, I never finished the series. After reading this, I am seriously considering starting over and watching it all.
As a child of the 80's (I would have been around the same age as the boys and Eleven in 1984) the nostalgia hits hard and the show has a comfortable quality that brings me back to my childhood. It was interesting to read of all the tie-ins and the thoughtful use of 80's pop culture in the development of the show. It definitely gave it an authentic feeling that many productions lack.
I started watching Stranger Things and I enjoyed it, but like a lot of TV shows, I never finished the series. After reading this, I am seriously considering starting over and watching it all.
As a child of the 80's (I would have been around the same age as the boys and Eleven in 1984) the nostalgia hits hard and the show has a comfortable quality that brings me back to my childhood. It was interesting to read of all the tie-ins and the thoughtful use of 80's pop culture in the development of the show. It definitely gave it an authentic feeling that many productions lack.
November 3, 2018
Loved it!! Such an awesome book that gave me feels and nostalgia of my youth. I love Stranger Things and this book just gave me more insight into how the awesome show was developed and what was mainstream during a the 80s. Totally recommend for anyone who’s a lover of those 2 things!
March 11, 2020
Mais que um livro, uma visita guiada
A DarkSide Books, editora parceira no blog, nos deu um presentão ao nos mandar Stranger Fans, de Joseph Vogel. Muito mais que um livro, é uma ode aos anos 80 e à série Stranger Things, da Netflix!
A experiência dessa leitura é incrível, não só para os fãs da série, mas principalmente para quem cresceu acompanhando o horror na década de 80! Particularmente para mim foi ainda mais legal, porque vivi aqueles anos – exatamente minha passagem para a adolescência – visto que nasci em 1973.
Uma edição oitentista em tudo
Diferente de muitos livros que são editados para homenagear séries e filmes, onde temos fotos das filmagens, dos bastidores e da película em si acabam por preencher muito das páginas, neste livro temos uma abordagem bem diferente, tornando-a original e muito boa.
Começamos pelo formato retangular do livro, que lembra os enormes televisores que tínhamos na época. A capa mesmo já mostra isso ao trazer um deles. Estamos voltando ao tempo, onde controles remotos não existiam e a escolha de canais era feita manualmente no botão, com o ajuste do sinal através de antenas.
Internamente as páginas todas trazem muitos textos e imagens simples, todas em preto, branco e vermelho. O vermelho impera por sinal, sendo a borda do livro toda nessa cor. Essa escolha de uma impressão em apenas três cores faz um paralelo de certa forma com a época, limitada em muitas coisas, profunda em muitas outras. A simplicidade da paleta de cores do livro contrasta com a complexidade de informações que ele traz. Da mesma forma foi a década de 80, rica em detalhes mas inocente até, para não dizer simplista se compararmos com os dias atuais.
Conhecendo a série desde sua idealização
Como disse anteriormente, a riqueza de detalhes nos permite entender como Stranger Things foi idealizada e executada, até se transformar no sucesso de público e crítica. Não comento à toa que Stranger Fans é sim uma ode aos anos 80.
O detalhamento que o autor revela ao leitor sobre a vida da época, além dos elementos que a cercavam é impressionante. Ele consegue mostrar e justificar cada decisão tomada durante a elaboração da série. Do vestuário aos penteados, das atitudes aos comportamentos, das músicas aos brinquedos. Até o cenário geopolítico da época é descrito! Tudo está ali com uma infinidade de informações dentro de um texto delicioso e fácil de ser lido. Talvez essa seja a grande sacada do autor: conseguir te guiar pelos anos 80 sem ser pedante ou enfadonho. Ele te pega pelas mãos e te leva, mostrando tudo de uma maneira muito legal.
Para os fãs de Stranger Things, mesmo a grande maioria que não viveu aqueles tempos, é um convite imperdível para uma viagem temporal. Esse livro se não é um simples apanhado de informações antigas mas sim um enorme parque temático tanto da série quanto da década!
Com suas inúmeras referências, os fãs poderão ouvir vários cantores e bandas musicais da época, ver filmes clássicos que marcaram aquele tempo e até mesmo conhecer videogames, brinquedos e jogos! O capítulo das bicicletas foi sensacional em particular. Me levou de volta a um passado onde nossas bikes eram nossas liberdades!
Conclusões finais
Um item obrigatório em qualquer prateleira e coleção de fãs de Stranger Things. Para aqueles que viveram os anos oitenta e já tenham viajado com a série de TV, terão neste livro um excelente portal para mostrar aos seus filhos o que foram aqueles anos tão intensos, onde ser criança era, pelo menos, diferente do que os dias atuais.
Obrigado à DarkSide Books não só pela edição primorosa, mas também pela possibilidade que me proporcionou de voltar a uma época em que nem mesmo de Gárgula eu era chamado.
Resenha publicada no site Canto do Gárgula em 28 de janeiro de 2020
A DarkSide Books, editora parceira no blog, nos deu um presentão ao nos mandar Stranger Fans, de Joseph Vogel. Muito mais que um livro, é uma ode aos anos 80 e à série Stranger Things, da Netflix!
A experiência dessa leitura é incrível, não só para os fãs da série, mas principalmente para quem cresceu acompanhando o horror na década de 80! Particularmente para mim foi ainda mais legal, porque vivi aqueles anos – exatamente minha passagem para a adolescência – visto que nasci em 1973.
Uma edição oitentista em tudo
Diferente de muitos livros que são editados para homenagear séries e filmes, onde temos fotos das filmagens, dos bastidores e da película em si acabam por preencher muito das páginas, neste livro temos uma abordagem bem diferente, tornando-a original e muito boa.
Começamos pelo formato retangular do livro, que lembra os enormes televisores que tínhamos na época. A capa mesmo já mostra isso ao trazer um deles. Estamos voltando ao tempo, onde controles remotos não existiam e a escolha de canais era feita manualmente no botão, com o ajuste do sinal através de antenas.
Internamente as páginas todas trazem muitos textos e imagens simples, todas em preto, branco e vermelho. O vermelho impera por sinal, sendo a borda do livro toda nessa cor. Essa escolha de uma impressão em apenas três cores faz um paralelo de certa forma com a época, limitada em muitas coisas, profunda em muitas outras. A simplicidade da paleta de cores do livro contrasta com a complexidade de informações que ele traz. Da mesma forma foi a década de 80, rica em detalhes mas inocente até, para não dizer simplista se compararmos com os dias atuais.
Conhecendo a série desde sua idealização
Como disse anteriormente, a riqueza de detalhes nos permite entender como Stranger Things foi idealizada e executada, até se transformar no sucesso de público e crítica. Não comento à toa que Stranger Fans é sim uma ode aos anos 80.
O detalhamento que o autor revela ao leitor sobre a vida da época, além dos elementos que a cercavam é impressionante. Ele consegue mostrar e justificar cada decisão tomada durante a elaboração da série. Do vestuário aos penteados, das atitudes aos comportamentos, das músicas aos brinquedos. Até o cenário geopolítico da época é descrito! Tudo está ali com uma infinidade de informações dentro de um texto delicioso e fácil de ser lido. Talvez essa seja a grande sacada do autor: conseguir te guiar pelos anos 80 sem ser pedante ou enfadonho. Ele te pega pelas mãos e te leva, mostrando tudo de uma maneira muito legal.
Para os fãs de Stranger Things, mesmo a grande maioria que não viveu aqueles tempos, é um convite imperdível para uma viagem temporal. Esse livro se não é um simples apanhado de informações antigas mas sim um enorme parque temático tanto da série quanto da década!
Com suas inúmeras referências, os fãs poderão ouvir vários cantores e bandas musicais da época, ver filmes clássicos que marcaram aquele tempo e até mesmo conhecer videogames, brinquedos e jogos! O capítulo das bicicletas foi sensacional em particular. Me levou de volta a um passado onde nossas bikes eram nossas liberdades!
Conclusões finais
Um item obrigatório em qualquer prateleira e coleção de fãs de Stranger Things. Para aqueles que viveram os anos oitenta e já tenham viajado com a série de TV, terão neste livro um excelente portal para mostrar aos seus filhos o que foram aqueles anos tão intensos, onde ser criança era, pelo menos, diferente do que os dias atuais.
Obrigado à DarkSide Books não só pela edição primorosa, mas também pela possibilidade que me proporcionou de voltar a uma época em que nem mesmo de Gárgula eu era chamado.
Resenha publicada no site Canto do Gárgula em 28 de janeiro de 2020
July 14, 2022
Stranger Things' show description was: “a love letter to the ‘80s”. And what a wonderful, magical, steeped in detail love letter it is. As the title states, this book explores all the influences of the ‘80s that have shaped this show into such an iconic fan-favorite.
How the Duffer Brothers came up with the premise for Stranger Things and pitched it to Netflix, how the siblings worship at the powerhouse altars of Stephen King and Spielberg who have a crucial impact on so many aspects of the show, how the title track with its eerie synth and murky visuals was chosen, how each and every song (both iconic and obscure deep cuts) was selected with care to represent a character or a situation, how little snippets from popular films of the era found their way into the show by small details, how bikes, walkie-talkies, Dungeons & Dragons and video arcades play such a nostalgic role in the freedom enjoyed by our favorite latchkey kids, how the Reagan Era and the simmering menace of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union provide fodder for Murray’s (justified) conspiracy theories, why Eggos is more than just El’s favourite food, why Lucas and Max’s fledgling romance under the racist and scary eye of Billy was an uncomfortable but accurate representation of the mindset of small-town America, why Barb with her normcore fashion became a beloved internet icon, how Steve Harrington’s douchebag character got the best redemptive arc and turned him into an unlikely hero (and best babysitter), how Millie Bobby Brown plays El with such preternatural precision and so much more…..are explored in this engaging read.
Armed with a brand-new respect for the dedication of the Duffer brothers, fresh from a revisit to an era that is beloved to me, I want to watch the show again.
A fantastic read.
How the Duffer Brothers came up with the premise for Stranger Things and pitched it to Netflix, how the siblings worship at the powerhouse altars of Stephen King and Spielberg who have a crucial impact on so many aspects of the show, how the title track with its eerie synth and murky visuals was chosen, how each and every song (both iconic and obscure deep cuts) was selected with care to represent a character or a situation, how little snippets from popular films of the era found their way into the show by small details, how bikes, walkie-talkies, Dungeons & Dragons and video arcades play such a nostalgic role in the freedom enjoyed by our favorite latchkey kids, how the Reagan Era and the simmering menace of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union provide fodder for Murray’s (justified) conspiracy theories, why Eggos is more than just El’s favourite food, why Lucas and Max’s fledgling romance under the racist and scary eye of Billy was an uncomfortable but accurate representation of the mindset of small-town America, why Barb with her normcore fashion became a beloved internet icon, how Steve Harrington’s douchebag character got the best redemptive arc and turned him into an unlikely hero (and best babysitter), how Millie Bobby Brown plays El with such preternatural precision and so much more…..are explored in this engaging read.
Armed with a brand-new respect for the dedication of the Duffer brothers, fresh from a revisit to an era that is beloved to me, I want to watch the show again.
A fantastic read.
February 26, 2025
This was disappointing. For one thing, calling this "The Complete Retro Guide" is false, as it was published after the first two seasons, so it covered nothing from the last two. While it was some interesting tidbits about the influences and backgrounds of the various pop culture books, movies, etc., few of them are really that deep, and a lot of what's included was parsed from other sources, not original interviews or thoughts by the author. And the author doesn't seem to be nearly the 80s pop culture expert he claims, as he constantly cites incorrect facts about the items he's discussing. (i.e. He refers to the 1977 film Star Wars as A New Hope, which was not part of its title upon release. The subtitle was only added after The Empire Strikes Back came out, and was still called just Star Wars until after the prequel movies were release decades later; When talking about Jaws he claims the fisherman caught a great white shark and thus thought the danger was over - A. Most of the locals had no idea the difference in sharks, nor that it was a great white killing people. B. As they ponder the caught shark, believing it's a mako, Matt Hooper famously tells them they're wrong, it's a tiger shark.) Plus, there are tons of minor typos throughout. At first I was relatively enjoying the book, and overlooking some of these issues, the longer I went, the more they bugged me until I couldn't take it anymore and decided I'm done with this. I'll generously call it 2*
January 3, 2025
As a fan of both Stranger Things and pop culture I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had hoped to.
There were quite a few typos in the kindle version that were annoying me and maybe it’s because I am such a pop culture fanatic there wasn’t a whole lot of new information for me regarding the 80s.
This might be me being petty and nit picky, but there were quite of few instances where the author acted like kids who grew up in the 90s didn’t also experience childhoods of riding bikes, playing outside and limited adult supervision because as a millennial we absolutely did!!
I do wish this kind of book had been written after the series ended so we could have gotten a more complete picture and comparison of the show to the 80s (and what looks like might be the early 90s for season 5)
You do get the sense that the author is a fan of the show which makes consuming this more enjoyable and overall I did have fun reading this aside from my complaints.
There were quite a few typos in the kindle version that were annoying me and maybe it’s because I am such a pop culture fanatic there wasn’t a whole lot of new information for me regarding the 80s.
This might be me being petty and nit picky, but there were quite of few instances where the author acted like kids who grew up in the 90s didn’t also experience childhoods of riding bikes, playing outside and limited adult supervision because as a millennial we absolutely did!!
I do wish this kind of book had been written after the series ended so we could have gotten a more complete picture and comparison of the show to the 80s (and what looks like might be the early 90s for season 5)
You do get the sense that the author is a fan of the show which makes consuming this more enjoyable and overall I did have fun reading this aside from my complaints.
January 13, 2019
Entertaining and nostalgic without heavy depth
The book touches on a lot of things from the eighties and does a good job of reminding (or introducing) a person to what the eighties were like. I only give it a four star review, though, as it seems a little light on its overall thesis. To be fair, I believe the book was written to be light and not go too deep into story symbolism or angle off on some tangent that goes way off the Stranger Things story. I would recommend it for fans of the show and those who enjoy remembering the eighties.
The book touches on a lot of things from the eighties and does a good job of reminding (or introducing) a person to what the eighties were like. I only give it a four star review, though, as it seems a little light on its overall thesis. To be fair, I believe the book was written to be light and not go too deep into story symbolism or angle off on some tangent that goes way off the Stranger Things story. I would recommend it for fans of the show and those who enjoy remembering the eighties.
June 13, 2021
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
While the first few chapters of this were an entertaining way to revisit a show that I absolutely love, it quickly got so I felt like I was reading an encyclopedia rather than a book about a pop culture phenomenon. I didn't hate it, but the format grew tedious quickly and I found myself skimming through chapters about half the time. If you're a die-hard fan of the show, this is probably worth sitting through, but I didn't find it very memorable.
While the first few chapters of this were an entertaining way to revisit a show that I absolutely love, it quickly got so I felt like I was reading an encyclopedia rather than a book about a pop culture phenomenon. I didn't hate it, but the format grew tedious quickly and I found myself skimming through chapters about half the time. If you're a die-hard fan of the show, this is probably worth sitting through, but I didn't find it very memorable.
August 25, 2022
This is a great read of all die-hard Stranger Things fans and 80's pop culture nerd. The dedication Stranger Things puts into the time-period is renowned from the fashion to the politics to the food, it's all magnificently done. My only complaint is that the book was published before season three and four were released, I hope this book gets updated or received a sequel. At first I thought this book would be hard a boring read but I was thoroughly entertained, and this is coming from a big hater of nonfiction books.
November 1, 2024
If you like the show and you like the 80s, this is a fun book that deep dives into some stuff from the first two seasons. It's funny to read some of the analysis, as much of it is paid off in season 3 that came out after this book. Nothing groundbreaking or overly surprising, but fun to relive 80's ideas and some of the quotes from the creators' shed light on stuff I wasn't aware of.
Would be interested in a volume 2 that looks at the more recent seasons.
Would be interested in a volume 2 that looks at the more recent seasons.
February 16, 2019
This is a book about a tv show and about what the writers of the tv show thought about the 1980’s. This is a complete retro guide of the tv show and a have retro guide of the 1980’s. This is a book that everyone familiar with the tv show and the relationship of the 1980’s in regards to the tv show will enjoy. I won this book through a giveaway on Goodreads website.
August 13, 2022
Must read for ST fans. This proves how much love and soul did the Duffer brothers pour in 1st season. It usually happens that 1st season is the best because writes have been working on it whole their lives, mastering and perfecting it. The rest unfortunately is just commecialization and money grabbing...
March 17, 2024
As a member of Gen X, this was a nice trip down memory lane while learning more about not just the ‘80s, but also its motivation and inspiration for the show Stranger Things.
It also contains insights about several of the main characters showing why they thought and acted the way they did during seasons one and two of the show.
Overall, I thought it was very interesting.
It also contains insights about several of the main characters showing why they thought and acted the way they did during seasons one and two of the show.
Overall, I thought it was very interesting.
January 21, 2019
Very interesting book. I’m a child of true 90s but I loved reading about the 80s. Felt almost familiar to me. I love the show so it was interesting reading this take.
November 28, 2021
Good book but been a while since saw the two first seasons of Stanger Things.
January 8, 2022
Loved it ^^
July 1, 2022
I thought the book covered the first two seasons quite well.
August 16, 2022
A very fun trip down memory lane, and a good analysis of the first two seasons of one of the best shows on television.
December 27, 2023
this was a good one. was pretty much my gateway to the 80s.
August 2, 2025
Interesting and a fun read but absolutely full of errors and typos. I wish the writer could go back in time and get a proofreader.
December 18, 2018
I won a Kindle copy of this from goodreads giveaway!
Wow! This was a blast from my past. Growing up as a teen in the 80's, made this book become a walk down memory lane for me. That is also why the show Stranger Things appeals to me so much. I picked up on a lot of the references while watching the show, however this book has made me realize that I've missed a few and might need to re-watch the series again to catch some of the hidden gems. If you're a fan of the show Stranger Things or just a fan of anything 80's, than this is the book for you!
Wow! This was a blast from my past. Growing up as a teen in the 80's, made this book become a walk down memory lane for me. That is also why the show Stranger Things appeals to me so much. I picked up on a lot of the references while watching the show, however this book has made me realize that I've missed a few and might need to re-watch the series again to catch some of the hidden gems. If you're a fan of the show Stranger Things or just a fan of anything 80's, than this is the book for you!
October 18, 2020
Stranger Things and the 80s are my two most favorite things in the universe. The title of this book alone suggests that it was made for me. Unfortunately, this book was a complete fail for me and I found myself struggling to get through it. Not only was there nothing new here (which makes me wonder why it was made at all), it was also incomplete and, in some cases, inaccurate. Barb was compared to Stef from The Goonies because they both have red hair. Um. No they don't. Stef is blonde and Andy has red hair. An entire portion of the book highlights connections between the show and Jaws, but there isn't a single mention of the fact that Hopper's uniform and car are inspired by the Amity Police.
Honestly, this felt like I was reading about both Stranger Things and the 80s from someone who has a vague idea about both things but isn't quite sure of all the details. If you have only watched Stranger Things once and have just a passing knowledge of 80s pop culture, this is the book for you. Otherwise, skip it.
Honestly, this felt like I was reading about both Stranger Things and the 80s from someone who has a vague idea about both things but isn't quite sure of all the details. If you have only watched Stranger Things once and have just a passing knowledge of 80s pop culture, this is the book for you. Otherwise, skip it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews