Bag of Bones in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 18, 2015 Stil de scriitor rated it it was ok

Recenzia cărții aici:

https://literarybook.wordpress.com/20... ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 02, 2012 Greer rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2012-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. There were the makings of a great story buried in this novel, but they were never brought to fruition. King created a likable protagonist in the form of Mike Noonan, a novelist struggling with grief and writer's block after the unexpected death of his wife Jo. The depiction of Mike's relationship with Jo, the emptiness of his life after her death, and his agony at discovering she was keeping secrets from him (including that she was pregnant) were moving.

After a four year absence and some distur There were the makings of a great story buried in this novel, but they were never brought to fruition. King created a likable protagonist in the form of Mike Noonan, a novelist struggling with grief and writer's block after the unexpected death of his wife Jo. The depiction of Mike's relationship with Jo, the emptiness of his life after her death, and his agony at discovering she was keeping secrets from him (including that she was pregnant) were moving.

After a four year absence and some disturbing dreams, Mike is drawn back to their cabin in rural Maine, Sara Laughs, named after an early 20th century black blues singer who once lived there. He finds himself haunted by multiple ghosts, most notably the vengeful Sara, who seeks retribution on the descendants of racist townfolk who brutally raped and murdered her and drowned her young son, and Mike's wife Jo, serving as protector. Prior to her death, Jo learned the town's secret, and that Sara's ghost has since succeeded in driving a number of the descendants to suicide or murder of their own children. Her latest intended victim is three year old Kyra Devore, toward whom Mike has developed fatherly feelings. Kyra's mother Mattie is a very young and predictably beautiful widow in distress helped by Mike during a custody battle with the child's evil paternal grandfather.

What I liked about the story: a grieving Mike literally haunted by his wife, his bond with Kyra after losing his own unborn child, and his discovery of the horrific secrets hidden by the insular town inhabitants. What I didn't like: the cliche of Mike "falling in love" with a woman half his age (Kyra's mother Mattie) and her predicatably returning these feelings; and the portrayal of the victimized Sara's ghost as wholly monstrous and full of gleeful revenge.

This story would have been much more compelling if Sara's ghost had more complexity, if she was driven by grief and love for her son and not just anger. I also found myself wishing King had dialed down the supernaturnal elements more (not to off, but to simmer) and put the human evil at the forefront - it was far more interesting and disturbing. ...more

Like · see review

May 04, 2009 Suzanne rated it it was ok

Wow, I see that most people loved this book. I'd maybe give it another half star, but the book just didn't do much for me. It was just too long. Not that I'm opposed to long books, but Bag of Bones was unnecessarily and tediously long. There was sooooo much foreshadowing that the end was almost anti-climactic. Not that the "mystery" or "starting event" wasn't an atrocity, becuase it was, just that by the time I got there, the book had imploded on itself due to its sheer volume.

It's too bad. I th ...more

Like · see review