Fantasy Buddy Read - Fairy Tale by Stephen King - Sept 6th, 2022

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

I'm on page 180 but when I was reading page 146 (view spoiler)[ yesterday, where Bowditch died in the ambulance I started crying a river of tears, at that point my bf walked out of his home office and was coming over to comfort me because I was legit losing my shit and he stubbed his toe so hard on the stool next to me that he had to crawl to the couch to lie down, crying himself, I had to stop, get him ice and comfort him lol, I was like damn it, you interrupted my grief, gosh this book really gets to you, love it! (hide spoiler)]

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Finally starting this tonight! I can't wait to click on all of these beautiful spoilers!!!

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Sally <3 yes don't you dare click those links yet! :D

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem)]

To add more temptation to the spoiler clicking ...

I read most of Chapter 24 during my lunch break (it's a long chapter!) and (view spoiler)[I think I held my breath through most of it, I was so anxious about what was going to happen in the fights. But I'm surprised that I still haven't shed a tear over this book! I've gotten misty-eyed. But no crying ... yet. I'm usually one to sob over a book. I'm a little jealous of all the tears Kasia has shed! Haha. (hide spoiler)]

I'm so close to the end. I think if I don't pace myself, I can finish it tonight or tomorrow at the latest. And then we'll see if what I mentioned in the spoiler still holds true!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am on page 155 chapter 10

Thoughts so far as it has been awhile since I last put a spoiler in here:

(view spoiler)[I found myself with hitching breaths for Radar not being able to make it up steps and down steps. It brought back memories for me as I use to have a female chow dog that I would literally have to pick up and carry in the house as she was not able to walk up them on her own. Lots of times I had to bring her in the house with carrying her so heartstrings were pulling a lot during that description of Charlie carrying Radar.

Bowditch in the hospital with the broken leg - I thought he wouldn't make it out of there, but he still had some life in him to get back home to be with Radar. I think Radar is really what kept Bowditch going strong.

The banging and noise on the inside of the shed door - I thought for sure Bowditch would finally reveal what was going on but he still kept it under wraps.

I love the character Charlie - he has lots of love and caring in his heart.

Heartstrings pulling when Bowditch passed away - that was super sad - not really surprising he left everything to Charlie with all what Charlie had been doing for him - Charlie was more or less Bowditch's best friend besides Radar.

Now I am curious what happens next. Though now that Bowditch is gone Charlie can finally open the shed door - might be Pandora's box that he opens - lol - I am so dying myself to get in there! lol I want to go exploring in the shed! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Marie wrote: "I am on page 155 chapter 10

Thoughts so far as it has been awhile since I last put a spoiler in here:..."

Yes! Totally agree Marie, especially about (view spoiler)[Radar not being able to walk. My last dog Duke got that way. His hips and legs were getting worse and worse before he died of doggie leukemia.
We had to have a ramp for the car, help him up stairs and try to walk slowly for him.
This book has been tough with reading about a beloved old dog and experiencing the same thing in real life. (hide spoiler)]

[Scott]

This book has started to slow down for me, but I knew they were going to have to introduce the villain of the story at some point sooner rather than later (view spoiler)[ but once Charlie got trapped behind the walls of the Citadel and captured by the night soldiers it has gotten slower all the new characters aren't as richly drawn as everyone before, except maybe Iota and Hambrey (I think that's right) (hide spoiler)] I still on track to be a 5 star though. Less than a hundred pages to go.

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem)]

@Scott - I agree it does slow down a bit there. But it didn't take long to pick back up for me. I have a spoiler regarding that thought I can't post from my phone, so I'll try to remember to post it later. :-)

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem)]

This is the spoiler to follow up on my thought above. It's safe to read after you meet the villain. (view spoiler)[It felt fitting to me that the story did slow down at that point. It mimicked the time Charlie spends captive with the others. I imagine time would move very slowly for him there! And as the story moves on it picks up pace again, quickly. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Scott]

TheresaW wrote: "This is the spoiler to follow up on my thought above. It's safe to read after you meet the villain. [spoilers removed]"

you're absolutely right, just because it slowed down for me does'nt mean I did not like it . The part was necessary or some other perilous situation for the protagonist, now that I'm the final stretch it is moving at a quicker and more interesting pace for me.

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem)]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who went through the book and looked at all the art at the start of each chapter long before I got to it ... I peeked ahead at the art way back when I was just a few chapters in. I'm so weak! In other news, I should finish tonight. I have very mixed feelings about that.

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem)]

I finished reading tonight. I'll post my spoiler-free review tomorrow.

I cried on the very last page. Mostly because the story was over. It's full of characters I hold in my heart as dearly as those from the Dark Tower. I'll need to go back and visit them regularly.

[Nora]

I’m going to continue reading this book tonight! I’m kind of worried because I just finished reading a few chapters in a different book where a dog was killed and based on the cover of this book, I know that there’s a dog in this book and I hope nothing happens to them.

[LTJ]

@Nora: Nice! I'm close to 40% and it's getting REALLY good. I can't put it down. I'm the same way (since I became a first-time dog owner a little over a year ago to my cockapoo named Ozzy Skywalker) with dogs, curious to see what happens...

[Nora]

LTJ wrote: "@Nora: Nice! I'm close to 40% and it's getting REALLY good. I can't put it down. I'm the same way (since I became a first-time dog owner a little over a year ago to my cockapoo named Ozzy Skywalker..."

This is great news, LTJ! Ozzy Skywalker is such an awesome name! I’m curious to find out what happens too.

[LTJ]

@Nora: Thanks, my friend! :-D

[Nora]

LTJ wrote: "@Nora: Thanks, my friend! :-D"

You are welcome, LTJ! :-D

[Dan]

Just finished. Loved the ending!

[Nora]

I love the Hall of Old Reading Matter!!

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem)]

Nora wrote: "I love the Hall of Old Reading Matter!!"

Yes! If I was in Charlie's shoes I might not have gotten any further in my adventure. I'd be sat right there in the hall going through all of those old books and magazines! 😍😄

[Ginger]

Dan wrote: "Just finished. Loved the ending!"

Love this comment Dan! SK has had some endings that haven’t worked for me or kind of petered out.
Looks like this one nails it then?

[Dan]

I was satisfied with it for sure. King’s landings don’t always stick, but this one did.

[Ginger]

Dan wrote: "I was satisfied with it for sure. King’s landings don’t always stick, but this one did."

Woohoo!!

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Man guys, this book has some of those great King characters that make you so emotionally invested very quickly. I totally see the parallels to The Talisman but I'm also getting huge Dark Tower vibes. Mr. Bowditch, the loveable asshole reminds me of Roland. Radar makes me feel the same complete adoration for an animal as Oy. And Charlie is like a slightly older Jake. 250 pages in and completely hooked.

[LTJ]

@Sally: I love that there is a dog in this one, being a new dog owner and all for a little over a year. I'm loving this novel and will try to finish it by tonight, happy reading :-D

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

I will say my best girl Buffy is getting extra pets while I'm reading this.

[LTJ]

@Sally: Now that's an awesome name for a pet! LoL Ozzy says hi and I've been giving him extra treats because of how great Radar is :-D

[Kirsten]

Looking forward to starting. Just got my library book. Hope it isn't too late to start!!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Kirsten wrote: "Looking forward to starting. Just got my library book. Hope it isn't too late to start!!"

Never too late to start! :)

This thread will always be open for anyone that wants to chime in on this book. A lot of us are still reading it as well. Welcome to the thread Kirsten! :)

[LTJ]

@Kirsten: So glad you're reading this with us, it's been a delight so far :-)

[Ginger]

Kirsten wrote: "Looking forward to starting. Just got my library book. Hope it isn't too late to start!!"

Welcome Kirsten and glad you can join!!
We’re all reading at different speeds so you’re definitely not late to the party. I’m about 1/2 through and really enjoying this one!

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Starting chapter 20, page 349. (view spoiler)[These night soldiers sound scary AF! And why does the gate sound familiar to me, was there something similar in another King book that I can't remember? (hide spoiler)]

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Gah I'm behind but I haven't read the last 3 days, will be picking this bad boy up today, so glad everyone is having a blast with this one :)

[Ginger]

Kasia wrote: "Gah I'm behind but I haven't read the last 3 days, will be picking this bad boy up today, so glad everyone is having a blast with this one :)"

Yes! Still really liking this one. It’s definitely picked up and I’m chewing my fingernails now. LOL!

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Just finished, loved it from beginning to end. So glad we read this!

[Nora]

Hi everyone! I’m going to read a couple chapters before bed tonight!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Ginger wrote: "It’s definitely picked up and I’m chewing my fingernails now. LOL!..."

You are not the only one! LOL This last half of the book has been a nail biting whirlwind! Hahaha!! Loving this book! :)

[Nora]

I love the light that looks like it’s from one of the TCM movies:))

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

@Nora I love little details like that too. I grew up watching AMC so I definitely connected with Charlie over that.

[Nora]

Sally wrote: "@Nora I love little details like that too. I grew up watching AMC so I definitely connected with Charlie over that."

So did I, Sally. I absolutely loved it.

[LTJ]

Just hit 72% and wow, I'm loving this, it's so good!

[Nora]

I'm continuing reading this book on Stephen King's Birthday! The perfect day to read this book!

[LTJ]

@Nora: YES! LoL right? Maybe that was why he published this in September... his last novel of 2022 and in his birthday month!

[Nora]

LTJ wrote: "@Nora: YES! LoL right? Maybe that was why he published this in September... his last novel of 2022 and in his birthday month!"

Lol! I just read the part about the cake with the lemon frosting and cream! Super funny coincidence!

[LTJ]

@Nora: YES! LoL damn, now I want some cake as a late-night snack. I just hit 74% in Fairy Tale...

[Ginger]

Getting back to this today and looking forward to it.

I had to finish up a few books first since I was reading about four at the same time. Too many books and not enough time to read. hahaha

Really looking forward to finding out what happens to Charlie and Rades!

[Ginger]

TheresaW wrote: "I'm about to start Chapter 24 ...
[spoilers removed]
So I'll try to push on today! 😊"

I’m right at this point Theresa. I totally feel what you described in the spoiler and must push on though!

[Ginger]

LTJ wrote: "Just hit 72% and wow, I'm loving this, it's so good!"

I’m at the same point LTJ! Really loving and dreading this at the same time. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂🤣

[LTJ]

77% in and at Chapter 25... the buildup is real!

[Nora]

LTJ wrote: "@Nora: YES! LoL damn, now I want some cake as a late-night snack. I just hit 74% in Fairy Tale..."

Cake makes a great late night snack LTJ except earlier today I read the part about cherry cobbler and now I want some.