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Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury is a renowned classic horror novel. It unfolds the tale of two young boys who stumble upon a menacing carnival that has descended upon their idyllic small town. My decision to read this book was influenced by the references it received in Stephen King's Fairy Tale.

Although Ray Bradbury's work is widely regarded as a masterpiece of fiction, my personal experience with it was rather mediocre. I found myself slogging through the pages. The novel does manage to build tension effectively and营造出一种不安的氛围. However, when compared to the scares that modern readers might anticipate, the actual frights in this book are relatively mild.

On a positive note, \\"Something Wicked This Way Comes\\" is still a beautifully crafted and deeply atmospheric piece of literature. Bradbury's prose is not only poetic but also highly evocative. He skillfully captures the mood and setting of a small town in the mid-twentieth century, transporting readers back in time.

In conclusion, I believe that \\"Something Wicked This Way Comes\\" will hold appeal for fans of classic fiction and those who appreciate Bradbury's distinct writing style. Nevertheless, if you are in search of a truly terrifying story or an engaging book specifically targeted at young adults, you might be better served by looking elsewhere. Perhaps, Stephen King's Fairy Tale could be a more suitable choice.

Love Something Wicked This Way Comes.

It's a truly captivating piece of work. The story is filled with mystery and intrigue that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, the audiobook version, while generally good, had a bit of a drawback for me.

It put me to sleep a little though. I'm not sure if it was the narrator's tone or the fact that I was listening late at night, but there were moments when my eyes started to droop.

Despite that, I still found the overall experience enjoyable. The story itself is so engaging that it made me want to keep listening, even when I was feeling a bit sleepy.

I think it's a great book for those who love a good mystery and don't mind a bit of a spooky atmosphere. I would definitely recommend it to others, although I might suggest reading it instead of listening to the audiobook if you're prone to falling asleep easily.

Overall, Something Wicked This Way Comes is a must-read (or listen) for any fan of the genre.

In order to truly embrace the spirit of Halloween, I decided to purchase this audiobook. I made it a habit to listen to it either before going to bed or during my drives. I had previously read Bradbury's work in high school when I delved into "Fahrenheit 451," but it had been quite some time since then.

Bradbury's descriptive style was so vivid that at times, it felt as if I was stuck in a rut within the story. However, around the halfway mark, something suddenly clicked. I found myself completely enamored with his narrative approach, and the imagery he painted was truly remarkable.

The story centers around two thirteen-year-old boys, William Holloway and Jim Nightshade, who reside in Illinois. Their small town is visited by a "Dark Carnival." A significant portion of the narrative also follows Will's father, Charles Holloway, who ultimately became my favorite character. Despite being a lowly janitor at the town library, he would utilize his spare time to devour any book he could get his hands on. As the story unfolds and takes on a darker tone, Charles Holloway offers numerous profound insights into human history, behavior, and desire. There are many memorable quotes from him whenever he converses with his son and Jim.

The main antagonist of the story is a tall and slender man named Mr. Dark, who operates the carnival. Initially, I was somewhat put off by his character and his minions. However, when he confronts Charles Holloway in the library and the following exchange occurs, I was hooked.

Charles: "Damn you! Damn you too hell!"

Mr. Dark: "Damn me?! Ha! I am already damned!"

I simply couldn't stop listening.

The book delves deep into the passion that is human desire. Whether it's an older man longing to be younger or a younger boy yearning to be older, the carnival preys on the townspeople, who become willing to sell their souls for something they crave.

"Don't wish too loudly, someone may hear you."

This is a truly fantastic read (or listen), and it is absolutely perfect for the Halloween season, which is just a couple of weeks away. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

A great story can take you on a wild ride, filled with excitement, adventure, and emotions. It can transport you to different worlds and make you feel as if you are a part of the action. However, sometimes, even the greatest stories can have a dark side.

Scary ads can be a part of that darkness. They can shock and terrify you, making your heart race and your blood run cold. These ads often use fear tactics to grab your attention and make you remember the product or service being advertised.

But what if the scary ad goes too far? What if it crosses the line and becomes truly disturbing? That's when it can turn into a living hell. You might find yourself unable to forget the images or the message, haunted by them long after you've seen the ad.

In conclusion, while a great story can be a wonderful thing, we must also be cautious of the power of scary ads. They can have a profound impact on our minds and emotions, and we need to be aware of their potential to cause harm.

Bradbury has a unique and captivating way of crafting stories.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" has a title that immediately catches the eye and makes one smile. Intended for a younger audience, it skillfully weaves thriller elements that are sure to appeal to them.

Nevertheless, what I truly liked was how Bradbury told this story. In it, children aren't left to fend for themselves and sort out complex issues on their own. This aspect made me love the dad character even more.

It also had the effect of making me like Bradbury as a writer better, too.

"A Sound of Thunder" is another short story that was included. It, too, was interesting and held my attention from start to finish.

Overall, Bradbury's works are a delight to read, full of imagination and engaging plots that keep the reader hooked.

I am not a die-hard enthusiast of Bradbury. To my palate, he can be somewhat dry and overly verbose.

Having stated that, this particular story delves into the fascinating realm of human nature. In a quaint midwestern town, a circus arrives for a visit. However, this circus is far from ordinary.

Two boys find themselves embroiled in the age-old struggle of good versus evil. But rather than engaging in combat with external monsters, their battle lies within themselves.

As the story unfolds, we witness the internal turmoil and moral dilemmas that the boys face. Their journey forces them to confront their deepest fears, desires, and insecurities.

It is through this exploration of their inner selves that the true essence of the story emerges. We are reminded that the battle between good and evil is not always fought on a grand scale, but often within the recesses of our own hearts and minds.

Bradbury's ability to capture the complexity of human nature in this story is both thought-provoking and engaging, despite my initial reservations about his writing style.

This was my very first Bradbury book. I truly appreciated the 'sci-fi' elements within it, such as the demonic carnival, the mysterious dust witch, and the enchanting merry-go-round. However, I wasn't overly fond of most of Bradbury's descriptions. If I were to categorize writing styles into just two camps, they would be as follows:

The first camp is concise. It features very few adverbs and adjectives, along with short sentences, much like the style of Hemingway.

The second camp is verbose. It consists of long sentences, numerous adjectives, adverbs, and power verbs (for example, "NO!" He spat angrily), and also long sentences. This is the style of Bradbury.

Some of Bradbury's descriptions were crystal clear. For instance, when he described the dust witch's balloon as "the color of moldy cheese", I thought that was perhaps the best line in the book.

Nevertheless, most of his descriptions I found to be long and not really clear. They were long-winded and a bit over the top. Additionally, he had a tendency to use the word'moth' as a descriptor quite frequently, which I found rather strange.

I also felt that the character of Charles Halloway was a little too convenient. I did like the fact that Charles Halloway didn't become a major character until the end of the book, but then Halloway became our translator. He was able to explain everything away with very little evidence, which I found quite frustrating.

Overall, I am glad that I listened to Something Wicked This Way Comes, but I wasn't overly enthusiastic about it.

Also, the short story, A Sound of Thunder, didn't really appeal to me either.

I really struggled while listening to this book. In fact, I found myself having to stop after each chapter just to be able to digest it all. You see, I'm not typically a big fan of Ray Bradbury. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered just how much I liked this particular one.

One of the things I truly loved about this story was that Will's father believed him when Will and Jim told their story. It added a layer of depth and authenticity to the relationships within the book.

On a side note, I have to mention the Disney movie adaptation. Unfortunately, it felt quite dated. The special effects from 1982 simply did not stand the test of time. They seemed rather lackluster compared to what we're used to seeing in modern films. And that's not all. They actually changed the ending from the book. I have to say, I much preferred the book's ending. It had a certain charm and finality that the movie just couldn't capture.

Overall, despite the challenges I faced while listening to the book, I'm glad I gave it a chance. It was a unique and engaging read that left a lasting impression on me.

The book isn't as scary as the movie.

It seems that in some parts, the description in the book is a bit too wordy, which might make the reading experience a bit less smooth.

Moreover, there is some foul language in it, which is quite off-putting.

Although I did like the overall story, to be honest, I don't think I would read it again.

The combination of these factors just doesn't make it a book that I would be eager to pick up for a second time.

Maybe if the language was cleaner and the writing was more concise, I might have a different opinion.

But as it stands, it's not a book that I would highly recommend to others.

Even after 60 years, it remains just as excellent as it was when I first read it in 1974! It's flawless! In my opinion, Bradbury's best novel of his career. This review is for the most incredibly narrated audiobook ever!

Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are the best of friends, and they are both October boys. They have grown up right next door to each other. One night in October, in the middle of the night, they hear music. The creepy music of an old calliope. They both tell each other that it couldn't be a carnival this late in the season, but they are wrong! The carnival that is coming into town this late October is one that will push the boys, their fathers, and the small town to the limits of the bizarre.

When the lightning rod salesman approaches the boys and convinces them that one of their houses is going to be fatally struck by an approaching lightning storm if they don't purchase one to put on their roof, the boys don't think much of it. They buy it and climb on the roof to attach it to the roof point. What they don't know is that they are marking themselves to be tormented and drawn to the Crueger and Dark Traveling Carnival. And what they discover will make them look at their friendship, their families, and life in a way that they will never forget.

Will's father, being 54, has always 'felt too old' to be Will's dad, but not Will. He adores his father, who works as a janitor in the evenings at the local library. Jim's family is completely different. They are young parents, and Jim has always taken things for granted. When the boys start to watch the carnival set up at 3 in the morning, they witness some of the creepiest and yet most fascinating characters ever. Believe me, these characters are ones that you will both fear and love at the same time. Only Bradbury could have written this story in the early 60's. And with the Walt Disney motion picture of the same name, they are both classics in their own ways. My favorite part of this classic is the horrifying and very creepy carousel. It takes you on a ride that can either make you older or younger, depending on which way it turns! Yes! You are in for the ride of a lifetime, and if you are going again, you will love it as much this time as you did, if not more than that first time you experienced 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'! Are you ready to go to the Dark's traveling 'Creep Show'? Let's go! Highly recommend this coming-of-age horror, suspense, and emotional read.

5 SCREAMS all the way through October!

Review of "Something Wicked This Way Comes"

Review of "A Sound of Thunder"

I gave this short story a rating of three stars.

I listened to Ray Bradbury’s short story, “A Sound of Thunder” in conjunction with his novel, “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. I have enjoyed other Bradbury stories such as “Fahrenheit 451” and “Martian Chronicles”, and was hoping that I would enjoy this story. Of Bradbury’s books that I have read, this is the shortest and my least favorite. It lacked substantial plot and character development. It seemed more like a short story that could have been further developed into a better novel.

This tale is set in a future where time travel is possible. A big game hunting company uses time travel to take hunters back to the age of the dinosaur to hunt the ultimate prey - Tyrannosaurus Rex. The story focuses on one excursion where a hunter violates the company’s precautions not to alter any conditions in the past. The ending shows the result of this violation on the present world.

I felt the story was rushed to fit the short story format. I liked the concept of using time travel to hunt extinct animals and the precautions taken by the hunting company. However, I think the book’s theme could have been better explored in a novel. There could have been more about the hunting guide and the hunter’s attempt to fix the damage done during the original expedition.

I recommend this book to fans of Ray Bradbury. Even his lesser works have merit compared to most other writers. I also recommend it to those who enjoy a short science fiction story that makes one think about the ethical question of man’s ability to alter the past and, in turn, the present and future.

This classic fantasy/horror tale, first published in 1963, is a captivating read. It centers around Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, the best of friends who live next door to each other. Will is the down-to-earth and easy-going boy, while Jim is the wilder and "darker" of the two.

The story is set in a small town in middle America during October. A scary storm front arrives in town, along with a mysterious and creepy traveling circus/carnival. As things get wild and go wrong, the two boys become deeply involved in the evil doings of the traveling carnival. As the story unfolds, the nature of good and evil and how to combat evil are explored.

I listened to this story in audio format, which was a pleasant experience. I loved its lyrical and slightly poetic style, which is typical of Bradbury's signature style. Stanley Kubrik's reading, with his deep and resonant voice, changing tone with each character and their moods, was almost perfect for this story.

This book is recommended for Halloween/Fall reading for young adults, mature older children, and adults to read to children. What's most significant is that it has the perfect solution for being scared - laughter/humor. There is little or no violence and mild language, yet it is very suspenseful. I give this audio version of the book 3.5 stars. (I liked it a lot.)

This particular book was read for a GLBT challenge and was taken from a site that lists it as having these elements. However, the relationship is not clear unless one is aware of such nuances, such as the community itself. Once aware, it does become subtly apparent as the relationship between Will and Jim is revealed. The boys are obviously very close and fairly affectionate, which could suggest the possibility of a budding romantic relationship.