Dreamcatcher

I've put off writing a review for quite some time because Becky wrote a review that seemed to cover everything perfectly and said it all! However, it's my resolution to review all the books I read this year, so I have to give it a try. Here goes...

I read this book the week it was first published in 2001. I'm a big fan of the author, and I always read his books as soon as they come out, usually at a breakneck speed. I often re-read and savor the books later, but the first reading is like a "fix" that I can't resist. I was especially eager to read this particular book because I was so devastated when the author had his accident. This book was proof that he had not left us.

This is one of the few books that I never went back to re-read until now. I couldn't even think of this book without cringing, so my aversion was understandable. But this time around, I wonder what took me so long! Yes, I giggled through the horrendous scenes of gas and the "birthing" of the poop weasels, but once I got over that, I really enjoyed this densely layered book.

I've always loved it when the author writes about aliens. In "Dreamcatcher," aliens have been present on our world for a long time. The military is well aware of their probes and visits. The book begins with four childhood friends, now all grown up, meeting for their annual hunting trip in a cabin located right in the center of ground zero. Needless to say, being characters in a King novel, they all carry a lot of emotional baggage. The guys share a wealth of history that the author peels away like an onion through flashbacks throughout the story.

At the start of a huge storm, the aliens arrive in their ship, en masse. They are broadcasting, in highly recognizable human voices, both English and French, "There is no infection here." That has an ominous ring to it, doesn't it? Fortunately, they land in the woods in the middle of nowhere. However, it's not so fortunate that it's hunting season. The military quickly moves in to contain the "virus" that the aliens have introduced (apparently they were lying about the "no infection" part) and begins by rounding up all the hunters and corralling them. These particular aliens seem to be focused only on survival. They're not out to wipe out mankind...unless humans interfere with their survival, that is.

In addition to the "grey boys" that we've come to expect from alien stories, there is a red, moss-like growth of a virus that humans can become infected with, as well as a small creature, the aforementioned poop weasels that incubate in the human digestive tract and eventually eat their way out. Our four hunting friends end up with the fate of the world, quite literally, in their hands, with the help of their very, very special fifth friend from childhood.

One of the effects of being in close proximity to the aliens is ESP. Our friends have shared a bit of a mental bond and heightened perception since childhood, and this just takes their mental abilities to the extreme. It may sound cool to be able to read the minds of your neighbors, family, and friends, but if you think about it to the final conclusion...it's not! It causes chaos, distrust, hate, fear, and above all, panic. I felt that panic was the dominant tone of this book. It takes place over the course of just two days, and from beginning to end, it's constant action at a breakneck speed. It's not a slow build-up.

Dreamcatcher

This is the book penned by Stephen King during his recovery from a debilitating traffic accident. In excruciating pain and hooked on Oxycontin, it was his attempt to piece himself back together and save himself through a return to storytelling. I'll admit that upon my first read of Dreamcatcher, I truly disliked it. However, this time around, my perception has changed for the better.

I appreciate the layers within the story, the worlds within worlds. The guys building rooms, even entire hospital wings inside their minds, walling off the bad guys, and the rampant telepathy where everyone can step (sometimes effortlessly, sometimes not) from one person's thoughts to another's. It adds a sense of complexity and intrigue that keeps the reader engaged.

Duddits is another aspect I like. Although not one of King's strongest characters, what he represents and how he gradually works his way into the center of the story is endearing. Even when long neglected, he is there, ready to help. He is stronger than anyone imagines, and in a sense, he is the one running the whole show.

The complexity of the aliens is also fascinating. In the end, they are revealed to be a very fragile fungus that didn't build those interstellar ships but somehow figured out how to pilot them. Their seducibility is an interesting trait, and the idea of using bacon to distract the bad guy who is set on destroying the world is both creative and entertaining. I didn't mind the endless gastrointestinal disasters, and I thought the shit-weasels were a good addition to the encyclopedia of alien monsters.

I also like Owen Underhill, the perfect soldier. He knows his commander is nuts and is able to outthink him to save the world, even if it means sacrificing his life in the end. And while Kurtz, the bad guy, is a stereotypical military megalomaniac, he adds to the horror and tension of the story. His bible-quoting and obsessive nature almost guarantee that the bad guys will win, even if they are incompetent.

However, there are aspects of the story that I didn't like. The four friends, in particular, had good back-stories, but they failed to hold my interest. I often had to remind myself who they were and why I should care about them. Additionally, the lack of strong female characters was noticeable, as they are usually a trademark of King's works. While Duddits's mom and a couple of hardass mindless military commanders were present, they didn't have the same impact as some of King's other female characters.

Finally, I got tired of some of King's extended ramblings, which I usually enjoy and admire. And for me, the whole idea of the Dreamcatcher just didn't work. I understand that King put a lot of effort into explaining it, but it didn't quite fit the story, which was more about memories and reflections than about dreams in the traditional sense. While Henry did have a dream, the Hemmingway Solution, it didn't seem like a strong enough foundation for an epic novel.

"Dream before the dreamers..."

"Bag of Bones" is a wonderful novel. I didn't have high expectations for it at first, but it really impressed me. Stephen King presents this dark yet extremely interesting story in a very engaging way!

Four friends who were born and raised in the cult town of Derry have telepathic abilities. Jonesy, Henry, Pete, and Beaver have taken different paths in life but meet once a year in a hunting cabin in Jefferson Tract. Recently, they often think of their friend Duddits, whom they haven't visited for years. He suffers from Down syndrome, and back then, the boys saved him from a gang of thugs. However, Duddits can "see The Hole", and after they helped him, they also gained this incredible ability. During their last meeting in the cabin, an extraterrestrial form of life appears in that very place, and it wants to spread across the entire Earth. The area is promptly cordoned off by the military, who are led by the completely deranged Kurtz. Subsequently, many dangerous, strange, and exciting events occur, and the survival of all humanity depends on the heroes.

"Jonesy let go of the receiver and looked up at the talisman - the ethereal web that was floating on the current. He remembered a phrase from a TV comedy they loved as kids: 'Wherever you are, there you are.' He also thought of other favorite sayings from the series 'New Day, Same Old Luck', and over the years, it even changed because the boys started to feel older and more sophisticated. 'Wherever you are, there you are.' But if you judged by Henry's words, that wasn't true. Wherever they imagined they were, they actually weren't there."

DREAMCATCHER is truly one of the finest books by Stephen King that I have had the pleasure of reading thus far.

My enthusiasm for this novel stems from two main aspects. Firstly, the story itself is captivating. King takes the common concept of an alien invasion and weaves a complex and engaging narrative around it. The setting, Maine in the USA, adds a sense of familiarity and yet an air of mystery. It's a place of forests, hunters, and of course, the birthplace of Pennywise. The four main characters, Gary "Jonesy" Jones, Pete Moore, Joe "Beaver" Clarendon, and Henry Devlin, are ordinary teenage boys with a penchant for mischief and profanity, but also a strong sense of justice. When they save Douglas "Duddits" Cavell from local bullies, they acquire telepathic abilities that will later prove crucial in their fight against an alien organism.

The second aspect that I love about DREAMCATCHER is King's use of language. He demonstrates an extensive vocabulary and a masterful command of the English language, which makes the reading experience both enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. The way he describes the characters, the settings, and the events is vivid and detailed, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story.

Overall, I highly recommend DREAMCATCHER to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with psychological undertones and rich language. It's a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Ree-damn-diculous!

Aliens bursting from butts? Frothing military maniacs? A Magic Retard (Stephen King's go-to character when the Magic Negro is busy)? Ludicrous, labored faux-blue-collar dialogue? And farts! Constant, neverending, rancid, moist farts! This may very well be the stupidest book King has ever penned, and that's truly saying something.

And yet... I couldn't help but think he was doing it on purpose. Maybe he wrote this as a horror comedy, a la "Slither." King has had his share of godawful garbage in his career, but none of it was anywhere near this entertaining. "Dreamcatcher" is bad, but it's hilariously bad.

This is a book in which bacon saves the planet (OK, that's not such a stretch). I spent my train commutes to work and back quaking with laughter while reading this. It's FUN! "Insomnia" wasn't fun. It just sucked. "Desperation" just sucked. "Dreamcatcher" is a different beastie altogether: “You could only compare it to farts because there was nothing else even close.” Thank you, Stephen King, thank you for showing those National Book Award snobs the way.

I can't, in good conscience, give this any more than three stars. It's a wretched novel, and King should be ashamed of himself for writing it. As ashamed as I am for enjoying it.

It's not as糟糕 as Tommyknockers, but in my opinion, it's King's most mediocre effort right after that one.

Still, it's a fairly entertaining read, I guess.

The thing with Duddits, the "Magical Down Syndrome Kid" stuff, is really cringe-worthy.

It's like King was trying to create some sort of special, almost supernatural character with Duddits, but it just didn't quite work for me.

The story has its moments, don't get me wrong.

There are some interesting plot twists and the overall atmosphere is quite engaging.

But the whole Duddits aspect just felt a bit forced and uncomfortable.

Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I think King could have done a better job with that particular element of the story.

Overall, it's an okay read, but not one of King's best.

This book may seem a bit 'crazy' in some parts, but the reader should take into account the following:

1) It was written during an extremely difficult period for King, who was recovering from an extremely severe traffic accident and was almost continuously under the influence of drugs, and

2) It was written by King himself. That's it! :Ρ

I liked the idea, I liked its development and its ending. However, since it didn't really grab me, didn't shock me, didn't surprise me, I think that three stars are more than enough - especially for those who know me well, and me and my rating! :Ρ

Aliens launched a terrifying attack on Maine.

Meanwhile, a homicidal poop found itself trapped in a toilet, adding a strange and grotesque element to the already chaotic situation.

Among the characters, one of them resorted to using his shoe as a telephone, which was truly a bizarre and unexpected act.

This is about all that I can remember from "Dreamcatcher". I would venture to say that it is not one of Stephen King's finest works.

Nonetheless, I do recall enjoying it years ago when I first read it.

Vaguely, I also remember the mediocre movie adaptation. It boasted a stellar cast that included Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Timothy Oliphant, and Tom Sizemore.

All in all, "Dreamcatcher" is one of the weirdest alien invasion stories I have ever come across.