This might just be my all time favorite book.....ever!

I have read countless books throughout my life, but this one truly stands out. From the moment I picked it up, I was completely engrossed in its pages. The story is so captivating and the characters are so well-developed that I felt as if I was a part of their world.

The author's writing style is simply beautiful. The words flow seamlessly, painting vivid pictures in my mind and evoking a wide range of emotions. I laughed, I cried, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.

What I love most about this book is how it makes me think. It challenges my beliefs and makes me look at the world from a different perspective. It has truly had a profound impact on me and I will cherish it always.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a book that will transport you to another world, make you feel all the feels, and make you think, then this is the book for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

IN THESE SILENCES SOMETHING MAY RISE

  IN THESE SILENCES SOMETHING MAY RISE

Oi, this book is truly a remarkable one! I delved into it months ago but only recently completed its companion novel, and now I believe I'm finally ready to organize my thoughts and pen a review. I rated it three stars, but that's really only in comparison to King's other works. When compared to other writers, this book is far superior. However, in the context of his extensive body of novels, it sits on the lower end of the Stephen King spectrum for me. This is rather unfortunate because it features one of the most brilliant evil entities I've ever encountered in literature.



TAK



The story revolves around a group of strangers who find themselves stranded in the Nevada desert, specifically in a small town called Desperation. They're not just stranded; they're locked up in a rinky-dink sheriff's office because the local sheriff, Collie Entragian, has gone completely berserk. He pulled these strangers over, found pretexts to haul them off to the police station, and some of them even had to witness the deaths of their loved ones in the process. Desperate to escape with their lives intact, these strangers must band together to get away from this rogue lawman (who constantly interjects phrases like "Tak a la, Tak a wan" into his everyday speech and seems to be literally falling apart at the seams). Among these strangers are the Carver family: Ralph, Ellie, and David, who lost their young daughter/sister, Pie, at the hands of Entragian; a local drunk and veterinarian, Tom Billinglsey; tough yet afraid Mary Jackson, who saw her husband Peter murdered in front of her; and the prize-winning legendary author Johnny Marinville, who is on a cross-country voyage to gather material for his new memoir, "Travels with Harley." They are later joined by Marinville's road manager, Steve Ames, and a hitchhiker he picked up named Cynthia Smith (who is also a character in "Rose Madder"). These strangers come together to figure out why they are the only survivors of whatever happened in Desperation and why Entragian decided one day to kill everyone in the town. What they discover is a malevolent spirit that has lurked beneath the earth for centuries, waiting to emerge and wreak havoc.



Tak is a difficult entity to define. At first, I thought it might be a demon, but that has too much of a mythological or religious connotation. A malevolent spirit also doesn't quite capture its essence. I came to realize that Tak is essentially chaos. It's a non-corporeal entity whose sole purpose is to inhabit human hosts and create a world of chaos out of a world of order. But Tak soon discovers that humans can't host it for long. The energy it creates wears their bodies out too quickly, and any flaws they have grow exponentially in a short amount of time. Collie Entragian's pale skin made him vulnerable to the sun, causing literal cracks in his body. Another human host had an unknown case of cancer, which made his body break down from the inside out. Tak feeds on the chaos of killing, sex, debauchery, and arguing. That's where it draws its life force from. TAK. IT. IT. TAK. I couldn't help but notice similarities between two of King's most notorious evil beings. And as he kept referring to Tak as IT, I think he intended for those connections to be made. Just one more reason why I love this author.

  No, Tak's real, it has a being. It had to get Ripton into the mine because it can't get through the ini--the well. It has a physical body, and the well is too small for it. All it can do is catch people, inhabit them, make them into can tak. And trade them in when they wear out.

The quote above exemplifies just how complex the whole concept of Tak is. Can tak. Can tah. Ini. These are things that exist only in Tak's world, a world that has now collided with Desperation, Nevada.



Anywhoo, I could go on and on about so many aspects of this book because there's so much to digest. Tak meets its match in young David Carver, a very religious boy with an abundance of faith. God speaks to David and uses him as a vessel to defeat Tak with the help of the others. Each of the strangers has their purpose, and David emerges as their leader. However, this is where the novel started to falter a little for me. The characters all seem so contrived, as if they were playing caricatures of types commonly found in horror movies. David is the one with faith. Johnny Marinville is the skeptic. Tom Billingsley is the token drunk. Cynthia and Steve provide the romance. Mary is the feisty alpha female. None of the characters felt genuine or true to me, and that was a major drawback.



Wait, back up. Stephen King's characters not ringing true? Something seems amiss here. King is a master of characterization. I've never known him to present such hokey and caricatured characters before. Is this some kind of setup? Was it intentional? King pits these characters against each other, in opposition. Particularly toward the end, Johnny the skeptic and David the faithful seem to complete a circle with each other. I'm not sure how else to describe it. They become connected in some way, perhaps through God or some other kind of energy that is antagonistic to Tak's. It is through these two characters that answers begin to surface. David represents life, faith, youth, and destiny. Johnny, the washed-up, sold-out old Johnny Marinville, represents waste, death, endings, selling out, and giving in.

  "When a person stops changing, stops feeling, they die. The times you've tried to kill yourself since, you were just playing catch-up. Weren't you?" And the child smiled at him with a sympathy that was unspeakable in its innocence and kindness and lack of judgement. "Johnny," David Carver said, "God can raise the dead."

So now we're back to the age-old themes of good and evil, God and Tak, faith and doubt.



I did enjoy this book and found it to be one of King's more intellectually stimulating novels. I definitely liked it better after reading "The Regulators" and considering both books as a whole. I'm also not sure if I read this at the right time to fully appreciate and uncover all its brilliance. I know it's there, somewhere in the mines of Desperation, Nevada. I just came back with a lot of dust. I may need to return to the mine again to see if there's any gold.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up.

King did an outstanding job in creating these characters, especially David. David is an extremely interesting and multifaceted child with a captivating faith. The insights that King offers about faith throughout the novel are truly remarkable, and its central role in the plot cannot be overstated. Even those aspects that I firmly disagree with serve as excellent food for thought.

The reason this book didn't receive a higher rating from me is that it gets extremely gross. I mean truly nasty. Even for King, there were some exceptionally vile scenes. I guess this was a successful way to increase the fear factor. This was indeed a straightforward horror novel. However, I believe it could have been toned down a bit and still been just as effective, while also being easier to tolerate.

Update from 2010 to 2018

In 2010, I was somewhat conflicted about this book. If rating it solely on the story, I might have given it just 2 stars. However, due to the style of writing being of equal, if not more, importance to me than the story itself, I settled on 3 stars. The book was disturbing, sad, and at times even disgusting, yet I was compelled to know how it ended, who lived, who died, and most importantly, why. But I was left a bit disappointed in that regard.

The story begins with a crazy cop on a rampage in the small desert town of Desperation. He stops and detains travelers on the road with no obvious pattern. They are all locked up in the local jail together, and during their trips into town, it becomes clear that the cop, or someone, has gone on a killing spree. What isn't immediately clear is that the cop isn't actually crazy but possessed, as are the local wildlife. Of what and how, we don't know. Something evil, no doubt.

The polar opposite of this "evil spirit" seems to be an 11-year-old boy, David Carver, whom the cop has locked up with the other prisoners. David is touched by God. Through flashbacks, we see that although he wasn't raised religiously, he has become so for his own reasons, and God does seem to converse with him. David not only accepts this but is willing to perform the difficult task God has set for him, the task for which he seems to have been called to Desperation. The basic premise of this story seems to be good versus evil, God versus Satan, much like King's The Stand but with a smaller cast of characters.

In 2018, I reread this book obsessively. No author more so than King, but this one wasn't a favorite of mine, so I usually skipped over it when looking for a comfort read. This time, I felt I should give it another chance since so many people seem to love it. When comparing it to The Regulators (the "sister book"), most people choose Desperation. Personally, I love The Regulators, but this time around, I enjoyed Desperation so much more! I still prefer The Regulators, but it's a closer race now.

I think what has always turned me off about this book is exactly what I enjoyed this time. The premise of an evil "spirit" or "being" being released when a mining pit is opened and wreaking havoc is both terrifying and captivating. The names and words associated with this "thing," like Tak, Cantoi, canta, can de lach, mi him en tow, etc., just freak me out. The fact that anyone this "spirit" inhabits develops Tourette's with these words in their speech makes the whole thing even more disturbing. But that's actually good writing! How did I not recognize it before?

King is so good at creating atmosphere with the various creatures in the book, like spiders, rats, and other unpleasant beings. Tak uses animals to do his bidding, and trust me, there are no fluffy kittens! King's personal fears are clearly evident in this book, and he's excellent at converting those feelings into words. There's also quite a bit of religion in the story. While King is known for his views on organized religion, in this story, he seems to soften a bit. David, the young boy, performs numerous miraculous things and has many conversations with God. It doesn't matter which flavor of God it is; David's God is a true presence, a voice, a feeling, and a doer. David is his tool, and he wields him with little sympathy for his age. Each of the characters is beautifully fleshed out, the situation is tense and scary, and the story is like a roller coaster. I really like roller coasters! I enjoyed this book so much more this time and will likely revisit it again in the future.

I didn't like it. It started with a great idea that promised a more mature and developed story than its quasi-homologous counterpart, Possession. However, I found something that, although more seasoned, was supinely dense. There were parts where the sleepiness provoked by this reading exceeded any resistance I could oppose (sorry for the pleonasm). It was very difficult for me to finish this novel.

One positive thing I have to mention is that it has very good characters. Also, the ending was a great conclusion that, despite being a rather heavy tale, left me with a good impression in the end.

On my part, I can say that I do not recommend it at all. Nevertheless, there are those who enjoyed it so much that they place it among their favorite works of King. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same, but that doesn't mean that you will hate it.

I absolutely love Stephen King.

I have been reading his works for years. His books are filled with a disturbing narrative that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. It clings to you with its teeth and claws, refusing to let you put the book down. "Desperation" reminded me a bit of the situations that appear in movies. I was quite scared in some scenes and felt disgusted in others. It is quite intense and I don't recommend it for all audiences. Without a doubt, it is a book for those over 16 or 18 years old.

If I don't give it 5 stars, it's because the ending left a bitter taste in my mouth. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it 100% to all fans of the horror genre.

Stephen King's writing has a unique charm that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. His ability to create vivid and terrifying worlds is truly remarkable. "Desperation" is just one example of his masterful storytelling.

Even though the ending wasn't perfect for me, the overall experience of reading the book was still very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good horror story and doesn't mind being scared out of their wits.

So, if you're looking for a thrilling and disturbing read, give Stephen King's "Desperation" a try. You won't be disappointed.

I vividly remember the day when I purchased this book and "The Regulators" simultaneously. It was a moment of excitement as I held both these novels in my hands.

Immediately after buying them, I couldn't wait to start reading. I decided to read them one after the other, eager to explore the similar worlds and stories they might offer.

As I delved into the first novel, I was drawn into its captivating plot and well-developed characters. The author's writing style was engaging, making it difficult for me to put the book down.

After finishing the first one, I wasted no time in picking up the second, "The Regulators". To my surprise, it had many similarities to the first novel, yet it also had its own unique charm.

The reading experience was truly remarkable, as I was able to compare and contrast the two novels, noticing the细微 differences and similarities in their themes, settings, and characterizations.

This simultaneous reading of these two similar novels will always remain a memorable experience for me.

3.5 stars.

Probably this work only truly deserves a 3. The ending was so weak and lackluster, which really detracted from the overall experience. Not to mention all the rather heavy-handed Christianity that was involved throughout this thing. It felt a bit forced at times.

But fuck it. My nostalgia for the 2006 movie adaptation is just too strong and is compelling me to lean on the side of generosity. There were definitely some redeeming qualities.

For instance, I absolutely loved the bleak and isolated desert setting. It added a sense of mystery and desolation that really enhanced the atmosphere.

And then there was the Collie Entragian character, played by Ron Perlman in the adaptation. He was freakin' awesome. Perlman really nailed that role. His performance brought the character to life in a way that was truly captivating.

3,5/5 stars.

Although both as a cover and as a plot, the book seems to be something very promising, personally I didn't feel it that much. I read it right after "The Talisman", which King published in the same year under his pseudonym Backman, and he chose to give the heroes the same names as those in "The Talisman". So, it felt kind of strange to me to read the same names and the same descriptions of people, but from a completely different side. Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time!

The plot of the book is the characteristic and beloved one of King: a small town that becomes a haven in the hands of Evil and is immediately wiped out and without much of any form of life from it. Some people who, for reasons of Fate or completely randomly or because Evil wanted it, ended up there and got involved in a terrifying web of events that leads from one crazy situation to another. People who are forced to fight to save themselves and become as safe as possible, picking up the pieces.

I don't know why, but at some points I got tired of reading! It seemed to me that King made some unnecessary expansions and descriptions, and at quite a few points I felt the urge to skip paragraphs (shameful!). Maybe it's because I had "The Talisman" so fresh in my mind, I repeat. Maybe I didn't have the right mood for this particular book - the so-called literary bad timing. Maybe the story "dragged" and really expanded at quite a few points, becoming tiresome.

I'm not claiming in any way that I didn't like the book or the plot, but I have definitely read other books by the King that will remain in my memory, subconscious and heart forever and deserve their stars, and even more. For me, "Desperation" is not one of them.

Really **1/2.

Such a strong start. It was like a bright spark that immediately caught everyone's attention. The energy and excitement were palpable.

But then came such a slog in the middle. The momentum seemed to fade away, and it became a struggle to keep going. The progress felt slow and arduous.

It was as if the initial enthusiasm had been dampened, and the task at hand had become a tiresome chore.

However, despite this setback in the middle, there was still hope. Maybe with a little more effort and determination, the situation could turn around.

After all, a strong start indicated that there was potential, and it was just a matter of finding a way to reignite that spark and push through the difficult middle part.

So, we should not give up easily but rather keep persevering and look for solutions to overcome this slog.

With a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard, we can turn this situation around and achieve the desired outcome.

4 stars
I find myself gradually losing interest in horror books that revolve around a dark force seizing control of humans, resulting in decay and gore.

Nonetheless, I have a penchant for books where a "fellowship" must endure by collaborating, facing a plethora of hardships, and having to surmount numerous obstacles and problems. And this book truly meets that criterion.

As always, King is meticulous in his descriptions. However, neither the story nor the characters ever bored me. There were a few minor details that I questioned, but since I loved the story, I've already forgotten them, lol.

Is it King's best book? Not for me. Did I enjoy it? Most definitely!

Characters 8
Atmosphere 8
Writing Style 9
Premise 7
Plot 8
Execution/Setup 8
Enjoyment/Engrossment 8

Wow!

It was pure excitement! That was my old King, just as I had learned to know and love him.

With many horror elements and an ending that shines - simply great!

This story truly captured my attention from start to finish. The use of horror elements added an extra layer of thrill and kept me on the edge of my seat.

The way the author built up the tension and created a sense of mystery was masterful.

And the ending! It was like a brilliant finale that tied everything together perfectly.

I can't wait to read more from this author and experience the same level of excitement and entertainment.

Overall, it was an outstanding piece of work that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good horror story.