4.5 Stars

This remarkable work was penned in 1987 by the renowned Stephen King and his wife.

The audiobook, which spans a significant 27 hours, takes listeners on an enthralling journey.

In the quiet town of Haven, Maine, Bobbie (Roberta) Anderson makes a startling discovery. Hidden in the ground on her land is a mysterious metal object.

As she begins to unearth it, a series of strange events unfold in the town.

The story is told from multiple points of view, adding depth and complexity.

Bobby's past love, Gerard, returns to Haven to visit her. When she shows him her discovery, he wants to contact the authorities. However, Bobbie believes it's a spaceship and fears her land will be taken over by the government.

Meanwhile, multiple families in the town start behaving in ways they never would have before, even resorting to murder.

Halliman, an overactive child, also becomes a focal point in this captivating story.

Today, this book would likely be compared to the popular series Stranger Things.

Stephen King's masterful writing makes this 27-hour audiobook well worth the listen.

Audiobook – Narrated by Edward Herrmann – Excellent narration.

***

Ebook: Not quite 4**** but more than 3*** So, 3 and a half stars.

The Onion once wrote an article claiming that King couldn't remember writing The Tommyknockers. Surprisingly, King then admitted that it was actually true. Due to his alcoholism, he couldn't recall writing many novels from the 80s, including Cujo.

For me, Cujo was a great book whether King remembered writing it or not. However, I can't say the same for The Tommyknockers! At least, that's what I thought at first.

When I first read this book many years ago, I absolutely hated it. I hated it so much that I wanted to throw it on the floor and stomp on it, just like a little kid having a tantrum in the candy aisle of the grocery store because his mother won't let him have any chocolate. It was one of the worst books I'd ever read.

But now, some thirty years later, I have to change my tune. It's still not a *great* book, and the beginning did bore me to death. However, I kind of enjoyed it this time around.

Well, except for the romance, which was rather cringe-worthy:

“Gard my dear, my dear, always my
shhhh
Oh please I love you
Bobbi I love
love
kiss me
kiss
yes”

UGH!

So, while this book may not be in the same league as Cujo, it had a very different effect on me this time. I didn't hate it, I didn't want to trash it... and it even made me cry! I guess I must have "grown up" enough to appreciate it now.

***

CONNECTIONS:

Haven (Firestarter, It, Pet Sematary, Mrs Todd’s Shortcut, 11/22/63)

Derry

Rebecca Poulson (IT) found money from the Derry Farmer’s Trust after an explosion following the final confrontation with IT.

The Arrowhead Project (The Mist)

Jack Sawyer (The Talisman, Black House)

The Alhambra (Talisman, Black House)

Arcadia Beach (Talisman, Black House)

Cleaves Mills (The Dead Zone, IT) Bobbi started writing her first novel in a “scuzzy Cleaves Mills apartment.”

Derry Home Hospital (Mrs Todd’s Shortcut, IT, Insomnia)

Juniper Hill Asylum (IT, Insomnia)

New England Paper Company – Burning Woods (Uncle Otto’s Truck)

Tommyknockers (Desperation) are described as “troublemakers,” the underground version of gremlins.

Big Injun Woods (IT) may be related to the Micmac burial ground in Pet Sematary.

WZON (IT) is a radio station owned by Stephen and Tabitha King.

John Smith (The Dead Zone, Cujo) is mentioned.

David Bright – Journalist (The Dead Zone) King wrote for The Maine Campus when it was edited by David Bright.

Ka (Ka-mai, Ka-tel, Ka-tet) is a concept in King's works, roughly synonymous with destiny or fate.

Lubbock Lights were an unusual formation of lights seen over Lubbock, Texas in 1951.

Utica, NY (The Stand) King often mentions Utica as the source of his ideas.

“Rimfire Christmas” is a novel written by Bobbi Anderson and mentioned in The Stand.

Police Officer Peter (Jingles) Gabbon shares his nickname with Delacroix's pet mouse in The Green Mile.

Jack (Sawyer) (The Talisman, Black House) tells Gard about his mother's death in a car accident.

John Merrill shares his name with another character in King's works.

Henry Amberson, a forest ranger, died when his pacemaker exploded, similar to Chief Perkins in Under the Dome.

Henry Amberson also shares his surname with George Amberson in 11/22/63.

Fryeburg Fair is mentioned in several of King's works.

Carnival Glass is collected by several characters in King's books.

Arnette, Texas (The Stand, The Monkey) is mentioned.

The Black Clock – The Doomsday Clock - http://thebulletin.org/timeline

Chuckling noises from the drains (IT) and a clown in the sewer (IT) are described.

The Shining Movie is referenced.

The invisible barrier in Haven is similar to The Dome.

The Shop (The Stand, Firestarter) is mentioned.

Orono (IT, Pet Sematary) is mentioned.

Greg Stillson (The Dead Zone – DT7: The Dark Tower) is mentioned.

Crosman Corner shares its name with Crosman’s Funeral Home in Under The Dome.

Homeland Cemetery, Derry (Needful Things, The Dark Half, Gerald’s Game) is mentioned.

The town of Hampden shares its name with the school where King taught.

The town of Albion shares its name with Nettie’s husband in Needful Things.

Rebecca Bouchard Paulson (IT) shares her name with other characters in King's works.

Old Derry Road (Mrs Todd’s Shortcut) is mentioned.

Starlite Drive In is mentioned in 11/22/63.

Flexible Flyer is mentioned in several of King's works.

China Lakes – Author Meg Gardiner's novel China Lake mentions Stephen King.

Fifth Business is a storytelling term used in King's works.

Croatoan (Screenplay - Storm of the Century) - http://anilbalan.com/2011/10/17/the-c...

The Stephen King Goodreads Discussion Group is embarking on a comprehensive re-read of his works, from start to finish. It has been a considerable time since I truly immersed myself in Uncle Stevie's captivating world. However, at a rate of one book per month, I am fully committed. My aim is to read and review each one with the utmost honesty and reflection that I can offer.

Background - "The Tommyknockers" is a science fiction novel with elements of horror, originally published in hardcover by Putnam in 1987. In terms of length, my Kindle lists it as 978 pages, while my oversized paperback shows 864 pages. King disclosed in his autobiography "On Writing" that the inspiration for this novel stemmed from H.P. Lovecraft's science fiction/horror short story - "The Colour Out of Space". Additionally, King utilized a poem from his childhood, referring to Tommyknockers knocking at the front door, as the book's preamble.

Plotline - A short description would be that an alien spaceship takes over a small town in America. More descriptively, while strolling in the woods behind her home in Haven, Maine, Bobbi Anderson stumbles upon something protruding from the ground. It is a dull grey metal object that appears to have been there for a very long time. The more Bobbi attempts to dig it up, the larger she realizes it is, and its humming begins to dominate her mind. This obsession spreads beyond her to the other town members. Extraordinary behaviors, such as the ability to create new electronic tools and mind reading abilities, become second nature to the young and old citizens of Haven. However, along with these extraordinary powers, there is a terrible cost for those not affected by the influence of the mysterious object. Outsiders to Haven are pushed and chased away, suffering from massive headaches and nausea. It doesn't take long to realize that the mysterious object is most likely an alien spaceship, and the town's leadership, led by Bobbi and others, races to dig out and open the ship's hatch, unleashing unknown powers upon humanity. Losing their teeth, bleeding from various body parts, and physically transforming into something beyond their physical bodies are just some of their sacrifices. The greater challenge is to open the hatch before the local law enforcement, national guard, and media discover their purpose and halt their cause.

Thoughts and Reflections - Firstly, I found this to be a rather messy and schizophrenic piece of work. Part 1 - the first 248 pages - was excruciatingly slow and somewhat dull. Part 2 - the next 350 pages - was a chaotic mess. However, Part 3 and the Epilogue - the last 270 pages - finally brought everything together in a culminating, Stephen King-esque climax that involved destroying everything and killing everyone, which was actually an improvement after the disappointing buildup. I was on the verge of giving it 1 star after Part 1 due to its disjointed and sluggish plot movement. Nevertheless, Part 2 managed to turn things around a bit for me, and I was considering a rating somewhere between 2 and 3 stars. King was跳跃 around in both activity and time frames. Then, surprisingly, Part 3 delivered an entertaining ending that truly caught me off guard. This brought my rating back up to 3 stars. So, what saved it for me, you might ask? Was it the convoluted and bloody plot that jumped around in different places and locations? No, not really. Was it the introduction of numerous characters and moving parts? No, not really. Although I would caution any reader not to become too attached to any particular person because Uncle Stevie introduced many of them only to demonstrate a George R. Martin-like ability to kill them off faster than a Game of Thrones episode. What maintained my interest until the storyline picked up were the unique, empathetic, and flawed characters. It comes as no surprise to say that one of King's greatest strengths lies in revealing their hearts and souls through their actions, thoughts, and behaviors. Just when my interest was waning, I was drawn into Ruth McCausland and her story. I adored her strength and focus, placing her on my all-time favorite King character list. And then there was Anne Anderson - wow! Although Anne's time on the stage was brief, she was incredibly tough and tenacious. For me, she ranks second, right below Annie Wilkes, on King's list of the strongest and most twisted female characters ever created. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Gardner's complete drunken breakdown during the after-party as one of the best fictional scenes ever. I will never forget Gard's use of the umbrella - it was absolutely classic!

One of the things I did appreciate was King's casual and abundant references to his other works throughout the story. There are likely more, but I noticed the following: Gardner running into young Jack Sawyer from "The Talisman"; several sightings of Pennywise, the clown monster in Derry from "It"; references to John Smith and his psychic powers from "The Dead Zone"; the appearance of operatives from the Shop, previously burnt down by Charlie McGee in "Firestarter"; and even a jab at Stephen King himself as the foul-mouthed novelist who lives somewhere nearby.

Other Notes - In a 2014 Rolling Stone magazine interview, King confessed that he wrote "The Tommyknockers" during a period in his life when his well-known substance abuse was a significant part of it. He admitted that the quality of his work suffered during his drug use and stated that "The Tommyknockers" was an awful book and the last one before he cleaned up his act due to the intervention of his family. Critics have pointed out their perception of metaphors spread throughout the book, painting a bleak picture of addiction. "The Tommyknockers" was adapted into a two-part television miniseries in 1993, airing on ABC and starring Jimmy Smits and Marg Helgenberger in the lead roles.

Overall - This was one of my less favored books during my Uncle Stevie re-read, somewhat better than "DT: The Gunslinger" (my least favorite) and "Skeleton Crew" (my second least favorite). The strong characters and the ending were what salvaged it for me. On a personal side note, I will never look at a Coca-Cola machine in the same way again, and I forgive the silly use of a Star Wars plot device of having a dead Jedi return to whisper in the hero's ear to help complete the mission.

Where do I BEGIN with this book?! For many people, this is a novel that elicits either love or hate. For me, it's a new FAVORITE!

I hope discussing it might inspire more of you to give it a try, so here goes.

The Tommyknockers tells the story of Bobby, a woman who discovers something mysterious buried in the woods on her property. Driven by curiosity, she starts to dig it up, but this seemingly simple task turns into far more than she expected and begins to turn her life upside down. By the end of the summer, the whole town will learn the truth, and none of them will ever be the same.

This book is a slow burn. It establishes the characters, allows you to become attached to them, and then takes a wild turn. I was completely HOOKED.

If you prefer horror that is firmly rooted in reality, this is NOT the book for you.

If you don't appreciate humor in your horror, this is NOT the book for you.

If you're not a fan of sci-fi-based horror, this is NOT the book for you.

If you have no patience for meandering plots and numerous side characters, this is NOT the book for you.

King himself has admitted that this book was much longer than it needed to be, but it has a solid core. It was also the last book of his coke years, and in many ways, it shows. The book doesn't follow a straight path to a conclusion, not even close. However, I loved the detours in this one. Many people find it a real SLOG to get through, but I think it depends on whether the characters and setting strike the right chord with you. I adored the characters and almost everything about this book in a way that's hard to explain. This book has inexplicably become my favorite Stephen King book so far. That might be some sort of Constant Reader sin, but I stand by it because it's just how I feel. And I'll never look at Coke machines the same way again.

Does anyone else really love The Tommyknockers?

2021 Update
Buddy read with Layton and Rayne! Oh, what a remarkable journey this book takes me on, every single time. And each time, I manage to unearth new things to relish, appreciate, and deeply consider. It's truly a captivating experience that never fails to amaze me.

2018 update: I am elevating my rating to five stars because, well, this book is simply one of King’s absolute best. It has that certain charm and allure that keeps pulling me back, making it a must-read for any King enthusiast.

2016 Review
The Tommyknockers delves into the concept of Pandora's box and explores the consequences that unfold once it's opened. It also delves into the realm of failed (or perhaps missed or unrequited?) love. Our two main protagonists are Bobbi Anderson, a moderately successful writer of western novels, and Jim Gardener, a published poet and a struggling alcoholic. Their relationship is a complex web of friendship, past love, and enmity. It's endlessly fascinating and is what makes this somewhat flawed novel work for me. While strolling in the woods behind her home, Bobbi literally stumbles upon what turns out to be part of an alien spaceship that has been buried for millennia. She is immediately intrigued, and her dig begins. Soon, Jim senses that something is amiss with Bobbi and her situation, and perhaps with the town of Haven, Maine in general. The story then expands from there, taking us on a thrilling ride.

This is very much a "big" King novel. It has a grandeur and scope that is palpable. The focus is solely on Bobbi and Gardener for the first two hundred pages or so. Then, in part two, "Tales of Haven," the perspective widens to include the goings-on of the townsfolk. I've noticed that this is the section where most readers encounter problems, and I can't disagree. While a few of the chapters, such as those focusing on 'Becka Paulson, Hilly Brown, and Ruth McCausland, do an excellent job of painting a vivid and foreboding picture, others, like the pages-long chapter about the history of the town's name that has almost nothing to do with the story, act as speed bumps. It's unfortunate because King is at his most inventive here, but he often gets in his own way.

I must admit that I held this novel in higher regard before this reread. While some aspects of the story, such as Jim and Bobbi's relationship and the many guises it takes, Ev Hillman's character, and the ending, actually improved for me, large portions of the prose were a bit of a slog to get through. I don't usually accuse King of overwriting, but in this case, he did. Maybe I'm only realizing it now because I've been rereading his works in order. After experiencing the taut and entrancing stories like Misery and Cujo, The Tommyknockers just feels a bit bloated. It's like comparing 1968 and 1977 Elvis – the talent and goods are still there, but a little slimming down wouldn't hurt.

At its core, this is a white-hot story written by a man who seems very, very tired. It's well-documented that SK was at the height of his drug addiction during the writing of this novel, and it definitely shows. By then, he was a gargantuan success, and perhaps no editor could stand up to the King. He would return a couple of years later with The Dark Half, a novel that lacks the excess of this one but also the inventive spark. This one is a bit of a hot mess, but it's also a whole lot of fun (and pretty creepy too!). I'm giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up.

King connections (buckle in for a long ride!):

Bobbi Anderson lived in Cleaves Mills (a town that has appeared in several Stephen King novels, most notably The Dead Zone) before moving to Haven.

P. 92 - Derry is mentioned. In fact, Derry pops up quite frequently in this one.

P. 97 - Jim Gardener, when facing stage fright during a poetry reading, fears the audience sucking out his soul, his ka.

Pg. 144 - Jim uses the phrase 'lighting out for the territories,' a throwback to The Talisman.

Pg. 150 - Jim wakes up on a beach after a drinking spree and runs into a teenage boy. He has a conversation with the kid, and it turns out to be Jack Sawyer, of The Talisman.

Pg. 159 - Jim hitches a ride in a van with a few druggie teens. One of the teens is named Beaver. Could it be the Beaver who appears in 2001's Dreamcatcher? I'd say it's likely. Like that novel, a significant portion of this one is set in Derry. And the timeline seems to fit. Also, the name (or nickname, rather) 'Beaver' isn't exactly very common.

Pg. 265 - The Shop gets a mention, and it will become important near the novel's end. Charlie McGee from Firestarter is referenced in connection to The Shop.

Pg. 476 - David Bright (from the Dead Zone and several short stories) enters the scene.

Pg. 479 - Ev Hillman, Hilly's grandfather, hears chuckles in the drains of his hotel room in Derry.

Pg. 479 - While in Derry, Ev goes to a local bar and hears the story of The Dead Zone's Johnny Smith.

Pg. 492 - Starting here, some history of the woods surrounding Bobbi Anderson's home is provided. It is confirmed that the area – once called Big Injun Woods – was populated by the Micmacs, giving this book a solid connection to Pet Sematary.

Pg. 498 - King breaks the fourth wall and has a character hold this opinion: "Bobbi Anderson wrote good old western stories you could really sink your teeth into, not all full of make-believe monsters and a bunch of dirty words, like that fellow who lived up in Bangor wrote."

Pg. 735 - When contemplating how to break into Bobbi's shed, he makes a mental reference to Jack Nicholson's performance in The Shining – particularly, the infamous "Here's Johnny!" scene.

Okay... Let's talk about something, shall we? Let's discuss the universe in which this novel takes place because I'm quite certain it exists on a different level of the Tower than most of King's other stories.

In the Tommyknockers universe, King is an established author, and characters make references to him – and, by association, Peter Straub. At one point, Bobbi asks Jim if he's ever read Straub's 1983 novel Floating Dragon. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that The Talisman, the novel co-written by King and Straub, also exists in this world.

But! Jim runs into Jack Sawyer, the main character from The Talisman, on a beach. They even have a conversation! Very similar to Father Callahan's entry into the Dark Tower series despite existing as a book character in that same world, it appears that Jack (and Stephen King and Peter Straub, I'd assume) exists both as a fictional and real character. How trippy is that?

It doesn't end there. There are references to Derry and Pennywise the Clown throughout the book, and any King reader knows how intertwined IT is in the Dark Tower series. Can we safely say that The Tommyknockers is, therefore, Dark Tower-related? Not just in a tangential way, either? I'd say yes, although King has never explicitly stated so.

And what about The Dead Zone? That novel is referenced here more than any other. Bobbi once lived in Cleaves Mill. David Bright, a reporter from that story, shows up here in a rather significant way. If one recalls, in a climactic scene in that earlier book, a character makes a reference to Brian DePalma's film Carrie – "This is just like that movie Carrie!" she says. Thus, King is breaking the fourth wall and firmly establishing that work of fiction outside the realm of the rest of his stories... The Tommyknockers does the same thing. A character actually makes a reference to King as a living being and a writer, and Jim thinks about Stanley Kubrick's cinematic adaptation of The Shining.

But that's rather messy, isn't it? Especially when one considers the fact that The Dead Zone is a Castle Rock story, making the references made in and to that novel inherently contradictory. The same goes for this one; in fact, the references King makes in The Tommyknockers are contradictory in and of themselves and often work against each other. Is it on purpose? Was he just throwing out random Easter eggs to please the crowd and boost his own ego? Maybe it's a bit of both. I don't know, nor do I pretend to. And I'm sure there are many, many references in this one that I missed, as I took only the briefest of notes.

Alright, now it's time to pull myself out of this rabbit hole and finish this thing...

Favorite quote:

“The trouble with living alone, she had discovered – and the reason why most people she knew didn't like to be alone even for a little while – was that the longer you lived alone, the louder the voices on the right side of your brain got.”

Up next:

It's The Dark Half! Ugh.

The best way to describe this book is to envision a remarkable fusion. It combines the masterful storytelling of Stephen King with the enigma of the Bermuda Triangle. The result is a truly brilliant tale.

In this story, anyone who dares to enter the eerie town of Haven vanishes without a trace. What makes it even more captivating is the way the narrative unfolds. It does so through the perspectives and experiences of the town's residents.

As the story progresses, a deeper mystery begins to emerge. This mystery involves a flying saucer that lurks beneath the surface. The combination of these elements creates a sense of suspense and intrigue that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery or a thrilling story. It offers a unique and engaging reading experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

1.5 Stars

Yes, I accomplished it! I completed rereading The Tommyknockers, and boy, it was truly a wild ride. Similar to Misery before it, King attempts something new: science fictional horror. Does it succeed? The short answer is no!

Before I present my review, I'd like to provide a bit of background first. It has been seventeen years since I initially attempted to read this. I got up to the first hundred pages and set it aside, feeling that the story didn't seem to be going anywhere. For some reason, perhaps because I was then captivated by King's work and was devouring each book one by one, I returned a year later and read the entire thing. In the sixteen years since then, whenever anyone would ask me what rating I gave this book, I'd say 5 stars, despite only being able to recall two scenes from its seven-hundred-page length. Oh, how that has changed.

The Tommyknockers begins decently. Bobbi Anderson stumbles upon a piece of metal protruding from the ground while walking her dog, Peter, in the woods behind her house. Can she leave it alone? Of course not, and thus she discovers a spaceship buried beneath the earth. I was already detecting hints of the book's excessiveness in this section. However, I brushed them aside as the story started to gain momentum with the introduction of Bobbi's friend, Jim Gardener, and boy, what momentum it is. If you thought Jack Torrance was complex, think again.

Gard is a chaotic character, an alcoholic and, after fifty pages, suicidal in his thoughts. His introduction involves one of the two scenes that I can remember from my original read, in which Gard confronts Ted The Power Man, who does PR for a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power is something that has been on Gard's mind, especially as he views those in charge of it as being as careless and error-prone as any human. This theme drives him throughout the novel as he joins Bobbi in digging up the discovered ship, or so we are led to believe. And despite how exaggerated his confrontation with Ted is, which is so over the top that it's hilarious, in the later stages of the novel, his motivation doesn't fully hold up. But more on that later.

As I've already mentioned, this book is excessive. After Gard crawls back to Bobbi, believing that she is in trouble, the novel seems to experience an identity crisis.

The reader is provided with the history of Haven, Bobbi's hometown, a section that showcases King's interest in false preachers, which he would later write about in Revival decades later. Then, the reader is given three lengthy short stories and a novel-length section dedicated to several characters in Haven. These serve to demonstrate the effect the ship has on Haven's population as they become telepathic and begin to create ingenious and destructive devices, all of which are incredibly imaginative.

The only issue with these sections is this. They are far too long!!!

The reader spends an excessive amount of time away from Bobbi and Gard, to the point where they begin to think they are reading a collection of stories about how the discovery of this spaceship affects a rural Maine town, bookended by the two characters actually digging it up, rather than an actual novel. An idea that I actually think would have worked better if it had been presented in this way, as the reader spends all of the book's middle away from the two protagonists who were set up in the first part. To make matters worse, when it starts to return to those characters, who are the most interesting in the book, it continues to introduce new characters in overly long sections that make you wonder if you really needed to read this. It makes you feel like the story is going nowhere, like the overall aim has been forgotten.

The Tommyknockers is infamous for being four hundred pages too long. However, that is not its worst flaw. It's the excessiveness. In some ways, this book would be the favorite of the most die-hard King fans because it exaggerates all of his writing quirks. Every character has a lengthy backstory. There is constant foreshadowing. Whole chapters are written in one paragraph, while others contain only one word. Plus, there are dozens of references to previous works, including King himself.

There is no restraint. Just like the creations of The Tommyknockers in the book, which the people of Haven begin to morph into, there is no invention too absurd.

There are also good points. The scares are present; twice I found myself waking up at night, the first time from hearing The Tommyknocker rhythm in my sleep and the second time from being in some strange situation building devices powered by batteries. Gard is a unique protagonist, a deeply flawed human being whom we are supposed to think is helping to dig up this thing to end the power race that is occurring between nations, despite how toxic it has made everyone around him. He is immune because of a metal plate in his head. Yet, in reality, he is self-destructive and almost incapable of acting in a way that would benefit himself or anyone else.

Bobbi, on the other hand, and like the rest of Haven, is poorly developed. We never learn the truth of Bobbi's struggle as she becomes a Tommyknocker, as it is mostly seen through Gard. (This is not a positive point, but it occurred to me.) The explanation behind The Tommyknockers is a stroke of genius. So are all the inventions made by Haven's population. The problem is that it is mired in too many tangents, in King's need to ensure that the reader knows everything about everyone, even though they all sound alike, especially the supporting cast. King usually has a talent for making the individuals in small roles stand out, but not here. Everyone feels like a clone, even before the hive-mind-like conversion.

The imagination behind this book is something to admire, but it will have you shouting at the walls, "who edited this thing." Which brings me back to giving it 5 stars all those years ago. Back then, King got me into reading, and I immediately thought everything he wrote was a masterpiece. Now, reading this today, I can say that my tastes have matured. I still feel sad that I didn't find the quality I found as a teen in this story, but I can move on, knowing that I might discover something in my next reread that I didn't find the first time.

Late last night and the night before,
Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at the door.
I want to go out, don't know if I can,
'Cause I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker man.

When Bobbi Anderson takes a walk in the woods and stumbles over a small piece of metal, she has no idea that her life is about to change in a most unexpected and terrifying way. A popular western writer, Bobbi is curious by nature and decides to dig and see what lies beneath the surface. Little does she know that she is unleashing a curse upon the small town of Haven, Maine. What she discovers is not an old bike or a boat, but a spacecraft that has been buried for millions of years. Her old friend, Jim Gardener, senses that something is amiss and goes to check on her.

The premise of The Tommyknockers is truly fascinating, but the novel unfortunately suffers from a lack of focus and pacing. At over 700 pages, it meanders and jumps around, making it difficult for the reader to stay engaged. However, there are some truly great moments in the book. Gardener's scene at the poetry recitation and cocktail party is a tour de force of King's writing, filled with raw emotion and power. The small-town atmosphere is also well done, and there are plenty of allusions to King's other works. The change that the town of Haven undergoes, the dramatic conclusion, and the beautiful epilogue are all highlights of the novel and deserve praise.

Overall, The Tommyknockers is a flawed but still enjoyable novel. It's a poignant exploration of aging, addiction, and the inevitability of change. Despite its flaws, it's a testament to King's talent as a writer and his ability to create a world that is both terrifying and captivating. If you're a fan of King's work, you'll definitely want to check this one out. Just be prepared for a bit of a wild ride.

Tommyknockers on my first read – 3 stars

Tommyknockers on my reread – 3 stars

I recalled that this wasn't one of my favorite Stephen King books, and my memory served me right.

Even Stephen King himself views this as one of his least favorite novels. He was quoted in a Rolling Stone interview as stating that it “is an awful book”. I might not be as harsh as that, but I can't say it's great either.

For me, it simply never really takes off. At times, it seems like the plot is on the verge of a breakthrough, but then it just stalls. And, due to the book's great length, the stalling leads to repetition. If this book had been half as long, I believe it would have been significantly better.

I truly wouldn't recommend this book to new King readers, nor would I recommend it to King fans. I would only suggest it to die-hard Stephen King completists.

The story is about how the protagonist, better known as Bobbie, stumbles upon something made of metal. From there, she develops an obsession with unearthing the object and finding out what it is, despite suspecting and having an idea of what it might be. The premise is interesting, especially when the entire town gets involved due to that mysterious object that will affect their lives. However, the story is too slow and heavy. I can perfectly understand why many people may not like this story for that reason.

Let's start with how the work is divided. It consists of three parts. The first part only deals with Bobbie and Jim Gardener, a poet with whom she has a friends-with-benefits relationship. Both of them narrate, there is a bit (too much) of their story, and a lot, a lot of digression in their thoughts and actions. This part is the hardest to read in my opinion and has the direct proof to make the reader continue or want to give up reading. It takes almost a third of the entire story for a reason.

The second part is more about the stories of Haven, the town, and how its inhabitants suffer because of the strange object that Bobbie tries to unearth with the help of Jim. This part is more addictive, and there are many stories like that of a religious woman to whom Jesus speaks; a boy who wants to be a magician and a trick goes wrong; Grandpa Ev, desperate and guilty; Ruth, a police deputy with dolls that whisper, etc. Here it can already be seen that the novel is ensemble, and for those who an extensive cast is their weakness, it quickly arouses interest.

In the third and last part, more characters keep appearing, and I even got dizzy, but I understand that it was necessary so that the ending wouldn't have a deus ex machina, and it is definitely the most addictive part.

However, for me, it is a very, very ordinary story. It is a book that you can read fast or slow (depending on the reader's taste), but it leaves a feeling of emptiness. It is an average story that I will forget in a few months. The charm lies in its characters (Ev, Ruth, and Anne, Bobbie's witch sister, the best secondary characters for me) and not so much in the main ones who can get tiresome.

Awe shucks, King really missed a golden opportunity here with "The Tommyknockers."

The concept was solid, but the execution left a lot to be desired. King himself has been quite critical of this book, even calling it one of the worst, if not the worst, of his novels. He admitted that it was written during a coke-fueled binge, and boy, does it show.

This novel can really be divided into thirds.

The first third was some of the most engaging King writing I've ever come across. Before starting, I'd heard so much about how fans didn't like this book. But when I began reading, I thought everyone must be crazy! The introduction into the two main characters' minds and lives was brilliant. The characters were complex, with a mix of likeable and hateable qualities. The writing was top-notch King, tense and detailed, setting the stage for what seemed like a juicy concept.

Then, in the second third, the book just collapses like a dying star. King suddenly veers away from the interesting main characters and introduces a whole bunch of new ones out of nowhere. For the most part, they had no business being in the story. They cluttered it up, screwed up the pace, and left me completely confused. I can't help but think that King was probably snorting coke while typing this part.

In the final third, the book tries to get back to its roots, but it's way too late. The reader has already been lost in the confusion of the coke-infused middle section. King attempts to bring everything together, but with all the different characters and random subplots he introduced earlier, it just feels like he's grasping at straws.

Final analysis? There's a great book hidden in here somewhere. If this 550-page novel was cut back to about 300 pages, getting rid of all the middle junk, it could be a helluva story.

"The Tommyknockers" felt like a cross between "Stranger Things" and "Under the Dome," but "Under the Dome" was far superior in execution. I think "Under the Dome" was King's chance at redeeming this concept.

I often hear of authors who wish they could go back and edit their novels. I'm sure King would love to do that with "The Tommyknockers." Excluding the random middle third, there's a great mix of suspense, horror, supernatural elements, and realism that makes King a staple on most bookshelves.

My two-star rating might seem harsh, but it's more like 2.5 stars. If King could go back and rework this novel, it could easily be one of his greatest. Alas, time marches on, and so has King. There are still plenty of his books left for me to read, so I'm not going to dwell on this one any longer. Onward!

It's FINALLY over!

"There's a lot going on in Haven" after IT is unearthed. The story unfolds in a rather convoluted manner, and you won't want to read the half of it. Well, at least I didn't. I can't believe how much time I wasted reading this slow, long, laborious, and drawn-out tale. It was truly a nightmare, not in a scary sense but in terms of its pacing. 747 pages seemed like 5,000. IF YOU ARE A NEWBIE TO STEPHEN KING, PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS ONE FIRST! It is such a poor example of his wonderful storytelling ability. There is way too much gobble-(belated Happy Thanksgiving)-de-gook and an excessive number of characters.

I liked ~ Bobbi (at first) and Gard, the brothers Hilly and David, Ev (gramps), Constable Ruth, and Big Ralph the cop. My heart also went out to poor old Pete the dog. I also liked the comment about the good old western stories Bobbi wrote. "Not all full of make-believe monsters and a bunch of dirty words, like the ones that fellow who lived up in Bangor wrote." And I thought the news reporter's mom was pretty funny, especially the part about beingware of microbes in diners.

I disliked ~ the unnecessary dialogue, the overdone repetitive talk of Bobbi's heavy female bleeding (we get the point already), the obsession with penis talk, and the fowl language. I am not easily offended, but it was just so lame! I also disliked that it took an eternity to get to the shed and even longer to the hatch, or to get anywhere for that matter. And something was missing with the telepathy, which made the story seem drawn out and boring.

And, after all that, it was easy to guess the end! By far, my worst Stephen King read!