This book is truly the reason that I have become extremely reluctant to give books a chance if they fail to captivate me within the first few pages.

It is as thick as the Bible, yet it seems to lead nowhere. All I can recall is that the main character has a constant bleeding issue (King's fixation on this woman's menstrual cycle was, without a doubt, the most disturbing aspect of this book). She continuously digs a hole, and the other male character is a drunk. In fact, I didn't even bother to remember their names; trust me, they're not important. Just like in all of King's novels, the townspeople are a nosy lot, and eventually, they turn on each other violently. If King's works are any indication, the people from the far northeast USA are rather dangerous, and it's best to avoid those states at all costs because you might not return.

I won't spoil the ending for anyone, not because it violates book review etiquette, but simply because I have no idea whatsoever what the heck happened!

All I can say is that King owes me one week of my life, plus interest. It's been a truly frustrating and unfulfilling reading experience.

I was hesitant going into this one because I’ve heard all the negativity around it, how King hates it, etc. I kept waiting to be turned off as I read it, but I kept enjoying it all the way through.

I loved the vivid portrayal of how the town is going mad. It was fascinating to see how all of the characters became entwined, yet the story never felt overwhelmed with the sheer number of them. The way they interacted and influenced each other added depth and complexity to the narrative.

Moreover, I thought it was genuinely very creepy at certain points. One such moment was the reveal of Gardener going into the shed and seeing the bodies plugged into the computers. That image alone sent shivers down my spine.

But most of all, I was drawn to the unhinged manic energy of the book. I understand that it might not be in good taste to celebrate King writing from a place of self-destructive addiction, but you can feel it in every aspect of the story. It gives the book a unique and raw quality that I truly love. You get the sense that he didn't really care about a lot of things, which is both liberating and a little bit crazy. The flying coke machine, the multiple meta references to other books, and the reference to himself as “that horror writer up in Bangor” all added to the charm and eccentricity of the book.

I also loved the palpable anxiety and paranoia that was present from all sides. Whether it was the fear of sickness, nuclear war, succumbing to addiction, or creative blocks, it was a constant undercurrent that added tension and drama to the story.

The ending was admittedly a bit of a mess. It felt like it was moving almost too fast to keep up with, but by that point, I had enjoyed the journey so much that I couldn't help but like it. It was a wild ride from start to finish, and I'm glad I took it.

The Tommyknockers isn't among Stephen King's strongest works. Generally, I anticipate three key elements from a classic King book. Firstly, impactful characters, both main and side, good and evil. Secondly, a small town or community setting that showcases Americana yet is critical of jingoism. Thirdly, threats that are both supernatural and human.

The Tommyknockers does possess these essential components, but it only manages to take them to the 50-yard line despite its length. It is within these three areas that I feel the book ultimately fails to come together.

The Characters: I have a strong dislike for Gard. I consider him to be King's most insufferable character. He is written with numerous in-text safeguards to make him seem "not that bad." For every flaw King gave him, there was a narrative safety net. This prevents Gard from undergoing any significant character arc. Bobbi, on the other hand, was a pick-me girl. I believe Ev Hillman should have been the main character. He was driving the story for much of the book, and his connection to the town and his role as an outsider made his investigation compelling.

The Setting: The book briefly came to life in its second segment, Book II: Tales of Haven. Here, the town of Haven was properly introduced, along with some of its interesting locals. However, it was a mistake to establish the setting mid-book. With most of the action taking place on Bobbi's land in the wooded outskirts, Haven feels more like an aside rather than a central part of the story. In comparison, fictional towns like Castle Rock and Derry have a stronger connection with readers because they are integral to the plots of their respective books.

The Threat: The book is about uncovering a UFO that causes the townspeople to act strangely as more of it is revealed. While there is some intrigue about what this thing is and how it works, the story lacks momentum. The alien-hivemind aspect was an interesting concept, but the nonchalant attitude of the characters towards losing their teeth made something potentially unsettling seem mundane. The human threats in the book are not very significant and do not reflect much on humanity's darker nature. They are all portrayed as harpish and demanding women.

In Conclusion: Overall, The Tommyknockers is just okay.

Is this a horror novel that is cunningly concealed within a speculative fiction book, or perhaps a speculative fiction read that masquerades as a horror novel?

There is something amiss in New Haven, Maine. Something strange and deeply unsettling is occurring, and only one man has the potential to save the day. However, this man is a drunk, suicidal, and has a dark past as he once shot his ex-wife in the face!

Despite being written during a time when King himself was grappling with addiction, which is clearly evident in the leading themes, it is still a good read.

The appearance of The Shop adds an interesting element. For me, it's a big yay. I rate it 8 out of 12.

The accompanying images seem to enhance the overall atmosphere of the story.

Overall, this book has its flaws due to the author's personal struggles at the time of writing, but it still manages to engage the reader and keep them on the edge of their seat.

  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.








By the way, that jingle is really creepy if it was sung by a kid


Something strange is creeping up in Haven. The atmosphere has rapidly changed after Bobbi Anderson stumbles upon something in the woods. It will alter the normalcy of this small town in a very weird way.




Before anything, this book was another successful buddy read. Shout out to Liz, Ron & Paul. Cheers to another trip down the pages.





Firstly, this book gets a really bad reputation for some apparent reason. However, in my opinion, it is unjustified. The average rating lowered my expectation for this book, but it was actually quite enjoyable. It was classic King and his take on the Sci-Fi genre. Although I'm not an expert on the genre, I'm a die-hard fan of King's writing. The book had a slow burn creepy feeling as you flip through the pages. I was always anticipating something to pounce on the characters. It had a successful build-up that paid off in the end. The book proved to be such an awesome buddy-read choice because of the small cameos of different characters, quotes, or little hints from other King books.

  
   
      “And I believe happiness is the exact opposite of sadness, bitterness, and hatred: happiness should remain unexamined as long as possible.”
   
  

I have to admit that, unlike my reading buddies, my experience with the book was not so smooth. Some parts of the book seemed dragged out and could have been cut short. The introduction of many characters was overwhelming at times, but it wasn't as bad as the “critics” pointed out.

  
   
      “So what he supposed to do? Grab Bobbie's axe and make like Jack Nicholson in The Shinning? He could see it. Smash, crash, bash: Heeeeeeere's GARDENER!”
   
  

The characters were complex and alive, as with every King book. He wrote this book at a very dark time in his life, and some characters mirrored his real-life struggles, especially with alcoholism. It was also refreshing to see a main female character. But what drove the book was the need to find out...







I would recommend this to those who enjoyed Stranger Things or have a craving for that 80s aesthetic with that creepy King original style. This was solid.


P.S. This book kind of sparked the inspiration for one of his best books, Under the Dome, so go wild.




Thanks for reading :)

Even Stephen King himself admitted that this book was a mess, and I have to wholeheartedly agree.

The first time I read it, which was approximately 25 years ago, I initially thought the book was rather good. However, I didn't like the ending. I had this thought that perhaps if I knew beforehand how it was going to end, I might not be so disappointed.

Well, this time around, I am truly wondering how in the world I could have thought the first part of the book was good? This thing really was a complete and utter mess. There were political rantings that seemed out of place and overkill on fillers that detracted from the overall story. And to top it off, it still had a horrible ending.

As a die-hard fan who has read every single one of King's books, I hereby solemnly proclaim that The Tommyknockers is now, officially, my least favorite book by Stephen King. Quite honestly, if this were any other author, I would have probably given this a measly 1 star. It's a real disappointment considering King's usually high standards.

Please allow me to preface this review.

I have a profound love for reading. For as long as my memory serves, I have been finding solace and escape by immersing myself in the world of books. This particular book has had a remarkable effect on me, transporting me back to the very beginning of my reading journey. Reading it again after nearly 28 years has brought back those early days with astonishing vividness. Back then, a 600-page book was an integral part of my life, and the latest Stephen King hardcover was the most coveted Christmas present! I mention all this to make it clear that I may not be able to entirely divorce my sentimental attachment to this book from the critical aspects of reviewing it. And since I found myself just as enamored this time around, it earns a full five stars from me. As a child and teenager in the 80s and early 90s, I voraciously devoured King's entire library, truly being a Constant Reader during that era. Although I eventually explored other authors and genres, for me, Stephen King and his magnificent works will always hold a special place in the heart of this reader.

Enough of the gushing. Let's now turn our attention to Tommyknockers.

First and foremost, I must respectfully dissent from those who believe that this is King's foray into the realm of sci-fi. To me, it is pure horror suspense. I understand the comparison, given the enormous, most likely extraterrestrial object buried in the earth. However, to me, that's where the similarity ends. I would contend that this story is much more about the gradual build-up of suspense. The initially curious, then increasingly frightening, and ultimately horrifying events that are unfolding in the town and how they are all intertwined with that buried object. The way the townspeople suddenly feel a greater sense of connection with one another, undergo strange transformations, and develop brilliant yet terrifying new technologies. It's all about the process of Becoming. And it's incredibly creepy!

I was unaware until recently that this book had received such a wide range of reviews and that so many people were disappointed by it. This truly came as a surprise to me because every time I picked it up, I became completely engrossed. Admittedly, the writing in Tommyknockers is much edgier and less polished than I recall his later works being, which might have put off some readers. Personally, I found it refreshing - even downright comical at times.

And then there's Jim Gardener, also known as Gard. He is undoubtedly my favorite character in this book from the very first page. This brings me to something I've said before but is worth repeating: what King does best is create his characters. Throughout this book, we witness Gard at his best, worst, and everything in between. He can be deplorable at times, exceedingly passionate at others, snide, funny, melancholy, and always undeniably genuine. It's easy to underestimate him, but I knew what lay in store for him, and it was no easy path. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll simply leave this here as a warning for the Tommyknockers…

\\n  You got no fear of the underdog
That's why you will not survive\\n

Spoon The Underdog

Thanks to my friends in the Eclectic Club for another super fun group read!

**Title: The Tommyknockers**
**Author: Stephen King**
**Reason for Reading: #StephenKingChallenge**
**Reading/Rereading: Rereading**
**Physical/Electronic: Physical**
**My Edition: Paperback, 614 pages, Emece**
**Rating: 5/5**

In general, this book is often criticized, being labeled as "average to bad", but in a very personal opinion, it is truly a very well-written book.

First of all, I would like to highlight the construction and development of the characters. King spares no details when it comes to describing and shaping each of them. He takes his time, devoting entire chapters to telling the story of the main characters, and those who are not the main ones also have their space, allowing us to peek into the past of each of them.

The plot is very entertaining and original (considering that this book was published in the late 80s), and the pace of the story never flags. King has the undeniable ability to maintain the active attention of his readers constantly. The story is dynamic and in continuous motion.
Another point to note is King's enormous talent for interweaving subplots and making the reading flow smoothly. He knows the exact moment when to "pause" a subplot and resume a main thread without problems. This always amazes me, as I consider fluidity vital in a reading.
His level of detail in descriptions is a masterclass in what a sensory description is. All the senses are activated when you fully immerse yourself in the reading. Here, I would like to make a special mention of the chapter where Gard walks inside the barn and what he sees is described to us.
Another point I would like to mention is how wonderful King is when writing about romance. I know he is considered the king of horror, but when King writes about love/romance, this man knows what he is doing. What I enjoy the most is the realism he brings. King does not portray love from a rosy romance where everything is perfect. No, King tells you that love is imperfect, and that people are imperfect, and within those imperfections, the characters deal with true and deep feelings. And although everything is condemned from the beginning, betting on a possibility sometimes is the only option, the blind leap of faith, regardless of the results.
This is a work full of references within the King universe. I really enjoyed the complicit winks between the author and us, the constant readers.

Stephen King doing a version of Quatermass and the Pit sounds like an awesome idea, on paper.

However, this was a real struggle.

The concept involves a woman uncovering a strange UFO object and gradually being corrupted by it. Soon, the infection from the object spreads to her small town, resulting in bizarre and devastating consequences. And only an alcoholic activist poet against nuclear waste can save the world!

A significant portion of this book presents an 80s-style view of the destruction of small town America by large industrial polluters. Poison kings promise a glittering future while dumping copious amounts of toxins into their lakes and landscapes, causing entire towns to become lifeless (which is, frankly, true).

But that concept was much better handled in Salem's Lot. There, a small town apocalypse of 50s idealism occurs through 50s movie monsters. Both Carrie and IT also explore similar territory. However, Tommyknockers lacks the characters and plotting to match any of those books. So it just feels outdated and like a poor imitation of King's better writing.

Despite being labeled as science fiction, this novel is less like Nigel Kneale and more like James Herbert. The complete corruption of the small town and how the contamination of the Tommyknockers spreads among the inhabitants resembles Herbert's Fog and Survivor. But unlike Herbert, who knew when to stop, King in the Tommyknockers stretches the concept too thin and ends up repeatedly rehashing his plot points, grinding the concept into the ground.

Conceptually, the Tommyknockers is a cool idea that has been executed better (and more concisely) in the past by numerous writers, including Stephen King himself. Thematically, King's characters' struggles with addiction and the complete annihilation of small town America have been covered far more effectively in his other novels. So there's not much substance left here.

If you're a die-hard King fan, you might find some enjoyment in it. But I believe it's his least impactful and most disappointing work.

Bobbie Anderson discovers an object buried deep within the woods. To her surprise, it turns out to be the tip of an alien craft. After she fiddles with it extensively, the entire town slowly starts transforming into aliens.

A former coworker of mine was constantly pressuring me to read this particular book. He managed to read half of it during a one-week stay in the brig while serving in the navy. Then, a week later, as he was disposing of the ship's garbage in the ocean, he rescued the book from being destroyed. Was it worthwhile? Absolutely! King novels typically don't have much of an impact on me, but I had dreams about this one twice while reading it. There is an inherent eeriness to this book, similar to that of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Moreover, it is also my second favorite book with the word 'knockers' in the title. It's truly a captivating and unique read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

This book truly had a profound impact on me, freaking me out to a great extent. The story was filled with such intense and spine-chilling moments that it sent shivers down my spine. However, as is the case with Stephen King's writing, he would often go on a tangent.

He would diverge from the main plot and explore different aspects or introduce new characters and storylines. And in those moments, I would somehow forget that I was scared to begin with.

His tangents were so engaging and interesting that they had the power to draw me in and make me lose sight of the initial fear. It was almost as if he was playing with my emotions, leading me on a wild ride of terror and then distracting me with his creative detours.

Despite the scares, I found myself unable to put the book down, constantly eager to see where King's next tangent would take me.

The first Stephen King book I read was truly a significant one for me. At that time, it was probably the biggest book I had ever come across. It was a turning point when I transitioned from reading the books available at the school library to exploring what I could find at the public library.

This particular book might not have aged as well as some others, but it will always hold a special place in my heart. It was my first real adventure in the world of literature. Will I read it again? Probably not. I don't want to risk ruining the good memories and the impact it had on me.

From what I can recall of the book, there were vivid descriptions of bleeding, intense headaches, a mysterious hum in the woods, and the slow and thrilling revelation of what object lay hidden within the woods.

If you're new to Stephen King's works, then this book can be a great starting point. It offers a taste of his unique storytelling style and ability to create an atmosphere of mystery and suspense.