The Dark Half

I had a best friend during my childhood. As we stepped into high school, we realized we had diverse interests, lived in different towns, and had different sets of friends. However, until that moment, we were almost inseparable. We would have sleepovers at each other's houses, staying up all night creating all kinds of crazy stories, playing pranks on friends and foes, and sometimes, reading books.

I remember we listened to the audiobook of a particular one. I'm quite certain it was the first Stephen King I ever read, but my friend Kyle was not a complete novice to the author's work. We were probably around twelve or thirteen. One of my former teachers had dismissed King as "trashy" and confiscated my other friend's copy of Pet Semetary when he was reading it in class. I think I had unconsciously adopted the same view. But this book changed my mind, and within approximately two years, I think I read nearly ten of his other books. Since I can't recall any experiences with King's writing before this, I'm going to maintain my claim that this was my first.

It's an odd book to begin one's acquaintance with such a popular and influential contemporary writer. He starts right off with a foreword about this Richard Bachman person, whom I knew nothing about. The entire novel is deeply intertwined with the creative process; the actual emotional and psychological implications of writing. It all feels very personal, even if it's not truly autobiographical, and I feel like I should have known King a little better before reading this book. Nevertheless, I immediately noticed how appealing the man's style was. These days, I'd say that Stephen King is a very reliable three-star writer. Even if by the end of a King book, you feel like you've had a meal consisting entirely of noodles or rice, it's always a rather delicious one. And you don't really notice how much irrelevant stuff he's included until you're done and start thinking about how not much actually happened in over 400 pages. I would say that King is definitely at his best in the short story format, where he has to stay tightly focused, but his novels are always highly readable, and he works really hard to keep you engaged with his characters throughout all those pages.

I admit that I don't remember a great deal about this book. I'm particularly drawing a blank on how George Stark became a "real" person, but I don't think that really matters all that much. It's probably just one of those strange psychospiritual things that allegedly happen to crazy artist types if they're not careful, especially if you believe the words of the artists themselves. I felt then, and I still do now, that I was, at the time, precisely the kind of person for whom King was writing. I suppose a large number of people feel the same way; that's why he's sold millions of books. This book was the first time I'd ever come across the word "psychopomp," and I instantly loved the concept. I'm pretty sure Kyle and I stayed up all night/morning listening to that audiobook, although I seem to remember pausing it for a couple of hours because an incredibly silly movie called Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter came on television. Do they still show that kind of thing on regular cable? Anyway, this book hooked me on King for a while. Although I never did consider him an absolute favorite, I was very glad to discover him and find that he was not, in fact, trashy at all... just a bit insubstantial at times. Over time, I grew to respect the man himself more than I actually liked his work because of the way he always talks about his influences (I imagine Stephen King and I could have a great discussion about literature), how he eagerly supports other writers, and is genuine and open about much of what he does. I'm glad the man is still writing, and I find that I'll always have time for him in one way or another.

3.75 stars

This rating of 3.75 stars indicates a relatively good performance or quality. It shows that the subject under consideration has many positive aspects. However, it also implies that there is still some room for improvement.

Perhaps there are a few areas that could be enhanced to make it even better. It might have some minor flaws or不足之处 that prevent it from achieving a perfect 5-star rating.

Nonetheless, a 3.75-star rating is still quite respectable and suggests that the overall experience or product is worthy of recognition. It has managed to meet the expectations of most people and has shown some degree of excellence.

With a bit more effort and attention to detail, it could potentially reach an even higher level of quality and receive an even more impressive rating.

“The Dark Half” is a terrifying novel by Stephen King! It tells the dramatic story of the writer Thad Beaumont... He has a wife and two children, but he earns more money writing bloody crime novels under the pseudonym George Stark than from the books that officially come out under his name. After his secret is revealed and he is blackmailed for money, Thad decides to tell the truth to the media and “bury” Stark. However, his “dark half” mysteriously turns into a real evil murderer.

Sheriff Alan Pangborn of Castle Rock is also a main character in the story. At first, he doesn't believe Beaumont, but later he realizes what supernatural evil they have to deal with...

This novel is full of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. King's masterful storytelling brings the characters and the story to life, making it a must-read for fans of horror and mystery.

While I still had a great deal of enjoyment from this book, upon re-reading, it didn't quite live up to my memory. The idea of an author's abandoned pseudonym rising from the dead to claim its own glory is truly remarkable, and I find this story to be highly entertaining. However, it wasn't as captivating as I had initially thought. Thad Beaumont and the other characters are excellent, as is typical in almost any King novel. I would be interested in reading more about his characters, even if the storylines weren't as strong as King's usually are.

The Dark Half is a fast-paced book that keeps the reader engaged with the wild events in Thad Beaumont's life. At times, though, I felt that things were happening too quickly and chaotically, and I needed to slow down to fully appreciate the novel. Perhaps it was because I had read it before, but the pace sometimes seemed overwhelming, and I wished for a break to calm things down.

Overall, it's a very enjoyable novel, even on the second read, and one that I'll likely pick up again in the future.

Unusually for me, I find myself in a bit of a quandary. I simply can't remember if I have actually read this before. It feels so familiar that I'm strongly inclined to say that I have. However, I don't specifically recall doing so. Although if I did read it, it was most likely around the time it was first published in 1989. So, I'm going to cut myself a bit of slack.

This was a middle-of-the-road read for me when it comes to Stephen King's works. His books are always highly entertaining, and he truly has a remarkable strength in character building. That being said, I didn't find this particular one quite as compelling as I usually do with King's books.

The idea of a writer's pen name coming to life and attempting to essentially take over his life is truly stellar. There is also a significant amount of straight-up slasher horror included here, all written in vivid and gory detail. Where it fell short for me, albeit only slightly, is in the dialogue and relationship building between the characters. Some of the conversations, particularly those between Thad, Liz, and Alan, felt a touch artificial. They didn't quite produce the level of character intimacy that I typically find present in King's work.

But here's the thing. Even a middle-of-the-road King novel is still a pretty fun read. It mainly suffers in comparison to other books in King's extensive catalogue, rather than in comparison to other books in the genre.

I first discovered this book around the age of fourteen, a time when I felt invincible as a teenager. It immediately captivated me, keeping me glued to its pages, completely enthralled by King's masterful storytelling. Now, upon rereading it, I was a bit concerned that the magic might have worn off as I've gained a few wrinkles. However, my love for the book remained intact.

The story is relatively fast-paced (certainly not one of those massive doorstoppers that King is sometimes known for). The dialogue is typically King-good, and the characters are well-developed. Alan Pangborn, in particular, stands out. The protagonist, a writer, allows us to sense King's personal connection to the craft. He shows us that the creation of stories is something deeply personal yet terrifyingly alien. When we create stories and draw others into our fantasy worlds, who and what are we?

King also wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman for a while, and those books were darker and more unpleasant than his usual works. Eventually, the secret was out, and King decided to kill off the pseudonym. In a similar vein, the protagonist in this book, Thad Beaumont, attempts to do the same to his writing alter ego, George Stark. But Stark, who is "not a very nice guy," refuses to go quietly. He goes on a blood-chilling rampage, and once our inner demons come to life, nothing good can come of it.

Just like in "From a Buick 8," this is one of King's underrated books that is among my favorites. The part where Thad's wife realizes how similar Thad and Stark are, despite their physical differences, still sends shivers down my spine. It's not just the body horror that gets to me (and there's plenty of that), but the idea that even the nicest and most mild-mannered among us have that terrifying dark half, that bottomless id. Luckily for most of us, it usually stays hidden.

I remember feeling conflicted about a particular passage. While Stark exists because of Thad, how responsible can Thad really be for the actions of his escaped id? It seems that he and Alan both feel he is, but to me, it felt like a parent being held responsible for the actions of an adult child. Nevertheless, Thad will continue to carry the heavy burden of responsibility, whether it's deserved or not.
And those sparrows! King is incredibly skilled at taking something mundane and turning it into something creepy. The fact that he manages to do it with sparrows, those tiny annoying birds, is truly impressive. It's easy to make something grand and impressive terrifying, but it takes more skill to make small, ordinary things bone-chilling.
In the end, I give this book 4 stars. It's a captivating read that explores the darker side of human nature and the power of the imagination.

  “Inside him a voice whispered for the first time: Who are you when you write, Thad? Who are you then?
And for that voice he had no answer.”

  “You talked to them about how crazy it would be to believe not just in a vengeful ghost, but in the ghost of a man who never was. But writers INVITE ghosts, maybe; along with actors and artists, they are the only totally accepted mediums of our society. They make worlds that never were, populate them with people who never existed, and then invite us to join them in their fantasies. And we do it, don’t we? Yes. We PAY to do it.”

  

  “He wants the same thing you or I would want if we were in his position. He wants not to be dead anymore. That’s all he wants. Not to be dead anymore. I’m the only one who might be able to make that happen. And if I can’t, or won’t… well… he can at least make sure he isn’t lonely.”

  

   “No you don’t, Alan thought. You don’t understand what you are, and I doubt that you ever will. Your wife might… although I wonder if things will ever be right between the two of you after this, if she’ll ever want to understand, or dare to love you again. Your kids, maybe, someday… but not you, Thad. Standing next to you is like standing next to a cave some nightmarish creature came out of. The monster is gone now, but you still don’t like to be too close to where it came from. Because there might be another. Probably not; your mind knows that, but your emotions—they play a different tune, don’t they? Oh boy. And even if the cave is empty forever, there are the dreams. And the memories.”

  

  “White sky—he saw a white sky broken by the silhouettes of houses and telephone poles. And everywhere there were sparrows. They lined every roof, crowded every pole, waiting only for the command of the group mind. Then they would explode skyward with a sound like thousands of sheets flapping in a brisk wind.”

I am so excited to be doing Buddy Reading with these two lovely ladies, Amber and Chelsea Humphrey. It's going to be an amazing experience. Amber can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23016460-amber and Chelsea Humphrey is at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/47207032.

Buddy Reading is such a great way to share the love of books and have interesting discussions. I can't wait to start this journey with them. We'll be able to exchange our thoughts and perspectives on the book we choose, which will surely enhance our understanding and enjoyment of it.

I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun, filled with laughter and great conversations. I'm looking forward to getting to know Amber and Chelsea Humphrey better through this Buddy Reading experience. It's going to be unforgettable!

George Stark. He is not a very pleasant individual.

The Dark Half is a 1989 gothic horror novel penned by Stephen King. It was written around the time when readers uncovered the fact that Stephen King and Richard Bachman were one and the same. The novel's main premise reflects this: Thad Beaumont, a moderately unsuccessful writer, also writes under the pseudonym George Stark and publishes highly successful, violent crime novels under this name. When Thad stops writing as Stark, Stark is considered 'dead'. But he returns from the dead as a physical entity. And as we learned from Jud Crandall six years earlier in Pet Sematary, sometimes, dead is better.

I might be in the minority here, but I firmly believe this is a perfect Stephen King novel. It encompasses all the aspects of a typical King story that we all adore; a writer protagonist, a small town setting, a terrifying villain, and extremely dark symbolism. However, King goes a step further and makes The Dark Half superior to his other works by maintaining a rapid pace throughout the narrative.

Personally, I view this novel as Stephen King's take on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Its main theme is the duality within people, highlighting how everyone has a bit of bad or evil inside them, which they suppress. In both King's story and Stevenson's novella, the evil side of humans is represented as a physical manifestation. Yet King makes it his own by comparing it to his own experience with pseudonyms. In a really clever manner, he creeps out his die-hard fans by making us wonder if Richard Bachman could ever rise from the grave as a physical being. It's truly creepy.

King definitely borrowed from other classic stories apart from Jekyll and Hyde. He references these by name, such as Daphne du Maurier's The Birds, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: The 1818 Text, and Edgar Allen Poe's William Wilson. We can see many ideas in The Dark Half that King has utilized in his newer works. For instance, the idea of a person being accused of a crime based on DNA, yet having an iron-clad alibi. We have witnessed this in King's 2018 novel, The Outsider, which shares many similarities with The Dark Half. King himself has credited Poe's William Wilson as his inspiration for The Outsider, and I can almost guarantee that King read the story before writing The Dark Half and drew a great deal of inspiration from it. However, as I previously mentioned, although King borrows from other stories, he fully makes it his own.

Lastly, I must comment on the symbolism of the sparrows. Black birds, like crows and sparrows, are very prominent in other gothic texts. The sparrows in The Dark Half are truly terrifying. Known as the psychopomps (creatures who send human souls to the afterlife), the sparrows appear whenever death is near. And no one, even those who don't like this book for whatever reason, can deny that thousands of swarming sparrows are indeed terrifying.