3.5 Stars!

My final book for the year of 2017 was completed, and it was truly my best reading year ever!

I had actually never come across "Hearts in Atlantis" before I noticed a rather worn-out copy at the thrift store. However, since I was on a Stephen King binge, I picked it up. And, as expected, I was pleasantly surprised! I must say that the first section of the novel was by far my favorite. It had a certain charm and allure that immediately grabbed my attention. But even after that, I was still completely engrossed in the story. I couldn't put the book down and ended up devouring it in just two days. The characters were well-developed, and the plot was engaging, taking me on a journey through different emotions and experiences. Overall, it was a great read, and I would definitely recommend it to other Stephen King fans or anyone looking for an interesting and thought-provoking novel.

This book is not exactly my absolute favorite among all of Stephen King's works.

However, I have to admit that it is damn good!!!

Stephen King's writing style is truly impeccable.

His ability to create vivid and engaging characters, build intense atmospheres, and craft thrilling plots is second to none.

Even in this particular book, which may not be at the top of my personal list, his talent shines through.

The story grabs your attention from the very beginning and doesn't let go until the very end.

You find yourself completely immersed in the world that King has created, experiencing every emotion along with the characters.

It's no wonder that he is one of the most beloved and successful authors of our time.

This book is a great example of his incredible writing skills and is definitely worth reading.

I didn't expect to give five stars to this one.

Looking back, I recalled the fragmented memories of this collection from my sole reading 25 years ago. At that time, I vividly remembered truly relishing the first story, yet not being overly impressed with the subsequent ones.

After all, I was 25 years younger then, and now, certain themes strike me in a completely different way.

I think what bothered me the first time was that I was anticipating horror. The "Low Men" story did offer some elements of it, but then King seemingly abandoned horror for the remainder of the book...or did he?

King is well aware that horror can assume numerous forms. With this book, it's the horror of war and the mindset of opposing war "at all costs" and the impact it can have on rational individuals. He patiently examines it from multiple diverse angles.

And while all but one of the stories completely enthralled me, and a couple even brought me to tears, overall, this is King operating at his full potential.

It's just a magnificent, yet terrifying book.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars (Because the first two stories were great.)

Disclaimer: I read this book and wrote big portions of this review while ill. So if it doesn’t make a ton of sense, that’s why. In my defense, the book made less and less sense as I read it, the stories flowing less effortlessly and feeling more forced. Which is common with King. Sticking the landing just isn’t his strength.

Out of all of the Stephen King books I’ve read, this one is by far the strangest, at least in terms of set-up. It’s not a novel, per se, nor is it a collection of short stories. These interconnected novellas become more and more dependent on one another as they progress, telling different facets of the same story in a way. I cared the most about the first two, and by far the longest two, stories, and honestly would have enjoyed the book more had it ended after “Hearts in Atlantis.” “Low Men in Yellow Coats” is perhaps one of the very best, most moving stories I’ve ever read. “Hearts in Atlantis” was a study in human nature that spoke to me on a deep level. The remaining 3 shorter stories just didn’t have that same level of impact. I felt like the more war-heavy stories didn’t age very well. I did, however, like that the book ended with revisiting the main character from the first story. That decision made everything feel a little more cohesive overall. Below are my brief thoughts on each of the five stories.

Low Men in Yellow Coats:

This particular story, which accounts for almost half of the book’s length, felt like something special. King is so incredibly good at writing convincing child heroes who aren’t saccharinely precocious. The friendship between Bobby and Ted was beautiful and true, and I love that it was founded upon a love for of good fiction. The story delivered so many things, from nostalgia to sweetness to fear to sorrow to, at last, hope. It ties directly into the Dark Tower narrative, and even if the rest of the collection doesn’t end up blowing me away, reading this story made my picking up the book absolutely worth it. 5 solid stars. If you’re a fan of Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon, I feel like this story is worth your time. The childhood nostalgia was excellently captured.

Hearts in Atlantis:

I find it amazing that King can take an idea as simple as a college dorm’s collective addiction to a card game and make it a compelling story. But he did. I was astounded by how much I came to care about these boys and their struggles. Pete Riley was an incredibly compelling character, and I was really rooting for him to overcome his addictions and save himself from the draft that was killing so many boys at the time. I also really enjoyed seeing Carol again, in a completely different context.

Blind Willy:

This is an odd one. How long can the events of a childhood rule the life of an adult? We have a borderline dissociative identity disorder and selective blindness represented here, and the entire premise is a really weird one. It’s interesting how Carol Gerber has become a bit of a Shrodinger’s cat by this point in the narrative. I’m super curious what happened to her, and what caused her to make the decisions she’s made and get involved in the movements she was involved in.

Why We’re in Vietnam:

Again, this story hinges on a ripple effect, on how past events and acquaintances shape the course of a life. Here, all of the main players, from John Sullivan to Ronnie (the card-playing instigator from Hearts in Atlantis) to Blind Willy of the previous story, are all connected loosely by 2 things: Carol Gerber and the Vietnam War. It was interesting seeing more of Sullivan, since he was an important side character in Low Men in Yellow Coats as the third member of Bobby and Carol’s friend group, but that was really the only purpose his story served.

Heavenly Shades of Night are Falling:

This final story brings us back to Bobby, our protagonist in “Low Men in Yellow Coats.” It was nice to see how his life turned out, as the end of that first story left his fate a bit up in the air. We also get to learn a little bit more about what happened to Carol after “Hearts in Atlantis.” Both Bobby and Carol are very interesting characters, and I was happy that King returned to them in the end. And I really hope to see more of Ted further down the road to the Tower.

All in all, Hearts in Atlantis was a nostalgic, thought-provoking read. “Low Men in Yellow Coats” was incredible on its own, and reading it ended up being a very emotional experience. I can see how that central story could link in with the Dark Tower, and I’m very excited to see what actually comes to pass. There’s a movie of the same name starring Anthony Hopkins as Ted, and I bet he was absolutely amazing in the role. It’s definitely on my watch list.

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

I decided to read Hearts in Atlantis specifically because of its theme - the war in Viet Nam.

I had high expectations that it would effectively capture the complex and intense feelings of young adults during those tumultuous years of student protests against the war.

Thankfully, it did not disappoint me in the slightest. In fact, it was this very book that made me a die-hard Stephen King fan.

I was completely enthralled by King's remarkable ability to vividly characterize young love. His descriptions were so detailed and nuanced that I could almost feel the emotions of the characters myself.

Moreover, his portrayal of the futility of war was both poignant and thought-provoking. It made me reflect on the senselessness and destruction that war brings.

Please don't be too hard on me. I must admit that I haven't yet had the courage to review books on Goodreads. But this experience with Hearts in Atlantis has definitely given me the motivation to consider doing so in the future.

One of the best things about Grandpa King. I don't give it 5 stars because one of the stories is a bit weak. I will never tire of saying the wonderful feeling that this guy gives me on certain occasions. We are going to miss him very, very much. Very, very much.

Grandpa King has always been a source of inspiration and joy for me. His stories, although not all of them are perfect, have the power to transport me to another world. There are times when I am completely captivated by his words and I feel like I am part of the story.

Even though one of the stories didn't quite reach the same level as the others, it doesn't take away from the overall charm and magic of Grandpa King's tales. He has a unique way of telling stories that makes them come alive in my imagination.

I know that when he is gone, I will look back on these memories with great fondness. I will miss his voice, his expressions, and the way he made me feel. But I will also be grateful for the time we had together and the wonderful stories he shared with me.

Rtc!

Real-time communication has become an essential part of our daily lives. It allows us to connect with people from all over the world instantly, whether it's for work, study, or socializing.

With the advancement of technology, RTC has evolved significantly. We now have various tools and platforms that enable us to communicate through voice, video, and text.

These RTC applications offer a seamless and convenient experience, allowing us to have face-to-face conversations with colleagues, collaborate on projects in real-time, and stay in touch with friends and family.

Moreover, RTC has also transformed the way businesses operate. It has enabled companies to provide better customer service, conduct virtual meetings, and reach a wider audience.

In conclusion, RTC has revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with others. Its importance will only continue to grow in the future as technology continues to advance.

This book.

My heart.

I must watch the movie immediately.

I embarked on a literary adventure of a lifetime with Bobby Garfield and his friends (and one of his enemies) throughout the captivating stories in Hearts in Atlantis.

We began with a young Bobby, his best friends Carol and John, and a new neighbor, Ted. The year was 1960, and the story was "Low Men in Yellow Coats". As the tales unfolded in the book, we witnessed the world transform through the eyes of Carol in 1966 ("Hearts in Atlantis"); Willie's memories of combat in Vietnam ("Blind Willie"); John's recollections of Vietnam and his view on the war ("Why We're in Vietnam"); and finally, the story that tied them all together, which you'll have to read for yourself ("Heavenly Shades of Night are Falling").

This book was a remarkable character exploration of what occurs to young friends as they mature into adults. It's a narrative about how life has a tendency to change us when we least expect it. And it's a story about how we'll always treasure our childhood memories. It surely brought back some precious memories of my own and made me wonder a great deal about my dad's experiences in Vietnam, which I've never inquired about.

"Low Men in Yellow Coats" also draws on elements from Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I had the impulse to take those books off my shelf and embark on another journey to the tower with Roland.

I have nothing but praise for this book. If you打算阅读The Dark Tower, don't read Hearts until you've completed the series. But if you haven't read the series and don't plan to, you can still relish Hearts without any prior knowledge of The Dark Tower, no problem!

Obviously, after all this enthusiasm, I'm awarding Hearts in Atlantis 5 stars. I'd give it more if possible. I'm going to have a profound book hangover for a while now.

HAMPONES CON CHAQUETAS AMARILLAS: It's fantastic. The King that I like the most and a good dose of “La torre oscura”. So, what more could I ask for? I wouldn't have minded if it had been extended to cover the 534 pages of the book (something that was later confirmed unfortunately), but the author decides to leave it at a point that doesn't subtract from it either... so that later they can't say that he doesn't know how to write endings.

5 stars.

CORAZONES EN LA ATLÁNTIDA: It's too “American” for my taste. It has been a hard disappointment for me... lacking the slightest interest in the topics it deals with (I'm sorry, but neither ludopathy nor the Vietnam War are among my favorite topics), I ended up reading it diagonally, although I have to admit that its connection with the previous one I quite liked.

2 stars.

WILLIE EL CIEGO: I wouldn't know how to approach this story because I've seen it a bit forced and surreal, to be honest. I like the background, but I haven't been able to connect with the narration. Anyway, at least it's a short story.

2.5 stars.

¿QUÉ HACEMOS EN VIETNAM?: If by this point I was still harboring the hope that things would improve, it definitely ended up disappearing. Another diagonal reading (something that I swear I don't usually do) that passes without pain or glory through the most superficial regions of my brain.

2 stars.

SE CIERNEN YA LAS SOMBRAS DE LA NOCHE: A sweet and shiny cherry for a cake with a great base but a filling and topping lacking in flavor and texture. It doesn't make up for the previous stories but at least it has left me with a good taste in my mouth. And questions. Quite a few questions.

3.5 stars.

3,5 Sterne

The first story was definitely 4-5 stars. It was truly captivating and engaging, filled with interesting characters and a plot that kept the reader hooked from start to finish. However, the rest of the stories that followed were simply weaker. That's not to say they were bad; they just didn't reach the same high standard as the first one.

Nevertheless, it's important to note that even the weaker stories had their own charm and redeeming qualities. They still contributed to the overall theme and atmosphere of the collection. And perhaps most importantly, everything in this work seemed to serve the overarching concept of "the tower". Whether it was through the actions of the characters, the settings described, or the events that took place, the idea of the tower was always present, tying the different stories together in a unique and interesting way.

Overall, while the collection may not have been entirely consistent in quality, it still had enough亮点 to make it worth reading.

Stephen King has created a great deal of work.

His style here resembles that of the classic authors.

It is no coincidence that in the annotation he is compared to Dickens.

King's works often explore the darker aspects of human nature and the supernatural.

His stories have the ability to draw readers in and keep them on the edge of their seats.

With his vivid descriptions and engaging plots, he has become one of the most popular and influential authors of our time.

Whether it's a horror novel, a thriller, or a work of fantasy, King's writing always manages to leave a lasting impression.

His ability to create believable characters and immersive worlds is truly remarkable.

Overall, Stephen King's body of work is a testament to his talent and creativity as a writer.

It's not a bad book at all. There are five stories that are rather loosely tied together, spanning a period of thirty-nine years from 1960 to 1999. There are very few supernatural elements, except for the first story titled "Low Men In Yellow Coats", which is part of King's "Dark Tower" universe. "Hearts in Atlantis" is more of an exploration of King's generation, that is, the baby boomers of the sixties. It delves into how they haven't lived up to the expectations they had for themselves and those that others had for them. Of course, which generation can truly claim that it has?

"Hearts" is a dramatic and bittersweet book, interwoven with elements of nostalgia and melancholy. It could be contended that Mr. King is being a bit harsh on himself and his peers. There are those who might perceive the book as being filled with self-pity and as an indication of the baby-boomers' inflated sense of self-importance. However, I wouldn't concur. I believe that it simply reveals that Mr. King thinks his generation had a great deal of potential and could or should have achieved more. He effectively conveys this point through five well-written stories. Ultimately, if a novelist can both entertain and prompt one to think, then the novelist has accomplished something significant. "Hearts in Atlantis" is indeed an accomplishment for Mr. King.