King is widely regarded as the master of horror.

The first story he crafted not only hinted at great horror but also incorporated sufficient realism to resonate emotionally with the readers.

These interlinked stories, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, explore the loss of innocence that occurs when one leaves childhood behind.

Surprisingly, this is not just a typical horror story. Instead, it is a gripping tale that reveals a profound need for healing within our nation, a need that stems from our complex relationship with war and violence.

King's ability to blend elements of horror, realism, and social commentary makes this work a truly remarkable and thought-provoking piece of literature.

I remember vividly that when I first caught wind of this book, right around the time of its release, I felt a hint of disappointment. The news, in their rather dull approach of regarding art simply as being about a particular subject matter, had emphasized that Stephen King had penned a book about the Vietnam War. I had just devoured "Bag of Bones" and adored it. So, upon hearing this, I thought to myself: "Oh no! Stephen King has ceased to be the Stephen King I know and has written about the Vietnam War." However, of course, this is not merely a novel about the Vietnam War; it is a STEPHEN KING NOVEL! Perhaps it is the most quintessential STEPHEN KING NOVEL among all of his works.

Sidenote:

Besides being a novel, this is (almost) a quartet. And, as any astute fan should have noticed by now, King commences every decade with a quartet. There's "Different Seasons" (1982), "Four Past Midnight" (1990), "Full Dark, No Stars" (2010), and "If it Bleeds" (2020). Stretching it just a little, "Hearts in Atlantis" (1999) fits neatly into this pattern as the start of the 00s. (Then, just for good measure, we could include the four early Bachman books, collected as a quartet, as the beginning of the 70s.

I first read this book nearly 10 years ago. At that time, I considered it to be just decent, not outstanding. However, after rereading it now, my perspective has changed significantly. It has gone from a mere 3-star decent book to a brilliant 5-star one.

Hearts in Atlantis is composed of 5 interconnected stories that revolve around America's baby boomer generation. The first and longest story, "Low Men in Yellow Coats", is set in 1960. It is a beautifully narrated tale about small town America and the end of childhood innocence. The child characters in this initial story serve as the link that runs throughout the remainder of the book. I truly adored Bobby and felt a deep connection with him. His love for books, his struggle with his mother after losing his father, his relationship with Ted Brautigan, his new elderly neighbor, and his love and protection for his girlfriend Carol Gerber were all so vividly portrayed.

The title story, set in 1966, really sets the tone for the rest of the book. It tells the story of a group of college freshmen and the chaos that surrounds them during a time when "boys with poor grades one year are likely to end up dying in the jungle the next year". The students discover love, political awareness, protest, and a highly addictive card game. The Vietnam War and the associated draft loom large over this story, as they do in the remaining 3 tales, which are set in the 80s and 90s as the baby boomers age and reflect on their lives.

So, why did this 10-year gap cause this book to go from good to great for me? I believe it's because I am now more mature (yes, older). Mr King is a generation ahead of me, and my view of life has undoubtedly changed as I approach the big 40. The prevailing theme throughout Hearts in Atlantis is that of lost innocence and wasted opportunities - of looking back and asking "what if?" I think every generation experiences the same thing - at some point in our lives, we reflect on all the possibilities we had and wonder how we ended up where we are.

If you are seeking a thought-provoking and well-written collection of stories, I hope you will give Hearts in Atlantis a try. However, if you are looking for traditional horror stories, this is not the book for you.

Five stars

I definitely enjoyed this collection of stories more on my second read through. However, Hearts in Atlantis still remains at the bottom of the list of King story collections for me.

I just don't find myself being wowed by these as I usually am with his work. I found them a bit too slow paced.

But I don't want it to seem like I hated this collection because I really didn't! This time around, I was able to appreciate these stories much more. When I first read Hearts in Atlantis, I hadn't read the Dark Tower series yet, so naturally, I didn't notice any of the connections. But this time, I definitely did, and I loved the feeling of all the dots connecting!

One thing I particularly liked about this collection was how each story had a common thread, and we got to see the same characters throughout, just at different ages and in different situations. I really loved that aspect, and it partially made up for the slow pace.

I also really enjoyed the characters in Hearts in Atlantis. They were each so well developed and captivating! My favorite, though, would definitely have to be Ted Brautigan. I just love the relationship he and Bobby have!

So you see, I actually really enjoyed this book! I just thought it lacked a bit of the spark and excitement that King's work usually has. Still, it's a really great collection of stories, just not my favorite!

This is an excellent read, but it is an even better listen.

If you have the opportunity, do listen to the audible reading. It is truly very well done. The producers have incorporated music into the novellas, which adds an extra layer of depth and emotion.

I found myself listening to it not just once, but twice. And both times, by the end, I was brought to tears.

The combination of the engaging story and the beautiful musical accompaniment creates a truly immersive experience. It makes you feel as if you are right there in the world of the novellas, experiencing all the emotions along with the characters.

Whether you are a fan of reading or prefer to listen to stories, this audible version is definitely worth checking out. You won't be disappointed.

Nobody can climb inside a boy's head better than Stephen King.

Whether it's a horror or thriller, King has a remarkable talent for delving deep into the minds of his young characters.

Take, for example, the kids in Stand By Me. Through the eyes of the main character, King weaves a captivating tale that draws the reader in and makes them feel as if they are right there with the boys on their adventure.

This book is definitely one of my favorite non-scary King books. It shows a different side of his writing, one that is more about character development and the coming-of-age experience.

And let's not forget the movie adaptation. While it may not have been as perfect as the book, it was still a great watch. The movie captured the essence of the story and brought the characters to life in a way that was both entertaining and engaging.

Overall, Stand By Me is a classic that will continue to be loved by readers and moviegoers alike for years to come. (Reviewed 5/17/08)

Stephen King's works have a profound impact on me, and I believe the reason lies in the fact that most of his stories, in various ways, connect childhood and the process of growing up with the adults that both the characters and we ourselves become. This might not seem like a groundbreaking revelation, considering that he is a master at building characters. And what more logical approach could there be to fleshing out a character than to grow with them through their formative years?

King clearly still has a deep understanding of what it means to be a child. I'm certain that his most passionate fans are those who still hold their childhoods dear to their hearts. I know mine is. With the simplest prose, he can描绘出 such delicate tenderness, for example, when describing a boy's first kiss.

"Hearts in Atlantis" is, as critics have noted, a "mature" work by King. It consists of five short stories (two of which are not so short), spanning four decades starting from the Sixties, and linking the Vietnam War and some of the same characters throughout. His writing comes from the heart, as it has been in many of the later works I've read by him recently. I think this book is truly magnificent. Not only does he explore the human condition with warmth, but he also captures the essence of the Sixties (as best as my younger self can remember, anyway). His pacing of the story is as excellent as ever, and as always, his writing is extremely accessible.

Steve, be careful when walking those roads. Preferably, stick to the woods and parks. I hope you continue to write for many decades to come.

My 20th Stephen King book and wow. Just wow.

I find myself saying this all the time, but I am truly in awe of how this man writes. I can read books by other authors and enjoy them, but when I read a King book, I am completely lost in such immersive storytelling that I forget I'm reading fiction.

As usual, the character development in this book is second to none. The pacing between the different timelines flows perfectly, and it feels much shorter than it actually is.

The story begins in the 1960s with Bobby's childhood and leads up to and beyond the Vietnam War, presented from dual perspectives, which makes it extremely interesting.

Just like in his other books, King hits the nail on the head with his descriptions of childhood and adolescence. He is so much more than just a horror writer. His ability to create complex and relatable characters, along with his masterful storytelling, makes his books a must-read for any lover of literature.

I can't wait to see what King has in store for us next.

To Read

I marked this one as "To Read" after reading a review by an online acquaintance. When I finally found a copy in the library, I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I think it is one of his best books.

By coincidence, last Friday I heard someone speak on Adverse Childhood Experiences and their long-term effects. In a way, that's exactly what this book is about. The first half of the book delves into childhood in the early 1960s.

Bobby Garfield wants a bike for his 11th birthday, but his mother nags him about the cost. Only gradually does he realize that much of her nagging is due to the pressure she faces at work. He and his close friends, Carol Gerber and John Sullivan, also live in fear of being bullied by older kids from another school in the neighborhood. Then a mysterious lodger moves in upstairs. This lodger introduces Bobby to the joys of reading, which helps him make sense of some of his experiences. However, the lodger also seems to be a fugitive of some sort and asks Bobby to warn him if he sees any signs of those looking for him.

These pressures build up and lead to traumatic experiences all around. Eventually, Bobby and his mother move to another town.

The scene then shifts to the mid-1960s, with Carol Gerber as a first-year university student. The Vietnam War is escalating, and male students are caught in a dilemma: do well in their studies or be drafted to fight in the jungles of Vietnam. Their response to this challenge is varied, but there is also a growing political awareness. We see how Carol's adverse childhood experiences have shaped her response. I found her description of this to the narrator of that part to be the most moving in the book.

The last sections of the book are relatively short but show how the 1960s of the last century influenced the lives of those who were young then.

I suppose one would have had to be young and American in the 1960s to fully appreciate this book. One object, perhaps a McGuffin of sorts, is a baseball mitt that keeps reappearing. I played enough softball at school when I was 12 to picture the object, but to us, softball was just a game played on summer afternoons. I think one would have to have grown up in the USA, where baseball is almost a religion, to fully understand the emotional significance of such an object.

I knew about the Vietnam War and participated in several demonstrations and protest marches against it. Some of the chants and slogans that King used brought back real memories. I remember marching to the chant "Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today." King didn't mention the other chant we used outside the USA, "Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh; the NLF is gonna win." But those of us who lived outside the USA didn't face the real possibility of having to fight in that war. A decade later, many young South Africans (white) were drafted to fight on what was politically correctly called "the border."

As I often do, I've added some additional comments on the cultural milieu of the book in my blog post at Hearts in Atlantis. These comments go beyond a mere review and cover topics such as the usage of "nimrod" and anti-war chants in the 1960s.

Hearts can break. Yes, hearts can break. Sometimes I think it would be better if we died when they did, but we don't.

Hearts in Atlantis is a truly remarkable book. It consists of 5 interconnected stories, with 2 novellas and 3 short stories. These stories feature the same recurring characters and are presented chronologically. The events in the stories mainly take place in the 1960s, with a particular focus on the Vietnam War.

The first novella, Low Men in Yellow Coats, was my favorite part of the collection. It tells the story of Bobby Garfield, a young boy who encounters a strange man named Ted Brautigan, who has psychic abilities. This story is filled with amazing references and connections to The Dark Tower, which was very exciting for me as a fan of that series.

The second novella, Hearts in Atlantis, focuses on Peter Riley, a student at the University of Maine who becomes addicted to playing the card game Hearts. This addiction affects his studies and puts him at risk of being drafted into the war. I really enjoyed this novella as well.

The last three short stories, Blind Willie, Why We're in Vietnam, and Heavenly Shades of Night are Falling, are centered around veterans and the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The first two short stories were okay, but I really loved the last one because it involved Bobby Garfield.

One of the things I loved most about this collection was the relationship between Bobby Garfield and Ted Brautigan. King writes these types of relationships beautifully. You can feel the love and admiration Bobby has for Ted, and it's truly touching. Ted becomes a surrogate father figure for Bobby, and their discussions about books and literature are heartwarming.

I think a main theme in this book is survivor guilt. Whether it's those who avoided fighting in the Vietnam War or those who fought and came home alive, there is a sense of guilt and responsibility. In Hearts in Atlantis, the university students who become addicted to Hearts are essentially flunking themselves out to war. The veterans in the short stories also struggle with their past actions and the impact of the war on their lives.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. The two novellas were particularly strong, and the book made me think about the Vietnam War and its impact on people. It's a hard-hitting and emotional book, and Stephen King has done a great job.

This book is one of my all-time favourites!

It has truly captured my heart and imagination from the very first page. The story is so engaging and well-written that I find myself completely immersed in it every time I pick it up.

The characters are vividly brought to life, and I can easily relate to their emotions and experiences. Each one has a unique personality that adds depth and complexity to the plot.

The author's use of language is simply beautiful. The descriptions are so detailed that I can picture every scene in my mind as if I were actually there.

Not only is this book entertaining, but it also has a profound message that stays with me long after I've finished reading. It has made me think about life, love, and the importance of following your dreams.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read. It is a true masterpiece that will surely become one of your all-time favourites too.

Stephen King has this magical way of putting you right into the atmosphere of each era.

Some may find the scholastic nature of his descriptions of characters' movements and reactions tiring. However, as they are interwoven, they convey the spirit of the times.

Different stories, yet each complements the other, aiming to highlight the social evolution and outbursts in the US. This might not necessarily move Greek readers who are miles away from this era of the superpower, but it surely moves the residents who have, in one way or another, lived through all that has happened in the last decades in the superpower.

He writes continuously, dozens of short stories, novellas, novels, but King always remains the unpredictable, invasive magician of contemporary American society.