Customer Reviews

Dreamcatcher (Romans, Nouvelles, Recits (Domaine Etranger)) (French Edition)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I attempted to read this book. While I do admire Stephen King and believe he is a unique storyteller, and I emphasize story teller, some of his work seems to be rather lackluster in presentation. I have heard that he has admitted on several occasions that he does not write good literature, but writes good stories. I can agree with that assessment and I myself, being an author, will likely never write what will be considered good literature.

But unfortunately this book did not fall into either category. The story is much the same in formula to many of his other works, a group of adults that were very close as children and teenagers have become estranged and some supernatural force or experience that they have all been involved with for the greater portion of their lives, pulls them back together. While it is said that authors write what they know, this is too much like many of the stories he has told before, and he has certainly done it better. While there was one idea that I REALLY liked and thought was very much worth reading, (the store room of ideas and filing system that one of the characters had) I couldn't really grasp why I should care about any of them. Obviously it was difficult because I can't remember a single name. And crapping out deadly aliens, c'mon, give me a break. How is that scary?

I don't usually stop reading a book because I don't like it. It's rare, but I had to put this book down. I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. I do have a general idea of what happened as I saw the film version, although there is much to be said between the art of cinema and literature, in that they are two completely different art forms and cannot be judged on the same criteria as one another. Oh, and while I'm at it I should mention that you should skip the film too, unless you want a good laugh as it's unintentionally funny.

I don't recommend this to anyone. I would be lying if I claimed that I've read a whole gamut of his work, but I have read bits and pieces and what I have read, I did enjoy. While I have read only one other Stephen King book, which I actually loved and will be reviewing here shortly, I would suggest people pick up some of his other work. He is talented, but this is not one of his better moments.

The best thing about Stephen King is that he is so random. This book isn't just an alien contact story. There is so much more to it. The extra-terrestrials are totally King's. He defines his own version of an alien race. It's definitely not scary but more what I'd call trippy. The way King describes the world of Jonesy's brain and the conflict between he and Mr. Gray for control is brilliant. His dreamlike scenes of this were my favorite parts of the book.

I usually give the book a good chance, but after 300 pages and it still isn't good?? I had to donate it to the library !!

This is truly a masterpiece. King is one of my favorite authors. His stories are full of suspense and horror. He has truly outdone himself in this case. Dreamcatcher is about five childhood friends that encounter a dangerous alien life form. They must come together to stop it from taking over the world. And this isn't some corny story with little, green men with laser-beams. The aliens are what King calls a cancer. I haven't heard this type of invasion in any other story. They actually infect the beings on earth and take them over with a conscious fungus. It's new and it's great. This story is centered on the saying "Everything happens for a reason." You could say that they just happened to befriend Duddits who just happened to have supernatural powers that he gave to the four friends who just happened to hunt every year in the area in which the aliens landed. Each character has numerous problems when they are adults. But they are still bound together in friendship which is a huge factor in succeeding in the end. Yet there are the depressing parts. Three of the main characters die. This included my favorite. But this also gave incentive for the others to fight. One thing I was disappointed about was the explaining. I read the entire book but I still don't fully understand the concept about the dreamcatcher and the powers of the boys. The only other thing I do not like about this book is the language. Like in previous Stephen King books, the characters curse on about every single page. This prevents the younger people from reading such a great book. This book is full of shocking, frightening, and horrific moments. He also manages to place some humor in appropriate spots within the book. I recommend this to people who love science fiction or are fans of King's work.