Customer Reviews

Hearts In Atlantis

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In his final novel of the 1990s, Stephen King has shut the door on his normal assortment of nightmares and created a series of stories that deals with another kind of horror. In Hearts in Atlantis, King writes about loss of innocence, struggles of conscience, and the Vietnam war.

The first thing readers will notice is that Hearts in Atlantis is not a novel, but five stories. The first two are long novellas (which together constitute 400 pages), while the last story is a mere 13 pages long. But all of the stories are interconnected, spanning the lives of four Connecticut youths from their pre-teens in 1960 to 1999.

The first story, "Low Men in Yellow Coats," is traditional King. In fact, the story is something of a companion piece to King's popular Dark Tower series. Here the reader is introduced to three kids, Bobby Garfield, Carol Gerber, and John "Sully-John" Sullivan. Although it doesn't deal directly with the Vietnam war, it helps set the backdrop for the stories that follow.

In the summer of 1960, eleven year-old Bobby takes first steps out of childhood innocence. He begins to see the evil of which men are truly capable, a parallel to the book Lord of the Flies, given to him by his new neighbor Ted Brautigan. But the old man has another kind of evil chasing him. The "low men" are tracking Ted and want him to return to their world, a place where "All things serve the Crimson King."

"Hearts in Atlantis," the second story, changes to a first-person narrative. Pete Riley, a freshman at the University of Maine, and his friends become obsessed with the card game Hearts. Many jeopardize their grades and thus their scholarships as a result, but the real threat is greater than flunking out. In 1966, leaving school means drafted to Vietnam. The story, although told from Pete's point of view, is also about Carol Gerber. She left Connecticut behind her, but has found a new life in protesting the war.

The third story, "Blind Willie," deals with Willie Shearman, a minor character in "Low Men in Yellow Coats." Now a veteran of the Vietnam war, Willie is doing penance for his misdeeds, those from his childhood and the war.

Sully-John attends the funeral of an old army buddy in "Why We're in Vietnam," set in 1999. In reuniting with his lieutenant, they discuss the war and the affects it had on the men who fought there.

It is in this story that the most frightening, most vivid account of the war is relayed. If the other stories were preamble, this is the final climax where the whole book comes together. For Sully-John, haunted by the image of a dead Vietnamese woman, everything after the war has been about trying to "get over." Get over the physical pain, get over the trauma, get over the war.

In the short closing story, "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling," Bobby returns to the town of his youth to pay his respects to one departed friend and discover the fate of another.

I really liked the first story, "Low Men in Yellow Coats," but I am also a big fan of the Dark Tower trilogy. The fact that it tied together with the Dark Tower stories made me tingle. I hope to see more of Ted in the future.

The others stories were also good, but not normal Stephen King-type fare. They didn't scare me or give me that creepy gooseflesh sort of feeling, but they made me think. My only complaints would be that "Hearts in Atlantis" (the second story) ran long, and "Blind Willie" has an unsatisfying ending. Is it good writing? Yes. Is it King's best? Probably not. But King tries something different in this book than in his last several books. For that alone he deserves a nod of respect.

When Ted discusses Lord of the Flies with Bobby, he states, "[G]ood books don't give up all their secrets at once." And that's true of Hearts in Atlantis. At first, the stories appear to be a series of glimpses into American life, but there's something else going on here, something deeper.

Atlantis becomes a metaphor for America, literally sinking beneath the feet of its people. The dreams and ideals of the 1940s and '50s become lost in the '60s, as the Vietnam war divides the country. Later, the hippies trade in the ideals of the '60s for junk bonds and cocaine. Now, that generation has nothing to show for it. "What have we done since Nam?" one character questions. We've created video games, trash television, and porn on the Internet. All we like to do is watch. "But there was a time... when it was really all in our hands."

And there are moments in these stories when that is literally true. The image of one person physically carrying another is often repeated, showing heroism of the individual under extraordinary circumstances. Bobby Garfield carries Carol up the street when she is injured. Pete and his classmates carry a crippled student out of the icy rain when he falls. Of course, the quintessential moment of heroism comes during the war when Willie carries Sully-John to a waiting chopper in Dong Ha Province.

In the midst of a story about the loss of a country, we have moments of hope created by acts of heroism of the individual. As we leave the 20th century, we continue to drift as a nation. But in the individual there may still be hope. Hope to carry on.

As Ted Brautigan said, "Consider it. Good books are for consideration after, too."˙

I've been a constant reader of King's since 'Salem's Lot (Gee... I guess that dates me). I've watched with growing wonder the changes in his style, the themes he tackles, etc. And I must say I'm rather annoyed at those who say he's lost his touch or whine because he doesn't write "real" horror anymore (what IS that, exactly?). Face it, folks -- King is one of our greatest, most important writers. He isn't just a "horror" writer, nor is he now trying to be a "literary" writer. For the most part he simply writes plain ol' fiction -- you know, the good stuff, or as he's often called it, "the truth inside the lie." He's an original, and there'll never be another with quite his narrative power again. Yes, his style may have changed a bit (but, hey, I thought life was supposed to be about change), but no one else can turn a phrase so it'll stop your heart the way King does, or write a sentance that's just so damned right it'll bring tears to your eyes. Everyone needs to read this beautiful book about love and loss. The so-called "great American novel" might be a pipe-dream, but after you read this book you may not be so sure. If this ends up being King's last novel, then it makes a fine capstone to a brillaint career. If not, then maybe the best is yet to come. Get well, Mr. King. As I said before, no one writes like you...

This short story cycle is packed with vivid, real characters that seem like you've known them all your life. King embodies different viewpoints masterfully, plausibly capturing the perspectives of innocent children, college revolutionaries, vietnam vets, and baby boomers.

The first story, "Low Men in Yellow Coats," kicks off the action but is the weakest of this strong set. It's too tied into the Dark Tower series to seem as real as what follows. That said, it's still scary and moving, it just won't be as accessible to those who haven't read the Dark Tower series.

The remainder of the stories concentrate on real people in real situations with only a smattering of the supernatural. That's not to say there's no horror -- Vietnam certainly qualifies -- but this is the closest King's gotten to straight fiction.

What surprises literary types (and doesn't surprise those who've actually read King) is how well he pulls it off. He gives us social commentary, believable, complex characters, and engrossing storylines without a single vampire or undead cat.

I read this book in two sittings, then closed it and wiped away tears. King is not merely a fine horror writer, he's a fine writer, period.

With a novel as rich, delightful, and fascinating-in one word unputdownable-as this, no matter how hard you try to write a thorough review about it, it's very likely that you will leave something out.
The story begins while the main characters, Bobby Garfield, Carol Gerber and John Sullivan, childhood friends growing up together in a small American town, are eagerly expecting the coming summer vacations, unaware that before the summer is over their lives are going to be changed forever.
Spanning four decades, the novel shows us how, though the eyes of a wide group of characters, directly and indirectly related to Bobby, Carol and John (Sully) and through their own eyes, their lives unfold.
Stephen King's narrative all through the book is at his best. He incorporates supernatural elements using his mastery of the craft and creates characters so humanly natural that they feel to the reader like old college friends. The experiences of the main characers are so well balanced between the quotidian and the extraordiary, that I almost felt this was a true story about real people. The supporting characters are so interesting that one cannot help wanting to meet them face to face and know more about how their lives unfold. The places are so richly and vividly described, and the time periods so pictorially represented through fashions, ideologies, settings, and even music, that you actually feel the richness and evolution of American culture as you read, even if you didn't live through those times.
Of everything this novel has to offer, what I liked the most, without a doubt, is its spectacular, believable, satisfying and sweet ending.
This novel is charming, entertaining, surprising and fun, for both fans and non-fans of Stephen King, and for everyone who enjoys the twists and turns of life and the hidden connections between the lives of strangers. A must read.
--Reviewed by M. E. Volmar

I am a twenty-year-old English major who has read every work Stephen King has ever written. While I consider many of his recent books to be large disappointments, I view HEARTS IN ATLANTIS as hugely successful, a brilliant novel and by far his best since MISERY (which remains my favorite of all his works). It is passionately written and conveys bold, momentous messages, everything from the questionable purpose(s) of war to the difficulties of growing up, of becoming an adult while clinging to the sweet memories of childhood and adolescence. It is a rich, beautiful story, expertly crafted and perhaps the most overwhelmingly poignant of all Mr. King's works. It is, in short, a jewel of a book, a monumental achievement, and a piece of literature which I truly believe shall one day be considered as much a classic as Salinger's CATCHER IN THE RYE, Steinbeck's TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY IN SEARCH OF AMERICA, Kerouac's ON THE ROAD, and Kesey's ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. (At least, it DESERVES to be regarded as such.) And I fervently hope that HEARTS IN ATLANTIS at last convinces all the skeptics out there that King is quite capable of producing more than "horror garbage," that he is, in fact, one of America's most talented and moving story-tellers, one who can not only transcend his chosen genre but surpass in deftness many of the best writers of those genres into which he only sporadically ventures; such, I believe, is clearly the case with HEARTS IN ATLANTIS. I unreservedly and whole-heartedly recommend this masterful piece of fiction not only to King fans but to all those who love good writing and good stories. HEARTS, I assure you, offers both.

Reading books that make you think is much more satisfying than just being entertained. This book has me puzzling out much about what King is saying about the 60's and our national loss of innocence. Is it any coincidence that the three male characters in "Low Men" are named for the Kennedy boys? (John, Bobby, Ted?) This first story seems to be about the decade's literally stealing innocence from that time's youth. "Hearts" may be about, besides a fairly accurate portrayal of the Frosh experience, the Boomer's tendency toward self-destruction,even when all common sense tells us to stop. It also casts a cynical eye towards "causes", implying that it is nearly impossible to stay true to beliefs based upon the inherent cynicism in us all--for an update of this story, see what happened in Seattle last week during the WTO fiasco. "Blind Willie" appears to be a statement both about the Reagan 80's and PTSD's largely unknown effects on combat veterans. The final 2 stories detail coming to grips with the experience of that decade as well as the potential for redemption for us all. Mr. King seems to be telling us that we should not forget what it was like to be a child. These memories can heal and preserve us. This is definitely Mr. King's most personal book...I apologize for trying to read his mind. Not as good as "Bag of Bones", my personal favorite of his, but one can never fault a writer for trying to say something and challenge our perceptions of events and the world around us.

I've been reading a number of reviews for this book and I'm not sure if I could add anything else that would make you (yes, you over there, the one reading this thing, the one not so sure about buying a book from the "horror guy") pick this beautiful, entertaining and thrilling collection of short and not-so-short stories. The characters work very well in so many levels, but most of all, I'd recommend "Atlantis" out of its faith: its faith on the human spirit, on the power of long lost love and on the miracle of magic, very human magic. It moved so that I'm willing to do something I swore I'd never do: Anni, if you are reading this, I still think about you, I still dream of walking snow-covered streets with your hand in mine and your hair dancing in the wind. It's been almost ten years.

Whenever I recommend this book to somebody and they ask me what it's like, I always reply, 'Remember how you felt when you read 'Catcher in the Rye'?' I have only encountered a few books in my life that filled me with so much intense emotion. (A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving is the only other example I can think of right now). King's evocation of childhood friendship and long-ago summers and innocence lost is so rich and deep and real that when I finished this book the only thing I wanted to do was go back to the start and read it all through again. I have read all of Kings books and I think he has succeeded on this level a number of other times...It, The Body, Apt Pupil, etc...but never to this extent. This book is epic in depth and scope and range of characters yet he never loses track of those bittersweet moments that make your spine tingle and push you to the brink of tears. While the first story is undoubtably the best, I don't agree with other reviewers who consider the rest of the book to be 'mediocre'. It's true that older characters can't bring about the same emotions as the eleven year old characters, but they are fascinating nonetheless. This is not only one of my favourite Stephen King books, it's one of my favourite books of all time.

I've read a lot of other King novels and many have been a disappointment because of their endings. After reading the story "Hearts in Atlantis" I can say King has let me live the 60's through his words and I enjoyed every crazy second! I don't think he will write another great piece like this ever again. I've seen a few other reviews that have not been impressed by his work but most of them expected tales of horror. This book is not that at all. The stories are about lost love, lost dreams and lost innocence caused by the experience of the 60's. It will touch your heart and you too will become lost in the pages of this great story.

I can't say that Stephen King gets better with every book, but Hearts in Atlantis makes a definite leap forward. King has always been fairly good at creating characters, but the characters in Hearts in Atlantis are individual, distinct, and humanly complex.

Yes, there are elements of the supernatural here, and references to his Gunslinger series might slightly confuse the reader unfamiliar with those books. The supernatural element, though, no matter how well it works--and I think it works very well--yields in importance to characterization and, even more, to a vivid and disturbing sense of an era.

King has almost always been a better writer than his general reputation might allow, but The Green Mile stepped out of the genre and this book leaps out. King may well yet be the author most remembered from our time.