All reviews of Hearts in Atlantis

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  Part of a Larger Whole

  by K. Walker

  9 years ago

  While some may find this collection of stories not up to par by the King standard, this is entirely not the case. Look closer. The first section, for all you die hard King fans, is directly related to the Dark Tower series; it's not meaningless without having read the Dark Tower series but oh so much more exciting if you have. The second story, with the same gentle narrative so often in King's later work is reminiscent of the school-life motif that Salinger presented in The Catcher in the Rye. Don't be fooled by the seemingly different tales held together by a handful of characters: each tale is a part of a larger whole. I recommend taking the time to look at that larger whole.

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  The only book I am anxious to read again

  by Lisa

  10 years ago

  I have never read a book that has affected me so strongly. Even though I finished it last night, I am thinking about picking it up and re-reading it tonight.

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  Book Enthusiast

  by Tony Brunelle

  11 years ago

  Best book I read this year! Story telling in the same league as John LaCarre. This story pulls you into it, you become part of it. What kind of a story, I am not sure, only that it moved me.

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  Awkward at best

  by Lorna

  11 years ago

  The plot was not like King at all. I found myself to be rushing through this book because it wasn't enjoyable at all. It was VERY dry in parts and didn't flow like a good novel should. Don't waste your money.

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  Amazing

  by Travis

  12 years ago

  This is the best stephen king book yet. even better than the green mile which was also excellent.

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  Not Like Steven At All!

  by Jen

  12 years ago

  Maybe I did not enjoy this book because I did not grow up in the 60's and could not relate..who know's! But I did not enjoy this book at all! I normally enjoy reading Steven King novels, but I could hardly stand reading this one. The only reason why I didn't stop reading it, was because I wanted to give the book a chance. I did and it was terrible!

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  King's best writing ever

  by Beth

  12 years ago

  My new favourite Stephen King novel. I hated saying good-bye to Bobby at the end of the first story in the book, and was relieved when he returned for a final farewell. King's character development is so well done that one can't help but fall in love with Bobby, Carol and Ted, and hope that they find one another someday. I was in tears by the end of the book, wishing that it wasn't over! A moving and intriguing work of art.

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  An Absolutely Wonderful Story!!

  by Maria

  13 years ago

  I just finished this book and LOVED it! I returned to read the reviews and wonder about those who only gave two stars (a poor rating). Have they read the same book as I have?? I don't think these people are true readers of art because that is what Stephen King writes--ART. People who can't appreciate this man's writing should not read his books. The book was excellent. I couldn't put it down. It had me in its spell from start to finish. It told separate stories but one story and they flowed together beautifully!! Yeah, sometimes you have to think a bit when you read something really, really good. Stephen King takes my breath away. To say this book is not good is an insult coming from those who want something quick and easy. They should go back to reading Harlequin Romances or something!!

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  Use Your imagination

  by Juggernaut

  13 years ago

  I think this was an excellent book, but only if you can imagine the thinking of a young boy living in the 60's. You have to imagine the wild imagination that an 11 year old boy may have, especially growing up in a time with so many unknowns. Stephen King has never been known to write anything that is 100% true, but he does write things that make you wonder if maybe it COULD possibly happen. Hearts in Atlantis was broken down into seperate stories that make you wonder who is actually the lead character in the book and it forced me to keep turning the pages to find out. It is definitaly one of my personal top 5 in Stephen King books.

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  As Confused as the 60's

  by David Giles

  13 years ago

  Because King's writing style, characters, and his ability to capture the times are great I finished the book. Because I grew up in the 60's and 70's I finished the book. But please help me, who are low mena in yellow coats and how long do I have to read about them. In all seriousness this book is way to long and never comes to any conclusions.

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  Hearts in Atlantis

  by Teresa Acres

  13 years ago

  This is my first shot at "the great??" Stephen King.... and I am UNimpressed! I was only semi-interested in reading the entire book, and found myself relieved to be at the final chapters...and that was just to find out if the story would ever make any sense at all! I found it to be very chopped and cut-up. There was some relevance to the war and war stories, but a lot of the script was nothing but nonsence! It never "flowed" like all other books and stories do, My opinion? I found it very disappoiunting indeed. The only saving grace is that it was 30% off!

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  Couldn't Put It Down!

  by D. Ryan

  13 years ago

  A great novel broken up into three different stories. Each story is connected by carrying over characters from the previous to make one novel.<BR><BR>Especially of interest to me was the reference to another King series - The Dark Tower series (The Gunslinger, the Drawing of the Three, the Waste Lands)

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  FICTION AT ITS BEST

  by Sebastien Pharand

  13 years ago

  This is one of King's finest non-horror books. It is a collection of short stories that simply left me in awe. The title story is just amazing. It is about a bunch of college guys who become addicted to the game of hearts. The story describes very well the horror of the war and the fear of being drafted (the whole books contains stories that are tied to the nam war). Sure,this is a big book, but it will read by itself. It has horror, suspense, romance, drama and even a bit of comedy. The King surpassed himself for this one. So don't miss out on it.

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  Don't waste your money

  by Lisa

  13 years ago

  I found this book extremely hard to get into. I was very disappointed in the story line it was boring and very tedious. I had to keep putting it down to try and keep myself interested. I have enjoyed all of his other books but this one was just not up to par.

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  Good, honest writing, a triumph for King.

  by Tawny McDonald

  13 years ago

  Perhaps what impressed me the most about 'Hearts in Atlantis' was how honest it felt - not only the writing but also the story as well as the characters. I have loved the works of Stephen King for a long time (I first read 'Carrie' when I was in grade 5...scary reading for a ten year old!) and am excited to see him start to move away from the horror genre into something that is altogether new and exciting. Stephen King has proved time and time again that he has mastered the world of the macabre and now demonstrates that he can also write literature. His skill in this new forum is definitely evolving, beginning with 'The Green Mile' series and progressing up to and including his most recent. Many people who have read this book have stated how wonderful it is and that it is a book you get lost in... feeling the same, I would definitely recommend this book to any person, whether they were a Stephen King fan or not.

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  Is This Where The Heart Is At?

  by nicholas lombardi

  13 years ago

  I love when King writes about childhood memories of the 50's and 60's (thus my love for 'It' and 'Stand By Me'). That is why I liked the first of this five part story, which is actually five different short stories with nothing in common with the exception of the characters. The first story 'Low Men In Yellow Coats', King writes of childhood relationships and thier hardships, which I feel is the root of his finest writing, however, he doesn't quite explain who the Low Men In Yellow Coats are at all, and by the end of this story you are left wondering what it was all about as far as they go. The other four stories deal with pre and post Vietnam, none of which I really enjoyed, as Vietnam was before my time and I could not relate with anything. This element, along with the difficulty to maintain my interest with the characters and their problems only took away from the thrill of reading this book. Of all the characters in the five stories, I found I didn't really care about any of them, with the exception of one or two. These were characters which were featured in the first and last stories. The others are nothing more than fillers really, and I found them to be tedious. In conclusion, I found all of these stories to have more than one thing in common: none of them have a point.

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  Heart in Atlantis/ Gerald's Game

  by Terra Capobianco

  13 years ago

  As a die hard Stephen King fan I was not impressed with these two books. I was buying his books as fast as I was reading them. When it came to these ones it took me so long to read them. I kept putting the book down hoping when I picked it back up something good would happen. I guess after reading " Needful things and The Stand" it's hard to accept this one as Stephen King's. I hope in the near future I'll find much more exciting books that I can't put down. Stephen I just want to say that you're still my favorite writer and still after 5 years I don't read anyone elses books. You're the greatest.

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  stephens best

  by anne bertrand

  13 years ago

  I am a great fan of stephen king, and the possibility of him not writing any more since his accident scares me. however i loved hearts in atlantis, better than anything he has written since the stand. I couldn't stop reading from the minute i picked it up, everywhere i went it went with me. stephen get well, keep writing.

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  Enjoyable!

  by shannon

  13 years ago

  I'm not really a big fan of Stephen King, only have read a few of his previous novels, but this one I could not put down. I stayed up way past my bedtime just to finish it. It's quite unlike his other novels, but in a very good way!

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  King Reveals His Heart... Again

  by Carman J. Price

  14 years ago

  Every so often (now more than ever, it seems) Stephen King writes a novel that touches you as opposed to thrusting you through a thrilling and always unpredictable adventure. "Hearts in Atlantis" is one of those novels. Immediately immersing the reader in nostalgia reminiscent of "The Body" from the collection "Different Seasons," King begins with a boy who has gained a new friend, an older man who introduces him to more advanced reading than the Hardy Boys. The boy's excitement toward grown-up literature is just as intoxicating to the reader as King takes us through five inter-related stories that not only share characters but also the effect of the Vietnam War on those characters. King's obvious personal stake in being true to the subject matter makes reading "Hearts in Atlantis" all the more poignant. As engrossing as his most fantastic fiction yet as moving as his recent masterpiece, "The Green Mile," "Hearts in Atlantis" is not Stephen King-lite, merely light-hearted. Here, King gives those of us who already know better another argument that he is not just a populist author but an important literary figure.