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I have loved the character of Holly Gibney since MR. MERCEDES. She is the main character of HOLLY, and (at least so far) it is the least interesting of her stories. There are two big factors that are keeping me from really getting into the book:
1. Holly herself (again, so far; I'm only a third of the way in) in the book just isn't all that compelling. She spends most of her time feeling sorry for herself, not really engaging in the case, and whining about Trump and COVID. It is really distracting. I certainly don't object to King's own political views and probably in fact agree with a lot of them. But this is the only story of his I remember reading where he continually just rubs our nose in it. It is very, very distracting from the story and the characters.
2. The villains are honestly kinda ... boring. What they are doing is horrific and gross, but the pacing of the story, after a promising start, is just more of the same scene after scene after scene after scene. The tension doesn't increase. It is just "and here is the next mean thing they do" over and over. And because we know exaclty who is doing it, why they are doing it, and who they are doing it to, there is no mystery. It isn't quite torture porn, but it's damned close in places.
I'm hoping things will pick up soon. I thought King's BAG OF BONES also took a while to get going, but once it did, I really enjoyed it and have re-read it many times since. HOLLY so far isn't bad. But it is decidedly not great.
Loved it, but that character has been a favorite of mine since she first appeared. As much as I enjoy King's books, it was irritating to constantly have to hear about his mask, Covid, and Trump views. I don't remember him ever pushing his personal views in a book to that extent. Nonetheless, l was looking forward to the book and wasn't disappointed.
"One thing that I could have done without was the Trump hate. Don’t get me wrong. I totally understand why King put it in there and I have no problem with him thinking and feeling the way he does about Trump, but it felt a bit too much of a personal thing instead of something the characters would actually say. It’s a bit like when you go to see a 3D movie and all during the movie the characters keep poking broomsticks and other stuff at you (without it really having anything to do with the plot) just to really show you that this is a 3D movie."
We just got it a couple days ago from Amazon, haven't had a chance to read it yet.
I am behind on my reading, haven't read Mr. Mercedes books yet. In fact the last Stephen King book I read was
Cell and that has been how many years??? He use to be one of my favorite authors though (I like thrillers and mysteries and horror stories)....I need to start reading more.
I am behind on my reading, haven't read Mr. Mercedes books yet.
If you read MR. MERCEDES, FINDERS KEEPERS, END OF WATCH, THE OUTSIDE, and IF IT BLEEDS, you will certainly understand Holly Gibney more. But it isn't necessary. You can dive right into HOLLY and you'll still get the gist of the story.
Location: Lakewood NJ/Murrells Inlet SC/ N. Naples FL/Swainton NJ
4,026 posts, read 6,540,797 times
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I found the book OK but not very high on my SK favorites list. Overall the review by Mark S. above says it for me.
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