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Four Past Midnight #3
Three Past Midnight: The Library Policeman
This is the third gripping tale in the four-part audio series from Stephen King's best-selling book Four Past Midnight. Set in Junction City, Iowa, "The Library Policeman" is the story of Sam Peebles, a middle-aged businessman who happens to have some overdue books. It seems a minor offense—but not to Junction City's malevolent monster of a librarian. What follows is spine-tingling suspense as only Stephen King can deliver it.
540 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 1990
67 people are currently reading
5562 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,614 books886k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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November 9, 2024
There's a little bit of everything here that I've come to love about Stephen King. The building of a mystery, childhood fears and scars, the necessary bond of characters, and ultimately the battle against evil. The Library Policeman is two-fold with its story - the present situation and the memory suppressed in Sam Peebles' past. It's three-fold if you consider Dave Duncan's part in it, and I would because it explains who Ardelia is, and Dave becomes the catalyst and nearly the heart this novella needed.
I hadn't read The Library Policeman before now, and I'm a little surprised more fans don't talk about it. The first half is not indicative of the second half. The novella starts slowly but gets much better as it goes along, so that may be why many don't mention it. When it comes to the entity that is Ardelia, I couldn't help but think about IT and The Outsider. Sleep for a time. Awaken to feed. Sounds familiar right? Who knows, in King's multiverse many things are linked.
I hadn't read The Library Policeman before now, and I'm a little surprised more fans don't talk about it. The first half is not indicative of the second half. The novella starts slowly but gets much better as it goes along, so that may be why many don't mention it. When it comes to the entity that is Ardelia, I couldn't help but think about IT and The Outsider. Sleep for a time. Awaken to feed. Sounds familiar right? Who knows, in King's multiverse many things are linked.
February 20, 2022
This is my first time picking this up and I can't believe I waited this long. Definitely revisiting, and next time my goal is to focus in on those intricacies within the plot I may have missed. Will never tire of this one.
April 7, 2017
هل أنت من عشاق الكتب؟
هل يغص حلقك عندما تري صورة لمكتبة عامة رائعة؟
هل أنت مستعد لإخراج ما بداخلك من مهارات وفنون لتدخل كل من تستطيع إدخاله لعالم ملئ بالشغف؟
عليك أن تستهدف الأطفال، فالأطفال هم اهم عملاء المكتبات و أكثرهم إخلاصا
يمكنك أن تتحدث للأطفال عن أهمية الرواية هذه أو تلك في تاريخ الأدب
أو..
بإمكانك أن تخيفهم بقصص لن ينسوها مهما تقدم بهم العمر وتخبرهم أن هناك المزيد لمن يريد أن يستزيد، فقط عليك أن تقرأ
ما سر ولعنا الغريب بالرعب؟
تحدث أحمد خالد توفيق عن نظرية أنك آمن، تقرأ وأنت آمن في منزلك لن يمسك شر، تشعر بأنك أفضل حالًا من هذا البطل المتهور أو تلك البطلة حمقاء الخطي
تقرأ وتشاهد وتشعر باللذة لأنك آمن سعيد لن تتعرض لكل هذا يومًا
ماذا لو وجدت نفسك في حذاء بطلنا الغافل؟
يذهب لمكتبة ليستعير كتابًا أو اثنين لغرض عاجل
يمر بقسم الأطفال فيجد صورًا شنيعة مفزعة عن طفل دهسته عربة حتي سوته بالأرض، عن ذات الرداء الأحمر تواجه ذئبا يلبس ثياب الجدة والزبد يسيل من شدقيه، صورٌ توحي بأن النهايات السعيدة لكل القصص الخيالية مجرد كذبة
لم كل هذا الهلع في قسم مخصص للأطفال دون سن العاشرة؟
يعود البطل بكتابين لأمينة المكتبة والتي تخبره بالقاعدة الوحيدة:
(عليك أن ترجع الكتب في الموعد المحدد)
لتبدأ قصته ومأساته التي ستحيل شعره للأبيض بالكامل في خلال ست ساعات
ذكرتني القصة بجملة من رواية Miss pregrine's home for peculiar children
عندما وفد غريب لعالمهم وأراد أن يستفسر عن ما هو غير قانوني، فتخبره مديرة المنزل أن القتل يمكن قبوله لتقديرهم للطباع المختلفة وللأشخاص صعبي المراس، ولكن، عقوبة تأخير الكتب عشرة
September 25, 2018
Καταρχήν, ΠΑΝΤΑ να επιστρέφετε τα βιβλία που δανείζεστε στην ώρα τους!!!! Γιατί διαφορετικά οι χειρότεροι εφιάλτες σας θα ζωντανέψουν και θα σας καταδιώκουν για την υπόλοιπη ζωή σας!!!
Θριλεράκι από τα κλασικά, με γρήγορη ροή, τρόμο στο φως της ημέρας (τίποτα δεν σας σώζει!) και... πολλούς δαίμονες (κυριολεκτικούς και μεταφορικούς) που βγαίνουν και στοιχειώνουν τη ζωή μας!
Καταιγιστική δράση, δεν μπορούσα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου!
ΥΓ. Η βιβλιοθήκη ήταν η πρόφαση, κάτι άλλο θα πήγαινε άσχημα, ΑΛΛΑ ΣΕ ΚΑΘΕ ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΕΣΕΙΣ ΝΑ ΕΠΙΣΤΡΕΦΕΤΕ ΤΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΩΡΑ ΤΟΥΣ!!!
Θριλεράκι από τα κλασικά, με γρήγορη ροή, τρόμο στο φως της ημέρας (τίποτα δεν σας σώζει!) και... πολλούς δαίμονες (κυριολεκτικούς και μεταφορικούς) που βγαίνουν και στοιχειώνουν τη ζωή μας!
Καταιγιστική δράση, δεν μπορούσα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου!
ΥΓ. Η βιβλιοθήκη ήταν η πρόφαση, κάτι άλλο θα πήγαινε άσχημα, ΑΛΛΑ ΣΕ ΚΑΘΕ ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΕΣΕΙΣ ΝΑ ΕΠΙΣΤΡΕΦΕΤΕ ΤΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΩΡΑ ΤΟΥΣ!!!
January 15, 2024
This one is really going to stick with me. Brutal, dark, emotional, and had all the things and threads tied up. Every part of the narrative seemed to me had a purpose and moved the process along. Brutal stuff, but it had meaning. 4.5/5
May 11, 2023
Story 3.75 stars**
Audio 3.75 stars**
Narrator Ken Howard
Audio 3.75 stars**
Narrator Ken Howard
March 22, 2020
Πόσο μου άρεσε!
Ο Στίβεν Κινγκ σε κέφια έπλεξε μια πολύ όμορφη ιστορία τρόμου. Πρωτότυπη, με γρήγορο ρυθμό κάνοντας την φαντασία των αναγνωστών να οργιάζει! Είναι αυτή η πρώτη περίοδος του Βασιλιά μας που στη συνέχεια μεταλλάσσεται σε ένα πιο σοφιστικέ στυλ πλάθοντας ιστορίες με μεγάλη βάση στη σκιαγράφηση των ηρώων του. Πάντως έτσι κι αλλιώς με κάθε του ιστορία καταφέρνει και μας εκπλήσσει με την έμπνευση και τη γραφή του. Κάθε φορά που τελειώνω μια ιστορία του, ένα βιβλίο του (κι ελάχιστα είναι αυτά που δεν έχω διαβάσει) η ίδια πάντα απορία. Που πάει και τα βρίσκει; Δεν παίζεται...
Ο Στίβεν Κινγκ σε κέφια έπλεξε μια πολύ όμορφη ιστορία τρόμου. Πρωτότυπη, με γρήγορο ρυθμό κάνοντας την φαντασία των αναγνωστών να οργιάζει! Είναι αυτή η πρώτη περίοδος του Βασιλιά μας που στη συνέχεια μεταλλάσσεται σε ένα πιο σοφιστικέ στυλ πλάθοντας ιστορίες με μεγάλη βάση στη σκιαγράφηση των ηρώων του. Πάντως έτσι κι αλλιώς με κάθε του ιστορία καταφέρνει και μας εκπλήσσει με την έμπνευση και τη γραφή του. Κάθε φορά που τελειώνω μια ιστορία του, ένα βιβλίο του (κι ελάχιστα είναι αυτά που δεν έχω διαβάσει) η ίδια πάντα απορία. Που πάει και τα βρίσκει; Δεν παίζεται...
October 11, 2019
4.5 Most vivid in my mind is the image of that old bitch spinsterish librarian woman who clearly loves scaring children with terrifying illustrated posters in the children’s section that are completely inappropriate for young viewers, the terrifying and monstrous huge shadowy Library Policeman in his trench-coat being a recurring theme. And then an image of that same librarian, years earlier, as a ravishingly gorgeous creature with golden long curls sitting in a circle with the children for story hour and telling them a version of Goldilocks in which the bears end up eating her brains after she put poison in their porridge. And then when she takes one of the children—a boy in this instance but could just as well been a girl, and you think the author is describing a scene in which another adult walks into the bathroom and thinks he sees the young librarian performing fellatio on the child (not unlikely in a Stephen King story) this master of horror takes the opportunity to bring things to a whole other degree of stomach churning bestial behaviour. And makes it work, too. Really quite delightful. In short, perfect for my Horror in October (& November) theme. The more I read Stephen King, the more I read Stephen King.
April 14, 2018
The baseball story had me tearing up, and The rest of the story scared the hell out of me.
January 17, 2024
One of King's most haunting and memorable stories, in both a good and a bad way, and perhaps the best in Four Past Midnight. Video review here: https://youtu.be/b-q8hB9zGsE
August 6, 2017
Jedna od onih priča koje udaraju jako, nesportski, ispod pojasa i od kojih se oporavljate dugo i mučno. Sve ovo naravno, ukoliko ste posebna nežna snežna pahulja poput mene (preosetljivi na sve jel'te) i imate 0% tolerancije na nasilje nad slabijima od sebe.
Sem Pibls dobija neočekivani zadatak - za firmu u kojoj radi mora da napiše govor, a nakon uvida u prvu verziju, njegova stenografkinja Naomi Higins ga savetuje da pokuša da obogati govor koristeći neki od priručnika iz lokalne biblioteke. Sem prihvata savet i čini upravo to, ali nešto nije kako treba. Sama biblioteka odaje neobičan utisak, dok je bibliotekarka Ardilija Lorc srdačna u svojim manirima, ali nekako hladna i daleka. Sem pokušava da dozna više o njoj, ali kome god da se obrati, nailazi na zid ćutanja.
Detalji su zapravo ono što me je najviše oduševilo, a koje možemo uočiti u enterijeru biblioteke i dalje tokom raspleta. Nikad nije bila preciznija izreka "đavo je u detaljima". Tempo je ujednačen i nema velikih oscilacija u akciji. Višeslojnost priče mi je takođe odlična jer sloj po sloj otkrivamo nešto više o svim likovima koji se pojavljuju u priči, što sveukupno obogaćuje čitalački doživljaj. Kao i kod svake Kingove priče, može se debatovati na temu kraja, ali za mene je ta tema potpuno pala u drugi plan.
Kao i u većini priča, zaključak je istovetan - ljudi čine najveći horor svojim delima. Ujedno, nikada nije kasno suočiti se sa sopstvenim strahovima i traumama jer nakon takve borbe sledi oslobođenje.
Sem Pibls dobija neočekivani zadatak - za firmu u kojoj radi mora da napiše govor, a nakon uvida u prvu verziju, njegova stenografkinja Naomi Higins ga savetuje da pokuša da obogati govor koristeći neki od priručnika iz lokalne biblioteke. Sem prihvata savet i čini upravo to, ali nešto nije kako treba. Sama biblioteka odaje neobičan utisak, dok je bibliotekarka Ardilija Lorc srdačna u svojim manirima, ali nekako hladna i daleka. Sem pokušava da dozna više o njoj, ali kome god da se obrati, nailazi na zid ćutanja.
Detalji su zapravo ono što me je najviše oduševilo, a koje možemo uočiti u enterijeru biblioteke i dalje tokom raspleta. Nikad nije bila preciznija izreka "đavo je u detaljima". Tempo je ujednačen i nema velikih oscilacija u akciji. Višeslojnost priče mi je takođe odlična jer sloj po sloj otkrivamo nešto više o svim likovima koji se pojavljuju u priči, što sveukupno obogaćuje čitalački doživljaj. Kao i kod svake Kingove priče, može se debatovati na temu kraja, ali za mene je ta tema potpuno pala u drugi plan.
Kao i u većini priča, zaključak je istovetan - ljudi čine najveći horor svojim delima. Ujedno, nikada nije kasno suočiti se sa sopstvenim strahovima i traumama jer nakon takve borbe sledi oslobođenje.
August 11, 2020
Μετά από εννέα και πλέον μήνες εδέησα να διαβάσω βιβλίο του αγαπημένου μου συγγραφέα. Και, θέλοντας να κλείσω μια εκκρεμότητα χρόνων (αφού έχω διαβάσει τα άλλα τρία της συλλογής "Four Past Midnight"), είπα να διαβάσω αυτό. Όχι ότι δεν το περίμενα, αλλά πέρασα πολύ ωραία. Σίγουρα δεν είναι και από τις πιο δυνατές ή ιδιαίτερες στιγμές του Κινγκ, όμως είναι ένα πολύ καλό, ψυχαγωγικό και τίμιο μυθιστόρημα τρόμου με υπερφυσικά στοιχεία, που μπορεί να σε κρατήσει στην τσίτα μέχρι το τέλος. Το βιβλιαράκι αυτό προσφέρει ωραία σκηνικά, κάποιες δυνατές σκηνές, σχετικά καλοσχηματισμένους χαρακτήρες και μια φοβερή ατμόσφαιρα, ενώ η γραφή είναι κλασικά πολύ καλή, με ρεαλιστικές περιγραφές και φυσικούς διαλόγους. Και ενώ αυτό είναι το τεσσαρακοστό ένατο βιβλίο του Στίβεν Κινγκ που διαβάζω -οπότε τίποτα δεν θα έπρεπε να με εκπλήσσει πια σχετικά με τις συγγραφικές του ικανότητες-, ακόμα απορώ πού πάει και βρίσκει τέτοιες ιδέες, πώς τα σκέφτεται όλα αυτά τα πράγματα. Τέλος πάντων, ένα ακόμα ωραίο και ψυχαγωγικό μυθιστόρημα δια χειρός Βασιλιά.
May 18, 2019
I didn't audio this, just chose the wrong isbn.
This begins so innocuously. Just a small town guy asked to speak at the local rotary club too late to panic so much he can't follow through. Early enough so he can actually prepare a good speech. Sam Peebles is that local businessman. Upon advice from his occasional office girl he visits the local library for some help. I love that one of the books he checks out is The Best Loved Poems of the American People because that is my go to when I have to speak or even just write a card. That book is the bomb! But, I digress.
The first third of the book is just a happy little story about Sam giving a great, last minute speech. Nothing scary. Nothing too weird. And then we get to the meat. King always gives us some meat. The library Sam visited is not the current library. He visits the local library of the past with the evil librarian. A librarian who doesn't want him to return his books on time. She wants Sam to owe a fine because that's how she gets off. Collecting "fines."
Along Sam's path we encounter the local AA group, members of which Sam is surprised, and even shocked, to see. The fact that we, as the reader, know what a battle alcohol was for King make these AA glimpses seem almost pornographic. Private at the very least. I am not very familiar with AA, but the picture of it King paints is beautiful in a scarred and real way. These people care about and support one another when no one else does care about or support them. I found these parts of the story incredibly hopeful and uplifting.
I won't say how Sam defeats his personal library policeman, but I will say that he does. Going in you know he has to or there wouldn't be much of a story, would there?
This begins so innocuously. Just a small town guy asked to speak at the local rotary club too late to panic so much he can't follow through. Early enough so he can actually prepare a good speech. Sam Peebles is that local businessman. Upon advice from his occasional office girl he visits the local library for some help. I love that one of the books he checks out is The Best Loved Poems of the American People because that is my go to when I have to speak or even just write a card. That book is the bomb! But, I digress.
The first third of the book is just a happy little story about Sam giving a great, last minute speech. Nothing scary. Nothing too weird. And then we get to the meat. King always gives us some meat. The library Sam visited is not the current library. He visits the local library of the past with the evil librarian. A librarian who doesn't want him to return his books on time. She wants Sam to owe a fine because that's how she gets off. Collecting "fines."
Along Sam's path we encounter the local AA group, members of which Sam is surprised, and even shocked, to see. The fact that we, as the reader, know what a battle alcohol was for King make these AA glimpses seem almost pornographic. Private at the very least. I am not very familiar with AA, but the picture of it King paints is beautiful in a scarred and real way. These people care about and support one another when no one else does care about or support them. I found these parts of the story incredibly hopeful and uplifting.
I won't say how Sam defeats his personal library policeman, but I will say that he does. Going in you know he has to or there wouldn't be much of a story, would there?
June 14, 2022
Invasive and provoking. Great work by King but i'll never read it again. 5 well earned stars.
August 28, 2023
Read in Four Past Midnight.
This was fantastic! It's not perfect, and a couple of parts at the end were a bit "what the what?" However, I enjoyed the whole thing... almost. "Enjoy" isn't the right word for one part which hit a little close to home, but I'll clarify that in a bit.
I'm surprised this isn't more well-known. Or maybe it is, but I wasn't aware of it until I got to Four Past Midnight. I assumed it would be one of his duds since nobody ever talks about it, but boy was I wrong there. This was so good I just don't know why I haven't heard more of my SK friends mention it. Maybe it's because there's no movie adaptation.
I almost consider this It lite, for there are a ton of similarities. But it's still a completely different story in spite of the similarities. And how about that name? Ardelia Lortz! You know no good is going to come from someone so monikered.
I indicated that a scene in here gets a little personal for me, one that could easily turn me off from the whole story and give it one star, but it doesn't hit me that way. I typically try to divorce my personal feelings about things from my reviews (with varying degrees of success), but I didn't really have to this time for some reason. Sam Peebles, our main character, and I share an experience, kind of. And as a result, we also share some character traits. The details are different, but... Actually, I can't discuss it without spoiling the book. Proceed if you don't mind a major part of the story being ruined for you.
So, five stars for the story. Five stars for reminding me of some personal progress. Five stars all the way.
This was fantastic! It's not perfect, and a couple of parts at the end were a bit "what the what?" However, I enjoyed the whole thing... almost. "Enjoy" isn't the right word for one part which hit a little close to home, but I'll clarify that in a bit.
I'm surprised this isn't more well-known. Or maybe it is, but I wasn't aware of it until I got to Four Past Midnight. I assumed it would be one of his duds since nobody ever talks about it, but boy was I wrong there. This was so good I just don't know why I haven't heard more of my SK friends mention it. Maybe it's because there's no movie adaptation.
I almost consider this It lite, for there are a ton of similarities. But it's still a completely different story in spite of the similarities. And how about that name? Ardelia Lortz! You know no good is going to come from someone so monikered.
I indicated that a scene in here gets a little personal for me, one that could easily turn me off from the whole story and give it one star, but it doesn't hit me that way. I typically try to divorce my personal feelings about things from my reviews (with varying degrees of success), but I didn't really have to this time for some reason. Sam Peebles, our main character, and I share an experience, kind of. And as a result, we also share some character traits. The details are different, but... Actually, I can't discuss it without spoiling the book. Proceed if you don't mind a major part of the story being ruined for you.
So, five stars for the story. Five stars for reminding me of some personal progress. Five stars all the way.
June 19, 2021
من حسن حظي أنني لم استعير كتاباً في حياتي كلها 😅 .
القصة غريبة ومبتكرة وكما عودنا "ستيفن كينغ" يكتب لنا اغرب القصص المرعبة, يجعلنا نعيد التفكير في كل مرة نستعير فيها كتاباً خوفاً من "شرطي المكتبة".
. لا اعلم لماذا ولكن شعرت ان القصة والفكرة تشبه نوعاً ما الوحش في رواية "الشيء". هنالك القليل من الاشياء المجنونة المشتركة بينهما
لقد أستمعت الى هذا الجنون بعد الساعة 1 ليلاً, كان الشعور جميل وغريب ومشوق للغاية,
شعرت بـأنني اشاهد فلماً , الاحداث تنفع لأن تكون فلماً, وهذا ليس غريباً لأن اغلب اعمال المبدع "ستيفن كينغ" تحولت بالفعل الى افلام عالمية لاتنسى.
القصة غريبة ومبتكرة وكما عودنا "ستيفن كينغ" يكتب لنا اغرب القصص المرعبة, يجعلنا نعيد التفكير في كل مرة نستعير فيها كتاباً خوفاً من "شرطي المكتبة".
. لا اعلم لماذا ولكن شعرت ان القصة والفكرة تشبه نوعاً ما الوحش في رواية "الشيء". هنالك القليل من الاشياء المجنونة المشتركة بينهما
لقد أستمعت الى هذا الجنون بعد الساعة 1 ليلاً, كان الشعور جميل وغريب ومشوق للغاية,
شعرت بـأنني اشاهد فلماً , الاحداث تنفع لأن تكون فلماً, وهذا ليس غريباً لأن اغلب اعمال المبدع "ستيفن كينغ" تحولت بالفعل الى افلام عالمية لاتنسى.
August 5, 2015
The story is simply awesome and the idea is very original. However, I thought I would give the book 5 stars, until it released us the real meaning of The Library Man. Something in my enthusiasm was interrupted. I started to look at the story from a different angle. It is still perfect, but the fact of the main character's childhood hit me like a bus. I just couldn't read on with the same feelings anymore. I don't wish the story was different. No way. It's okay the way it is. It's just..... the book is not just creepy, but it's also kind of sad. Still a great story. I was expecting more of the ending, I think. The book ended so quickly and a little bit unclear. I feel like I didn't finish the story yet. I must do it in my head. :)
March 27, 2016
قيمتها بثلاثة نجوم لأنها مرعبة فعلا ...بس مش عارف حاسس أن فيها حاجة غلط ...لا يعجبنى هذا العنف الهائل الموجه للأطفال
تعذيب الأطفال وقتل بعضهم بهذا الشكل أنا شايف أنه غلط يكون فى شكل رواية وقصة المفروض أنها موجهة للصغار لقراءتها ....يعنى أنا متخيل انى لو قرأت القصة دى وأنا طفل صغير يمكن كنت كرهت المكتبة والكتب أصلا ....
الرواية فيها فجوات ...يعنى مين ' ادريا ' دى ؟
جت منين ؟ ..
طيب ...شرطى المكتبة...سام كانت عنده عقدة من حادثة قديمة ..
كان بيشوف أحلام عن شرطى المكتبة
وادريا كانت بتستخدم برضه شرطى مكتبة لتخويف الأطفال ...
ماهو الرابط بينهما ؟
قرأتها على فترات ...أحداثها تاهت منى ...محتاج فعلا انى ارجع لها تانى
تعذيب الأطفال وقتل بعضهم بهذا الشكل أنا شايف أنه غلط يكون فى شكل رواية وقصة المفروض أنها موجهة للصغار لقراءتها ....يعنى أنا متخيل انى لو قرأت القصة دى وأنا طفل صغير يمكن كنت كرهت المكتبة والكتب أصلا ....
الرواية فيها فجوات ...يعنى مين ' ادريا ' دى ؟
جت منين ؟ ..
طيب ...شرطى المكتبة...سام كانت عنده عقدة من حادثة قديمة ..
كان بيشوف أحلام عن شرطى المكتبة
وادريا كانت بتستخدم برضه شرطى مكتبة لتخويف الأطفال ...
ماهو الرابط بينهما ؟
قرأتها على فترات ...أحداثها تاهت منى ...محتاج فعلا انى ارجع لها تانى
August 24, 2024
This novella is messed up. One of Stephen's most horrifying stories. When it comes to content.. there is a scene in this book..that is literally horrifying. I will say nothing further because that scene must not be spoiled. It is a trigger warning for some. I have no triggers and read extreme horror so it didn't bother me. I will never return a library book late, EVER again. Such a great novella. You will not forget this story. It will stay with you. My most recent re-read was in 2021 and the imagery is burnt into my brain, unfortunately. He intended to horrify and he succeeded. I would look up trigger warnings because this is one of Stephens darkest.
January 12, 2021
Μόνο ο Κινγκ έχει καταφέρει να με κάνει να θυμάμαι σκηνές από τα βιβλία του λες και τις διάβασα εχθές. Είμαι σίγουρη πως μια συγκεκριμένη σκηνή από αυτήν εδώ την ιστορία θα τη θυμάμαι έντονα για καιρό.
August 30, 2017
عذراً يا شرطي المكتبة💔
منذ اليوم سأعيد الكتب في الموعد المتفق عليه🙈
منذ اليوم سأعيد الكتب في الموعد المتفق عليه🙈
November 5, 2024
This was an incredible novella written by Stephen King. With all the components of a great story such as well timed pacing, great characters and villains, and excellent theming, The Library Policeman was an absolutely terrifying tale.
This one is really going to stick with me. It was brutal and dark but every part of the narrative seemed to have purpose. In this novella, Sam Peebles is asked to fill in as speaker for the Rotary meeting, and in order to 'punch-up' his speech, he visits the library for books on giving speeches. This is the beginning of his nightmare as the librarian warns him to return his books on time so she does not have to send out the library policeman. King takes this ordinary incident and turns it into a nightmare.
Highly recommend but proceed with caution. This is easily the darkest King story I've read thus far.
September 13, 2023
من الحكايات الظريفة و المختلفة لعراب الرواية الامريكية المرعبة ستيفن كينج بترجمة أحمد خالد توفيق رحمه الله انا افتكرت ان القصة عن حبه للكتب و سهر في المكتبة طلعت عن مخاوفه من المكتبة و أستعارت الكتب منها 😃
The Library Policeman داستان خوب
The Library Policeman داستان خوب
December 19, 2024
التقييم نجمتين ونص بس
نصها حلو ونصها وحش ومش عارفة اقيمها
الفكرة حلوة لكن تنفيذها سيء خصوصا في بعض المشاهد او تفسير بعض الاحداث في الأواخر واللي كنا منتظرين طول القصة نفسهم فيها ايه
بس كل اللي اقدر اقوله مقززززة اوي
نصها حلو ونصها وحش ومش عارفة اقيمها
الفكرة حلوة لكن تنفيذها سيء خصوصا في بعض المشاهد او تفسير بعض الاحداث في الأواخر واللي كنا منتظرين طول القصة نفسهم فيها ايه
بس كل اللي اقدر اقوله مقززززة اوي
October 5, 2013
This review is for "The Library Policeman"
I enjoy reading books about books and 'The Library Policeman' contained in "Four Past Midnight by Stephen King is on the list. In this novella, Sam Peebles is asked to fill in as speaker for the Rotary meeting, and in order to 'punch-up' his speech, he visits the library for books on giving speeches. This is the beginning of his nightmare as the librarian warns him to return his books on time so she does not have to send out the library policeman. Author King takes an ordinary incident and turns it into a nightmare by playing on the urban legend of having overdue library books and receiving a visit by a library policeman. This novella paints a terrifying picture of what we might imagine.
I enjoy reading books about books and 'The Library Policeman' contained in "Four Past Midnight by Stephen King is on the list. In this novella, Sam Peebles is asked to fill in as speaker for the Rotary meeting, and in order to 'punch-up' his speech, he visits the library for books on giving speeches. This is the beginning of his nightmare as the librarian warns him to return his books on time so she does not have to send out the library policeman. Author King takes an ordinary incident and turns it into a nightmare by playing on the urban legend of having overdue library books and receiving a visit by a library policeman. This novella paints a terrifying picture of what we might imagine.
August 17, 2008
This is a story about a boy who gets raped at a public library. King does such a good job of describing the feelings of the boy during and afterward, I must give him credit for thorough research or bravery in facing one's own demons. Is this horrible? Yes. Is it well written? Yes. But the depressing ickyness of this novella is too overwhelming to actually "enjoy" reading it. I read horror for escapism!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2015
Početak maestralan, sredina zbunjujuće dosadna, rasplet loš.
March 27, 2014
Stephen King's books usually give me nightmares, whether it's because I prefer to read them before sleep or because they're truly terrifying, doesn't really matter. It's what makes me love reading those books even more. The Library Policeman was one of them. I love the way King portrays the repression of the memories and the way they slowly come back, similar to what happens in "It". The scariest part for me, though, wasn't Ardelia Lortz and her monstrosity - even though I did hate her with a burning passion - it was the rape part. It was both sad and horrifying, but amazingly written all the same. This was my favorite story in Four Past Midnight.
July 6, 2020
Ugh, ugh, and ugh. I was excited when I read the description of the book. The master of horror was writing about evil libraries? Yes, please! Ugh. This was just uninspired. King did not make use of the setting and idea well enough and it was disappointing.
June 14, 2020
5 stars. This was my favorite in the Four Past Midnight collection. Scary, gripping, and full of fleshed out characters with pasts that shock and make your heart break. Review to come.
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