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The Bachman Books / Thinner
Acclaimed fiction from the acknowledged master, this set contains all The Bachman Books, including Thinner.
309 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
27 people are currently reading
2550 people want to read
About the author
Richard Bachman
23 books5,268 followersThis is a Stephen King pseudonym.
At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was that an author was limited to one book per year, since publishing more would be unacceptable to the public. King therefore wanted to write under another name, in order to increase his publication without over-saturating the market for the King "brand". He convinced his publisher, Signet Books, to print these novels under a pseudonym.
In his introduction to The Bachman Books, King states that adopting the nom de plume Bachman was also an attempt to make sense out of his career and try to answer the question of whether his success was due to talent or luck. He says he deliberately released the Bachman novels with as little marketing presence as possible and did his best to "load the dice against" Bachman. King concludes that he has yet to find an answer to the "talent versus luck" question, as he felt he was outed as Bachman too early to know. The Bachman book Thinner (1984) sold 28,000 copies during its initial run—and then ten times as many when it was revealed that Bachman was, in fact, King.
The pseudonym King originally selected (Gus Pillsbury) is King's maternal grandfather's name, but at the last moment King changed it to Richard Bachman. Richard is a tribute to crime author Donald E. Westlake's long-running pseudonym Richard Stark. (The surname Stark was later used in King's novel The Dark Half, in which an author's malevolent pseudonym, "George Stark", comes to life.) Bachman was inspired by Bachman–Turner Overdrive, a rock and roll band King was listening to at the time his publisher asked him to choose a pseudonym on the spot.
King provided biographical details for Bachman, initially in the "about the author" blurbs in the early novels. Known "facts" about Bachman were that he was born in New York, served a four-year stint in the Coast Guard, which he then followed with ten years in the merchant marine. Bachman finally settled down in rural central New Hampshire, where he ran a medium-sized dairy farm, writing at night. His fifth novel was dedicated to his wife, Claudia Inez Bachman, who also received credit for the bogus author photo on the book jacket. Other "facts" about the author were revealed in publicity dispatches from Bachman's publishers: the Bachmans had one child, a boy, who died in an unfortunate, Stephen King-ish type accident at the age of six, when he fell through a well and drowned. In 1982, a brain tumour was discovered near the base of Bachman's brain; tricky surgery removed it. After Bachman's true identity was revealed, later publicity dispatches (and about the author blurbs) revealed that Bachman died suddenly in late 1985 of "cancer of the pseudonym, a rare form of schizonomia".
King dedicated Bachman's early books—Rage (1977), The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), and The Running Man (1982)—to people close to him. The link between King and his shadow writer was exposed after a Washington, D.C. bookstore clerk, Steve Brown, noted similarities between the writing styles of King and Bachman. Brown located publisher's records at the Library of Congress which included a document naming King as the author of one of Bachman's novels. Brown wrote to King's publishers with a copy of the documents he had uncovered, and asked them what to do. Two weeks later, King telephoned Brown personally and suggested he write an article about how he discovered the truth, allowing himself to be interviewed. King has taken full ownership of the Bachman name on numerous occasions, as with the republication of the first four Bachman titles as The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King in 1985. The introduction, titled "Why I Was Bachman," details the whole Bachman/King story.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard...
At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was that an author was limited to one book per year, since publishing more would be unacceptable to the public. King therefore wanted to write under another name, in order to increase his publication without over-saturating the market for the King "brand". He convinced his publisher, Signet Books, to print these novels under a pseudonym.
In his introduction to The Bachman Books, King states that adopting the nom de plume Bachman was also an attempt to make sense out of his career and try to answer the question of whether his success was due to talent or luck. He says he deliberately released the Bachman novels with as little marketing presence as possible and did his best to "load the dice against" Bachman. King concludes that he has yet to find an answer to the "talent versus luck" question, as he felt he was outed as Bachman too early to know. The Bachman book Thinner (1984) sold 28,000 copies during its initial run—and then ten times as many when it was revealed that Bachman was, in fact, King.
The pseudonym King originally selected (Gus Pillsbury) is King's maternal grandfather's name, but at the last moment King changed it to Richard Bachman. Richard is a tribute to crime author Donald E. Westlake's long-running pseudonym Richard Stark. (The surname Stark was later used in King's novel The Dark Half, in which an author's malevolent pseudonym, "George Stark", comes to life.) Bachman was inspired by Bachman–Turner Overdrive, a rock and roll band King was listening to at the time his publisher asked him to choose a pseudonym on the spot.
King provided biographical details for Bachman, initially in the "about the author" blurbs in the early novels. Known "facts" about Bachman were that he was born in New York, served a four-year stint in the Coast Guard, which he then followed with ten years in the merchant marine. Bachman finally settled down in rural central New Hampshire, where he ran a medium-sized dairy farm, writing at night. His fifth novel was dedicated to his wife, Claudia Inez Bachman, who also received credit for the bogus author photo on the book jacket. Other "facts" about the author were revealed in publicity dispatches from Bachman's publishers: the Bachmans had one child, a boy, who died in an unfortunate, Stephen King-ish type accident at the age of six, when he fell through a well and drowned. In 1982, a brain tumour was discovered near the base of Bachman's brain; tricky surgery removed it. After Bachman's true identity was revealed, later publicity dispatches (and about the author blurbs) revealed that Bachman died suddenly in late 1985 of "cancer of the pseudonym, a rare form of schizonomia".
King dedicated Bachman's early books—Rage (1977), The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), and The Running Man (1982)—to people close to him. The link between King and his shadow writer was exposed after a Washington, D.C. bookstore clerk, Steve Brown, noted similarities between the writing styles of King and Bachman. Brown located publisher's records at the Library of Congress which included a document naming King as the author of one of Bachman's novels. Brown wrote to King's publishers with a copy of the documents he had uncovered, and asked them what to do. Two weeks later, King telephoned Brown personally and suggested he write an article about how he discovered the truth, allowing himself to be interviewed. King has taken full ownership of the Bachman name on numerous occasions, as with the republication of the first four Bachman titles as The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King in 1985. The introduction, titled "Why I Was Bachman," details the whole Bachman/King story.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 15, 2025
A fabulous read!
May 25, 2016
As usual, King (as Bachman) writes a riveting story that'll keep you reading late into the night even though you have class first thing in the morning because you HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
And he cites himself which is hilarious: one of his characters tells another that their situation is very 'Stephen King' to communicate just how weird and creepy it was... I had to put the book down because I was laughing so hard.
Anyway, if you're a fan of Stephen King, you'll love this book. If you don't know if you're a fan of Stephen King, you'll still probably love this book... just sleep with a light on.
And he cites himself which is hilarious: one of his characters tells another that their situation is very 'Stephen King' to communicate just how weird and creepy it was... I had to put the book down because I was laughing so hard.
Anyway, if you're a fan of Stephen King, you'll love this book. If you don't know if you're a fan of Stephen King, you'll still probably love this book... just sleep with a light on.
November 14, 2016
Loved it! It's the true Stephen King kind of a book that keeps you in the edge throughout.
June 5, 2015
Billy’s life was flipped upside down after he caused a tragic accident by driving while being distracted. Throughout this mysterious and slightly morbid novel, readers can follow the path of middle-aged Billy who undergoes a series of strange and risky events after mistakenly running over an old Gypsy woman with his car. Heavily overweight Billy must attend court where the judge, whom he knows on a personal level, sets him free with minimal charges. Just as he thinks he got off virtually scot-free, the Gypsy woman’s elderly father approaches Billy and mutters a one-word incantation. Soon after, Billy starts losing weight at an alarming rate. Billy worries excessively and struggles to pay attention to anything other than his health. He now understands that he was cursed by the old Gypsy man. Billy ends up seeking help from his friend Richie, an ex-Mafia member, to stop the curse before it’s too late. The two track down the Gypsies on the East Coast of America. They confront the Gypsies at their camp, asking them to reverse the curse set on Billy. The Gypsy man explains to Billy that the curse cannot be stopped but can be transferred to someone else if he can get them to eat a cursed pie that the Gypsies had made. Faced with a timeline as he keeps getting thinner, Billy struggles morally whether to save his own life while killing another or to continue to his certain death.
This somewhat gruesome and mysterious page-turner captivates its audience from page one. Stephen King creates a tense and suspenseful mood which makes this novel hard to put down. This novel, filled with extreme detail, was slightly too graphic for my taste. However, the thrilling twists and surprising turns allured me into the ominous world of Gypsies.
This novel would be a perfect match for someone who is enticed by grim and macabre stories. I would not suggest this to anyone who is innocent or easily disturbed. This novel can be somewhat difficult to read; I tried and failed when I was thirteen. I have now finished the book at seventeen, therefore I suggest that the reader should be at least sixteen years of age.
This book, as suspenseful and gruesome as it is, is well-written and hard to put down.
This somewhat gruesome and mysterious page-turner captivates its audience from page one. Stephen King creates a tense and suspenseful mood which makes this novel hard to put down. This novel, filled with extreme detail, was slightly too graphic for my taste. However, the thrilling twists and surprising turns allured me into the ominous world of Gypsies.
This novel would be a perfect match for someone who is enticed by grim and macabre stories. I would not suggest this to anyone who is innocent or easily disturbed. This novel can be somewhat difficult to read; I tried and failed when I was thirteen. I have now finished the book at seventeen, therefore I suggest that the reader should be at least sixteen years of age.
This book, as suspenseful and gruesome as it is, is well-written and hard to put down.
February 13, 2018
Gore and gypsies, what more could you ask for? Stephen King has woven another tale that is good to the final jaw dropping words.
April 27, 2020
Rage -
Disturbing, very Disturbing indeed...
Rage was Richard Bachman aka Stephen Kings 1st work and have to say it was really something considering the way it written. You won't want to read it if you don't want to find yourself in a very disturbing mental health situation. So think twice before you get your hands on this book...
Charlie Decker a mentally ill and totally sick boy who knows nothing but violence being living like a real psycho one day in that high school he kept hostage a classroom with full of students and begun his disturbing act. He got a gun and with that he already murdered two people in there. It was too much to described the nature of his character. You will have to kept fight to calm down your nerves while reading him. He got that very much disturbing manipulating power on him that no one can help it but get surrender with him. "Rage" I would say very name for this tale obviously. At some point I couldn't help but feeling the rage inside me blowing as the the reading progress. I even couldn't help the frustration inside me and wish my best that I grab the throat of that sick bastard and torn out it from his body. Though it was not much very large book to read but eventually like all the other King's work it did it's magic by delivering a mind blowing stoey. I can't say that it's a horror fiction but I would say in some way it is, though you could refer it psychological thriller more than horror fiction. Either way it did the work what it meant for. Finished in just 2 days and of course it did entertain me. Maybe I should read more early book by King. To add more this review I can say the atmosphere of this book was beyond anything but tensed. You could feel the tension building inside you as you don't know what might happen in next chapter. I admit the character Charlie that King creats was much frightening to read. I don't want even to watch a sick mentality person like this. But trust me even I do and if my life being threatened by him/her I will kill him/her no matter if my life cost by doing that. I would die but won't knelt down my head to this type of sick bastard...
Long way to go, love to KING...
The Long Walk -
Another great Richard Bachman aka Stephen King book. This one I would say utterly different from any other work done by King. There's something deep about this one that I just couldn't fathom on...
Still don't know how to put it in any way. But the basis of this book really simple to overlook...
Every year On the first day of May, 100 teenage boys meet for a race known as "The Long Walk." The rules are quite simple too. You have to kept walking but never stop. If you do than you will get 3 warnings in a row. After the 3rd and final warning there's nothing left you but dead. Yeah that's just the plot of this book and even as simple as it like this will make you thinking about yhe pain ar torture that those teenage soldiers were having themselves. If you can't feel these facts about them then I don't know what should do. There's really nothing if you see it in that way to dugout anything from this book. But in exactly here's you will be doomed. Because the more you read the more you will indulge yourself about something extraordinary. Garraty, McVries, Stebbins, Baker yes they all in this game doing best to kept walking and Garraty has his Mother and his girlfriend Jan to waiting for. Could Garraty defeat this nightmare and join them? Or he would failed like others?...
The ending I just quite didn't like it but felt disappointed. But what can you do about it right? It felt like incomplete and as if needed or should have go more with the story. But anyway nevertheless the ending part I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. Looking for next Richard Bachman/Stephen King work...
The Running Man -
Holy Cow, You gotta be kidding with me. This one stand on totally for me. A masterclass Science Fiction read and yeah you can push it with Horror genre but not by entire way...
Ben Richards have no job, no money. His daughter needs medical help to cure her illness. Because of lack of money his wife Sheila had to do something to move her family that she and Ben always regret. So what's now? What should Ben do?...
And finally then Ben Richards found something to do and provide his family full protection with money and security. But what is that exactly he was upto?...
Richards became The Running Man of a dangerous game played by a government-operated television station. The rules is they will sent hunters after yiu to kill you and if can avoid them all and keep survive than you will find money in return. This game can be played from his side too, so these all rules made the game more dangerous and he always on the road to ran from thses hunter. But as the story grow and more thing come along Richards has to think more intelligently as the time for his surviving is running out of his hand. Time is too short to rest and Richards must finds the way to help himself to get back to his family or did really made it to be with his little daughter Cathy and wife Sheila?...
You can mark it as Science Fiction genre than Horror. But yeah of course there's some very deep gire horror scenery ploted in the story amd of course if you are weak about these gore elements than you have to cautious about it. Otherwise it was perfect and totally freaking awesome, fast paced Science Fiction read by King. Glued me all the tume to the book with high tension and excitement...
Total 5?? - 100%...
Roadwork -
Why I was being emotional while reading the last chapter of 'Roadwork?' I don't know, I certainly have no idea why on earth I did that or say I know why. God forbid my brain not working right the moment I finished that hell of a novel...
What to put of it? What to think about it? Until the last couple of chapters I didn't believe I gonna liked it much but the ending changed everything I thought while I was reading the book. This the kind of book you can never guess what exactly going to happen in the end, you can't even guess it; yeah trust me. Spellbinding, Unthinkable and Unreasonable...
Barton Dawes a real Man who got balls, yes you read it right. He was living a totally normal life with his beautiful wife Mary and a reasonable job to pay everyday needs. All of sudden this normal way of his life didn't stay long as a highway construction forces him to lost his house and eventually fir some reason he resigned from his job from blue ribbon laundry to maintain his own dignity. But he wouldn't let it down to cease his house to them. He would fight. But the fight which will cost his wife, which will cause his everything but he never give a damn all to them. He is a man in sense or say not. While by giving your house to highway construction you got the amount of money, with which you can have a another house for yourself easily but this fact was not for the man like Bart. No he won't let his own house destroyed by them. It doesn't make any sense but at the same time a man who love his only house of him very dearly it's then make a hell of a sense if you don't mind the language of course. The story has lot's of ups and down and hey don't forget the name of that young 19 year teenager who by profession a hitchhiker never mind the job she does; named Olivia Brenner for her what Bart did only the kind hearted person could do that. I seriously miss that girl, she got a nice heart in her. I wish Bachman/King would do something more with her. There's lot more to say you know but I don't want to spoil by writing them here. From the beginning when Bart met with that news reporter Dave Albert who didn't know at the time (even Bart too) that in future he would meet with him again and that time it will be the last scenario; Dave Albert it would be him who's going to record it everything...
Thinner -
Thinner is a book of Stephen King under nickname Richard Bachman. Actually these work of horror fiction that he created was early of his writing work and no matter what, King with this book too made some very exceptional things that you only can find in his work. I loved it in every way you can endure or admire. Thinner for me will remain an exceptional read from King's all novel...
The moment I dig this novel and started reading it the same moment I fall for it. Billy Halleck by profession a lawyer one day while driving with his wife and his wife doing something to him which causing him to run over an old woman who belonged to a group of traveling Gypsies. The old woman was spot dead and it's when the momentum began to change dramatically. Billy an incident that took happen with him by meeting an old gypsy man at the park something the old man did to him and after that Billy find something horrible about him. He became after days past regularly, there's nothing to stop it or he just couldn't do anything about it. He tried hard but never found the exact reason why he's loosing his weight. But eventually he did find out the cause that he became lighter but it was already too late. He must take the chance and play gamble of his life to lift himself uo from this nightmare. Could he do it or not? Read the novel to dig out the answer I tell you, just do it...
Before ending this review I want to explore some say of me about the ending. To speak the truth in God's honest I didn't except it, that the ending part would written like that. I was like hell now that's a something to happen to surprise you very much. Billy what overcome he done with the help of his loyal friend Richie had no meaning or value when the ending part finally arrived in the novel. Well I just couldn't say it, could I? So, as I repeating again read it and nonetheless to say one of the must read book of Richard Bachman aka Stephen King. Enjoyed every bit of it's page cordially. Next King book? Meaningless to argue...
Disturbing, very Disturbing indeed...
Rage was Richard Bachman aka Stephen Kings 1st work and have to say it was really something considering the way it written. You won't want to read it if you don't want to find yourself in a very disturbing mental health situation. So think twice before you get your hands on this book...
Charlie Decker a mentally ill and totally sick boy who knows nothing but violence being living like a real psycho one day in that high school he kept hostage a classroom with full of students and begun his disturbing act. He got a gun and with that he already murdered two people in there. It was too much to described the nature of his character. You will have to kept fight to calm down your nerves while reading him. He got that very much disturbing manipulating power on him that no one can help it but get surrender with him. "Rage" I would say very name for this tale obviously. At some point I couldn't help but feeling the rage inside me blowing as the the reading progress. I even couldn't help the frustration inside me and wish my best that I grab the throat of that sick bastard and torn out it from his body. Though it was not much very large book to read but eventually like all the other King's work it did it's magic by delivering a mind blowing stoey. I can't say that it's a horror fiction but I would say in some way it is, though you could refer it psychological thriller more than horror fiction. Either way it did the work what it meant for. Finished in just 2 days and of course it did entertain me. Maybe I should read more early book by King. To add more this review I can say the atmosphere of this book was beyond anything but tensed. You could feel the tension building inside you as you don't know what might happen in next chapter. I admit the character Charlie that King creats was much frightening to read. I don't want even to watch a sick mentality person like this. But trust me even I do and if my life being threatened by him/her I will kill him/her no matter if my life cost by doing that. I would die but won't knelt down my head to this type of sick bastard...
Long way to go, love to KING...
The Long Walk -
Another great Richard Bachman aka Stephen King book. This one I would say utterly different from any other work done by King. There's something deep about this one that I just couldn't fathom on...
Still don't know how to put it in any way. But the basis of this book really simple to overlook...
Every year On the first day of May, 100 teenage boys meet for a race known as "The Long Walk." The rules are quite simple too. You have to kept walking but never stop. If you do than you will get 3 warnings in a row. After the 3rd and final warning there's nothing left you but dead. Yeah that's just the plot of this book and even as simple as it like this will make you thinking about yhe pain ar torture that those teenage soldiers were having themselves. If you can't feel these facts about them then I don't know what should do. There's really nothing if you see it in that way to dugout anything from this book. But in exactly here's you will be doomed. Because the more you read the more you will indulge yourself about something extraordinary. Garraty, McVries, Stebbins, Baker yes they all in this game doing best to kept walking and Garraty has his Mother and his girlfriend Jan to waiting for. Could Garraty defeat this nightmare and join them? Or he would failed like others?...
The ending I just quite didn't like it but felt disappointed. But what can you do about it right? It felt like incomplete and as if needed or should have go more with the story. But anyway nevertheless the ending part I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. Looking for next Richard Bachman/Stephen King work...
The Running Man -
Holy Cow, You gotta be kidding with me. This one stand on totally for me. A masterclass Science Fiction read and yeah you can push it with Horror genre but not by entire way...
Ben Richards have no job, no money. His daughter needs medical help to cure her illness. Because of lack of money his wife Sheila had to do something to move her family that she and Ben always regret. So what's now? What should Ben do?...
And finally then Ben Richards found something to do and provide his family full protection with money and security. But what is that exactly he was upto?...
Richards became The Running Man of a dangerous game played by a government-operated television station. The rules is they will sent hunters after yiu to kill you and if can avoid them all and keep survive than you will find money in return. This game can be played from his side too, so these all rules made the game more dangerous and he always on the road to ran from thses hunter. But as the story grow and more thing come along Richards has to think more intelligently as the time for his surviving is running out of his hand. Time is too short to rest and Richards must finds the way to help himself to get back to his family or did really made it to be with his little daughter Cathy and wife Sheila?...
You can mark it as Science Fiction genre than Horror. But yeah of course there's some very deep gire horror scenery ploted in the story amd of course if you are weak about these gore elements than you have to cautious about it. Otherwise it was perfect and totally freaking awesome, fast paced Science Fiction read by King. Glued me all the tume to the book with high tension and excitement...
Total 5?? - 100%...
Roadwork -
Why I was being emotional while reading the last chapter of 'Roadwork?' I don't know, I certainly have no idea why on earth I did that or say I know why. God forbid my brain not working right the moment I finished that hell of a novel...
What to put of it? What to think about it? Until the last couple of chapters I didn't believe I gonna liked it much but the ending changed everything I thought while I was reading the book. This the kind of book you can never guess what exactly going to happen in the end, you can't even guess it; yeah trust me. Spellbinding, Unthinkable and Unreasonable...
Barton Dawes a real Man who got balls, yes you read it right. He was living a totally normal life with his beautiful wife Mary and a reasonable job to pay everyday needs. All of sudden this normal way of his life didn't stay long as a highway construction forces him to lost his house and eventually fir some reason he resigned from his job from blue ribbon laundry to maintain his own dignity. But he wouldn't let it down to cease his house to them. He would fight. But the fight which will cost his wife, which will cause his everything but he never give a damn all to them. He is a man in sense or say not. While by giving your house to highway construction you got the amount of money, with which you can have a another house for yourself easily but this fact was not for the man like Bart. No he won't let his own house destroyed by them. It doesn't make any sense but at the same time a man who love his only house of him very dearly it's then make a hell of a sense if you don't mind the language of course. The story has lot's of ups and down and hey don't forget the name of that young 19 year teenager who by profession a hitchhiker never mind the job she does; named Olivia Brenner for her what Bart did only the kind hearted person could do that. I seriously miss that girl, she got a nice heart in her. I wish Bachman/King would do something more with her. There's lot more to say you know but I don't want to spoil by writing them here. From the beginning when Bart met with that news reporter Dave Albert who didn't know at the time (even Bart too) that in future he would meet with him again and that time it will be the last scenario; Dave Albert it would be him who's going to record it everything...
Thinner -
Thinner is a book of Stephen King under nickname Richard Bachman. Actually these work of horror fiction that he created was early of his writing work and no matter what, King with this book too made some very exceptional things that you only can find in his work. I loved it in every way you can endure or admire. Thinner for me will remain an exceptional read from King's all novel...
The moment I dig this novel and started reading it the same moment I fall for it. Billy Halleck by profession a lawyer one day while driving with his wife and his wife doing something to him which causing him to run over an old woman who belonged to a group of traveling Gypsies. The old woman was spot dead and it's when the momentum began to change dramatically. Billy an incident that took happen with him by meeting an old gypsy man at the park something the old man did to him and after that Billy find something horrible about him. He became after days past regularly, there's nothing to stop it or he just couldn't do anything about it. He tried hard but never found the exact reason why he's loosing his weight. But eventually he did find out the cause that he became lighter but it was already too late. He must take the chance and play gamble of his life to lift himself uo from this nightmare. Could he do it or not? Read the novel to dig out the answer I tell you, just do it...
Before ending this review I want to explore some say of me about the ending. To speak the truth in God's honest I didn't except it, that the ending part would written like that. I was like hell now that's a something to happen to surprise you very much. Billy what overcome he done with the help of his loyal friend Richie had no meaning or value when the ending part finally arrived in the novel. Well I just couldn't say it, could I? So, as I repeating again read it and nonetheless to say one of the must read book of Richard Bachman aka Stephen King. Enjoyed every bit of it's page cordially. Next King book? Meaningless to argue...
April 21, 2025
I liked the ending but I didn't really enjoy the book. It just was not a story I enjoyed.
November 19, 2014
This is one a those deliciously twisted and entertaining King novels, that makes me love the guy so much. Its not complicated or super deep, it is just a GREAT creepy story, whose characters get under your skin and live there long after you finish the last page. I have always loved the movie, and now the book takes its place in my list of King favorites. Nothing quite says horror like a gypsy curse!
June 4, 2015
I read it years ago when it first came out. Now, 30 or so odd years later, it didn't have the initial punch it had when I was younger. I just re-read "The Stand" and thought that it retained all of its magic.
June 6, 2012
One of his best shorter novels, with a wicked ending.
July 16, 2012
My favorite Stephen King book, ever!
April 4, 2015
I could never forget how this story ends.... Soooo wicked...
September 4, 2018
We live in an unjust world. That is not even a contentious assertion. There is no justice. Only the Law.
And the law is administered by those with bias and self-interest. And by the privileged. Thus, those who are in the minority or in the margins lose out in the justice stakes.
I have often had a fantasy; wouldn't it be a great superpower to be able to curse those who persecute the unfortunate and at best neglect the rights and needs of the marginalized.
Stephen King manifested that fantasy in this superb horror novel. "The white man from town" gets his comeuppance and even in the face of his terrible punishment, tries to weasel out of any responsibility and punish others. Cosmic karma steps in.
This book explores so many themes and has many levels. Accountability, racism, the white boys' club, vengeance, justice, karma, relationships, and power, imagined and true.
I loved it. My fantasy played out on its pages and it was deeply satisfying; like eating a whole strawberry pie all to myself.
February 3, 2024
I would never recommend this book and wouldn’t have finished it if I wasn’t trying to fulfill a book challenge. I’d looked up popular books of the 80’s and was so disappointed in this book and surprised it had such high ratings! It had terrible language, storyline was bad and very far-fetched and weird. I didn’t like the characters and the book itself was so so long. I couldn’t want for it to be over.
Billy is an overweight lawyer who is cursed by the gypsy father of a women he hit and killed with his car. He begins to lose large amounts of weight despite packing 6,000 calories. The book follows him as he uncovers others who were cursed and eventually die. he sets out on a mission to find the Gypsy father.
In the end the things Billy has done turn he gets full fold like karma.
The book was terrible and honestly the most entertaining part was the awful music played at the end of most chapters on the audio book.
Billy is an overweight lawyer who is cursed by the gypsy father of a women he hit and killed with his car. He begins to lose large amounts of weight despite packing 6,000 calories. The book follows him as he uncovers others who were cursed and eventually die. he sets out on a mission to find the Gypsy father.
In the end the things Billy has done turn he gets full fold like karma.
The book was terrible and honestly the most entertaining part was the awful music played at the end of most chapters on the audio book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 30, 2023The plot of this book follows a man who ran over an old woman with his car, and is cursed by her father. At first he thinks it is nothing, but then he starts to rapidly lose weight and quickly goes from an unhealthy above 200 pounds, to healthy. But it's not slowing down and he attempts to track down the ground of people who cursed him to lift the curse before he withers away into nothing. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes slow paced books that will grab your attention and not let it go.
December 24, 2019
Interesting story. Main character gets in trouble when he runs over a gypsy woman. Since he is a lawyer with friends of the judge and chief of police he gets off not having to go to jail. However he and other two guys all get a curse put on them by the ring leader of the gypsy crew. Ends up getting a good friend killed in which he never does anything about. Plus the ending of book is stupid.
July 12, 2018
A fat man kills a gypsy woman by hitting her with his car. A group of people work together to make the charges go away. The victim's father touches the man and says the word "thinner." The book recounts the weight loss curse and how the man attempts to get the curse removed.
November 19, 2023
Enjoyed it. Rarely see an author mention their own name as a descriptive for the situation they're in, but it does work. Interesting take on perception of people from different classes and.. owning up to your actions.
February 14, 2018
Oh man, couldn't put this book down! I've seen the movie many times, but like usual it didn't live up to the book.
May 20, 2018
First rate, and a darn good read!
December 4, 2018
Quite like it, but don’t like the ending.
January 20, 2019
Trying to think of a reason why I should not give this book 5*. Cant think of a single reason. As much a psychological thriller as a supernatural thriller, it is still a thrilling read.
February 13, 2019
It was good but the ending was just too easy to predict.
July 29, 2019
Entertaining as always!
January 28, 2020
This was a great book, though at first, it confused me.
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January 11, 2021loved it!
January 12, 2021
Great book with a fabulous twist in the end!
April 2, 2021
This is the first of The Bachman Books I have read-
Continuing my mission to read all of Kings books.
Not my favorite- but a compelling story!
Continuing my mission to read all of Kings books.
Not my favorite- but a compelling story!
May 16, 2021
This book was very entertaining for me. A quick read.
January 4, 2023
4.5 stars. Such a great and creepy Novella!!
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