This book wasn't excellent, but I wouldn't call it King's worst either. It consisted of four novellas that focused on revenge/retribution as the theme. You have to enjoy the detailed way he writes; the man can be - is - flat out disturbing with the details. The story titled "A Good Marriage" was just flat out chilling, IMO. It showed that sometimes you just never can really know someone the way you think you do. ( )

First story: 1922

Good, creepy story about the far reaching implications of greed and murder. Did not see the exact ending coming and I've been thinking back on the story and connecting some dots since I finished. Overall, quite good.

Second story read: Fair Extension

This is the shortest story in the collection. It's an all too familiar story of a man who makes a bargain with the devil to extend his own life. Largely unimpressed by this one.

Third story read: A Good Marriage

Pulled this book off the shelf again because this story is being made into a movie. What would you do if you discovered that you husband of 20 years was a notorious serial killer? An unsettling read. Not sure I have the nerve to see the movie -- it's scary to think about a spouse having secrets of any kind let alone one this huge & creepy.

Fourth story read: Big Driver

Unpleasant rape & revenge story.
( )

It's the first Stephen King I've consumed ever! (lent by a friend after revealing I hadn't read or watched anything, aside from bits of Carrie on tv) Novellas make for good samplers, and this didn't disappoint.

My favorite is probably the first, 1922 and one of the longer ones, a slow burn after the initial murder, featuring an incredibly well-read farmer.

Big Driver also had a fair amount of name-dropping with Tess, but that's because she's a cozy mystery author. The ending was a bit too neat, but I cheered anyway.

Fair Extension was short, and also a pile-up of tragedies albeit with a big slice of schadenfreude pie for the main character.

A Good Marriage kept me up way too late finishing it, then even later as I googled & read about the real life inspiration, Dennis Rader- a bad habit, reading about serial killers late night/early morning.

I'm not too keen on horror, generally, but these were mostly creeping horrors of what's really going on in the mind, punctuated by murders. Thanks for letting me keep this way too long, Aurora! ( )

Loved all the stories. 1922 was probably my favorite: it dealt with themes of regret and guilt (as well as giving me a fear of rats; the movie adaptation was incredible too). Big Driver was a fun rape revenge story. Fair extension was a very bleak deal with the devil story. A Good Marriage was awesome as well. Uncovering a dark secret about someone you were married to for 27 years is not easy to cope with (he bit off a 10 year old's d*ck!??). Last but not least, Under the Weather was a fantastic read about the power of denial. ( )

A shorter group of stories that might be expected from Kings fan base.

These were written in the late 210s and have largely centred around the terrible aspects of violence towards women. A lot of what makes these stories pertinent and distressing is the pure normality. It is the ability for evil acts to be committed by the most normal of people under some of the most normal circumstances.

However, not only is this message delivered, it is accompanied by kings trademark, folksy style, coupled with brilliant, suspenseful chapters and paragraphs. I recommend these stories as an excellent collection. Not all of them have the resolution one would wish but there is a great understanding of how life can spiral out of control. ( )