Helpful Score: 7
The first half of this started out with a bang. It was a real turn pager, full of intrigue and suspense. About halfway through all the extreme, gory, "King" details began. The story was great (one of his best, in my opinion)but I get tend to get bored with pages and pages of gory, gross details. Some bits of the story reminded me of "IT".
Helpful Score: 4
As with nearly every one of King's books, this one grabs you quickly and doesn't let go until the last page. This book has a surprisingly profound spiritual message that I didn't expect to find in a book of this genre.
Helpful Score: 4
This book grabs you from the beginning and you want to know what is going to happen next. Really scared me. Very good read!!!!
Helpful Score: 2
excellent, frightening and disturbing-vintage King.
I really enjoyed this book. Very good pace and characters you want to know.
Helpful Score: 1
Not one of King's best work, but it does draw you in and does keep you interested enough until the end. It's at times uneven, and the characters don't feel as well developed as they could have been. And the gross-out factor is pretty high, even for him. But you want to know what the big mystery is about, so you keep reading and that is King's gift. Good time killer, overall, but not his best use of the language.
Helpful Score: 1
One of King's better novels
Helpful Score: 1
Not his best work, but as the recent tv movie showed, still worth the effort. The book is much better and far more brutal in prose than it could be on the screen. TAK!
Helpful Score: 1
I haven't read it in awhile, but remember it as a good story.
Helpful Score: 1
One of his most gripping story lines. Very little meandering that annoys the hell out of me in his other book. Tense and frightening, with some thoughtful insights into the nature of god and evil.
Helpful Score: 1
Great story, great characters, I devoured this book!
Helpful Score: 1
One of my favorite Stephen King books of all time!
Helpful Score: 1
The only Steven King book to ever give me nightmares. Well worth the read. Great book!
Helpful Score: 1
Another of Stephen King's masterpieces. Truly a page turner.
Helpful Score: 1
This book will keep you turning the pages.Awesome read!!!
Helpful Score: 1
"Desperation" plays out like a scaled down version of King's "The Stand". In it the reader revisits many familiar themes from King's other works - good versus evil, salvation, redemption, faith. In this novel, however, the scope is smaller. Instead of tackling a global saga as he did with "The Stand", King focuses this story on a nearly deserted town in Nevada that is now inhabited by an evil presence and its few hostages.
Do not let the grandness of the themes fool you, however. This is King at his horrific best. It's somewhat gory. It's often creepy. And, if like me, you detest snakes, it can get downright terrifying. Despite the high body count, however, "Desperation" is a novel with real heart.
King has always been a master at telling a very human tale (despite the presence of very non-human entities in his many works), and "Desperation" is no different. The handful of characters we meet jump off the pages as real people. They make human decisions and human connections in the midst of King's madness. As always, it's these human touches that propel King's work.
"Desperation" comes off as more religious than other King novels, but it never slides into a preachy territory. The discussions of God and faith feel organic and necessary to the story.
And, at the end of the day, "Desperation" is just a good story. It's easy to get lost in, even when you want to hide under the covers with all the lights on.
Do not let the grandness of the themes fool you, however. This is King at his horrific best. It's somewhat gory. It's often creepy. And, if like me, you detest snakes, it can get downright terrifying. Despite the high body count, however, "Desperation" is a novel with real heart.
King has always been a master at telling a very human tale (despite the presence of very non-human entities in his many works), and "Desperation" is no different. The handful of characters we meet jump off the pages as real people. They make human decisions and human connections in the midst of King's madness. As always, it's these human touches that propel King's work.
"Desperation" comes off as more religious than other King novels, but it never slides into a preachy territory. The discussions of God and faith feel organic and necessary to the story.
And, at the end of the day, "Desperation" is just a good story. It's easy to get lost in, even when you want to hide under the covers with all the lights on.
Helpful Score: 1
Just when I think I can't be spooked anymore, he comes up with a book
Helpful Score: 1
Who doesn't love any and all of King's books?
Helpful Score: 1
A long book by the master, Stephen King, that was truly my introduction to his works. While this book garnered mixed reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the quasi-spiritual bend to the young boy in the story. Taking place in a creepy ghost-town, the story features all sorts of gruesome and terrifying imagery and scenes, yet also has a lot to say about spirituality, religion, human relationships, aging, and violence. This is a recommended read if you like Stephen King or are a fan of horror writing. I imagined this book would make a fine movie, until I saw the film version for myself...read the book, but stay away from the film!
Helpful Score: 1
First Line
"Oh! Oh, Jesus! Gross!"
About the Book
Nevada is mostly a long stretch of desert you cross on the way to somewhere else. And with someone else, if you're lucky...because it's a scary place. Headed down Route 50 in the brutal summer heat are people who are never going to reach their destinations. Like the Jacksons, a professor and his wife going home to New York City; the Carvers, a Wentworth, Ohio, family bound for a vacation at Lake Tahoe; and aging literary lion Johnny Marinville, inventing a gonzo image for himself astride a 700-pound Harley. A dead cat nailed to a road sign heralds the little mining town of Desperation, a town that seems withered in the shade of a man-made mountain known as the China Pit. But it's worse than that, much worse. Regulating the traffic there is Collie Entragian, an outsize uniformed madman who considers himself the only law west of the Pecos. God forbid you should be missing a license plate or find yourself with a flat tire. There's something very wrong here, all right, and Entragian is only the surface of it. The secrets embedded in Desperation's landscape, and the evil that infects the town like some viral hot zone, are both awesome and terrifying. But as young David Carver seems to know - though it scares him nearly to death to realize it - so are the forces summoned to combat them.
"Oh! Oh, Jesus! Gross!"
About the Book
Nevada is mostly a long stretch of desert you cross on the way to somewhere else. And with someone else, if you're lucky...because it's a scary place. Headed down Route 50 in the brutal summer heat are people who are never going to reach their destinations. Like the Jacksons, a professor and his wife going home to New York City; the Carvers, a Wentworth, Ohio, family bound for a vacation at Lake Tahoe; and aging literary lion Johnny Marinville, inventing a gonzo image for himself astride a 700-pound Harley. A dead cat nailed to a road sign heralds the little mining town of Desperation, a town that seems withered in the shade of a man-made mountain known as the China Pit. But it's worse than that, much worse. Regulating the traffic there is Collie Entragian, an outsize uniformed madman who considers himself the only law west of the Pecos. God forbid you should be missing a license plate or find yourself with a flat tire. There's something very wrong here, all right, and Entragian is only the surface of it. The secrets embedded in Desperation's landscape, and the evil that infects the town like some viral hot zone, are both awesome and terrifying. But as young David Carver seems to know - though it scares him nearly to death to realize it - so are the forces summoned to combat them.
Not my fave King book, but it was still awesome! It gave me the creepies at night. .
Scary...suspenseful and bloody...stephen king at his best
Vintage King. If you are a fan, you will not be disappointed. I have to admit, as a fan who will criticise when warranted, there are a few slow spots, but he delilvers in the end. I do recall that this was made into a TV movie. In fact, I pictured the actor that played one of the primary characters in the beginning of the book. Weird. Because I pictured that actor before I rememebered the TV movie and went, AH-HA, yes, THAT'S why he was in my mind!
I just read a compilation of King's short stories that came out recently, Just After Sunset, which was overall engaging. And no, I can't post it on PaperBack Swap, it is my daughter's hard cover book that I had to return. Darn.
I just read a compilation of King's short stories that came out recently, Just After Sunset, which was overall engaging. And no, I can't post it on PaperBack Swap, it is my daughter's hard cover book that I had to return. Darn.
one of his weirdest books.
MY HUSBAND LOVED THIS BOOK.
I get the impression that Stephen King likes Maine better than Nevada.
I devoured this book, couldn't put it down, but it's tone ended up being a bit too religious for me in the end. I loved it nonetheless, and I intend to read it again someday after I have read Richard Bachman's, 'The Regulators,' as the two stories are related.
Another good King novel.
Surreal, tragic, scary ... builds to an epic climax. Terror that resonates long after the book finished.
I LOVED this book. It was uniquely disturbing and brought on a whole busload of emotions through the entire book. I could not put it down!
A very good Stephen book.
"There's a place along interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. Let the battle against evel begin. " That is on the back cover. It is the usual Steven King scary. I liked it and it was hard for me to put down.
What else can you say about S.K.?
My favorite! Desperation, Nevada-the loneliest place on earth-let the games begin.
I love Stephen King so he will always get a high rating for me, and as u would guess I do love the horror genre. Basically it is about a couple who wander (maybe not by accident ) in a town called Desperation. The battle to survive is then launched. Great book, BUT u gotta pay attention.
Awesome book!
I'm a big Stephen King fan and loved this one. The miniseries on ABC didn't do it justice. There's too much depth inside the covers to put on the small screen.
Good book. Difficult to put down.
The movie has been on t.v. but does this writing no justice.
This is one plot after another and could hardly put the book down,
Written by a master.
This is one plot after another and could hardly put the book down,
Written by a master.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on earth.It's known as Desperation,Nevada.It's not a very nice place to live.It's an even worse place to die.Let the battle against evil begin.
This was just an awesome book. One of King's best. Be sure to read The Regulators after this one. It continues the story to a degree in a small Ohio town.
Far from the best Stephen King I've read.
There's a place along Ineterstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. let the battle against evil begin.
No idea where this came from or why it's in our house, neither my husband or I read King.
There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. Let the battle against evil begin.
Stehpehn King writing ss Richard Bachman.
"Having read just over half of King's books, I have to say that Desperation ranks up there with Wizard and Glass as one of my favorites. That said, this book is not for the shallow or the feint of heart. Desperation is a tale of hope and love in the darkest hour--and the hour is dark indeed.
Desperation is a desert town in Nevada. This place, where on the good days the people can be 'intense,' has been turned into a wasteland by an ancient evil. A group of unsuspecting strangers drawn to the town must survive their encounter with this force and in the process make a decision that will forever change their lives.
...Once the dark 'collecting' of the opening is through, the novel finally hits full stride. ... King never fails to amaze me with the craft of his words and his honest description of the glory and shame of being human.
I give Desperation my heartfelt, highest recommendation--don't be scared off by a little blood and guts. There is a lot of despair, desperation and cruelty in these pages. There is also faith, hope, and most importantly--love." amazon review
Desperation is a desert town in Nevada. This place, where on the good days the people can be 'intense,' has been turned into a wasteland by an ancient evil. A group of unsuspecting strangers drawn to the town must survive their encounter with this force and in the process make a decision that will forever change their lives.
...Once the dark 'collecting' of the opening is through, the novel finally hits full stride. ... King never fails to amaze me with the craft of his words and his honest description of the glory and shame of being human.
I give Desperation my heartfelt, highest recommendation--don't be scared off by a little blood and guts. There is a lot of despair, desperation and cruelty in these pages. There is also faith, hope, and most importantly--love." amazon review
First of all, there's no such place as Interstate 50, that would be a freeway. It's US Highway 50 (I don't know that King said that, it seems to be a couple of professional reviewers, I didn't seem to find that erroneous reference in the book. Stephen King seems not to like the state of Nevada.
Stephen King has found many ways to tell a story of good versus evil and this one is set in a familiar place for King fans, in the Nevada desert. If you read The Stand you remember that part of that is set in Las Vegas. Desperation is (I think) a fictional mining town where the story takes place. There were a number of mining towns in the Nevada / California desert that no longer exist. Desperation could be one of those. Mr. King has put together another of his masterpieces about a diverse group of people who encounter evil at an old mining site. The characters are, as always, a very vivid group of personalities that eventually team up against the local evil entity.
I read this on audio & managed to get through all 18 discs but I think I'm a glutton for punishment. If I had been reading this the traditional way I would've given up early on. Some of the characters were okay but mostly they seemed all too familiar. There was the religious boy, the faithless aged writer, the earnest dad, the annoying young woman thrown in for a little sexual tension, etc. and so on. These people come together to fight off an evil from long ago whilst their spiritual beliefs are tested. Or something like that. The climax and big reveal was all a bit convoluted and I think I was dozing off while this bit was explained because it didn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. All in all, it went on for way too long and as a horror novel was just "eh". The best parts were about the young boy and his injured friend. Though David, the young hero, does tend to sound way too wise for his years on several occasions it's okay because he is much better developed than most of the other characters (of which there are far too many who don't add much of anything to the plot). It wasn't a bad book by any means, it had some genuine creep you out moments and some emotional scenes but overall it was just too long-winded for my liking.
not a favorite King book, but worth the read. It reads very well with the book the Regulators - by Richard Bachman - AKA Steven King.
Fantastic and scary!
One of King's okay books.
Loved This book. I can't say anything bad about this book. Just love Stephen King and almost everything he writes.
Typical Stephen King! I thought it went on and on too long!
There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the lonliest place on Earth, It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse lace to die. Let the battle against evil begin. Welcome to Desperation! It is a great story, I enjoyed it so much I bought the DVD I hope it is half as entertaining as the book.
There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. Let the battle against evil begin. Welcome to Desperation.
Not King's best book, but on his worst day, he's still pretty good. This story is engrossing and original and is worth reading.
Different cover than what's shown.
Very cool, fast read. A town you don't even want to visit.
"There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada.
It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die.
Let the battle against evil begin.
Very cool, fast read. A town you don't even want to visit.
"There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada.
It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die.
Let the battle against evil begin.
Synopsis
Somewhere along Route 50 in the Nevada desert exists a dead-end town called Desperation. Those who cross the town line embark on a never-ending journey of desperation, lunacy, and terror, as they find true desperation in a town that no one leaves. The novel is a companion piece to "The Regulators", which is written under the name Richard Bachman and which involves many of the same characters in the same sort of setting, but exhibits an entirely different flavor than "Desperation". The books can be read separately, in either order, and each can stand on its own as a fully-realized work. But they are interdependent works of fiction as well.
Somewhere along Route 50 in the Nevada desert exists a dead-end town called Desperation. Those who cross the town line embark on a never-ending journey of desperation, lunacy, and terror, as they find true desperation in a town that no one leaves. The novel is a companion piece to "The Regulators", which is written under the name Richard Bachman and which involves many of the same characters in the same sort of setting, but exhibits an entirely different flavor than "Desperation". The books can be read separately, in either order, and each can stand on its own as a fully-realized work. But they are interdependent works of fiction as well.
The cover of the book I have is different then this image. The book has been read once and is in good condition.
This is a brand new book. Dh got it as a gift, and never read it.
