If It Bleeds

Mr. Harrigan's Phone, The Life of Chuck, If It Bleeds, Rat

De: Stephen King

Narrado por: Will Patton, Danny Burstein, Steven Weber

Number one New York Times best seller

From the legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary collection of four new “exceptionally compelling novellas that reaffirm [King’s] mastery of the form” (The Washington Post).

Readers adore Stephen King’s novels, and his novellas are their own dark treat, briefer but just as impactful and enduring as his longer fiction. Many of his novellas have been made into iconic films, including The Body (Stand by Me) and Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (Shawshank Redemption).

Four brilliant new tales in If It Bleeds are sure to prove as iconic as their predecessors. Once again, King’s remarkable range is on full display. In the title story, fan-favorite Holly Gibney (from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy and The Outsider) must face her fears and possibly another outsider - this time on her own. In Mr. Harrigan’s Phone an intergenerational friendship has a disturbing afterlife. The Life of Chuck explores, beautifully, how each of us contains multitudes. And in Rat, a struggling writer must contend with the darker side of ambition.

If these novellas show King’s range, they also prove that certain themes endure. One of King’s great concerns is evil, and in If It Bleeds, there’s plenty of it. There is also evil’s opposite, which in King’s fiction often manifests as friendship. Holly is reminded that friendship is not only life-affirming but can be life-saving. Young Craig befriends Mr. Harrigan, and the sweetness of this late-in-life connection is its own reward.

“Exactly what I wanted to read right now,” said Ruth Franklin in a rave on the cover of The New York Times Book Review. “Phenomenal," said Brian Truitt in USA Today. “King still owns the fright business like none other.”

©2020 Stephen King (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

Chapter breakdown of the short stories

Mr. Harriman’s Phone - Chapters 1-5
The Life of Chuck - Chapters 6-9
If It Bleeds - Chapters 10-20
Rat - Chapters 21-62

I enjoyed the book and the audio adaptation. My only complaint is with the audible breakdown of not showing which story was which, that’s why I wanted to share the confirmed chapter breakdown to the book stories. Hope this helps and hope you enjoy the stories as much as I did! Stay safe and healthy...and slightly scared of what lies o the next page!

The best Narrators, bar none

Steven Weber and Will Patton are so good that sometimes the quality of the plot doesn't matter. Luckily Stephen King delivers another set of short works that are original, focused, and brilliant. Danny Burstein Is great too, but I haven't heard him enough to be an expert.

Buy this if you like Weber and Patton and King.

Too much horror in real life

I'm used to grabbing up the new Stephen King book the day it's released, have been for 40+ years, now. This time was no different, except l just realized that what's going on outside my window could've come out of one of Mr. King's works. I think now l'll hold onto it until another, hopefully, happier time.

Ignore naysayers. King's a master of short stories

I'm not a Stephen King stan, but I have enjoyed a lot of his books throughout the years and definitely recognize that he's an amazing author.

Honestly his short stories are some of the best short stories I've never heard, to the point that many are critically acclaimed movies. he delivers here and I would enjoy several of these on screen.

a key difference I noticed about some of his short stories vs. novels is that they oftenhave what you may consider a punchline, vs a neatly wrapped up plotline and prologues. I've those those ones. several of these do that.

the narration was great. no complaints.

several people complain about politics as though King has some agenda in this book. there's none. one character is a feminist, and her poltics align with that. another character is sick of hearing another new story about Trump scandals, which regardless of politics, is pretty legitimate to feel. other than that I don't feel like there's anything in there trying to convert people's political views.

this book went by really fast for me. I feel like short stories actually work well with audiobooks , it's nice to consume a whole story in one sitting.

I was hesitant to get this book but I'm glad I did in fact I may go look if there are any other Stephen King short stories collections I passed on over the years.

Please add story titles in chapter list.

The. book is great but it’s extremely difficult to find individual stories .
The story titles should be listed in the chapter list.
Or every time a new story begins restart
The chapter numbers from 1.
It would make things a lot easier

Stephen King is a friend of mine.

No, I've never seen him in person, nor have I ever spoken with him.

It's that every time I follow him into a story, I have a great time. I find characters that touch me, and that I remember after the story is done. I find places where I would gladly stay a little longer.

Mr. King writes with his heart, and his heart is good. Like anyone, he can probably be a first-class dickwad on occasion, but I don't think a Constant A-hole could give us Holly Gibney. And only someone with rare, open intelligence could fascinate us the way he always does.

I really enjoyed this set of novellas. There was Holly, of course, and The Rat was the greatest! I enjoyed it all.

The one thing about Stephen King that I've rarely, if EVER, found with other writers, is his ability to scare me in my very own home, not with monsters or horrid characters, but with his ability to put me into the story and get me rocking in my chair saying OMG, NONONONO, as though I am sure Annie Wilkes is going to come back any second and then.....

Stephen King is not a bad friend to have!

King and Patton are great!

As always King delivers great stories read by a talented Patton wish there was more.

I it Bleeds

Excellent stories!I was hoping for a single book,but 3 of these novellas were parts of the same story.I have to say Rat was my favorite! Imagine a wet, bedraggled rat on your mat and you give him warmth and he ,in turn,helps you! Will Patton was wonderful as were Steven Webber and Danny Burstein as narrators.

Entertaining, Enjoyable, Mildly Creepy

Really good writing. Characters you care about, stories that drive you to know what's next. Definitely not scary at all, just good, solid stories.

King's Best Since 11-22-1963

I love Stephen King's short stories. If It Bleeds is a compilation of four most excellent stories that kept me fascinated. They were all gripping and I listened to the entire book on speed 1 in two days.

King has gotten back to basics with 'If It Bleeds.' He narrates the book in his 'every day middle age guy' persona and takes us to places in his imagination that seem normal at first, but then he bends normal into something that's unexplained. Some of the passages are creepy, some of them are terrifying, and some of them are just strange. The stories aren't overly wordy and long-winded as he can get at times.

I especially loved the first story in the novel. It set the tone for what was to come, but they were all excellent.

I would recommend this to any King fan. I don't see how anyone could be remotely disappointed. And, look very closely at the picture of the cat and see how many animals you can find. I found the picture fascinating.

More of this, please.

-Wendi