Needful Things

I have nearly finished this story, and have to say how good it has been. It's really enjoyable to hear the author reading the characters, as they will use the accents they imagined at the point of writing.

But, the music and sound effects interspersed throughout the reading are very off putting and don't really add anything to the atmosphere, but rather puncture it just at a point where I'd found myself lost in the importance of the events.

Any fans on Mr King, will enjoy his usual style of writing, he brings each character to life in his own special way, and this book is no different.



The story is great and I found myself waiting for the ring of the shop bell to see who was going in to buy something " needful". I found that the reading by the author added to the book and he little bits of music and the jingling of the door bell also added to the whole experience.



So why only 4 stars...the ending. I do find a lot of stephen King books have a bit of a let down with the ending. It was not a bad ending, it was such a good and gripping tale that I was expecting something a little more. Having said that, dont let it put you off the book, it is a superb read.

I felt this story dragged and I was forcing myself to listen to it as I didn't want to waste my money.

I have previously really enjoyed Stephen King so I wont let this book put me off.

no it dragged on too long as it is!

I felt this book just took far to long to get the end event. after a few chapters you worked out what was happening, it just takes forever to get there! disappointed!

Needful Things is such a clever idea for a book, the line between order and anarchy and empathy and revenge has always been micro fine in society, nudge something slightly and watch the repercussions. This novel shows how socities and relationships can fall apart at a micro level when a malovelent force is pulling the strings.

The building of tension in Needful things is brilliantly accomplished - another of Kings great skills. The townspeople and their foibles,weaknesses and desires can be applied to any country, race or religion and so the characters are believable.

I loved reading this novel and this audiobook is very enjoyble. The only aspects letting it down are the music, which is just dreadful - a school child could have done better and it wouldnt up the production costs dramatically - and the narration. Stephen King reading the novel doesnt really work, I never think an authour reading their own books works. A gifted actor could have made this a perfect listen.

If you fancy something unsettling then this novel is great. It is not remotely scary however. It's just a study on the worst aspects of the human psychology.

Piers

This was my second Stephen King novel and I am now a fan of his. This story is creepy and kept you wondering what each character was up to but to me the best thing about the novel was the way commercialism is portrayed. What would you do for the object you have always wanted? If you are a character in this novel the answer is a lot.

I'd highly recommend this novel if only to question if anything you own is "needful".

i'm a long time fan of Kings books, and i would have to say this was another really good example of a page turner, admittedly this is indefinably not his best book, but the chaos created in it was incredibly funny, at times the novelty wore of a bit, but the other characters reaction made it worth it, sometimes parts of the book just seemed to be almost glossed over by other events in the book, in one case a character breaks there neck and not much more than 2 sentences are given about it after, this does in my opinion actually add to the sense of chaos however i can imagine for some people it would be almost annoying. i haven't given to much away i think.

all in all i would say read through some of the better books like: the dark tower series ( by far the best of his books, and explains a lot of characters in other books like the spider in "IT" however this series is quite an undertaking, i managed to finish all of them in 2 weeks and would say it was really well worth it), i would also suggest listening to the stand, the shining and under the dome. once you have gone through those maybe try some of the other books if your not sick of listening to people read to you by then :)

I think this book should have been read by an actor as Stephen Kings voice is enough to send you to sleep. A real shame as I love his books.

Drone drone drone

I haven't listened to many King stories yet but this is a good one, with a central idea that is really quite interesting. It feels too long, and the idea is stretched to breaking point ins some parts but it works, and is pretty gripping. King's narration is good, and you get used to his accent very quickly. Its long, but if you have the time and you like King books I would certainly recommend this one.

Quite low down, probably a 4 out of 10

It kept me intrigued

Lacklustre, monotone and unclear

No

Very clever plot, I would have loved it had been read by a person qualified for the job.

Amazing, mysterious start, turned so slow and predictable. A few chapters in the tempo is simply agonizing. Unsatisfying ending.

Mediocre narration with music so poorly fitting it is close to comical.