I struggled at first with Tomie. The chapters felt so disjointed and unrelated, I found it difficult to grasp whether there was an ongoing narrative I was missing. Once I accepted the nature of its structure, I came to love Tomie. Deeply unsettling, this collection continually finds new ways to unnerve and surprise its readers, and I was loath to turn the final page. 5/5

Not only was this a pleasantly nostalgic dip into the world of a game to which I'd long since said goodbye, the author offers an engaging look at his reticence to engage in the elements from his childhood that might be judged harshly by his serious adult peers. He ultimately celebrates the notion that it's okay to revel in your more "childish" interests, that it doesn't diminish your adultness, and that to do so is to embrace your past self. 4/5

Any time I take a leave of absence from Litsy, it's distressing to think of what I may have missed. I've managed to follow some extremely entertaining, insightful people whose reviews and blurbs I always look forward to reading, and I hate thinking about all the gems I might uncover if I just made time to scroll through a week's worth of content!

This legitimately might be my favorite of the Boss Fight Books I've read so far. Durham's recounting of his religious upbringing and the troubling questions it eventually raised, coupled with the incongruous tale of Christian games manufacturer Wisdom Tree makes this a hilarious, fascinating read of which I did not want to see the end. Irreverent, informative, and impressively thorough, this has me looking forward to the next installments! 5/5

While the ongoing drive behind much of Boss Fight Books' output - to combine a history of an entry's titular game with the author's own - has produced some excellent titles, I feel Super Mario Bros. 2 came up a bit short. While still a very engaging read, Jon Irwin's account of his past and present experiences playing the game just can't hold a candle to the account of personal trauma in Galaga, or of personal discovery and reinvention in ZZT. 3/5

Fascinating look at a fascinating game. I'd never heard of Jagged Alliance 2, as it was very much outside my realm of interest at the time. Kazemi gave me so many reasons to be interested in this unique title, along with a bevy of interviews with the game's developers. This entry in the Boss Fight Books series provided a delightful insight into the making of an under-remembered and singular classic. 4/5

Not to sound overdramatic, but this one almost did me in. Having read this before, I knew I was in for a rough ride, but the choppy, disjointed nature of the narrative coupled with the bleak outlook throughout made this a singularly unpleasant read. What works are the protagonists, who are likable, and the plot can be gripping. While it ultimately has plenty to enjoy, it can be a bit of a chore to find the wheat amongst the chaff. 3/5

Stepping out of the bit for a moment, it's been interesting how reading Dracula day by day changes the pacing. By the time Mina shows up when reading this way, it feels surprising that it's taken this long. I've always loved the character of Mina, and am excited we're now receiving this story through her voice as well as Jonathan's. #DraculaDaily

I think cabin fever has gotten to Jonathan, and has led to some marked discourtesy regarding his host. So the Count smashed his shaving mirror - what of it? It was clearly defective if it wasn't reflecting the Count! So the man has no serving staff in his castle - what's wrong with being an introvert? And to impugn the Count's intentions by suggesting the locked doors are to keep him in, rather than ruffians or thieves out? Rubbish! #DraculaDaily

The Plant is a serialized novel written in an epistolary format between the years 1981 and 2000. Regrettably, it remains unfinished. This story tells of a demonic plant that grants a struggling publishing company strange boons. It also absolutely knocked my socks off, perhaps in part due to my lowered expectations. Regardless, it will likely be lauded as one of King's many great works if he ever chooses to finish it, which I hope he will. 5/5

This was a collection of essays, interviews, and a piece of fiction by King about the art of writing. Released as a companion piece to On Writing, it retreads surprisingly little of the ground covered in that work. Unfortunately for anyone undergoing a chronological King read, it does reprint some material contained elsewhere, most notably the Horror Fiction chapter from Danse Macabre. Despite that, all the material is a delight to read. 4/5

What a charming host the Count is! I sure enjoyed reading Jonathan's account of his lovely evening with his new friend, and hope to see him explore even more of the castle now that he knows he is permitted. Who knows what other wonders lurk behind those closed doors? #DraculaDaily

Regarding its usefulness as a primer on the art of writing, I don't know as I'm particularly qualified to weigh in. Taken solely on the consideration of being an entertaining read, On Writing absolutely delivers. This is a much more enjoyable read than Danse Macabre, filled with entertaining anecdotes, admonitions, advice, and aphorisms. 5/5

Poor Jonathan had the worst time meeting his new friend Dracula's coachman today. Apparently the driver from Bistritz intentionally conveyed him to his rendezvous an hour early, then tried to talk him into continuing on - talk about a one star review! He's lucky Uber wasn't a thing yet! Sounds like the Count has a real wolf problem - good thing he makes up for it with a courteous welcome! Can't wait to see what's next for these two! #DraculaDaily

Weird that the landlord's wife is freaking out so much about Jonathan's visit to his cool new friend - and the superstition! Obviously nothing will come of it, but I'm glad Jonathan humored her by taking her cross. Sure hope nothing wild happens tonight on St. George's Eve! #DraculaDaily

Considering I last read Bram Stoker's Dracula over ten years ago, this is going to be a fun journey. Enjoyed hearing from Jonathan today, hope he gets some more cool new recipes from his friend Count Dracula! #DraculaDaily

Books finished in April include Insomnia, Rose Madder, The Green Mile, Desperation, The Regulators, The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, Bag of Bones, Storm of the Century, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and Hearts in Atlantis. While a lot of incredible books vied for the top spot, my April pick for #readingbracket2023 is The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass. I'm starting to see a real pattern here!

This is such an odd book to review. Taken individually, all five stories are stellar. The problem is the connective tissue, which runs extremely deep, and turns those five stories into an interconnected whole. That whole is disjointed, ranging from a book-length story that delves deeply into The Dark Tower mythos, to the other four, which primarily concern themselves with the Vietnam War. An odd duck, but it has heart; I still give it a 4/5.

1966: Hearts in Atlantis - Wow. Like any student of history, I've spent more than a little time considering what it must have been to be alive and vital in just the right place in a momentous period of time. Nothing I've read has ever managed quite so successfully as Hearts in Atlantis to connect me to the experience of being a collegiate male in the midst of the Vietnam War. Another standout, and another 5/5.

1960: Low Men in Yellow Coats - I can't believe I'd never read this story, which could have been a small book release in its own right. As tragic and fraught with omens of impending doom as this story is, it's lovely to witness the growing friendship of Bobby and Ted as they bond over their mutual love of books. The significant ties to and expansion of the lore of The Dark Tower makes this an absolute must-read for any fan of King's work. 5/5

If you've ever been well and truly lost - especially in a place where humanity's influence is nil - you're well-versed with the prickly, all-consuming panic that creeps up on you, taking hold of and dismantling your rational thought. That unenviable place is where this story begins, and it heads down some wild and overgrown paths from there. A delightful protagonist makes this quick read an absolute pleasure that doesn't overstay its welcome. 5/5

It's tempting to think of this book as having been intentionally made with a visual media release in mind. King always likes to say he wrote it as a screenplay because that's the format the story insisted upon. After reading this work, I can't help but feel King was right. It's difficult to imagine this story in any other format. A charismatic lead, a truly terrifying villain, and an engaging supporting cast make this one a lovely read. 4/5

This is an incredible read, that is by turns beautiful, terrifying, and heartbreaking. The mystery at its heart is not one that reveals itself until the bitter end, and the journey to its ultimate conclusion is immensely riveting. Not only is the primary protagonist engaging and relatable (with some notable exceptions), this book's mostly female cast of secondary protagonists are an absolute delight, and are worth the price of admission alone. 5/5

@AkashaVampie Here's my shot at a #BookishMoodBoard for Bag of Bones! Being a mere 20% of the way through made it a bit tricky to summon the right imagery, but I had fun making this - thanks for the tag!

Again, what is there to say about a series - and in this case, a book - that one loves as much as I love The Dark Tower and Wizard and Glass? This is a hauntingly beautiful tale of love, tragedy, perseverance, and loss, and it hangs perfectly in the middle of the saga recounting Roland's quest for The Dark Tower. This is a read I will always savor and enjoy, bittersweet though it may be. Bird and bear and hare and fish and 5/5.

I'm glad I read this and Desperation within a gasp of one another - the parallels between the two are numerous, and can be fun to spot - but I'm even happier I read this one second this time around. Of the two, The Regulators is a lot more rough around the edges, and having started with an enjoyable read like Desperation makes it a lot easier to keep plodding through its twin. Despite its flaws, it's a fun experiment with a good ending. 4/5

I remember not loving this book the first time I read it. Time, apparently, has been kind to my regard. This was an absolute delight, and full of that most rare (at least, for me) moment in Stephen King's canon - passages that send my skin crawling and lead to a look or two over my shoulder. This group's time in Desperation was as much of a joy to read as it was a nightmare for them. 5/5

There's not much new to say about this book. It's incredible; everyone knows it. What I always reflect on when I read it is how hard the world is. We take the beautiful, special things we find - like John Coffey - and we grind them up in the sharp, cruel teeth of the world's ugliness and hate and spit them out. I will never not feel a deep sadness when finishing this book, nor a stronger urge to go out and preserve some goodness in the world. 5/5

This was a surprisingly difficult read. The toxic, abusive, violent man at the core may feel to some readers like a cartoonish caricature; I've come across enough of his like as a case manager to know better. If a reader can make it through the painful depictions of sexism, racism, sexual violence, and rage, they will discover a book that pays off with an almost savage catharsis - and a second, wary glance at the next fox they chance to meet. 5/5

Absolutely incredible. I'd never read Insomnia before, and was unprepared for what an amazing story it would tell. As senior citizens, the protagonists are blessed with an extra layer of likeability and, at times, pathos that truly invest the reader in their story and perspective. The unexpected ties to The Dark Tower were a welcome bonus. 5/5

Books finished in March include Four Past Midnight, The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands, Needful Things, Gerald's Game, Dolores Claiborne, and Nightmares and Dreamscapes. My March pick for my #readingbracket2023 is, perhaps predictably, The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands!

Far less disjointed than his last short story collection, Nightmares & Dreamscapes was a delightful read. Standouts include Dolan's Cadillac, The End of the Whole Mess, The Night Flier, Chattery Teeth, The Ten O'Clock People, and The Doctor's Case. 5/5

The Fifth Quarter: Buried treasure and betrayal. What's not to love? 5/5

The Doctor's Case: No one does Holmes as well as Sir Conan Doyle, but King makes an admirable attempt. 5/5

Ummey's Last Case: A fun noir detective story with a unique twist. 4/5

Head Down: I'm not a sports fan, but the well-written nature of this essay about baseball pulled me through. 4/5

Brooklyn August: Baseball poetry, on the other hand, is not for me. 1/5

My Pretty Pony: Honestly, without the weird bit with the "Peter Pinching", this would be a perfect short story. 5/5

Sorry, Right Number: Beautiful and tragic. 5/5

The Ten O'Clock People: Stupendous concept told perfectly. 5/5

Crouch End: A perfectly serviceable Lovecraftian tale, but not a stand-out. 4/5

The House on Maple Street: A wonderful story that, at times, is startlingly evocative of Bradbury, as I'm sure it means to be. 5/5

The Moving Finger: Creepy premise, but I wish it capitalized on the concept more. 4/5

Sneakers: Excellent story told well. I would happily have read a full book about the MC. 5/5

You Know They Got a Hell of a Band: Absolutely incredible concept, including a grisly turn. 5/5

Home Delivery: Surprisingly solid zombie tale as well as a loving character portrait. 4/5

Rainy Season: My God. I won't look at the end of Magnolia the same way again. 5/5

Suffer the Little Children: Unnerving, but a little too close to modern tragedy. 4/5

The Night Flier: Vampires and Tabloids, what's not to love? 5/5

Popsy: Immensely satisfying. Also, vampires, but naturally, humans are the real monsters. 5/5

It Grows on You: Disjointed, but a good effort. 3/5

Chattery Teeth: Dark and comic, one of my favorite combinations. 5/5

Dedication: Absolutely wild from start to finish. Maybe a tad bit overlong. 4/5

The End of the Whole Mess: An absolute delight. I've always loved unique takes on how the world may slide unceremoniously into apocalypse, and this is certainly unique. The only gripe I have is with its brevity, particularly as it nears its conclusion. 5/5

Dolan's Cadillac: I'm a sucker for a good revenge tale, especially when it's (pun intended) executed as well as this one is. Despite taking up a sizable chunk of this collection's pages, nothing about this tightly-spun tale feels overlong or excessive. 5/5

What an incredible surprise this book was. Dolores is perhaps King's best narrator, with an engaging manner of speech, a unique and winning perspective, and more quotable turns of phrase than you can shake a stick at. On top of all that, the story she tells is at turns fascinating, shocking, and tragic, and kept me turning pages long past the point I should have gone to sleep. An emphatic 5/5!

On its face, this is a fairly self-contained psychological thriller about a woman handcuffed to a bed and her efforts to free herself. In a larger sense, the thesis of Gerald's Game concerns the myriad ways women in our patriarchal society are encouraged to minimize themselves for the sake of men, the lingering impact of sexual violence, and what it is like to exist as a woman in a culture designed to silence them. A grisly, uncomfortable 5/5.

Gotta love seeing a good shout-out to the notion that absolutely everyone struggles with their mental and emotional health.

This is a stressful book to read. King shows us an array of townspeople, encourages us to love them (or most, at least), then sticks a powder keg beneath them all, lights the fuse, and invites us to watch the "fun". While this book loses some points for me for abject crassness at times, it's ultimately a fulfilling, if frustrating read, and left me doubting the outcome until the final pages. 3/5

I see what you did there, Stephen...

This is always a tough read for me. King spends so much time on his depictions of Castle Rock's supporting cast, and we fall in love with most of them one by one. It's that love that makes their eventual spiral into destructive anarchy and madness that much harder to bear.

As always, The Dark Tower series remains the pinnacle of King's ability to create strange and fantastic worlds, beloved characters in whose welfare the reader is deeply invested, and spellbinding narratives that urge the reader to turn the page without delay. The Waste Lands is one of my favorites in this series. The lead up to Jake's drawing is some of his best writing, and the ka-tet's escape from Lud is intense. A Key, a Rose, a 5/5.