King knows how to craft amazing and memorable characters, and Charlie and Radar are no exceptions. I loved both of them. Charlie's journey into Empis with Radar reminded me a little of Lucy's journey into Narnia when it needed saving from the White Witch. Empis has been overrun by evil and needs saving, too. And though he doesn't know it, Charlie is just the hero to do it.
Fairy Tale is well named because in many ways it does read like a fairy tale...a 598 page one...without any of the scary horror that King is known for in his other books. It's compelling and entertaining and full of magic...and it won't give you nightmares. 4/5 stars.
Another delightfully funny and entertaining cartoon from John Atkinson at Wrong Hands. You have to check out his website...he will always make you laugh.
Some of my glad things from July:
- Seeing Pelicans, Cormorants and Bullock's Orioles along the Jordan River trail.
- Got my shingles shot...at least the first does...which wasn't fun, but good to get it done.
- Saw the movie Jurassic World: Rebirth. It was very entertaining.
- Lunch at Mo Bettah's with my niece and nephew. Yum! 😋
- My family's annual 4th of July breakfast; it's always good seeing everyone.
- Hearing from Sam (from Book Chase). Thanks for your comments, Sam! I'm glad to know you're alive and doing well.
- Eating chard freshly picked from my garden.
- Playing a fun round of the bookish game It Was a Dark and Stormy Night with my family. (You have to guess the book title or author from just reading the first line, and there are different categories like Mysteries, Pre-1900 books, Children's books, etc.)
I used to like Stephen King but haven't read any of his books for years. Maybe I'll try Fairy Tale! It Was a Dark and Stormy Night sounds like a great game - I'm glad your family had fun playing it.
ReplyDeleteWe all love books in my family, so a game set around titles and first lines of books is a big hit with all of us. Plus, it plays fast. And I don't read much of King's books any more either...mostly because they're always so darn long. ;D
DeleteHappy Friday my friend.
ReplyDeleteRegine
:D Thanks, Regine!
DeleteLark, I always love to read these posts - they make me smile :) Yay to King's book - I love his work. I'm reading a book of his short stories right now - I'm hoping it will cure my reading slump. Sounds like you had a lovely July. Here's to a wonderful August!
ReplyDeleteI hope it cures your reading slump, too! It's good to hear from you. I hope August turns out to be a lovely and less stressful month for you. :D
DeleteSounds like you had a fantastic July! I am very interested in the dark and stormy night game, my daughter, mom, and I would love that!
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favs. :D
DeleteLooks like you had a fun July, Lark. Yes, I'll also have to tell my nieces about the game you mentioned. I have 3 nieces that are kind of obsessed with games of all kinds - ha!
ReplyDeleteMy nephew is the game person in our family...he loves everything from Wingspan to Star Realms. :D
DeleteLove those activities, haha! I want to see the new Jurassic Park so I'm happy you enjoyed it! I had my first and second shot of shingles a few years ago and it wasn't fun at all! Worse that Covid vaccinations, IMO, but I'm so happy I got it over with. Getting shingles could be far worse. I've heard several horror stories!
ReplyDeleteI'll be glad when I've survived my second shingles shot this fall...I just got my updated TDAP last week and my arm was sore for two days. I'm such a wimp. ;D
DeleteI like the idea of Fairy Tale but the nearly 600 pages doesn't thrill me. I will probably try it sometime anyway. Your review is great.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy John Atkinson's cartoon. I have seen his cartoons before but I am glad you reminded me of where his website is.
The Jordan River Trail sounds nice. And it is good that you got your first shingles shot. The quote is very nice too.
The length of his books is what keeps me from reading more of King's stories. And honestly, I thought this one could have been shorter and still been just as good.
DeleteSounds like a fun July! I love the sound of the Dark and Stormy Night and I love the Regency Day schedule. Too funny! I'm a few years away from my shingles shot but I'm not looking forward to it. My husband got it a few years ago and didn't feel great the next day. Better than the shingles but not looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteA shot is definitely better than getting shingles...even if it did make my arm hurt and gave me a headache. And It Was a Dark and Stormy Night is a very fun game...though we did end up adding some of our own cards to certain categories to make it more fun for my nephews and niece. (They didn't know any of the other sci fi or mystery books.)
DeleteFairy Tale sounds good. I liked very much The Shining and Stephen King creates great characters. Great that you got your shingles shot. I had shingles but I was lucky mine wasn't bad but it can be and so I made sure to get the shot too
ReplyDeleteI've read The Shining and really liked Danny, but didn't love other parts of it.
DeleteI made a note a while ago to give Fairy Tale a try. I find if the writing is good then 600 pages can whizz by. I have some chard growing too! :-)
ReplyDeleteI do like the way King writes, but sometimes I wish he'd do a little bit of editing; this one could have been easily cut by 50-100 pages imo.
DeleteThe shingles threw me for a loop! (The second not as bad as the first.) Better than getting shingles, though, which is definitely painful.
ReplyDeleteWe grow chard, too. I think Monday I'm making chard & leek quiche.
Ooh...a chard and leek quiche sounds yummy!
DeleteInteresting to know that Fairy Tale is not one would expect from the king of horror.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely more fantasy.
DeleteIt's wonderful you got to see pelicans and orioles! Getting the shingles shot is a good accomplishment, even if it's not fun. Lunch with family at Mo Bettah's and the 4th of July breakfast both sound like lovely ways to spend time. It's also really nice you heard from Sam. Playing "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night" with your family sounds like such a fun and unique game!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteGlad to know the new King book won't give you nightmares. I stopped trying to read him after his scary novel, It. I may try him again.
ReplyDeleteI have to be in the right frame of mood to read any of his scarier books.
DeleteI love King and this sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good one!
DeleteI haven't read many Stephen King books, but Fairy Tale is one that's been on my list since it came out. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it! :D
ReplyDeleteCharlie and Radar are such great characters. You'll really like them!
DeleteIt Was a Dark & Stormy Night sounds like so much fun! So glad you enjoyed Fairy Tale -- I really did too! Happy August!
ReplyDeleteIt's the best game if you love books and reading. :D
DeleteI need to read this one! I read his latest and was disappointed with it, so I'm happy to hear this one is a hit!
ReplyDeleteJust go in knowing it's fantasy and not horror. And Charlie is such a great character. I loved him and the dog both.
DeleteI haven't read Fairy Tale yet but want to. Sounds like you did some awesome things in July!
ReplyDeleteThey were quiet things, but those still count. And focusing on the good helps up my happiness quotient. Something I need these days. :D
DeleteOooh that game sounds like so much fun! Is it a board game or something you came up with? Oh, and I love that cartoon! Too cute!
ReplyDeleteIt's a board game. I think it came out in 2007. Don't know if it's still available, but we love playing it.
DeleteI've toyed with reading Fairy Tale because King is such a good writer, but horror is not my jam. This sounds so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think I would love to play Dark and Stormy Night!
Good for you getting the shingles vaccine out of the way. You don't want to mess with shingles.
The Jurassic movie was fun, though I had to cover my eyes during a good portion of it!
There were some intense scenes in Jurassic World:Rebirth, that's for sure. And Fairy Tale is definitely more fantasy than horror. I didn't really find it all that scary at all. Just a little suspenseful at times.
DeleteStephen King is such a good storyteller. I am glad you liked Fairy Tale. I'm behind on the Jurassic Park movies, but I think they are fun. I am glad Jurassic World: Rebirth was good! I look forward to watching it. I hope you had a great week, Lark, and are enjoying your weekend!
ReplyDelete:D Thank you!
Delete