Phil

"The Long Walk" is my second Richard Bachmann and my seventh Stephen King novel. With Stephen King, I generally find that he slows down the pace in the middle and describes his characters in great detail. Although I think that is a good thing - because the better a character is described, the more you can identify with them - it is not uncommon for him to overdo it and drag thins out.

In my opinion, this was also the case with "The Long Walk". I am thinking in particular of the very long chapters 5 to 8 (compared with the other chapters).

Apart from that, I really liked the novel. It is really captivating (most of the time) and I had to gues how it would end until the very end. I could not have predicted the ending. But it felt very organic within the context of the story.

The live-action adaption by Francis Lawrence is coming out in about a month. Now I am ready for the theatrical release!

At over 600 pages, it is the longest King novel I have read (at least at the time of the review). I want to make clear, the book is by no means bad. I actually think it has very nice descriptions and the characters grow on you.

Nevertheless, I found it hit and miss because there are some chapters where not much happens and they take a long time. You realise that King wanted to give it all more life, but sometimes it was repetitive. These are the moments when I counld not get on quickly and put the book aside several times.

On the other hand, there are also chapters that are told in such an exciting way or contain such gripping conversations that you can't put the book down. If you are prepared for it to slow down in places, then this is a real recommendation.

Good pacing and an exciting thriller. The Stephen King book that I read through the fastest (I think, (I didn't track)).

I read two thirds of the book. I couldn't get into the story or the characters at all. I didn't like it at all. I also found the way the characters talked exhausting.

This is my absolute favourite horror book so far. The pacing is great, the city seems so alive (or dead). The characters are clearly written. And there were some of the creepiest parts I've ever read.

Compared to "Pet Sementary", I think "Salem's Lot" is better because the overall package is just so coherent. There's also no hanger. But "Pet Sementary" remains the scariest in general of them which I have read.