Published by Scribner Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, thriller, young adult
Format: Audiobook
A fairy tale the Stephen King way.
Charlie Reade is your average teenager. He does well in school and plays sports. Charlie: however, is carrying grief with him everywhere he goes. His mother was killed by a hit-and-run driver on a stormy night. His father is now drowning himself in grief and alcohol. Charlie has become a parentified child – taking care of himself and his dad.
Howard Bowditch is a recluse living in a big house. One day, Charlie hears Radar, Mr. Bowditch’s dog barking and the rest as they say in history. Charlie takes care of Radar while Mr. Bowditch is in the hospital. This is where the magic happens. Relationships are formed and lives are changed.
In the back of the house there is a shed. It looks like a normal shed where one would store lawn supplies but …
When Mr. Bowditch passes away, he leaves everything to Charlie. Everything that a teen should not have to deal with…
Parts of this book were slow for me (some parts in the middle). I loved the beginning and the ending the most. I loved how Charlie formed relationships with Radar and Mr. Bowditch. I loved their interactions and how each was transformed by their bond.
Stephen King excels at writing characters (and in this book also a dog) which readers care about. We become invested in their wellbeing, their plight and what will happen to them. He has a way of placing ordinary people in extraordinary situations. In this book, Stephen King also used fairy tales to create the other world. What a world it is. King can never be called uncreative or unimaginative.
Creative, immersive, and enjoyable.