#58 – Desperation

Plot

Nevada is mostly a long stretch of desert you cross on the way to somewhere else. And with someone else, if you’re lucky … because it’s a scary place. Headed down Route 50 in the brutal summer heat are people who are never going to reach their destinations.

Review

When I finished The Dark Tower series I did not have any action plan for tackling the remainder of Stephen King’s bibliography. The system I eventually found relied heavily on friends and family members’ recommendations plus whatever bargains I could find at Half Price book-stores. A friend of mine suggested Desperation and we are no longer friends.

This massively long book was published at the exact same time as its “mirror” novel, The Regulators. Had I known that at the time, it may have impacted this ranking – but not by much. King paints an outstanding backdrop but fills it with lengthy internal monologues and overly religious tones.

Characterization is such a strong suit of King, but it is nowhere to be found in this horror novel. Yes, at times King takes us along on a twisted-scary-demented journey, but the meat-and-potatoes of this story were sour-tasting.

Details

Pages: 690

Dates Read: Pre 2012

Quote: “You have the right to remain silent,’ the big cop said in his robot’s voice. ‘If you do not choose to remain silent, anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. I’m going to kill you. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand your rights as I have explained them to you?”

Best Part: Our introduction to police officer Collie Entragian.

Hint for #57: This novel shares its title with a famous poem by T.S Eliot.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.