Stephen King - Revival *REVIEW* ⚡️⚡️ 19 reasons to read this dark, scary novel

We're still in 2014 and have reached one of Stephen King's darkest novels - the fantastic Revival. In this video, I'll give you 19 reasons to read the book and will group any spoilers at the end, with a warning in advance, so you could avoid them if you need to.
-------------------------------------------
Subscribe, comment & like!

[Mowjahrie]

I know this isn't everyone's fave SK book. But this was my first and I am glad it was. It may not have been that typical scary novel, but the dimness of the character, the lack of hope towards the end. The slow burn was amazing, and this really sold how SK writes about small towns, those first chapters showcased the "normalcy" they thought they had, then it just slowly unraveled. To me this really sold the book, slow burn, with a very humane character, then a weird almost not very SK ending just did it for me. On my way to get more SK books for sure.

[michaelroy]

This is one of King's top 5 best to me. I really connected with the religious/moral themes, the rock musician stuff of course, and then that ending. Best King ending ever.

[GetFramed]

One of my favourites of his! An amazing life story and it has his bleakest ending, and possibly his best ending. I think it’s reputation helped too because I knew it was going to be fucking gnarly and the suspense got so high!!

I think that this is the darkest story that I know of. Out of all the books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen, this is the most hopeless and disturbing story I’ve ever experienced. I don’t know if I could read this again, I legit couldn’t sleep.

And yes, Metallica Fucking Rules! All of Metallica rules! From Ride the Lightning to The Black Album to Load to St Anger to Death Magnetic to Hardwired, it all fucking rules! I even like a couple of songs off of Lulu!

[angelaholmes]

I read the book back in February I absolutely enjoyed it this book is definitely one of kings best revival is one of my favorite books of 2022 along with Dolores Claiborne and Billy summers 🌟

[robertoneill]

Thanks for this enthusiastic review, though I must admit I stopped watching half way through to avoid spoilers.
I've never paid any attention to this book; the title and cover never caught my interest. I remember feeling the same way about "Hearts in Atlantis", which I never got around to reading until four years after it was published, and which turned out to be a favourite of mine.
Fingers crossed, "Revival" will hit the mark for me 🤞
Thanks again for your review 🤩

[PomyCollingwood]

The Mellow Tiger is in Castle Rock! [As U know, considering your Castle Rock Tour Guide episode!] 😉- Not sure if it's Derry's favorite diner / bar.

[mtwice]

In my top ten for sure. Revival was so good. I liked how he played on the names of Mary Fay. MARY Fay, FRANKLIN Fay and Janice SHELLEY.

[MilesWilliams]

Fuck I loved this book! I'm an ex heroin/opioid addict that's played played music my whole life so as corny as it sounds I really resonated with Jamie. That ending is insane in all the best ways.

[willianfernandes]

Hey brow, do you know if the Mother is the same entity called Mia in the Dark Tower series? Somehow, it seems that she's seeking for her revenge in Revival! Just wondering...

[mummeii]

I read this in high school during gym class and have fond memories of it. That ending was freaky for sure

[Momin_Azam]

Just a question I have: for the dark tower series, I know there’s a reading order, but if I read his books in publication order, would that work as well?

[lucifersapphire]

Just finished this book a week ago.. still very much shaken by the last hour of the book! I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t that 💀😭 10 out of 10 would recommend and would re-listen!!

[kariminalminds]

I loved this book and couldn’t put it down either. I don’t understand why people didn’t think this book was great…I thought it was absolutely brilliant and it should be in everyone’s top 10

[ianblackmore-allen]

This is in my top 5 King. Without a doubt. Top class.

[civoreb]

Might be in the minority but I liked the first 1/3, struggled through the 2/3 of the book and liked the last part. Sadly it took me from late November 2020 to mid April 2021 to finish due to that 2/3 of the book. And it was inly 480 pages! 😅 But good review! Maybe a re-read in the future might make me like it more.

[timwmofo]

Great book and another great video. Also love the Metallica reference myself!

[TheTalkoftheStreetPodcast]

I have some sympathy with the “return to form” idea, just it was, like, his fourth or fifth return to form. I really loved this, the first King I’d read since Under The Dome, which funnily enough was also a return to form.

[RebecaLawrence-we]

Revival by Stephen King himself. Sounds like a good book. It should be turned into a movie. I have read about it on web. Plan to read Revival down the road. Stephen King is the master. It has a Lovecraft feel to it. Starting to read Lovecraft stories. King is the best.

[darkwitnesslxx]

I quite enjoyed this one. Not sure I'd place it in axSK top 10, but its close. I especially like thats its influences, namely Frankenstein and Lovecraft, are so upfront. Gave me a nostalgic buzz. I also think i see an influence from an early 2000 anime, which name escapes me, with an antogonist who's simply searchimg for a universal truth, and damn the consequences. Fun read. 8/10

[pandoraaaraseth]

To all planning on reading it:

The ending was not anything near what I had anticipated after all the build up throughout the book. Don't misunderstand, I am an amateur horror writing enthusiast and avid King fan/reader since age 7, first book I ever read in my entire life was Stephens IT (I had to sneak and hide it and I think it took me two months to complete lol A LOT has changed, I read this book in a day, about 8-81/2 hours), and I've been hooked ever since, soooo bleak endings are not an issue for me. The issue I have is disjointed and lackluster pay off after spectacularly set scenery and environments that make the reader invested. I was all in, and then this book pulled the rug out from under my feet with what felt like a hurried and unimaginative, unfit ending to characters and circumstances I was emotionally involved with. When I began reading this I was aware I had a lot of his works to catch up on as me and the main character Jamie had the same addiction, where it held him for 6 years it got a whole decade from me (sober a little over a year now writing this), but now I sit here holding everything else I haven't yet read from him at arms length. I'm tragically afraid King will play another round of bait and switch no matter what novel I pick and once again get me completely captivated by his characters and worlds before deciding in a rush that the book must now end. Subsequently hacking up the thread of continuity running through the story, the thread that bewitched me.

****Spoilers Below****

In short, mystical life extending and curative electrical frequencies have very little to do with a world of evil ant overlords that exist beyond the door, seemingly set within an abandoned stone wall, covered in ivy. The paranormal route was the only acceptable route but what truth or explanation is gleaned via whispers through that doors keyhole by a sadistic bitch over the ants- highesr yet overlord whose hand/claw is comprised with faces of the dead (especially the innocent dead)? Also, what really happened to Patsy and Tag Along, pull the trigger and put me outta my dying to know misery?!?!?! Was the evil being using Charles' emotions, torturing him for fun or did his loved ones REALLY exist there, there is no clarity.

Could this story have been done correctly, blended through the linguistic application in such a way that things began to, or seemed to have that thread of continuity, opposed to just blowing it's cork unsatisfactorily sans verbal foreplay? YES, however we needed quite a bit more, especially in regards to foreshadowing or hints in advance. The ants and evil entity explanation came out of veritable LEFT FIELD. SO unsatisfying.

I would like to believe King was forced to shorten the story or cut words/length, bc I know he was capable of doing this story justice yet that doesn't change the fact that he failed to execute it correctly in print. When you are as talented as he, with a following as vast, I truly believe you owe satisfaction to your reader if as a true artist you write for the art, not the paycheck. I will not speak to his motives as I cannot pretend to know them. I just hate what this book, a structure copied from so many other lame King Wannabe novels (like Odd Thomas from Koontz), does as a cheap tease "Just wait, the explanation is coming, no pearls of wisdom, hints or foreshadowing, but I promise it's gonna blow your mind", to "Yeah here's some completely unrelated odd ball shit I decided using a Mad Libs form, there's your cooky answer, ... Blew your mind didn't I?".

S'like, you stabbed my imaginations anticipation with a dull Spork, spat in my face and gave no equivalent *reach around* in parlance.

Sucks to enjoy and feel so much in the first 5/6 of the book just to have all joys squashed in the final 6th.

Biggest "MEGA criticism: If like me you ADORE Stephens writing style EXCEPT when your skin crawls anytime he tries to pen a believable or sexy intimate interlude: Then like me you will find the handful of times he attempts to do so in this novel either A. Too feminine and sensitive seeming (and thus it rings false), or B. Something that seems to be written by a 12 yearold male whose life experience consists of Penthouse Advice, Playmate's Stats or Wanted Ads and Computer Gaming, period (making it seem once again, false AND uncomfortably geeky and inexperienced in real life).

Not to mention, EWWWW, Ewwwy! *genuinely shivers* Talk about creepy chills and uncomfortable (and not the type of discomfort that invites growth either), just bad form. lol

I apologize for how brutally honest this review is but, I am NOT sorry I read it. There are some terrifically strong story elements in this tale. Other elements are enchanting, evocatively emotional and even transcendent or transformative. I simply suggest or ask that you read it knowing the end will leave you disappointed and the schmexy scenes will either make you terribly uncomfortable (I worked for a leather dungeon, and I'm a Gemini, so's that should plead my case that I am no noob in said realms or circles), or make you giggle embarrassingly at the clumsiness of them.

If you can embark upon the journey that is this spellbinding book taking those two considerations to heart/in account, you'll definitely come out the other side elated you've read it; just as I HAVE.

Thank you Mr. King, us addicts appreciate (and you'll already know this), and respect when our unglamorous realities are laid out for others (who are unfamiliar), in all their negative and disgusting grandeur MOST when the narrator is gifted enough to do so maintaining our beauty, humanity and unquantifiable worth. My love of books was cultivated and then fertilized by your art. Thank you for what you give of yourself and if ever you were to read this; I apologize if any of it plays hurtful. Warmest Regards, Pandora Lee Raven Aaraseth who is just like a writing desk.