Dawn Straub
- 2
- reviews
- 32
- helpful votes
- 5
- ratings
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Needful Things
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: Stephen King
- Length: 25 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 10,940
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 9,876
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 9,856
Leland Gaunt opens a new shop in Castle Rock called Needful Things. Anyone who enters his store finds the object of his or her lifelong dreams and desires: a prized baseball card, a healing amulet. In addition to a token payment, Gaunt requests that each person perform a little "deed", usually a seemingly innocent prank played on someone else from town. These practical jokes cascade out of control, and soon the entire town is doing battle with itself. Only Sheriff Alan Pangborn suspects that Gaunt is behind the population's increasingly violent behavior.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Please! No Distracting Keyboard Music
- By Andrea on 04-23-16
- Needful Things
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: Stephen King
Castle Rock....the unluckiest place on earth
Reviewed: 12-15-19
So, first off...the story itself...great classic Stephen King. Not one of my favorites, but great story just the same. Lots of characters, but if you roll with it, you figure out who’s who and how they’re connected. It’s not as important in most cases WHO the characters are, but what’s happening to them and the effect the store owner Mr Gaunt has on them...and the effect they in turn have on the town. So don’t let it stress you out too much.
This actually sat in my library for months. I purchased it with one of my credits in the middle of a King binge....many of which I was re-reading, but this one I had never read.The reason I hadn’t gotten around to it was because King was narrating it. I had listened to two book narrated by King. Hearts in Atlantis and Desperation. I was less than impressed with either, but after getting used it, it’s not too bad....but just didn’t feel like having to get used to it again. But it was the only King I had left to listen to in my library, and I’d never read it...so..
It was the usual seeming monotone at first, but quickly became pretty amazing. He had SO many characters to portray, and you could tell he probably REALLY likes this story, and there is a plus side to the author narrating his own book, he knew exactly how he wanted the characters to come across, and he really got into it. And of course he’s got that Maine accent DOWN. I believe he did a wonderful job conveying the emotions...and there were tons of emotions....everybody in the Rock was losing their freaking minds. Maybe it’s because I went in with lower expectations, but it was pretty awesome. My only critique would be that his bible-thumping, fire and brimstone reverend came across sounding a little bit like a caricature of an Italian restaurant owner somehow lol....but I gave him a pass on that. For those hesitant to listen for that reason, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The music added was hokey, but not a big deal....it wasn’t like it was played that much. People can be so picky. I came for the story, and I got the story....well told
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31 people found this helpful
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NOS4A2
- A Novel
- By: Joe Hill
- Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew
- Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 17,473
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 16,046
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 16,021
Victoria McQueen has an uncanny knack for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. When she rides her bicycle over the rickety old covered bridge in the woods near her house, she always emerges in the places she needs to be. Vic doesn't tell anyone about her unusual ability, because she knows no one will believe her. She has trouble understanding it herself.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Gripping performance by Kate Mulgrew....
- By Leslie on 05-06-13
- NOS4A2
- A Novel
- By: Joe Hill
- Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew
Too early??
Reviewed: 05-15-16
Any additional comments?
I apologize in advance to anyone reading this....but I love this book SO much, I am reviewing it with 4 hours left to the end. I have never reviewed an audiobook before, and this is my first Joe Hill I have read, but I just felt the need to share my excitement in this author. I quite accidentally came across him after devouring almost every single King book available on audio (a good portion for the second time), starting with all books related to the Dark Tower, the series itself, and any other book that would give me a nice lengthy listen...I was obsessed. I have a few left to go, but in a panic, have been trying to find any author comparable and within the genre of King's twisted tales that will take me to the outer reaches of this world and beyond (I am all about the escapism). Barker is out, I've read every single thing he's done (a few times) and even attempted to listen to McCammon's Swan Song, which I really liked years ago, but found the writing so subpar to King...I had to give up. And even am stuck in the middle of the Zombie Fallout series... Not sure who else to turn too that wouldn't be a total waste, (having not read this avidly since high school and currently have a library full of audiobooks that just aren't grabbing me lately) I came across Joe. So, yes....I picked this up not just because I liked the storyline ...I well, hoped him to be a chip off the old block. (I can't be the first to have done so) I've got to say.... WOW... While I find something in his writing that endears me to him the same way as to his father, I think he's definitely his own man. Fans of King's works will appreciate subtle mentions of elements from his stories (which is fun) but I found the story to be a hell of a ride (pun intended) and totally unique in many ways. The characters are broken, and oh so human. Especially the realistic way the effects of brushes with the supernatural have on the heroine....nobody could possibly come from the things she had and be a fully functioning member of society. And Kate Mulgrew's performance???? Pphhhhssshhh....shut the front door, she is INSANE!!! Seriously, she rocks it out and brings every character to excruciating life...becoming one of my all time favorite narrators, right up there with John Lee in the Commonwealth Saga and Steven Weber in IT...I have others (Sean Runette is pretty awesome), but those two always pop into my head when I remember great books. I know she is a badass actress (being my fav inmate in the OITNB series) and she does NOT disappoint.I guess what I'm saying is....at this point....I don't really care how it ends...its been WAYYYY worth the time and I will definitely be checking out more of his work.So seriously.....listen to this book....I am :)
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