Book Reviews of Desperation

This book grabs you from the beginning and you want to know what is going to happen next. Really scared me. Very good read!!!!

As with nearly every one of King's books, this one grabs you quickly and doesn't let go until the last page. This book has a surprisingly profound spiritual message that I didn't expect to find in a book of this genre.

I really enjoyed this book. Very good pace and characters you want to know.

Not one of King's best work, but it does draw you in and does keep you interested enough until the end. It's at times uneven, and the characters don't feel as well developed as they could have been. And the gross-out factor is pretty high, even for him. But you want to know what the big mystery is about, so you keep reading and that is King's gift. Good time killer, overall, but not his best use of the language.

"Desperation" plays out like a scaled down version of King's "The Stand". In it the reader revisits many familiar themes from King's other works - good versus evil, salvation, redemption, faith. In this novel, however, the scope is smaller. Instead of tackling a global saga as he did with "The Stand", King focuses this story on a nearly deserted town in Nevada that is now inhabited by an evil presence and its few hostages.

Do not let the grandness of the themes fool you, however. This is King at his horrific best. It's somewhat gory. It's often creepy. And, if like me, you detest snakes, it can get downright terrifying. Despite the high body count, however, "Desperation" is a novel with real heart.

King has always been a master at telling a very human tale (despite the presence of very non-human entities in his many works), and "Desperation" is no different. The handful of characters we meet jump off the pages as real people. They make human decisions and human connections in the midst of King's madness. As always, it's these human touches that propel King's work.

"Desperation" comes off as more religious than other King novels, but it never slides into a preachy territory. The discussions of God and faith feel organic and necessary to the story.

And, at the end of the day, "Desperation" is just a good story. It's easy to get lost in, even when you want to hide under the covers with all the lights on.

The only Steven King book to ever give me nightmares. Well worth the read. Great book!

Great story, great characters, I devoured this book!

One of my favorite Stephen King books of all time!

not a favorite King book, but worth the read. It reads very well with the book the Regulators - by Richard Bachman - AKA Steven King.

Typical Stephen King! I thought it went on and on too long!

I haven't read it in awhile, but remember it as a good story.

Surreal, tragic, scary ... builds to an epic climax. Terror that resonates long after the book finished.

Different cover than what's shown.
Very cool, fast read. A town you don't even want to visit.
"There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada.
It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die.
Let the battle against evil begin.

One of King's better novels

One of his most gripping story lines. Very little meandering that annoys the hell out of me in his other book. Tense and frightening, with some thoughtful insights into the nature of god and evil.

Not his best work, but as the recent tv movie showed, still worth the effort. The book is much better and far more brutal in prose than it could be on the screen. TAK!

Loved This book. I can't say anything bad about this book. Just love Stephen King and almost everything he writes.

Scary...suspenseful and bloody...stephen king at his best

The movie has been on t.v. but does this writing no justice.
This is one plot after another and could hardly put the book down,
Written by a master.

Good read.

Not my fave King book, but it was still awesome! It gave me the creepies at night. .

Vintage King. If you are a fan, you will not be disappointed. I have to admit, as a fan who will criticise when warranted, there are a few slow spots, but he delilvers in the end. I do recall that this was made into a TV movie. In fact, I pictured the actor that played one of the primary characters in the beginning of the book. Weird. Because I pictured that actor before I rememebered the TV movie and went, AH-HA, yes, THAT'S why he was in my mind!

I just read a compilation of King's short stories that came out recently, Just After Sunset, which was overall engaging. And no, I can't post it on PaperBack Swap, it is my daughter's hard cover book that I had to return. Darn.

Another of Stephen King's masterpieces. Truly a page turner.

MY HUSBAND LOVED THIS BOOK.

one of his weirdest books.

WOW!

There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. Let the battle against evil begin. Welcome to Desperation.

There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the lonliest place on Earth, It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse lace to die. Let the battle against evil begin. Welcome to Desperation! It is a great story, I enjoyed it so much I bought the DVD I hope it is half as entertaining as the book.

Fantastic and scary!

Classic King.

I'm a big Stephen King fan and loved this one. The miniseries on ABC didn't do it justice. There's too much depth inside the covers to put on the small screen.

There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on earth.It's known as Desperation,Nevada.It's not a very nice place to live.It's an even worse place to die.Let the battle against evil begin.

This was just an awesome book. One of King's best. Be sure to read The Regulators after this one. It continues the story to a degree in a small Ohio town.

Great book!!

Stehpehn King writing ss Richard Bachman.

There's a place along Ineterstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. let the battle against evil begin.

There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. Let the battle against evil begin.

No idea where this came from or why it's in our house, neither my husband or I read King.

I really enjoyed reading this book.

A very good Stephen book.

"There's a place along interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada. It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die. Let the battle against evel begin. " That is on the back cover. It is the usual Steven King scary. I liked it and it was hard for me to put down.

pretty spooky

Good book. Difficult to put down.

My favorite! Desperation, Nevada-the loneliest place on earth-let the games begin.

"Having read just over half of King's books, I have to say that Desperation ranks up there with Wizard and Glass as one of my favorites. That said, this book is not for the shallow or the feint of heart. Desperation is a tale of hope and love in the darkest hour--and the hour is dark indeed.
Desperation is a desert town in Nevada. This place, where on the good days the people can be 'intense,' has been turned into a wasteland by an ancient evil. A group of unsuspecting strangers drawn to the town must survive their encounter with this force and in the process make a decision that will forever change their lives.

...Once the dark 'collecting' of the opening is through, the novel finally hits full stride. ... King never fails to amaze me with the craft of his words and his honest description of the glory and shame of being human.

I give Desperation my heartfelt, highest recommendation--don't be scared off by a little blood and guts. There is a lot of despair, desperation and cruelty in these pages. There is also faith, hope, and most importantly--love." amazon review

What else can you say about S.K.?

Awesome book!

Far from the best Stephen King I've read.

I love Stephen King so he will always get a high rating for me, and as u would guess I do love the horror genre. Basically it is about a couple who wander (maybe not by accident ) in a town called Desperation. The battle to survive is then launched. Great book, BUT u gotta pay attention.

The cover of the book I have is different then this image. The book has been read once and is in good condition.

Not King's best book, but on his worst day, he's still pretty good. This story is engrossing and original and is worth reading.