By Stephen King
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Goodreads: 4.11)
GENRE: Mystery/Suspense
PART OF A SERIES? No
WORTH READING? Yes
SUMMARY:
This story from Stephen King tells the story of an ordinary teenager, Charlie Reade, who meets an elderly recluse, Howard Bowditch. The more Charlie gets to know Howard, the more he thinks there is something strange going on in Howard’s locked shed. When Mr Bowditch passes away, he leaves all his earthly belongings to Charlie – including his lovable dog, a massive amount of pure gold, the house, and a cassette tape telling an unbelievable tale.
When Charlie realises that the dog is nearing the end of his life, he decides to take a chance on what Mr Bowditch says… and descends the stairs in the shed to explore a whole new world – one in which there is a magic sundial that can turn back time.
Opening line: 'I’m sure I can tell this story. I’m also sure no one will believe it.'
One of my favourite types of stories is when perfectly ordinary human beings find themselves thrust into an extraordinary situation. Precisely what occurs in Fairy Tale.
One of Stephen King’s biggest strengths is being able to write from the point of view of people (and creatures) of all ages and gender. This helped me feel intensely connected to the main characters, especially Charlie and the dog, Radar, and very invested in what became of them. Another of King’s strengths is his brilliant use of descriptions. He is able to make scenes come alive with his writing.
In Fairy Tale, Stephen King gives several themes/topics at the beginning of each chapter. Sort-of like several chapter headings rolled into one. I found it unusual, but I liked it.
I loved Stephen King’s use of ‘ha ha’ throughout the book. We’re first introduced to it via a weasly-little character who punctuates his sentences with it. But then it is a motif that weaves throughout the story. It is very clever and amusing.
My only criticism of Fairy Tale is that I felt that it meandered at times. There was perhaps a little too much detail. Thus, this story didn’t grip me as much as some of Stephen King’s other works (The Green Mile and Misery come to mind).
Fairy Tale was a great yarn, though, incorporating many aspects of the fairy tales many of us grew up with.
If you haven’t read Grimm’s Fairy Tales, do yourself a favour. These aptly-named stories are fabulously written and so different from what we were exposed to as youngsters (and for good reason!)
Fairy Tale comes to a long, but perfectly-paced, climax, in typical, spectacular, Stephen King fashion.
Click here if you are keen to purchase Fairy Tale in hardcover
Click here if you are keen to purchase Grimm’s Fairy Tales in paperback
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