By Wayne C. Rogers
I bought it Happy Garden In June 2013, I read Stephen King’s My World, a book that had been sitting on my shelf for a full year before I finally picked it up. As you may remember, 2013 was King’s Sleep Doctor, sequel The Shining. All his fans, myself included, were anxiously awaiting the publication of this book, and everything else was put aside. I remember clearly Happy Garden After receiving it in the mail, I haphazardly stuck it on my bookshelf, knowing that it would be there whenever I wanted to read it. Well, I finished reading King’s Mr. Mercedes A few months ago, I was still eager to read more novels from this master storyteller. Happy Garden I put it down and decided to read a few more pages. If it didn’t grab me by then, I would put it back on the shelf and read it later when I was more interested in it.
OK, so here’s what happened in a nutshell.
The book clamped down on my neck like a vice, shaking me for a while, banging my head against the wall until I finally finished the whole thing a few days later. I still have clear fingerprints on my neck afterwards, reminding me how tightly the novel held my attention and touched the tenderness deep in my soul. You know, some of King’s novels are like that. Such is his mastery and success with words. He manages to touch your heart in a way that no other writer can.
And he doesn’t do this often.
Death Zone, Body (Also known as “Stand by Me”, “The Shawshank Redemption”, “The Green Mile” and November 22, 1963 These stories immediately come to mind. Happy Garden And how it affected my sense of time and place, taking me back to a time that seemed more innocent and more hopeful about the future. It was also a time filled with an inner darkness, ready to grab you in a heartbeat, chew you up, and spit you out. I guess it helps because I’m from the North Carolina coast (Beaufort and Morehead City areas) and the story takes place about a hundred miles south of there in the early 70s. I was still in college at the time, trying to understand the nature of life and love, and the people closest to me. Needless to say, I kind of identified with the character of Devin Jones in this book, and for a brief moment, I used to be Returning to North Carolina, enjoying the cool breezes off the Atlantic, the sound of seagulls circling over the waves, and the smell of sea salt in the air. Although I didn’t know it at the time, those were great times that I will never be able to recapture.
Happy Garden The story follows Devin Jones, a New Hampshire college student in 1973 who decides to find a summer job at a carnival near the border of South Carolina and North Carolina. His girlfriend has broken up with him, but he refuses to face this harsh reality. Subconsciously, he hopes that after some time apart, they will be able to get back together when the fall semester starts again in New Hampshire.
The carnival where Devin finds work is called Funhouse, and a few years ago a young lady was murdered by a serial killer in the horror funhouse. Devin doesn’t mind as he begins to learn the ropes and grind of the carnival lifestyle. He soon catches the attention of the carnival owner for his hard work and diligence. This is bound to pay off in the end.
However, as time goes by, Devin makes new friends who inadvertently lead him to a confrontation with the serial killer, who still lingers in the area, watching carefully if anyone has even the slightest suspicion of his true identity.
In the summer of 1973, Devin’s life will change as he grows up, matures, experiences what it means to be a human, falls in love again, and ultimately has to face evil in human form to protect the lives of others. It will be a summer he will never forget.
What I have come to know about Stephen King as an author over the past 35 years is that there are two different authors in the same body. I have no idea why this is the case. One author uses a specific writing style throughout most of his novels, while the other seems to have a completely different way of writing that I guess just flows out of him without any thought or actual planning. It’s almost like the second style is channeled through him. If I asked Stephen King how he does this, I bet he wouldn’t answer. It’s just something that happens from time to time when he sits down to write a unique novel.
Now, Happy Garden Published by Hard Case Crime, a small publisher that has published some excellent crime books. But it is small. If a large publisher publishes Happy Garden, I am sure this novel will receive far more critical attention than it has received. This is not to disparage Hard Case Crime. They were truly lucky to have published what I consider to be one of Mr. King’s best novels. The only reason I bring this up is because the book seems to have been overlooked by most, with only a few recognizing its talent and skill in storytelling.
writing Happy Garden The flow is so smooth and effortless, and the character development is so accurate, it’s as if the book really came alive in your hands. I knew I was completely immersed in that extraordinary summer and the world of the carnival and its crew. That really is what writing is all about… taking the reader on a journey with words that he or she will never forget. This novel is also the difference between a very good writer and a great writer. When one can write a story so convincing, and one that is able to penetrate the reader’s subconscious and control the reader, then that author has surely achieved greatness. Stephen King would smile and shake his head, wanting nothing more than to tell a simple story and have others read it.
I’m glad I finally read it Happy Garden?
I do.
Not only does this allow me to escape the humdrum of daily life for a few days, it also advances my goals as a writer. Happy Garden This is one of Stephen King’s best novels and I sincerely hope all his fans will eventually read it. Highly recommended!
