{"id":2792,"date":"2025-01-13T21:00:11","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T20:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/minimal-kritikak.hu\/en\/?p=2792"},"modified":"2025-04-21T21:27:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:27:33","slug":"you-like-it-darker-by-stephen-king-book-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/minimal-kritikak.hu\/en\/2025\/01\/13\/you-like-it-darker-by-stephen-king-book-review\/","title":{"rendered":"You Like It Darker by Stephen King \u2013 Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"You<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When it comes to short story collections, it’s always best to kick things off with the strongest story. Naturally, Stephen King does exactly that. You Like It Darker<\/em> opens with Two Talented Bastids<\/em>, a tale that hooks you almost instantly with its air of mystery<\/strong> and that trademark King melancholy<\/strong>, the kind that lingers with you long after you\u2019ve finished the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the rest? Well, it\u2019s the usual grab bag of everything we\u2019ve come to expect from the prolific American master: monsters, monstrous humans, the unfathomable secrets of the universe<\/strong>, and, of course, those everyday American heroes<\/strong> who often don\u2019t even realize they\u2019re heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and don\u2019t forget the usual dose of darkness. Whether you like it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Talented Bastids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is talent? Stephen King poses the question\u2014and then, predictably, doesn\u2019t give a straight answer. Or at least, he leaves you wondering. There\u2019s definitely something not quite right with the two rural buddies who suddenly start cranking out masterpieces in their forties. Could they have made a deal with the devil at a crossroads at midnight?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Two Talented Bastids <\/em>is a textbook example of how to grab attention<\/strong> and, more importantly, keep it. As is often the case, the investigation of the mystery is far more engaging than the resolution itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the ongoing tension<\/strong> of the introductory story and the heightened excitement of the anticipation, there is also the contrast that pits the successful father, Laird Carmody, and the even more successful Uncle Butch, against the narrator, the utterly unsuccessful son in every respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Talented Bastids <\/em>also, unfortunately, unmistakably convinces you<\/em>, the reader, that no matter how hard you hustle, without some extra help, you\u2019ll never even come close to achieving the kind of feats that these two fine gentlemen\u2014three, if you count Stephen King among them\u2014have put on the table… (Damn it!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fifth Step (& Willie the Weirdo)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve never been particularly fond of reading short stories. And I wouldn\u2019t have picked up Stephen King\u2019s You Like It Darker<\/em> collection now either, if I hadn\u2019t decided that, since I have this blog, it might be worth slowly re-reading the (extensive) body of work of the American master and writing reviews of ALL<\/em> his books. (Everyone needs a grand, important goal in life, right?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, The Fifth Step (& Willie the Weirdo)<\/em> is a prime example of why short stories can feel like a waste of time<\/strong>. Just as you\u2019re getting into them, they\u2019re over. There\u2019s no room for significant character development or for building any deeper situations. Usually, they wrap up with a twist ending that either lands or doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of The Fifth Step (& Willie the Weirdo)<\/em>, it doesn\u2019t quite work. I\u2019d bet good money I\u2019ve read this exact same twist somewhere else before. But even if that\u2019s not the case, I\u2019m sure at least five other writers have used it somewhere, more or less in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willie the Weirdo<\/em> is a bit of a different case, though. The absurdity of the premise is undeniably intriguing\u2014because Willie is, in fact, pretty damn dopey. An odd choice for a protagonist. As for the twist, which you can see coming from a mile away, you dismiss it right off the bat because it seems so improbable. And yet, King still pulls it off… But hey, that\u2019s how it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Danny Coughlin\u2019s Bad Dream<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I would have said that the best story in You Like It Darker<\/em><\/strong> is Two Talented Bastids<\/em>, wouldn\u2019t I? Maybe so, but it\u2019s a close tie. Danny Coughlin\u2019s Bad Dream<\/em> is right up there with it<\/strong>. Where it edges ahead, though, is in sheer suspense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Danny Coughlin isn\u2019t your typical King protagonist. He\u2019s not an intellectual; at first glance, he even seems a little too simple. But when faced with his first-ever supernatural experience\u2014a dream leading him to a buried corpse\u2014he has to muster all his wits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call the cops to report a murder but hide your identity? And then still get caught because you\u2019re so clumsy? YOU\u2019RE SCREWED!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think your fumbling might work in your favor, you\u2019re wrong. If you think the cops will care about your inexplicable dreams, you\u2019re wrong again. All they care about is nailing a suspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Danny Coughlin\u2019s Bad Dream<\/em> is so nerve-wracking<\/strong> that your blood pressure will skyrocket while reading it. No matter what Danny tries, no one believes him. And if that weren\u2019t enough, Detective Jalbert\u2014who\u2019s already pretty obsessive\u2014starts losing his mind even more\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With Finn<\/em>, we encounter the very issues mentioned in the introduction. Finn is unlucky. Well, okay, it happens. Not to an extreme degree, but enough to matter. Finn finds himself in deep trouble but gets out of it relatively easily. As for what Stephen King is trying to say with all this, it\u2019s not entirely clear. Maybe it\u2019s that unchecked intelligence activities can pose serious dangers? Maybe. But who knows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finn starts off, but then it suddenly ends before anything truly serious can develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Slide Inn Road<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you read the short story collection You Like It Darker<\/em>, you might notice that King, a master at crafting great child protagonists, has dialed up the age range. Most of the main characters in You Like It Darker<\/em> are aging boomers. They\u2019re in their 70s, just like the author himself, Stephen King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But among them all, the most unbearable is Grandpop Brown. A real obnoxious, politically incorrect, restless, foul-mouthed old geezer.<\/strong> (Luckily, the grandkids love him.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

King pulls out all the stops to make you despise Grandpop. But it turns out that sometimes, when real action is required<\/strong>, it\u2019s good to have a grumpy old boomer around!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Slide Inn Road<\/em>, alongside the four longer pieces in You Like It Darker<\/em>, stands out as the collection\u2019s most spot-on short story<\/strong>. It\u2019s also the exception that proves the rule. It shows that sometimes 20 pages are more than enough for everything: excellent characters, quick yet vivid character sketches, complication after complication, ruthless villains\u2014and an accidental (and rather annoying) hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Screen (& The Turbulence Expert)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boring.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boring.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laurie<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I started writing this review, I was sure that On Slide Inn Road<\/em> was my favorite among the shorter stories in You Like It Darker<\/em>. But I might have been wrong! On Slide Inn Road<\/em> is tricky and clever, but Laurie<\/em> is genuinely heartwarming<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s that saying again? Pet sells?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No question about it. The recently widowed boomer, Lloyd Sunderland, knows this as well as we do. So, in Laurie<\/em>, the focus isn\u2019t really on whether Lloyd will accept the eponymous pet, but how quickly he does so. In about 10 minutes\u2014or maybe he lets himself be persuaded for a couple of hours first. (It\u2019s worth noting: Laurie is a border collie and mudi mix.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lloyd\u2019s slow recovery from grief<\/strong> and a lovable little puppy<\/strong> is wonderful, but barely enough material for a short story. So something else is also needed here. Preferably something big, green, hungry, with lots of teeth<\/strong>. Still, Laurie<\/em> is the kind of story where you might feel that the monster\u2019s presence is unnecessary. But, if it didn\u2019t show up, the story\u2019s ending would somehow be missing\u2026 So\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rattlesnakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cujo<\/em> is the only Stephen King book I own but have never read. I got it as a gift about 35 years ago, it\u2019s been sitting on my shelf ever since. (A big, bloodthirsty pet snarls on the cover!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rattlesnakes<\/em> not only successfully spoils Cujo<\/em> for me (though King really could have waited until I finally got around to reading it) but also reveals what happened to the characters 40 years later. That alone makes it worth picking up. (At least for those who didn\u2019t skip the original. Cujo!<\/em> Bad dog! Bad dog!) And also because, as mentioned earlier, all the longer pieces in You Like It Darker<\/em>, including Rattlesnakes<\/em>, are excellent works<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another boomer protagonist steps into the spotlight. Vic Trenton, Donna\u2019s ex-husband from Cujo<\/em>, plans to spend the summer on Florida\u2019s Rattlesnake Key. He doesn\u2019t have to worry about rattlesnakes anymore\u2014they\u2019re all long gone. But Vic is about to face an even deadlier foe\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rattlesnakes<\/em> is a true, classic Stephen King ghost story<\/strong>. (The Trenton family can\u2019t catch a break, no doubt about it.) Like the other frail protagonists in You Like It Darker<\/em>, Vic Trenton also has to pull himself together, both physically and, well, spiritually<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, like poor Danny Coughlin, Vic also has suspicious cops on his tail, adding more excitement for the reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And perhaps this is what gives most of the stories in You Like It Darker<\/em> their main appeal: the spine-tingling suspense and protagonists constantly under pressure<\/strong>. Which, as one would expect from people approaching the end of their lives, is complemented by a melancholy, reflective look back: What went wrong? What could have been done better? Was this really all that could be made of this human life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(For the Trentons, though, it\u2019s really just this. That damn dog took care of that.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dreamers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t want to keep repeating yourself, but in the case of The Dreamers<\/em>, it\u2019s clear what it suffers from: its own brevity. The protagonist, William Davies, is excellent.<\/strong> (An emotionally drained but good-hearted Vietnam vet, always a great character.) The setting is Castle Rock. This works too, since Castle Rock is pretty much like the Hellmouth in Buffy<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elgin, the mad scientist<\/strong>, doesn\u2019t get much spotlight. The dangerous forces<\/strong> he wants to unleash are hard to take seriously, since all that\u2019s needed to bring them about is some patience and a little Flurazepam. (Okay, but they\u2019re still a bit creepy.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, King makes the most of the material within such a short space, but by the end of the story, the reader is left with a definite sense of unfulfilled potential. You want to know something you probably shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Answer Man<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Who would want to know how their life will turn out? Anyone? Clearly, it\u2019s a terrible idea. (If you need a strong example, just think of the Atreides family: see Dune<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Phil Parker\u2019s case, we\u2019re inclined to make an exception, because he\u2019s facing a life-changing decision where a little foresight wouldn\u2019t hurt. And sometimes, just a tiny glimpse into the future is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But sometimes, it\u2019s definetely not enough, damn it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, like I said, it\u2019s better not to know anything at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Answer Man<\/em> is pure nonsense.<\/strong> A guy on the side of the road selling you glimpses of the future for a few bucks, when he should have invested all his money in Apple stocks ages ago? That doesn\u2019t happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What, then, is The Answer Man<\/em>? A brief manifestation of the universe\u2019s inexplicable whispers? Maybe, but why would the universe care about Phil Parker? Phil Parker is just an average guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the universe out of the equation, and what\u2019s left? Phil Parker, all on his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An average man\u2019s life.<\/strong> It\u2019s like reading through a hefty (and emotional) John Irving novel, just shortened, but with almost the same satisfying (or, more accurately, melancholy-inducing) ending<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That’s pretty much it,” probably says 77-year-old Stephen King. “Whether you know it ahead of time or not doesn’t matter.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Like It Darker?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Then you\u2019re mostly in luck. The underlying tone<\/strong> of Stephen King\u2019s short story and novella collection is dark<\/strong>. But isn\u2019t that the case with every one of his books? If You Like It Darker<\/em> is different in any way, it might be the prominent presence of elderly protagonists. A whole bunch of old boomers. (Of course, Stephen King is one of them now, too.) But age doesn\u2019t stop any of them from facing off against evil forces<\/strong> when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four longer pieces included in the collection have all turned out great!<\/strong> Together, they definitely add up to a full-fledged King novel. And one of the better kinds, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rating: 8.5\/10<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You Like It Darker by <\/em>Stephen King
502 pages, Hardcover
Published in 2024 by Scribner<\/a>
—
Other books by the author:
Holly<\/a>
Fairy Tale<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When it comes to short story collections, it’s always best to kick things off with the strongest story. Naturally, Stephen King does exactly that. You Like It Darker opens with Two Talented Bastids, a tale that hooks you almost instantly with its air of mystery and that trademark King melancholy, the kind that lingers with … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[180,14,38,18,55,32,258,79,83,39],"class_list":["post-2792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book","tag-dark-and-grim","tag-fantasy","tag-fiction","tag-horror","tag-mystery","tag-psychological-thriller","tag-short-stories","tag-supernatural","tag-suspense","tag-thriller"],"yoast_head":"\nYou Like It Darker by Stephen King \u2013 Book Review - minimal-Critiques<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If You Like It Darker\u2014or even if you don\u2019t... 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