Name: Kristen Claiborn's review of You Like It Darker by Stephen King
Item: You Like It Darker
Rating: 5
Author: Kristen Claiborn

Stephen King

From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER. “You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again. “Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful. King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.

Stories

You Like It Darker

Melanie Harvie

         Ya’ll know my love for Stephen King and the anticipation I feel for each new release.  I’m on pins and needles each time I know a new one is on the way.  This one, however, I looked forward to more than most.  Again, HUGE Stephen King here, so you know I’ve read everything he’s published, so when I heard that a sort-of sequel to Cujo was in this book, I about wet my pants.  Of course, it wasn’t the first story in the book (dammit), but the stories that came before it were good enough that I don’t resent him (much). 

            This was a thoroughly enjoyable short story that included all the necessary elements of a story and didn’t make me dream up with half of it on my own.  I loved the main character, and he genuinely seemed like a decent guy who seemed deserving of the “gift” he had been given.  My favorite quote from the book came out of this story.  On page 48, the visitor, while explaining what with cause the end of humanity on Earth, says, “When intelligence outraces emotional stability, it’s always just a matter of time.” It made me think. 

            King isn’t known for sappy, happy endings, so I knew he was building up to something with this story.  However, when we got to that something, my jaw hit the floor.  It was completely shocking and I loved it. 

            This one was decidedly odd, and definitely my least favorite in this book.  It felt like it was there as a filler, like stock footage at the beginning of a TV show. 

This was the most involved story in this book, and I almost feel like it should have been a stand-alone novel.  The build-up of anticipation was amazing and propelled this story like a torpedo.  Danny was another genuinely likeable character that I wanted desperately to be exonerated, possibly even hailed a hero.  With Jalbert, who was CLEARLY painted to be similar to another well-known literary villain, King blurred the lines between good and evil.  While I wish that King had gone a little deeper with the connection between Danny’s dream and Catholicism, the story was really entertaining. 

            I didn’t love this one, it felt like another filler to me. 

            I loved this one.  I was on the edge of my feet from start to finish with this story.  I appreciated the hero, and I loved that the “evil” in this one was human rather than any other type of entity.  King does a great job with the supernatural or the monsters, I find real monsters to be the scariest. 

                        This is another great example of why I don’t like short stories.  It was a great premise, but it left so much to the imagination, I was just irritated.

            I take notes while I read so that I’m able to refer to them when I sit down to write a review, rather than having to flip through pages.  My notes for this story were short and simple: “Didn’t love this one.  Again, left me hanging.”  While I agree with my initial assessment, I have changed my mind about whether or not I loved this one.  When I think back to this book, and especially when I have had discussions about it, THIS is the story that sticks out most in my memory.  It’s such an odd little story, yet something about it just stuck with me.  I wish there was more, but that’s the gripe I have with most short stories.  I wanted to know how this guy got the job…why does that job even exist?  I had so many questions!  While this one did indeed leave me on a ledge, for me, it was the most memorable in this book. 

            This is a great example of a “man vs nature” storyline with a lovely build-up to the climax.  I felt like the dog was going to be a bigger player, but alas, the dog was just a bit-player in the story.  Regardless, it was satisfying. 

            FINALLY, I got to the 

 follow-up.  I read the entire book (worth it) to get to this one.  Wanting to know what happened with Donna after the end of 

 was so overwhelming, that when I finally uncovered the full story, it was a bit of a let-down.  I’m glad they were able to work out the trauma that led to their initial separation, but Donna’s end felt like an injustice to the character.  The story itself held some similarities with 

, except this one was a ghost story.  It was sufficiently creepy, and I did appreciate the references King made about his former works, but as a whole, I was a tad disappointed (see what I did there…). 

            There were two other stories in this book, but I have zero memory of them and it seemed I didn’t even deem them worthy of notes.  Yes, it’s still getting five stars, despite my not loving every story in this book, because I ones I did love carried the entire thing enough for me.  Plus, it’s Stephen King…and ya’ll know how I feel about Stephen King. 

Kristen Claiborn

         Ya’ll know my love for Stephen King and the anticipation I feel for each new release.  I’m on pins and needles each time I know a new one is on the way.  This one, however, I looked forward to more than most.  Again, HUGE Stephen King here, so you know I’ve read everything he’s published, so when I heard that a sort-of sequel to Cujo was in this book, I about wet my pants.  Of course, it wasn’t the first story in the book (dammit), but the stories that came before it were good enough that I don’t resent him (much). 

Two Talented Bastids

            This was a thoroughly enjoyable short story that included all the necessary elements of a story and didn’t make me dream up with half of it on my own.  I loved the main character, and he genuinely seemed like a decent guy who seemed deserving of the “gift” he had been given.  My favorite quote from the book came out of this story.  On page 48, the visitor, while explaining what with cause the end of humanity on Earth, says, “When intelligence outraces emotional stability, it’s always just a matter of time.” It made me think. 

The Fifth Step

            King isn’t known for sappy, happy endings, so I knew he was building up to something with this story.  However, when we got to that something, my jaw hit the floor.  It was completely shocking and I loved it. 

Willie The Weirdo

            This one was decidedly odd, and definitely my least favorite in this book.  It felt like it was there as a filler, like stock footage at the beginning of a TV show. 

Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream

            This was the most involved story in this book, and I almost feel like it should have been a stand-alone novel.  The build-up of anticipation was amazing and propelled this story like a torpedo.  Danny was another genuinely likeable character that I wanted desperately to be exonerated, possibly even hailed a hero.  With Jalbert, who was CLEARLY painted to be similar to another well-known literary villain, King blurred the lines between good and evil.  While I wish that King had gone a little deeper with the connection between Danny’s dream and Catholicism, the story was really entertaining. 

Finn

            I didn’t love this one, it felt like another filler to me. 

On Slid Inn Road

            I loved this one.  I was on the edge of my feet from start to finish with this story.  I appreciated the hero, and I loved that the “evil” in this one was human rather than any other type of entity.  King does a great job with the supernatural or the monsters, I find real monsters to be the scariest. 

Red Screen

                        This is another great example of why I don’t like short stories.  It was a great premise, but it left so much to the imagination, I was just irritated.

The Turbulence Expert

            I take notes while I read so that I’m able to refer to them when I sit down to write a review, rather than having to flip through pages.  My notes for this story were short and simple: “Didn’t love this one.  Again, left me hanging.”  While I agree with my initial assessment, I have changed my mind about whether or not I loved this one.  When I think back to this book, and especially when I have had discussions about it, THIS is the story that sticks out most in my memory.  It’s such an odd little story, yet something about it just stuck with me.  I wish there was more, but that’s the gripe I have with most short stories.  I wanted to know how this guy got the job…why does that job even exist?  I had so many questions!  While this one did indeed leave me on a ledge, for me, it was the most memorable in this book. 

Laurie

            This is a great example of a “man vs nature” storyline with a lovely build-up to the climax.  I felt like the dog was going to be a bigger player, but alas, the dog was just a bit-player in the story.  Regardless, it was satisfying. 

Rattlesnakes

            FINALLY, I got to the Cujo follow-up.  I read the entire book (worth it) to get to this one.  Wanting to know what happened with Donna after the end of Cujo was so overwhelming, that when I finally uncovered the full story, it was a bit of a let-down.  I’m glad they were able to work out the trauma that led to their initial separation, but Donna’s end felt like an injustice to the character.  The story itself held some similarities with Laurie, except this one was a ghost story.  It was sufficiently creepy, and I did appreciate the references King made about his former works, but as a whole, I was a tad disappointed (see what I did there…). 

            There were two other stories in this book, but I have zero memory of them and it seemed I didn’t even deem them worthy of notes.  Yes, it’s still getting five stars, despite my not loving every story in this book, because I ones I did love carried the entire thing enough for me.  Plus, it’s Stephen King…and ya’ll know how I feel about Stephen King. 

Several great stories, including a continued storyline of a classic as well as a final story that’s both heartfelt and resonant. 

Melanie Harvie &
You Like It Darker by Stephen King

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Melanie Harvie &You Like It Darker by Stephen King

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Melanie Harvie &
You Like It Darker by Stephen King