Gwendy's Button Box
A Novella
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4.3 • 600개의 평가
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- US$6.99
출판사 설명
Stephen King teams up with long-time friend and award-winning author Richard Chizmar for the first time in this original, chilling novella that revisits the mysterious town of Castle Rock.
There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974, twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong—if time-rusted—iron bolts and zig-zag up the precarious cliffside.
Then one day when Gwendy gets to the top of Castle View, after catching her breath and hearing the shouts of kids on the playground below, a stranger calls to her. There on a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. On his head is a small, neat black hat. The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat…
The little town of Castle Rock, Maine has witnessed some strange events and unusual visitors over the years, but there is one story that has never been told—until now.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This absorbing novella by horror giants King (End of Watch) and Chizmar (A Long December) revisits one of King's most popular locales. It's 1974 when 12-year-old Gwendy Peterson is offered a magic box by a man named Richard Farris, whom she meets at the top of one of the cliffside Suicide Stairs in Castle Rock, Maine. Farris wears a "small neat black hat" and seems to know just who Gwendy is and what she wants. Eight buttons grace the mahogany box he offers to Gwendy, and a lever dispenses silver dollars and intricate chocolates that Farris claims will help Gwendy lose weight and escape being called "Goodyear" by her classmates. Lose weight she does, but that's not all. Wonderful things keep happening in Gwendy's life, and she's happier than she's ever been. But when she decides to press one of the buttons, the consequences are horrendous. The novella follows Gwendy through high school and beyond, capturing the golden-hued joy of childhood and the wonder of friendship and first love, all under the shadow of temptation. This bite-size gem of a story packs quite a punch, and the only complaint readers will likely have is that it isn't longer.
사용자 리뷰
Packs a punch
For a short story, this packs a punch. As always, King does not disappoint. One thing that does disappoint is the price for this short story though.
Smiling at the un-simplicity
Simple story, but it gets that little spot between your shoulder blades itching. It gets into the creases of your elbows and knees. It sets you rocking back and forth wondering. What would you do with a box covered with buttons? How would you react when your finger tickles with the urge to press just one? Which one will you press? And how will you explain the outcome to yourself? Still itching. Rubbing my hands to dull the tickle. Chizmar and King make it so very un-simple.
A Fun Story
I was expecting slightly more but despite that I enjoyed this story. I hope it gets a movie. I like the thinking skills of Gwendy.
I suggest you read Stephen King’s previous stories in chronological order before reading this because some of his individuals appear in multiple books plus some events are mentioned in others.
Regarding this short story I suggest you read The Stand before reading Gwendy’s Button Box.
By the way this is the start of a trilogy.