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drkottke's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen King has spoiled us with something like one major publication every six months for a while now (and a string of meaty doorstop annuals just prior to that). The sudden downshift to smaller publications and collaborations since last summer's End of Watch feels jarring, but the decrease in quantity hasn't affected quality at all. The main event here invokes a lot of familiar themes from prior King work (Needful Things, Thinner, to name just two), yet still feels fresh. It has the fantasy and moral imagination of a good "Twilight Zone" episode. The undercard is a ghoulish take on the banality of evil called "The Music Room." Whereas "Gwendy" explores the supernatural without horror, "Music Room" is all horror without the supernatural. A great pairing whose only fault is leaving me wanting more.
crispycracklin's review against another edition
2.0
Well, this was a yawner. Hard to believe Stephen King co-wrote this. It just read like ... not a lot of thought went into it.
A Mysterious Man gives a 12-year-old girl named Gwendy a box with eight buttons on it. Each button represents a different continent, with two additional buttons for when Gwendy wants to use her imagination (trying not to spoil here). The box affects Gwendy's life even when she doesn't touch it.
There's a stereotypical Bad Guy who sounds straight out of a teenage angst 60s film, there's a stereotypical Perfect Boy who is given zero personality, and the whole thing is pretty predictable except the end, which is honestly a let-down. Can't recommend.
A Mysterious Man gives a 12-year-old girl named Gwendy a box with eight buttons on it. Each button represents a different continent, with two additional buttons for when Gwendy wants to use her imagination (trying not to spoil here). The box affects Gwendy's life even when she doesn't touch it.
There's a stereotypical Bad Guy who sounds straight out of a teenage angst 60s film, there's a stereotypical Perfect Boy who is given zero personality, and the whole thing is pretty predictable except the end, which is honestly a let-down. Can't recommend.
gwa87's review against another edition
4.0
I had been eagerly anticipating Gwendy's Button Box since it was first announced, and it did not disappoint. A very quick read, the story of Gwendy Peterson, Richard Farris, and the mysterious Button Box left me wanting more. (That's probably just me being a greedy Stephen King fan, but I don't care.)
I felt King and Chizmar blended their "voices" together quite well. I was curious how the co-writing would turn out, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the story flow so easily. I'm, of course, quite familiar with King's writing, but had not previously read Chizmar's work. I have his collection, A Long December, and promptly moved it up my TBR list after reading Gwendy's Button Box.
Overall, a quick, entertaining read. Highly recommended.
I felt King and Chizmar blended their "voices" together quite well. I was curious how the co-writing would turn out, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the story flow so easily. I'm, of course, quite familiar with King's writing, but had not previously read Chizmar's work. I have his collection, A Long December, and promptly moved it up my TBR list after reading Gwendy's Button Box.
Overall, a quick, entertaining read. Highly recommended.
typotenuse's review against another edition
4.5
A great, albeit short one from King and Chizmar.
TL; DR: A novella placed over a long span of time that asks more questions of you and your morality than might be expected.
I maintain that King is a master of writing, all genres, all pages, bar none. I fully believe there is nothing this man can’t do with a computer and blank document. Funnily enough, though he is clearly most well known for his horror and thriller contributions, I’ve found that I most enjoy his dips into whimsy. Gwendy’s Button Box offers a chance to delve into that world and coincidentally is once again one of my favorite of my King reads.
Characters: The titular Gwendy is both charming and understandable; the predicaments and events that take place through her life are both intriguing and terrifying. In every regard, the box appears what King intended: a character in itself, reminiscent of Pandora and hers. The other characters hold the same charm, Richard Farris in particular. I also maintain that King’s villains are abhorrent, and I did so hate someone throughout.
Setting: Jumping about as much as this did, the setting was somehow always the same and different. It was pleasant and offered as much as it could along the way.
Story: Gripping and constantly moving. I really appreciated the pacing and events that moved the story forward. Everything had a purpose and when I found what each piece did, I was happy to get there.
Writing: Solid; King and Chizmar make a great team and when King described them “correcting” each other, I could really see it as it went. It’s pretty flawless in terms of writing.
I thought I was mistaken and had picked up a children’s book when I began. I wasn’t disappointed, but was very pleased to get the mature reading in a bite size story. More Gwendy please.
4.5 🌟
TL; DR: A novella placed over a long span of time that asks more questions of you and your morality than might be expected.
I maintain that King is a master of writing, all genres, all pages, bar none. I fully believe there is nothing this man can’t do with a computer and blank document. Funnily enough, though he is clearly most well known for his horror and thriller contributions, I’ve found that I most enjoy his dips into whimsy. Gwendy’s Button Box offers a chance to delve into that world and coincidentally is once again one of my favorite of my King reads.
Characters: The titular Gwendy is both charming and understandable; the predicaments and events that take place through her life are both intriguing and terrifying. In every regard, the box appears what King intended: a character in itself, reminiscent of Pandora and hers. The other characters hold the same charm, Richard Farris in particular. I also maintain that King’s villains are abhorrent, and I did so hate someone throughout.
Setting: Jumping about as much as this did, the setting was somehow always the same and different. It was pleasant and offered as much as it could along the way.
Story: Gripping and constantly moving. I really appreciated the pacing and events that moved the story forward. Everything had a purpose and when I found what each piece did, I was happy to get there.
Writing: Solid; King and Chizmar make a great team and when King described them “correcting” each other, I could really see it as it went. It’s pretty flawless in terms of writing.
I thought I was mistaken and had picked up a children’s book when I began. I wasn’t disappointed, but was very pleased to get the mature reading in a bite size story. More Gwendy please.
4.5 🌟
csuilmann's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
jonesy_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio version as read by Maggie Siff from SOA, and she was just perfect for the task. Really enjoyed this little gem of a story.
tstanley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
glauryy_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5