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Pet Sematary
Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestseller is a “wild, powerful, disturbing” (The Washington Post Book World) classic about evil that exists far beyond the grave—among his most iconic and frightening novels.
When Dr. Louis Creed takes a new job and moves his family to the idyllic rural town of Ludlow, Maine, this new beginning seems too good to be true. Despite Ludlow’s tranquility, an undercurrent of danger exists here. Those trucks on the road outside the Creed’s beautiful old home travel by just a little too quickly, for one thing…as is evidenced by the makeshift graveyard in the nearby woods where generations of children have buried their beloved pets. Then there are the warnings to Louis both real and from the depths of his nightmares that he should not venture beyond the borders of this little graveyard where another burial ground lures with seductive promises and ungodly temptations. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there—one more terrifying than death itself, and hideously more powerful. As Louis is about to discover for himself sometimes, dead is better…
When Dr. Louis Creed takes a new job and moves his family to the idyllic rural town of Ludlow, Maine, this new beginning seems too good to be true. Despite Ludlow’s tranquility, an undercurrent of danger exists here. Those trucks on the road outside the Creed’s beautiful old home travel by just a little too quickly, for one thing…as is evidenced by the makeshift graveyard in the nearby woods where generations of children have buried their beloved pets. Then there are the warnings to Louis both real and from the depths of his nightmares that he should not venture beyond the borders of this little graveyard where another burial ground lures with seductive promises and ungodly temptations. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there—one more terrifying than death itself, and hideously more powerful. As Louis is about to discover for himself sometimes, dead is better…
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Community Reviews
First time reading SK so I did not really know what to expect. The book is a slow burn where u get key events at very marked times throughout the novel, still at times it felt a very slow story development.
One thing I liked is how SK engages you with the characters, letting you slip inside their heads and their dynamics. I found quite nice to get into Louis' family day-to-days and getting to understand in full the emotional links between the main characters.
When it comes to the plot, I'll say it was rather predictable. No big plot twists.
I liked the concept but I do think the story could have evolved more interestingly.
Overall I'll say, it was a dark story, more centered in providing suspense rather than pure horror; exploring the psychological consequences of the death of a loved one and the trauma that comes with it. How people go through with the mourning period afterwards, and how that can affect their mental health and sense of identity.
It was OK, but definitely not my favorite King story. Full of reflective thoughts about love, loss, and resurrection.
I really liked the premise of Pet Sematary by Stephen King. The writing style was great, and King's ability to build an atmosphere of dread and suspense was impressive. I found it to be a chilling, thought-provoking experience that kept me on edge from start to finish.
While some parts felt a bit slow due to the drawn-out internal and external dialogues, King did an incredible job of making both the characters and the environment feel alive and real. I was particularly struck by the juxtaposition within Louis’s character—how grief can push even the most rational minds, like a doctor’s, to make decisions they know are irrational. Watching Louis, a man of science, follow a path he knows won’t give him the outcome he’s hoping for was both heartbreaking and haunting.
That said, if you prefer heavily plot-driven stories, Pet Sematary might not be for you. It’s more of a character study, an exploration of grief and human conduct. Overall, it was a chilling read that lingers long after the final page.
Rating: 7.43
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