The Institute - Stephen King (Repeat)

Thriller/Horror

Rating: 10/10

In anticipation of my review of King’s latest, Billy Summers, that I am posting on Thursday, I wanted to reshare The Institute review. Given that in 3+ years and 500+ reviews it is one of only two 10/10 ratings I have given, I would say it’s worth repeating!!

Every time I finish a Stephen King book, I am reminded to be grateful that he has chosen to use his powers for good. 

Each story he unleashes upon us is sure to have the following in some measure.

·      consuming malevolence

·      immaculate sense of place & time

·      flawless dialogue

·      grandiose battles between good & evil

·      tons of assorted creepy shit

·      brilliant, terrifying & cunning characters…good, bad, old, young, normal and…not so normal

The reason I am so steadfast in my adoration for his writing is because of this fierce repertoire of talent. 

This magnificent book is bursting at the seams with each and every one of these. Not only is this King at his best; sleepy small-town setting that is seething with something beneath the surface, adults at war with their demons and a boy who will make your heart ache as he tries to save the day.  It’s also King at his most nostalgic, which is where many of his Constant Readers reside already.  I counted no less than eight references to other works, all gems, which provided wonderful glimpses into his greatest hits.

You might assume, given the frequent mentions of my admiration, that I would award all of his books with a rating of ten.  Not so.  Only slightly more than a dozen would warrant that distinction, only two of which were published in the last thirty years. At the turning of the last page of this read I felt I had been given the greatest of gifts. That I was again in my twenties with nothing but endless possibility ahead of me.

Footnote: In every Stephen King book, the real world lurks just out of sight in the story.  The expectation is that the reader will peak behind this curtain to see what awaits them.  One of the themes hiding here couldn’t be more relevant; the inhumane treatment of children by adults misusing their power.  Not to worry though, in Kings books the kids are always smarter than the grown-ups!