Revival...do NOT open unless finished book! *SPOILERS*

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~Ally~

Well-Known Member
Nov 11, 2008
10,095
3,626
Well, although the ending of Revival was already ruined for me by a dastardly newspaper article I absolutely loved this book! The first person narrative worked extremely well here, and Jamie Morton is now amongst my list of great King character crushes (alongside Jake Epping, Scott Landon, and of course Roland!). I was instantly drawn in by the characters and settings. King's description of past decades/eras makes me wish time travel really were possible, just to know if everything looked/tasted/smelled as good as the sensations King creates in my imagination.

The Rev/Preacher/Mister Charles Daniel Jacobs is possibly one of the most pitiful and complex character's King has created in a long time. Wow, I truly pitied him, he wasn't a bad guy and his character made me wonder how much circumstance and life events really can change a person? Had Patsy and Tag-Along-Morrie survived he probably would have lived a happy and fulfilled life. Sure he was already playing with the unknown electricity even at that stage in his life, but it was the accounts of what others saw "behind the door" that spurred him on to go further, all in the hope of discovering what fate had befallen those he loved once they reached the other side.

The religious aspect of the book was also very well written. I appreciated how a man who had once been so devoted to God could turn away from religion after his family had been cruelly ripped away from him in such dreadful circumstances. The physical description of what his family looked like after the crash, and knowing the Rev witnessed them in that condition, would be enough to make most people question their faith, if not drive them slightly insane. And where illegal substances were Jamie's drug of choice in his later years, the Rev's drug was electricity and working with that was his coping mechanism following his family's deaths. Yet the unknown electricity and suggestions of what was really "out there" slowly turned him from an affable character to someone cynical and obsessive in his pursuit of the truth.

The unknown electricity is dark and dangerous, and looking at it from a religious aspect it is probably the work of the devil. The world it exposed was a hellish vision, where good people were beaten upon and tortured...by ants no less! The smallest creatures that as humans we think nothing of stamping upon, so it's quite clever that in this world they tower above humans and beat upon them like they are worthless. Yet it was playing with the unknown electricity that created that world/hell for the Rev and those he healed...so I have no doubt had he left it alone and eventually died a natural death he would have been reunited with his family in another world that represented heaven. Just my opinion folks.

Damnit!! There’s so many aspects of this book I could waffle on about right now, but this post is already far too long...sorry. However, if we could get a discussion going then I'm sure many other aspects will pop up along the way. So come on folks, what did y'all think? :smile2:
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
revival%2Bcovers.jpg


I have not bought the book yet (I was ill) so I could not read your post above, but I am really looking forward to this one!
 

Jeff M

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2011
86
22
Montana, USA
I finished Revival yesterday. I enjoyed it. It's so early after release, I don't really want to say too much. One thing I will mention is this: Maybe it's just blatantly obvious to some, but I found it a nice subtle reference that the maiden name of the Mary character's mother was Shelley. Nice touch SK, especially given that character's role in the story.
 

~Ally~

Well-Known Member
Nov 11, 2008
10,095
3,626
I finished Revival yesterday. I enjoyed it. It's so early after release, I don't really want to say too much. One thing I will mention is this: Maybe it's just blatantly obvious to some, but I found it a nice subtle reference that the maiden name of the Mary character's mother was Shelley. Nice touch SK, especially given that character's role in the story.

Don't worry about saying too much, the thread title makes it clear there will be spoilers here so feel free to discuss.
And yup, the name play was a nice touch. :smile2:
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
So come on then, what are you waiting for? Tell us what you think. :biggrin2:
Honestly, this book had me from the dedication. Seeing those names....I knew it was going to be great. I was hooked from page 1 to page 405. At first, the ending was SO horrific that I couldn't really get a grasp on it..... But then I thought about it. Wow. We go on alright, but maybe not to something better. Sheesh. Depressing. I must say, as far as horror goes, that sure beats a vampire kid scratching at the window or a haunted car mauling teens in the street (and that's saying something--those scenes were terrifying!).

Also, as well as the horror, I loved seeing Jamie grow up. Like others have said, King is so good at writing childhood--IT, "The Body", "Low Men In Yellow Coats", "Sometimes They Come Back".....this story felt like those, but still managed to seem new and fresh, which is amazing to me since King has written SO many stories--he's still able to usually not copy himself. Amazing.

I'd like to say a lot more, but it's early and I haven't had caffeine yet. Let me just say this is a very, very good King book but judging by the reviews I've seen already, it's very polarizing (which obviously means it's powerful!). I want to reread it already, which is a sign of just how good it is.
 

PRbuick

Member
Nov 21, 2009
5
35
I finished Revival yesterday. I enjoyed it. It's so early after release, I don't really want to say too much. One thing I will mention is this: Maybe it's just blatantly obvious to some, but I found it a nice subtle reference that the maiden name of the Mary character's mother was Shelley. Nice touch SK, especially given that character's role in the story.
And her son was named Victor. :)
 

PRbuick

Member
Nov 21, 2009
5
35
I liked how the story merged SK's larger mythology with Lovecraft's, e.g. the Old Ones and such. I couldn't help but thinking of them and Mother in terms of the ageless monsters of todash space. ("Null" space this time around.) And the "insane colors" that showed through the holes in the sky-- possibly the dead lights? It's fun to guess.

I wasn't necessarily shocked by the ending (I've read just about all of his stuff-- that comes harder these days) but I thought it was super creepy fun.

I thought that the Rev was a very complex and interesting character and a nice change of pace for an SK novel antagonist. When I first read a description of the book's plot, I'd imagined the character as starting off as a typical, insane, Leland Gaunt/RF, etc. type wacko that scars the main character and haunts him for the rest of the novel. Yes, he haunts poor Jamie but in a much different way than I expected. He was a truly tragic, empathetic character for much of the story.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
59
sweden
I have a question about Revival that i would like an opinion on. I loved the book but it was one thing i'm not sure i totally got. When the ending at Skytop takes place but then there is the aftermath. The Revs cures going mad and killing themslves and some others. But Jamie is basically OK. He has the talks with the psychiatris, true but he never even has urges to do things like all the other cured did. The only difference between him and them is that he was there, at the Skytop, when it happened. But i don't see why that should save him from any urges to kill, commit suicide or become really mentally ill (like his brother). Has i got it totally wrong? Did i miss something or whatam i overlooking? Opinions, Please!!!