Revival: Is anyone else somewhat disappointed?

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AnnaMarie

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2012
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I finished revival.

Quite early I figured out there was a
Frankenstein
connection. I was actually looking forward to how King would write it and was getting so far into it, I started thinking maybe I was wrong.

Then he met Mary. And my thought was rather mean.
would you like some wine with that cheese?
yes. I realize how mean that was. It was the thought that immediately popped into my head. Pulled me right out of the story and I had to delay finishing the book. I just kept laughing.

All in all, I did like the book. First 3/4 I loved. The ending..meh!

Why would it not even cross his mind (or the person he refers to speaking to twice a week) that
demons lie. What he saw may very well be one place people go when they did. We'll call that place hell. But what's to say there isn't something - somewhere - else. Demons lie. They can present a false face as well.
 

Lord Tyrion

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2013
1,582
6,257
I finished revival.

Quite early I figured out there was a
Frankenstein
connection. I was actually looking forward to how King would write it and was getting so far into it, I started thinking maybe I was wrong.

Then he met Mary. And my thought was rather mean.
would you like some wine with that cheese?
yes. I realize how mean that was. It was the thought that immediately popped into my head. Pulled me right out of the story and I had to delay finishing the book. I just kept laughing.

All in all, I did like the book. First 3/4 I loved. The ending..meh!

Why would it not even cross his mind (or the person he refers to speaking to twice a week) that
demons lie. What he saw may very well be one place people go when they did. We'll call that place hell. But what's to say there isn't something - somewhere - else. Demons lie. They can present a false face as well.

I think Jaimie isn't completely convinced, but considering what he saw and what Mary told her, he's at least convinced of the possibility that it's true which would drive most people mad. Also, when other people started dying, it was evident that Jamie set something off which is more evidence that what he saw was real.
 

Sigmund

Waiting in Uber.
Jan 3, 2010
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In your mirror.
Why would it not even cross his mind (or the person he refers to speaking to twice a week) that
demons lie. What he saw may very well be one place people go when they did. We'll call that place hell. But what's to say there isn't something - somewhere - else. Demons lie. They can present a false face as well.

Oooo...I like that AnnaMarie!!!!

Demons or Satan lying to destroy people's faith, hope, beliefs, etc., have them fall into despair, waste their life fearing death.

Cool idea.

Thank you!
 

AnnaMarie

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Feb 16, 2012
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I think Jaimie isn't completely convinced, but considering what he saw and what Mary told her, he's at least convinced of the possibility that it's true which would drive most people mad. Also, when other people started dying, it was evident that Jamie set something off which is more evidence that what he saw was real.

I'm not saying it wasn't real. I'm saying it was incomplete.
 

The Space Cowboy

play my music in the sun
Apr 21, 2014
310
772
What indications lead you guys to believe that Jamie doesn't buy into what he saw? I think SK pretty much spelled it out that Jamie was completely taken in by what he saw. He writes on how Jamie seeks therapy because he doesn't wanna go kill himself and meet mother, that he tries to enjoy each and every moment in his life because he's fully aware of what's awaiting him on the other side. That's one of the last lines in the book, isn't it? That's how I remember it, anyway. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I only read the book once and it was last month heh.
 

AnnaMarie

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Feb 16, 2012
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What indications lead you guys to believe that Jamie doesn't buy into what he saw? I think SK pretty much spelled it out that Jamie was completely taken in by what he saw. He writes on how Jamie seeks therapy because he doesn't wanna go kill himself and meet mother, that he tries to enjoy each and every moment in his life because he's fully aware of what's awaiting him on the other side. That's one of the last lines in the book, isn't it? That's how I remember it, anyway. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I only read the book once and it was last month heh.

He did buy into it. And that's the problem I have. I don't believe he never would have considered other possibilities.
 

Lord Tyrion

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2013
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What indications lead you guys to believe that Jamie doesn't buy into what he saw? I think SK pretty much spelled it out that Jamie was completely taken in by what he saw. He writes on how Jamie seeks therapy because he doesn't wanna go kill himself and meet mother, that he tries to enjoy each and every moment in his life because he's fully aware of what's awaiting him on the other side. That's one of the last lines in the book, isn't it? That's how I remember it, anyway. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I only read the book once and it was last month heh.

He believes that there is a chance that what he saw was not real. I think he says something to the effect it could have been a lie. However, given the aftermath and how freaked out he was, he clearly thinks what he saw was real, but he's not 100% sure. I think the uncertainty is what makes him scared.

He did buy into it. And that's the problem I have. I don't believe he never would have considered other possibilities.

He does consider the possibility that what he saw was not true, but it's hard to dismiss what he saw because it was so terrifying and it left such as impression on his mind. Given what happened with the other patients killing themselves because of his interaction and other patients talking about seeing mother, the likelihood that what he saw was real is pretty strong.
 

Grillo

Active Member
Sep 18, 2012
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Why would it not even cross his mind (or the person he refers to speaking to twice a week) that
demons lie. What he saw may very well be one place people go when they did. We'll call that place hell. But what's to say there isn't something - somewhere - else. Demons lie. They can present a false face as well.

It does cross his mind. He uses the mantra "Mother lied" every single day as a coping mechanism. The problem is, deep down, he knows she was telling him the truth.
 

do1you9love?

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Feb 18, 2012
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I am not a reader of Lovecraft and Sai King's treatments of Lovecraftian themes are not typically my favorites. (Someone already mentioned Crouch End, N., also I think the short story "Jerusalem's Lot".) I knew early on once the minister mentioned The Mysteries of the Worm, that we were heading that direction. That being said, I very much enjoyed the ride and the characters. I guess if anything, I felt it was hyped as so dark, but I personally didn't find it that much more dark that some other of his works. I liked it and will likely re-read it in a month to two to see what I might have missed/how my perspective might have changed.
 

SpazzTheBassPlayer

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Dec 16, 2014
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OK, I finished it.......... I like to Preface all my SK reviews with my usual disclaimer:
"Stephen King is a lot like Star Trek -- even when they aren't the greatest, its still better than most things"

First of all, as a decades long working musician, I laughed at a few points -- a rhythm guitar player does NOT always work. As a matter of fact, most bands do not require it. Guitar players are a lot like dogs when they get around each other: tails in the air, circling, and sniffing each other's butt to make sure the other doesnt smell as good...How many guitar players does it take to change a lightbulb? 10 - One to do it and the other nine to stand around and tell each other "I could have done that better". Yup, guitards -- gotta' love 'em! ;-D.

For Bar-Level bands, its usually one guitarist in a classic rock line-up, or two guitarists, both sharing lead and rhythm chores equally. Top 40, Wedding, and Corporate Dance/Funk or Show bands that make the big Unionized bucks may have ten pieces, but only one guitarist is required. Bass players and (especially) keyboard players (even further: synthesizer/sampler players that own the right gear) are the players that are always in demand and work. I know SK plays rhythm guitar in a group so I figured this was why he mentioned it the way he did so I gave him creative license there :)

As always in every SK book, its fun looking for the "Easter Egg" Dark Tower references....kind of a hobby of mine

OK, with that out of the way - I agree with a lot of the sentiments here: I liked it all the way to the end and I guessed at the
Frankenstein-thing
early on. Still, it was enjoyable if a little disheartening at the end

My big question was the
hellish land with the ant-things and I wonder if there is an intentional connection with Joe Hill's "Voluntary Committal",
as the scene SK describes is what I would perceive as
The Leng Plateau where 'the ants go marching one by one, hurrah"
That was the first thing that crossed my mind as soon as the
ants appeared in the first dream and especially the ant-things at the end.