The Gingerbread Girl [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Sunday, March 18, 2012

The Gingerbread Girl [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Product Details

Audio CD
Publisher: Simon ; Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (May 6, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0743571185
ISBN-13: 978-0743571180
Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

By : Stephen King
Price : $14.56
You Save : $5.39 (27%)

Customer Reviews

I loved Stephen King before it was cool to love Stephen King. I've ridden this roller coaster from _Carrie_ to the present. There have been high points, and there have been low points, but like any charter member of the "constant reader" club, I stay strapped in, waiting for the next big hill. _The Gingerbread Girl_ isn't it.
This is a short novel of a young woman, Em, who takes up running after the loss of a child. Once again, Stephen King excels at creating believable and fleshed-out characters, but once again it falls short on the "horror factor". This novel is very similar to _Lizey's Story_, another woman who is pursued by a psycho following the unexpected death of a loved one. At one point, and sadly, only one, when said psycho begins speaking to an invisible accomplice, and it looks like we're going to get a touch of _Blaze_ blended in as well. It looks like we're going to have a psycho who isn't just nuts. However, like the demon in the closet early in _Cujo_, Psycho's inner voice is never referred to again, the haunting presence as well as a wonderful opportunity to kick the horror up a notch, is discarded.
<rant mode on
Not to be prudish, but while I understand the need for colorful language in dialogue, because that's just the way some people speak, I am really at a loss why a description of a setting needs the same treatment. It seems lazy. Like the right word is out there somewhere, but this one will do.
<rant mode off
That being said, King is still capable of occasionally leaving you speechless. "Donning wax wings on a sunny day" is masterful writing, and there are jewels like this peppered throughout the novel. He can make you laugh or cry or scare the "hoohaa" out of you. It's just been such a long time since he's done the latter. It's a good story, and he does a good job telling it, but if you want to read great Stephen King, pick up _It_ or _The Stand_.

Very tight story.. leaves little time to catch your breath, but still has those bits of King humor that keep it from being unbearable. If you are a fan of his recent short stories, you are going to love this one too!
Another plus - Mare Winningham has such an amazing voice... she does an incredible job (as usual)!
I highly recommend - and I bet you can't keep from listening to the whole thing in one sitting (or run)!
All the best,
Jay