Much like the Jan.6 insurrectionists/rioters/patriots/goons, sometimes have to wonder if Stephen King just smears stuff on the wall to see what sticks.

Not that this was a bad read, no … stayed curious as to what’s next.  But the payoff? 
So not worth the buy-in.

And actually like Stephen King (gotta say his whole name, like Beetlejuice).  Methinks he will be remembered as a great American storyteller … Poe, Hemingway, Twain, McCarthy … a builder of good stories, fun reads.

This one tho’?  Much of a miss.

“The Revival” was … dead on arrival (HA! I kid I kid) … more horrific and sad than suspenseful and scary, and that’s OK.  Melikes maudlin. 

But.

There was a pointlessness to the tale that was a bit … unsatisfying.  Maybe it’s my interminable optimism but gimme something. 

You know Wade Wilson will forever look like slightly rancid ground beef but he can slap a wig on, improve his appearance.  This story just sat on the counter and spoiled.

So this kid (King’s standard) meets this “preacher/pastor” in his archetypical small Maine town who suffers an unbearable loss and shares his conversion to a death metal atheism with the town from the pulpit.  This newly-unbelieving also has some weird … affinity? … ability? … access? … over electricity and uses it to bend, well, reality, with a fairly predictable (but not really) dark outcome.

No that doesn’t make sense and Steve (I am an official Dear Reader so of course we’re best friends) tries to make sense of it buuuut … meh.  Same vibe from Low Men in Yellow Coats.  Wat.  Kinda lost me for a bit there, Steva-roo. 

Recommend?  No.  He has done better, much better.  OH!  Try “1408” (movie was too meh) and (if you’re serving a five-year prison sentence) the complete and uncut author’s version of “The Stand” … now THAT was good. 

“Baby, can you dig your man?”  Yup, about six feet under. 

Anyhoo.  This one?  Could have lived whole life and wouldn’t have missed it.

You have been warned.

But don’t mind me … might like it.  But don’t think so.