A modern classic in the making, Fairy Tale by Stephen King is yet another feather in the cap of the King of Horror. It is also one of the most solid books I’ve read in a while, and why I feel like this is a great book for everyone to add to their TBR piles if it’s not there already.
Without further ado, here is my spoiler free Book Review of Stephen King’s Fairy Tale.
Synopsis
Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was seven, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself–and his dad. When Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. Sometimes strange sounds emerge from it.
Charlie starts doing odd jobs for Mr. Bowditch and loses his heart to Radar. Then, when Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe. What Bowditch knows, and has kept secret all his long life, is that inside the shed is a portal to another world.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
What I Loved
The Pacing
Now, this one comes as a major shock to me, personally. In other King novels, I’ve found there is usually a lot of fat to cut through in order to get to the meat of the story. A lot of unnecessary fat. It’s neat information, but does absolutely nothing for me or the story in my opinion.
Fairy Tale, however, was marbled with delicious lines of fat that was pertinent to the story or character development.
Like most of his novels, the action doesn’t start until you’re past the first quarter of the book. But the buildup to that point, doesn’t leave your mind wandering. There is still some minor action going on, there are context clues, teasing you constantly as to what is to come.
Characters and Character Development
I don’t believe there is a single character that you meet, even for however briefly, that doesn’t feel real. All the characters had such depth. And none were a waste of page space. They were either vital to the story, or toward’s a characters chance for growth. Either in action or emotion.
This story also offered a wide cast of characters, and though our main focus is with Charlie, it doesn’t feel monotonous to always be in his perspective. He is constantly interacting with this wide cast of characters, including the beloved Radar. They offer different points of view, ways of speaking, and insight into the happenings of this other world.
What I really loved about this novel is how Charlie changes, from that 17 year old boy, to a more mature man as he faces many trials both in his world and the other. How his past experiences with his dad, his mother, Mr. Bowditch, and even at school influence his decisions during his quest. He learns and adapts and doesn’t get stuck on this small carousel of personality.
A Damn Good Story
Many books I read have a heavy romance influence, even in some I’m not expecting it from. Most though, it’s because hey, it’s a romance book. And maybe this is my wakeup call to read more things that don’t focus on a romantic love between two characters. Because Fairy Tale, though it does offer a lot of love between friends, family, and places, doesn’t have a heavy romantic focus between characters. I’m not saying it’s non-existent, but it’s a very very sub-point. And it’s only mentioned like two or three times at best.
Also, I remember in high school and earlier, teachers having us read books and pull it apart. Dissecting them to figure out what things meant, themes, hidden agendas, etc. But with Fairy Tale I think it’s safe to say, it’s just a damn good story, for storytelling’s sake.
Why do I think this? Because of what I read on the inside flap of my hardback copy of the book, below the story synopsis.
Early in the pandemic, King asked himself:
“What could you write that would make you happy?”
Inside Cover of Fairy Tale by Stephen King
And I think that’s exactly what we have here. A damn good story, that makes you happy.
Well Deserved Ending
Obviously, I’m not going into details in this post, and certainly not with the ending. But I will say I loved it so much it deserved its own segment.
After a great story, we get a great ending. We get to see Charlie do something that shows such strength of will. Something no one else could do, and it just left with secondhand pride for this kid…can we even still call him that?
If this story was a great workout, the ending was the most well deserved cooldown in history. It just left me feeling complete, content, and ready to just close the book and muse on all I’d read.
And when I will read it again, because there is definitely going to be a next time.
Favorite Quotes
I hate saying this, but I’m going to because it’s what I thought then: it was the expression of a dog that has taken a shit on the floor.”
Fairy Tale by Stephen King, pg. 9
What I know now is that it isn’t just patients who go into denial.”
Fairy Tale by Stephen King, pg. 133
Here is something I learned in [redacted for spoiler reasons]: good people shine brighter in dark times.”
Fairy Tale by Stephen King, pg. 251
The crypts were about to give up their dead.”
Fairy Tale by Stephen King, pg. 343
In Conclusion
Yeah, there is no “What I Didn’t Love” section to this one. I know there are a lot of people out there who weren’t great fans of this book. So if you’re looking for those comments, I know there are plenty to be had if you peruse through Goodreads user reviews, but they won’t be found here.
I loved this book. I know it took me a little over a month to read, but that was mostly due to a busy schedule, not because I didn’t find the book fascinating. If I’d taken a few days off, I probably would’ve lost five pounds just because I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything besides read. I think it was that good.
It was a solid book, and a top tier story that deserves a slot on any readers list of books to devour. I could be wrong, but if you’re a story-lover like me, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
And if all the above wasn’t enough, it’s also a damn good representation of what a person will do for their dog.
I gave Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Until Next Time,
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