In the emotional aftermath of her baby's sudden death, Em starts running. Soon she runs from her husband, to the airport, down to the Florida Gulf and out to the loneliest stretch of Vermillion Key, where her father has offered the use of a conch shack he has kept there for years. Em keeps up her running -- barefoot on the beach, sneakers on the road -- and sees virtually no one. This is doing her all kinds of good, until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys the privacy of Vermillion Key, but the young women he brings there suffer the consequences. Will Em be next?
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"Okay, so I cheated and did the audiobook, unabridged, since I spend so much time in the car. Liked it a lot though a little bit predictable. Has a definite feminist pov which I enjoyed. No real surprises unless you are unfamiliar with crime stories or Mr. King. Slow to start but engrossing and suspenseful once engaged. I would call it a "King-lite" story. I loaned it to two women friends who also have long drives to work (and don't like "scary" stories or Stephen King, by the way) and they both couldn't wait to finish it and said they liked it. Give it to your daughters...." — Petrina (4 out of 5 stars)
"Okay, so I cheated and did the audiobook, unabridged, since I spend so much time in the car. Liked it a lot though a little bit predictable. Has a definite feminist pov which I enjoyed. No real surprises unless you are unfamiliar with crime stories or Mr. King. Slow to start but engrossing and suspenseful once engaged. I would call it a "King-lite" story. I loaned it to two women friends who also have long drives to work (and don't like "scary" stories or Stephen King, by the way) and they both couldn't wait to finish it and said they liked it. Give it to your daughters...."
Winningham relates the story with honesty and sincerity, capturing the melancholy and sadness that abounds in Em's mind. Her gripping delivery is the stuff that great performances are made of. Winningham brings the protagonist to life while still managing to capture the strong sense of foreboding that so often permeates King's tales....The result is a captivating experience sure to ignite the senses of the listener.
“A harrowing almost-novella…A story of abuse, psychosis, and loneliness, it is physically exhausting to read—an astounding thing to say for a short work of fiction.”
“A captivating experience sure to ignite the senses of the listener.”
“Has all of [King’s] trademark tension, violence, and catharsis…Winningham’s portrayal of this character will stick with listeners long after the end.”
" This was my first audiobook and I found it enjoyable. It is a little predicable, but it's fast paced nd exciting. "
" A Stephen King book that is only available in audio. It is okay -- not too scary, not too long, not too interesting. An audio break from public radio politics and crummy radio stations. "
" Em takes up running after the loss of her child and as a way to escape from the growing emptiness in her marriage. She separates from her husband to spend some alone time reflecting on things on a remote key in Florida. While there she sees something she shouldn't and is forced to basically run for her life! I love how King portrays the villain...the things he say indicate the mind of a true mad man. The ending is quite fitting...this was a quick 2 hour 'listen' that kept my attention. Would recommend for those who want a quick fix of King-style suspense. "
" quick read but it did raise my blook pressure! "
" This is not one of King's better stories. "
" listened to this on tape. Very short and very good! "
" Pretty standard fare. Not bad, by any stretch. "
" I was looking for a genre switch so I thought I'd give the master of horror a go. This story had very little plot-line. Lady's baby dies, she takes up running, a bad guy catches her, she tries to get away. The end. "
" Good! It was short, good for listening to on a trip. "
" Interesting short read. More of a psychological thriller than supernatural/horror read. Better than some, worse than others. Occasionally boring. "
" Another one picked because it was a playaway. You really cant go wrong with stephen king and the psychology of the mother is gripping but the plot is weak and it was just too short. "
" Just a quick (two hours or so) audio program. Not available in print. Unlike other King works, this is not horror or supernatural in any way. Just a scary story, especially if you're a girl. Nothing spettacoloso, but well told as always. "
" Short story. Another demon is vanquished by a valiant woman. "
" Wanted to give this five stars for a great story. Wanted to give it three stars for the nihilistic divorce. Gave it four stars not only as an average but for giving the perfect title to a short story "
" Twas okay, not great, not horrible. "
" nice short, classic frantic story-line once the main character is introduced. Vivid details. "
" Listened to on my i-pod while running kids to and from school. Entertaining and kept me engaged. It's been so long since I have read a Stephen King, it was fun getting back to his creepy story telling. "
" Listened while on a road trip. Mare Whinningham does a good read, and the book pulls you in immediately like typical King. Unfortunately, more like King has become these days, it was an unsatisfying end. "
" Loved this story, thought it was a stellar example of creating and sustaining action and tension over what was really a short time frame. Well done thriller! "
" This was one horrifying audio experience. Played it overhead in the bookstore I work in and creeped myself out. Layers upon layers of great character developement and plot curves. Wonderful! "
" Quick, mildly predictable, mildly engaging. "
" There was no real point to it and I hate when the title makes absolutely no sense! good descriptive writing as King does, but gratuitous violence as he also does well. "
" I was disappointed.I got almost to the middle of the book,before i quit reading it not one of his best books.I don't think... "
" I know some don't like the ending, but I thought it was perfect for the story. "
" Re-reading an old favorite. Perfect for lovers of suspense set in the great outdoors! "
" I read this in one day. Couldn't put it down. An excellent book about survival. "
" It's somekind interesting, but very repetitive, you know, what else can a girl alone in the woods can do but trying to survive, looking for food and where to sleep. "
" Really good character study, which is what I think King is best as. Not often that he deals with the POV of young girls, he mostly puts himself in the head of boys, but it is REALLY good! It's basically a dialogue between the girl and herself. Loved it! "
" My little brother is obsessed with this book. Ver. good! "
Stephen King has written more than sixty books, many hitting the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list. He has won the World Fantasy Award, several Bram Stoker Awards, and the O. Henry Award for his story “The Man in the Black Suit.” He is the 2003 recipient of the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2007 he received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. His epic works The Dark Tower and It are the basis for major motion pictures.
Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The Marriage of Opposites, Practical Magic, The Red Garden, the Oprah’s Book Club selection Here on Earth, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, and The Dovekeepers. Her short fiction and nonfiction works have appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, Kenyon Review, Redbook, Architectural Digest, Gourmet, Self, and others. Her novel Practical Magic was made into a major motion picture starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman; her young adult novel Aquamarine was made into a movie in 2006.
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