Prasetya Nababan

Fairy Tale

Book by Stephen King

DETAILS

Publisher : Scribner (September 6, 2022) Language : English Hardcover : 608 pages ISBN-10 : 1668002175 ISBN-13 : 978-1668002179 Item Weight : 1.8 pounds Dimensions : 6.13 x 1.9 x 9.25 inches Best Sellers Rank: #17 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Coming of Age Fantasy (Books) #2 in Dark Fantasy #9 in Suspense Thrillers , A New York Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist! Legendary storyteller Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher—for that world or ours. 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 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. King’s storytelling in Fairy Tale soars. This is a magnificent and terrifying tale in which good is pitted against overwhelming evil, and a heroic boy—and his dog—must lead the battle. Early in the Pandemic, King asked himself: “What could you write that would make you happy?” “As if my imagination had been waiting for the question to be asked, I saw a vast deserted city—deserted but alive. I saw the empty streets, the haunted buildings, a gargoyle head lying overturned in the street. I saw smashed statues (of what I didn’t know, but I eventually found out). I saw a huge, sprawling palace with glass towers so high their tips pierced the clouds. Those images released the story I wanted to tell.” Read more

REVIEW

Fairy Tale Summary Charlie is a high school football and baseball star who’s clearly destined for great things in college and professional sports. However, he is troubled by the events of his past. Charlie's mother is hit and killed on “that GD bridge” while bringing home a bucket of chicken. Charlie, only seven, and his father struggle to cope with her loss. Charlie has to learn to take care of himself—and his drunken father. Charlie’s father eventually pulls himself back from alcohol and the edge of oblivion with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). After helping his elderly neighbor, Howard Bowditch, when he falls in his yard and breaks his leg, Charlie finds himself entrusted with the doorway to a parallel world. Howard’s dog, Radar, becomes Charlie’s new best friend, and Charlie must save his life because he is old and sick. Book Narration Fairy Tale is narrated by Charlie Reade, mainly in the first person. As for me, as long as he keeps writing them, I will keep reading them. The Book’s Setting The novel is set in modern-day America and a parallel universe. The first half of the book is set in modern-day America and retreads King's skill as a writer of coming-of-age stories. The second half takes place in the fantasy world, which King calls the “Other,” but the residents call it “Empis,” which gives Charlie his quest to find out what is at the bottom of the Deep Well, an evil place that can only be accessed when the two moons kiss in the night’s sky. You’ll find many similarities and comparisons to some of our favorite childhood fairy tales within the book. Theme The portion of the book in modern-day America is a coming-of-age drama detailing social issues, such as alcohol and grief. However, the switch to Empis changes the story's tone and uses the long-awaited hero's arrival to save a royal family trope. Charlie’s quest to discover what is lurking at the bottom of the Deep Well might be what is needed to save both our world and theirs, or it could lead to the destruction of both. Genre Fairy Tale is a fantasy, but it contains elements of coming-of-age dramas like Stand By Me (book=The Body), It, Hearts in Atlantis, The Shining, and so many others that Stephen King is well-known for writing. Author Stephen King is one of the world's bestselling authors, with over 60 novels in several genres. King's Dark Tower epic fantasy series is a personal favorite with similar themes to those in Fairy Tale, though it is not tied to the series, as many have babbled about. Plot Charlie Reade is an American high schooler who has lived a traumatic life. Charlie helps his elderly neighbor, Mr. Bowditch, after he falls and breaks his leg. Charlie is “rewarded” for his good deed with the key to a parallel universe. A dark power has taken over the world of Empis, with Charlie seemingly the only one who can save that society and perhaps his own. Even though he has a lot of power in this realm, he only wants to find his dog and return home. My Opinion My favorite character was Mr. Bowditch (maybe a little self-identification?). Charlie was a little too mature and intelligent for a 17-year-old, IMHO. But that did not detract from an excellent story. Mr. Bowditch was a well-written character who drove the action forward. My favorite part of the book was the Hunger Games-like, gladiator-style tournament when Charlie and others train for a series of battles while in the Deep Maleen prison. I believe a wide range of people will enjoy this book. Young adults (YA) can find a lot to enjoy in this fantasy novel, along with fans of horror and thrillers. Charlie's role is to overcome his demons in the story's first section. After arriving in Empis, Charlie leads Leah to the Deep Well to uncover the truth about Flight Killer. If you’ve ever seen The Tenth Kingdom epic tale, this story somewhat reminds me of that.

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