The little town of Castle Rock, Maine has witnessed some strange events and unusual visitors over the years, but there is one story that has never been told… until now. There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974 twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by … strong (if time-rusted) iron bolts and zig-zag up the cliffside. At the top of the stairs, Gwendy catches her breath and listens to the shouts of the kids on the playground. From a bit farther away comes the chink of an aluminum bat hitting a baseball as the Senior League kids practice for the Labor Day charity game. One day, a stranger calls to Gwendy: “Hey, girl. Come on over here for a bit. We ought to palaver, you and me.”
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Enjoyed this book very much.
This is a new favorite Stephen King short story. I only wish it was longer, but it’s perfect the way it is.
Good short story. Short
Good read
Very good! and not the usual long winded Stephen King. Great premise!
I loved this book. Wish it was longer. Very quick read.
this is all about karma, but wouldn’t commit to the true principle of come-uppance
A must read from Steven King
Stephen King does not disappoint. Interesting story line, but not unbelievable.Not a long book. Pleasant read.
This is a good story but the ending seems rushed and incomplete.
Good read but short.
Not a Stephen King novel, or in this case novellete. The synopsis on Amazon says “The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat…” referring to the hat worn by the gentleman who gives Gwendy the button box, but it’s hardly a nightmare, much less anything else. If King’s name didn’t appear on the book cover, it’s unlikely I’d have read it. Why three stars then? Cute, well enough written, and short. Not much there, but no reader’s will be harmed by opening the book.
This book kept my interest and I liked the story but the ending was to open ended for me, wanted more.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Great book
Unique, for me, story. Left me with one thought, “What if?”
Gwendy’s Button Box is a novella which begins with a young girl running up the stairs of a place called Suicide Stairs in Castle Rock. At the top of the stairs, Gwendy meets a strange man who persuades her to sit beside him on a bench and talk with him. Richard Farris, with his strange clothes and his black hat, has a present for Gwendy; a button box which has many colored buttons and levers which will start Gwendy’s time with the button box. I felt the novella was barely an interesting book and taking in the size of the print and pictures the actually reading portion was a lot less than 170 pages. The story was so-so and the ending was disappointing. Though every other chapter was written by each author the writing seemed more a quick telling than actually a formed collaboration.
Extremely unpredictable. My favorite author can do no wrong.
excellent!!!
Not a big book but entertaining. Great characters .