A dark and electrifying novel about addiction, fanaticism, and what might exist on the other side of life. In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit … bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverend Jacobs — including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister, Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town. Jamie has demons of his own. Wed to his guitar from the age of thirteen, he plays in bands across the country, living the nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll while fleeing from his family’s horrific loss. In his mid-thirties — addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate — Jamie meets Charles Jacobs again, with profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings. This rich and disturbing novel spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written. It’s a masterpiece from King, in the great American tradition of Frank Norris, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe.
more
In this book, King takes a very normal situation, almost Norman Rockwell-ish, and literally turns it inside-out and upside-down. As you progress through the book , there isn’t anything that couldn’t actually happen in real life – THAT’S the scary part! The story does seem to drag a bit in middle, and while the ending is good, it’s not great. …
Revival was classic Stephen King-poignant, engrossing and an emotional roller coaster ride that slowly build to its horrifying climax.
King splendidly meshes a coming of age tale of addiction and ultimately redemption and slowly tightens the suspense wires to reveal a horrifying crescendo. This is classic Stephen King at his best!
Revival was one of those Stephen King books that I wanted to go on & on. This will keep King’s fans and enamor new fans. Highly recommend!
A minster comes to town and meets Jamie. He becomes the new minster until his wife and son are tragically killed in a car accident. His faith becomes broken and he leaves town. Jamie meets him again later in life, at a carnival taking pictures on glass. Jamie is a junkie and Charles not only “cures” him but nurses him back to health. Several …
I’ve been a constant reader of the man since CARRIE – over forty years now, and in recent years have found his work a bit hit or miss for me – I loved 11/22/63 for example, but was terribly disappointed in Dr. Sleep. So there was some trepidation when I picked up REVIVAL, having read scathing reviews.
I’m glad I ignored them though for, despite …
Another excellent outing from Stephen King. The book was an interesting thought experiment into what people can be capable of when their minds are focused. It’s surprising, scary and an incredible read – especially late at night.
The master of horror indeed.
Like most Stephen King books, this one will draw you in and keep you up well after your bedtime. For me, though, I found the second half of this book a disappointment. (Spoiler alert): What I hoped was going to lead me into an original resolution turned out to be a Lovecraft pastiche that felt like a cop-out.
This book was fantastic. The story is only as SK can deliver, I could barely put it down. Read it, you’ll not regret it.
A very very good Stephen King book
I’m still in awe of Stephen King’s imagination. In this novel he touches on two themes that have crossed my mind. Is there life after death? What if we are an ant colony to the universe as an ant colony is to a human?
A good read by King
This book gave me the heebie jeebies, especially towards the end, it really didn’t turn out the way I thought it would. I read this one night when I was home alone and i could not sleep, if you like to be scared then this is definitely a must read.
Meh. This book was okay. I didn’t hate it and managed to finish it, but I have to say I was looking forward to getting the book “over with”. Too many parts dragged on and on, and the paranormal aspect seemed too contrived by the end. If you’re a die hard Stephen King fan, by all means give it a go, but if you’re only a mediocre fan looking for a …
Love the character build. Definitely in for a ride with this one.
Within 3 pages King had me hooked (as he usually does) and took me on a journey that I never expected. Rock and roll, carnies, cons and a twist of religion in one form or another kept me going. Another excellent story from the master.
Thought it was a great Stephen King read. Started off easy enough, and you see the characters age and develop and the story start to come through.
Hard to put down, great details, a bit slow at times but other than that a good book.
BLIND FAITH IS THE SCARIEST EVIL IN THIS WORLD!! It blinds and numbs to what is right in front of you. I have read nearly 10 works by King; some much larger and some smaller, but this is now the best one I’ve ever read…. GREAT JOB Mr. King
One of my favorites now!! Great book!
I quite enjoyed this one, which I read despite seeing a number of reviews ripping the ending. The ending works, imo, but I understand that it would put some readers off, especially those with a fluffy clouds view of the afterlife. But this is horror, and the premise of what lies beyond the veil that King lays out in the novel’s ending is horrible …