Everything's Eventual - Bobbi's 6th Review

Everythings Eventual is brimming with 14 classic tales by the master of horror, Stephen King. I have had a love for all things in the "King-iverse" since I first read Salem's Lot when I was 12. What I love about his short stories is you get classic horror in shorter bursts; but this doesn't make them any less appealing.In addition to the stories, one of my favorite parts of this book was the preface and author's notes on the stories, written by Mr. King himself. Budding writers in this genre of horror or psychological suspense / horror should focus carefully on his writing advice. He doesn't give it lightly and he also doesn't mince words. He confesses that he has been surprised that some stories which he considered less than stellar have won awards, showing that he is still capable of being surprised by his readers and reviewers. I expect that is part of the thrill of what he does, discovering what touches readers and what does not. Some of the stories pay homage to other writers, but if you are queasy when it comes to reading graphic details, I need to warn you, some of the stories may not be for you. So don't say I didn't warn you. The first story "Autopsy Room Four" had its genesis in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, something I'd never have known if King hadn't pointed it out. Once he did, I actually remembered the particular episode with Joseph Cotten and - like King - agree that it was one of the spookiest Hitchcock episodes out there. This is by far the most suspensful story in the book."L.T.'s Theory of Pets" is another standout. It's a story of marital difficulties, pet incompatibility, and the art of storytelling. It's quite good and much better than any description of the plot could ever do justice to. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll enjoy it."The Man in the Black Suit" was incredibly creepy. The description alone of this man makes for an uneasy feeling. It got under my skin, alright."1408" is a psychological approach of a hanuted room. Way different from the movie of the same name. According to his website, Stephen King gave his approval for the movie adaptation of 1408 but it does not maintain the emotional resonance the short story - the story is way spookier than the movie. Everythings Eventual - the story from which the title of this collection comes from - may well be the finest story of the book. It's a quirky tale of a young man with the ability to affect other people using symbols and writing. He narrates the story himself, sounds like the village idiot, and has just about the strangest job imaginable. But, it is "The Little Sisters of Eluria" that is my favorite story of this book. This is a prequel to The Dark Tower, and this tale features Roland of Gilead, whose quest for the Dark Tower is in its infancy. The events of this story precede those of the main order of the Dark Tower series, but occur after Roland's experiences in Mejis as chronicled in Wizard and Glass. Reviewing a collection of short stories can be tricky because there are so many stories in the book and each one is its own experience. Three or four are truly outstanding, and most of the rest are still quite good and well worth reading. I'd recommend this book to all fans of Mr. King.