Title: Sometimes They Come Back
Author: Stephen King
First published March 1, 1974
35 pages, Paperback
Rating: 3.94
Overview
“Stratford High School in Connecticut seems to be the perfect place for a fresh start, but for Jim Norman, it’s a place of nightmares. After moving to the town to escape his past, Jim hopes to leave his old life behind.
However, the ghosts from his past have different plans. They come back, haunting his every move and threatening to destroy everything Jim holds dear.
Will he be able to confront his fears and put an end to the haunting, or will he succumb to the terrors of his past in Sometimes They Come Back.”
About the Author
Stephen King was born in 1947 to Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. His father left the family when Stephen was only two years old, leaving him and his older brother, David, to be raised by their mother.
They spent parts of their childhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where their father’s family lived, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother moved them back to Durham, Maine, where her parents needed help with their care.
Stephen’s grandparents eventually passed away, and his mother found work in the kitchens of a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended grammar school in Durham and graduated from Lisbon Falls High School in 1966. While studying at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper and was involved in student politics.
He eventually became a supporter of the anti-war movement on campus. He graduated in 1970 with a degree in English and was qualified to teach high school.
However, he was deemed unfit for military service due to various health issues.
In 1971, Stephen met Tabitha Spruce while both were working at the university library. They married the following year.
Stephen struggled to find a teaching job and instead worked as a laborer at an industrial laundry, while Tabitha supported them with her student loan and savings. He sold his first professional short story, “The Glass Floor,” in 1967, and continued to sell stories to men’s magazines throughout the early years of his marriage.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy in Maine. In his free time, he continued to write and work on novels.
Editoral Review
Stephen King is a master of horror, and his 1974 book Sometimes They Come Back is a haunting example of his craft. As one of the most successful writers in the genre, King has built a reputation for creating terrifying stories that stay with readers long after they’ve finished the last page.
Sometimes They Come Back is no exception, delivering a chilling tale of revenge and redemption that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The story takes place in King’s trademark small town setting, and centers around the character of Jim Norman, a high school English teacher who is haunted by the tragic death of his brother. When Jim returns to his hometown to take a teaching job, he finds that the ghosts of his past have come back to haunt him in a very real way.
As he struggles to come to terms with his own guilt and grief, he must confront a group of bullies who made his childhood a living hell.
King’s writing is as sharp and compelling as ever, and he creates a vivid and unsettling world that is both familiar and foreign. His characters are well-drawn and complex, and he expertly weaves together multiple plotlines to create a cohesive and satisfying story.
The pacing is tight and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very end.
One of the strengths of Sometimes They Come Back is its exploration of themes of loss, grief, and redemption. King is a master at tapping into the darkest parts of the human psyche, and he uses this talent to great effect in this book.
His characters are flawed and human, and their struggles are relatable and poignant. The book also has some historical and cultural significance, as it was written during a time of great social change in America, and it deals with issues of bullying and violence that are still relevant today.
However, there are some weaknesses to the book. Some readers may find the violence and gore to be excessive, and the ending may feel rushed or unsatisfying to some.
Additionally, the book may not be for everyone, as it is a horror novel and contains some disturbing imagery.
Overall, Sometimes They Come Back is a well-written and compelling horror novel that is sure to please fans of the genre. King’s writing is as strong as ever, and his exploration of themes of loss and redemption is both poignant and unsettling.
While it may not be a book for everyone, it is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good scare.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
