Member Reviews

A good book for fans of Stephen King, which gives a comprehensive guide into the king of horror.

It goes through his life and works and will be of interest to anyone who likes King's books.

Thanks for this copy.

Was this review helpful?

This was a really good book. It looks back at the early days of this man and some of the challenges they faced. Next we see them start writing with mixed levels of success. Along the way they had some good times and a couple of bad ones as well. Once this book comes to a close it is clear this career isn’t over yet.

Was this review helpful?

A comprehensive insight into the horror writer's life, works, and influences. Accompanied by photos of Stephen King, his books, quotes, and early life, this book opens up the writer's life to the reader and gives intriguing background into some of his books and movies.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher for an early release copy of this book. I'm a big Stephen King fan and have been since the 80's. This was fun - it's exactly what you would think. It was a quick read and interesting.

Was this review helpful?

Stephen King by Bev Vincent was a great book, it's about his Life, Work, and Influences etc. Stephen King is a genius and every book I have read by him I have loved......especially as I have been a fan since I was a teenager - so many years ago!!

This book is a must have for a dedicated King fan or a new upcoming fan.

Was this review helpful?

"The Illustrated Guide to Stephen King" is a thrilling and visually captivating companion that young adult readers will find both informative and engaging as they delve into the extensive universe of the King of Horror. This guide is a perfect next step for those transitioning from the chills of "Goosebumps" to the deeper, more complex terrors found in King’s novels.

The book offers a well-rounded exploration of Stephen King’s life and works, tracing his evolution from a scare-seeking child to a prolific author. With nearly 50 years of writing history, the guide highlights not just King’s vast bibliography but also the personal experiences and cultural influences that shaped his stories. Each chapter is thoughtfully curated with bite-sized sections that make it easy for young readers to digest and absorb King’s legacy.

Visually, the guide is a feast for the eyes, featuring an array of photographs, memorabilia, and handwritten manuscript pages that provide an intimate glimpse into King’s creative process. The inclusion of personal correspondence and never-before-seen excerpts adds an exciting layer of authenticity and intrigue. Readers will particularly enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how real-life settings inspired King’s most iconic works.

The commentary on the cultural impact of King’s writing is enlightening, showcasing how his themes resonate with the societal changes over the decades. Motivational quotes peppered throughout the book offer further insight into King’s philosophy and passion for storytelling, making it not just a reference guide but also an inspiring read for budding writers and horror enthusiasts alike.

Overall, "The Illustrated Guide to Stephen King" is a must-have for young adults eager to explore the chilling, intricate world of Stephen King. It balances information with visual appeal, making it accessible and entertaining. This guide is a treasure trove for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of one of literature's most formidable figures in horror. Highly recommended for both fans and newcomers alike!

Was this review helpful?

Stephen King: His Life, Work, and Influences is a nice compendium that really goes through not only all of the books King has released, but pulls from years and years of interviews to make a really concise and easy to follow historical record here. As someone who's been reading King since elementary school (sorry to my teachers) and is currently doing a very slow re-read, this was a great refresher and also, a nice collection of stories I've heard here and there over the past ~30 years all wrapped up and integrated into the works.

A really good reference book and a truly knowledgeable writer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – becker & mayer! | becker&mayer! kids for the eARC in exchange for review!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and most especially Bev Vincent for this eARC of the young readers edition of Stephen King.

This is a fabulous overview of the career and excellence of Stephen King. While it's targetted (very well) to a younger audience, any fan of Mr. King will benefit from this work. I strongly recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

I read King's books as they came out, and I used to make the joke that he always put out a big book during finals week. This is such a great resource, because it goes through King's books one by one with a description and anecdotes for each. There were extras, such as sections describing the fictional towns. This really felt like a fun trip down memory lane, and it made me want to give his books a reread with this as a companion. The pictures are great, too, showing the real life King with his family, movie pictures. and real places. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great book about the works of Stephen King. It's very insightful. This is a must read for any Stephen King fan. All horror fans will enjoy reading about the life, works, and influences of Stephen King. I highly recommend this book to all horror fans.

Was this review helpful?

Stephen King: His Life, Work, and Influences by Bev Vincent is a fabulous and thorough read. I learned so much about Stephen King that I didn’t know prior. I loved the pictures from throughout the years. I also enjoyed how every piece of work - from short story to 1000+ page novel - was featured. This book is targeted for a younger audience but I think it is a fantastic read for all ages.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6791116005

And Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_dbTIOgrQb/?igsh=YnB1bTlqZWk4MXZ3

Was this review helpful?

I have been a massive fan of Stephen King for years so I found this book very informative to learn more about him beyond his writing.

Was this review helpful?

Bev Vincent gives us a quick rundown of Stephen King’s life through the decades. Alongside photographs and pseudonyms, we get inside looks at some of his novels.

I’m a huge fan of Stephen King so I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I gobble up every tidbit I can. Vincent’s writing is straight-forward. There are plenty of side-bars with additional information from King’s philanthropy to how he is even a tour in Bangor, Maine.

The real star of this book is cover and interior designer Kim Winscher. The entire book is eye-catching and engaging. From the little hands in the book to the full color pictures to how the sections are designed. What will keep the reader engaged and intrigued to flip the page is the design of the book. Kudos to Winscher.

A Stephen King fan will love this book. It’s a reader’s own little Easter Egg.

Was this review helpful?

It will be a great book for someone interested to know more about the author and backstory of his works.

Was this review helpful?

Learning more about the famous author, SK was really fun. This book was well written, displaying information with fun and themed fonts!

Was this review helpful?

I got this book as my kids wanted to understand my fascination with Stephen King. First of all - it's a great position not only for young adults that like creepy stories but also for people wanting to understand how King became a King of horror. Graphics are incredible and all information is delivered in bite size chunks which makes it a quite fast read. Great addition to the personal library if you like Stephen King

Was this review helpful?

I am not a fan of King and really have not read many of his books. However, I have always thought he was an interesting author and the more I learn about him and some of his books, the more I really want to begin reading some. I read and watched Carrie and The Shining a long time ago and loved them. I watched Misery, Cujo, Pet Cemetary etc. and they were meh, so I think I didn't appreciate how much he had written and the variety. As I read this book, I realized there were so many other books I really want to read and go back and read rather than watch the movie.
For those not very familiar with King's complete oeuvre, such as myself, this was a great book. It covers his entire work, from short stories to novellas, poetry, and novels.

I enjoyed the interesting bits and pieces about each of his stories, the ideas behind and what inspired them, when were they written, what changes were done upon them until (and how) were they published. So I imagine students that love his work would really enjoy this book. It was easy to read, and I enjoyed the pictures and the format. I think it made it very accessible for young readers. I loved the idea of the Dollar Babies, which are movie adaptations based on his stories, whose rights have been sold for one dollar. I found some of this history of publishing really fascinating and interesting.
And I loved the layout of the book and plan to purchase a copy for our school library.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc to preview.

Was this review helpful?

Definitely a fun look into one of my favorite authors Gor a younger age group. Didn't do much for me but I can see this working for a younger version of me that was just getting into the horror genre.

Was this review helpful?

My review of Bev Vincent's 'Stephen King: His Life, Work and Influence (Young Readers' Edition)' will be published on my blog - equinoxx.info - on Monday August 19 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - becker & mayer! for allowing me to read this title.

Here's what will appear in my review:

There is a very cool children's book coming out next month.

Bev Vincent, who had previously written an extensive title all about Stephen King, is set to release a book once again focusing on King, but - this time - is doing so for a younger audience.

Stephen King: His Life, Work and Influences does exactly what the title suggests. Vincent writes a brief biography on the author and then takes the reader through King's career.

As you'd expect, a lot of King's famous works are highlighted. These range from the earliest novels right through to King's modern stories.

There are tons of interesting facts for children to read alongside the detail about the author's printed work as well as the movies and TV shows which spun from them.

I loved the amount of pictures in this book. There are many I hadn't seen before. So, I suppose, it could be said this book satisfied an adult King fan as well.

I recommend the book for all. Especially the target audience because I know - without a shadow of a doubt - I would have loved this book even more had I been a young reader looking for a gateway into the world of Stephen King.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a must for all Stephen King fans. I really enjoyed that it includes real photos! You take a journey through Stephen King’s life and through his life during the books he has written and gives an explanation of what the books are about. I am a major fan of Stephen King so this was a really enjoyable read for me. This is targeted for young readers although I believe any age could read this book and enjoy it. My only complaint is that many of the book descriptions that the book gives of Stephen King’s novels include too many spoilers for those who may be interested in putting any of the novels on their TBR.

Was this review helpful?