Helpful Score: 3
Deliciously creepy surprise ending! The good guys don't always win; heck, there's not even always any good guys!
Helpful Score: 2
A very original story about a gypsy curse. I enjoyed it very much.
Helpful Score: 2
thinner, May 9, 2005
Reviewer: Josh McQueen (Hamilton, Ohio)
As a high school senior, I am always looking for a book that gets my attention and holds it. I have found that book. It is THINNER By Stephen king. At the start of the book I thought that it would just be an ok book, but as I read farther and farther into it, I found out that I was wrong. I found that it is a great book to read with many twists and turns.
AT the beginning of the book it starts out with a memory coming back to Billy.
It was of the old gypsy man with the rotting nose whispers to Billy and his wife after they leave the court house. Farther in the book Billy skin starts to decay and turn all scaly and that's when all the problems start.
The book is an interesting look at what happens when you mess with a gypsy and what it does to you and every one you love. As you read you will see what happens to Billy and the ones he loves.
Overall, I believe this is a good book for seniors or any high school student to read. I recommend this book for older students because of the language and the graphic details that are given in the book. I also recommend it to people from age 15 and up who like sci-fi.
Reviewer: Josh McQueen (Hamilton, Ohio)
As a high school senior, I am always looking for a book that gets my attention and holds it. I have found that book. It is THINNER By Stephen king. At the start of the book I thought that it would just be an ok book, but as I read farther and farther into it, I found out that I was wrong. I found that it is a great book to read with many twists and turns.
AT the beginning of the book it starts out with a memory coming back to Billy.
It was of the old gypsy man with the rotting nose whispers to Billy and his wife after they leave the court house. Farther in the book Billy skin starts to decay and turn all scaly and that's when all the problems start.
The book is an interesting look at what happens when you mess with a gypsy and what it does to you and every one you love. As you read you will see what happens to Billy and the ones he loves.
Overall, I believe this is a good book for seniors or any high school student to read. I recommend this book for older students because of the language and the graphic details that are given in the book. I also recommend it to people from age 15 and up who like sci-fi.
Helpful Score: 2
Not just scary, suspenseful and terrifying! Great book!
Helpful Score: 2
Billy Halleck, good husband, loving father, is both beneficiary and victim of the American Good Life: he has an expensive home, a nice family, and a rewarding career as a lawyer. But he is also fifty pounds overweight and, as his doctor keeps reminding him, heading into heart attack country.
Then, in a moment of carelessness, Billy sideswipes an old gypsy woman as she is crossing the street - and her ancient father passes a bizarre and terrible judgment on him.
"Thinner," the old gypsy man whispers, and caresses his cheeks like a lover. Just one word . . . but six weeks later and ninety-three pounds lighter, Billy Halleck is more than worried. He's terrified. And desperate enough for one last gamble . . . that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away.
Then, in a moment of carelessness, Billy sideswipes an old gypsy woman as she is crossing the street - and her ancient father passes a bizarre and terrible judgment on him.
"Thinner," the old gypsy man whispers, and caresses his cheeks like a lover. Just one word . . . but six weeks later and ninety-three pounds lighter, Billy Halleck is more than worried. He's terrified. And desperate enough for one last gamble . . . that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away.
Helpful Score: 1
Not one of my favorites, but has the plots and twists as any other King book.
Helpful Score: 1
Billy Halleck, good husband and loving father, is both beneficiary and victim of the American good life: He has an expensive home, a nice family, and a rewarding career as a lawyer...but he is also fifty pounds overweight and edging into heart attack country.
Then, in a moment of carelessness, Billy sideswipes an old gypsy woman as she is crossing the street--and her ancient father passes a bizarre and terrible judgment on him. "Thinner," the old Gypsy man whispers. Just one word...but six weeks later and ninety-three pounds lighter, Billy Halleck is terrified. And desperate enough for one last gamble...that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away.
Then, in a moment of carelessness, Billy sideswipes an old gypsy woman as she is crossing the street--and her ancient father passes a bizarre and terrible judgment on him. "Thinner," the old Gypsy man whispers. Just one word...but six weeks later and ninety-three pounds lighter, Billy Halleck is terrified. And desperate enough for one last gamble...that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent, read many many years ago, one of my favorite authors when I was young.
Wonderfully disturbing novel. I could not put it down!
very creepy
In a moment of carelessness, lawyer Billy Halleck runs over a gypsy. Her father whispers "Thinner" and caresses him, delivering a curse that causes Billy to keep losing weight. #1 bestseller, written by Stephen King as Richard Bachman, it is suspenseful, enjoyable and not predictable. King proved that people were not buying his books simply because of the name with this book.
Would you like to know of an easy way to lose those few extra pounds? Well, don't try this way!!!! Terrifying to the max throughout the book. The movie does no justice to the actual book.
The fantasy of becoming trimmer--and happier--turns into a nightmare of unrelenting terror for Billy Halleck who is 50 pounds overweight, sideswipes an old gypsy woman, and receives the maledictive sentence to get "thinner." What will he do when he can't stop losing weight?
This is the original printing in September of 1985. It is in good condition, but there are dings and such after 20 years.
As usual, I couldn't put it down. Classic Stephen King.
Excellent book! Written by Stephen King under the name Richard Bachman. One of my favorites.
I read it in two days...loved it!
I read this book when it came out in 1984 and still remember it well. It is well written with catchy dialogue and an unusual story. I do think this should be listed as a Stephen King book because later it became known that Richard Bachman was indeed Stephen King. I guess he wanted to see if he could sell a book without the famous name on the cover. (It sold) If you like Stephen King--you'll enjoy it.
A great King book in the time of "Bachman". The end leaves the main character with a terrible choice to make. Amazing story, great horror.
Kinda drags, but worth the read
Just great. If you like the movie this is BETTER.
Forces of evil melting flesh away.
Truly a KING novel. A real page turner
A gypsy curse is put on a lawyer who accidently sideswipes an old woman as she is crossing the street. This is soooooooo good! Forget all the diets, find the gypsy!!!
One of the creepiest and best of Stephen King!
Stephen King one of my favorite authors. Thinner is one of the few which translated well to the big screen.
Excellent early King writing. One of my favorites!
Lindy
Lindy
Billy Halleck is both the beneficiary and the victim of the American good life--he has an expensive home, a nice family, and a rewarding career, but he is also 50 pounds overweight and afraid of a heart attack. In a moment of carelessness, he sideswipes an old gypsy woman in the street, and her ancient father curses him with one word: Thinner. Six weeks later he is 93 pounds lighter and terrified. He's desperate enough for one last gamble that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away, and away, and away. . .
-from the back cover
-from the back cover
I found this book a very good read as most Stephen King books are. He is the best when it comes to terror and easy to identify with as he is from my era.
I liked Thinner. I read it years ago and still remember it like it was yesterday. The best of the Bachman books.
It has been a while since I've read anything by Stephen King. Reading "Thinner" made me wonder why it's been so long!! Fantastic book.
Stephen King is a master storyteller (writing here as Richard Bachman). This book is no exception: a real page turner, with the amazing voice that only he can lend to a twisted tale.
Highly recommended!
Stephen King is a master storyteller (writing here as Richard Bachman). This book is no exception: a real page turner, with the amazing voice that only he can lend to a twisted tale.
Highly recommended!
Fast reading and a good Stephen King book. If your a fan of Stephen King you'll like this book. A real page turner.
I read this years ago and I still remember it. Very creepy. This is one of my favorites by Stephen King. A shorter story but still good.
Very enjoyable, this book will haunt you and make you question your desires.
This is one of King's shorter books--the story was so straightforward that I felt like it could have been even shorter. The action takes a while to develop, but that's okay; it's the slow, creeping horror as the main character realizes what's happening to him, that makes it worth the read. Over all, pretty good!
I have always read Stephen King's books. This is the first that I have ever listened to and I enjoyed it. It certainly keeps your interest and has an interesting plot.
Be careful about your greed, especially around gypsies. You may end up less than half the person you are now!
IT'S STEPHEN KING, IT IS OBVIOUSLY FANTASTIC.
cover art is different
Although this book about an overweight lawyer cursed by a gypsy to continually lose weight could easily slide into racist territory, it does not. In fact, it is the lawyer, Billy Halleck, who is most criticized throughout the story. He is the one depicted in a negative light. His self-centeredness at the expense of all others is truly is downfall. More of a thriller than a horror, there are still grotesque moments we've all come to expect and love from Stephen King. The thrills build at the perfect pace to an unexpected conclusion. Recommended to fans of horror and trhillers alike, but more so to fans of thrillers.
Check out my full review.
Check out my full review.
King is always a chilling read.
Different Cover.
