This collection consists of five interconnected narratives centered on the American generation that grew up during the Vietnam War. It begins in 1960 with Bobby Garfield, a young boy who befriends Ted Brautigan, an elderly boarder with psychic abilities being hunted by supernatural "low men." The subsequent stories follow characters like Carol Gerber and Pete Riley through the anti-war protests of the late sixties and into the disillusioned reality of the 1990s. The linked plots document how political unrest and personal choices during the era of the peace sign permanently altered the lives of those who survived it.
Readers of historical fiction and coming-of-age stories find here a detailed record of cultural shifts between the 1960s and the end of the century. Those interested in King’s broader multiverse will recognize connections to the Dark Tower series through the character of Ted Brautigan. Anyone who finishes the book understands the specific psychological toll of the draft and the long-term impact of campus activism. The text provides a sober look at how youthful idealism transitions into middle-aged regret.
Inward-looking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1998
- Language
- EN
Quotes by Stephen King
More →Books are a uniquely portable magic.
On Writing
The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.
The Body
