Book Chatter

Sunday Matters, a latte on a wooden tray against greenery.

Guys, it’s been difficult to keep up with everything (this blog, work, reading), literally everything. That’s why I wanted to be sure to post today.

Right Now:

Heading to student ministry. I’m giving the message today. With the recent addition of 5-6th grade, the message content is a little different and to be honest, it’s hard to wrap my brain around it. It’s all new. Different. It’s a matter of time.

This Week:

Nothing. Keeping my schedule blissfully empty intentionally.

Reading:

I’m reading Red Pill for book club. It’s very interesting. A lot to think about.

Watching:

Haven’t started it yet but the final season of Squid Game is what I plan to kick back with tonight.

Grateful for:

It’s been such a crappy month but gonna find stuff to be grateful for:

Daughter comes home at the end of July.

Summer camp is coming up July 7th. It’s exhausting but will be a wonderful reset for my soul.

My little Otter Pup’s bday is July 4th. The day we gave her as a rescue. She’s old and can’t get around well but she is still the sweetest.

Good friends who look out for me.

Love you. Be patient with me as I recalibrate.

Never Flinch
By Stephen King
Scribner, May 2025, 448 pp.

The Short of It:

Holly Gibney is back.

The Rest of It:

When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help. ~ the publisher

This is a slow burn read. It’s a little different from his other books. This story is definitely more nuanced and paced but still captures the essence of one of his most beloved characters, Holly Gibney.

However, it was painfully slow in the beginning. There is a lot going on. New characters, a crazy killer, police involvement and Holly moonlighting as a body guard. This was plenty, but then a musical band is introduced as well as a women’s rights speaker. There are competing events to contend with. Honestly, it didn’t feel all that authentic to me.

Barbara. Beloved Barbara writing her poems abut also singing? Holly, oogie Holly as a bodyguard? The villain? Pretty good. Well fleshed out with a decent backstory and setup.

Never Flinch is the product of the current world we are living in. The Presidency, although just a tiny mention, the women’s rights stuff tossed in, the need for substance abuse support and programs. I feel like King was trying to say a whole lot with this story but the plot suffered for it.

I read to escape and this installment didn’t have that classic King stamp that I enjoy so much. The ramped up ending made up for a lot of it because it’s a knuckle-biter but did I want to spend time with these beloved characters? Not really.

I am a huge King fan so don’t come at me in the comments. I gotta tell it like it is. Will I read him again. Damn straight I will and I will clear my calendar just like I did for this one.

Source: Borrowed
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