Fairy Tale

I have so many things to say about this book. First, you should know that I do NOT consider myself a fan of Stephen King. There are a couple of his books I liked, but horror is not my genre. Having said that, his writing style is one of the most compelling I've experienced, especially for what some might consider "pulp fiction." There are some creepy parts, but not horror like we know Stephen King can be. Now about this particular book.
In this classic good vs. evil story, we get to know Charlie, a 17-year-old average boy who, for the first half of this 600+ page book, shares experiences with a German shepherd and goes about life in a quite normal yet extremely interesting way. Now to the second half of the book. This is where the title "Fairy Tale" comes into play. Charlie falls through the proverbial rabbit hole....and experiences Jack and the Beanstalk, Ali Baba, Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, The Little Mermaid, Star Wars, and Narnia among a host of others in the true fashion of the original stories. These storylines follow the Grimm versions or Andrew Lang's versions, which, if you've read those, you understand.... this is as far from the Disney tales as you can get. The setting is Illinois, which also added to my interest and connection levels. This story was so well-spun and literary that the slow bits in the middle are redeemed in the end. My favorite quote: "Time is the water, Charlie. Life is just the bridge it flows under." - Mr. Bowditch. 5 stars from me.