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Book Review By Linda Hahn
Cell by Stephen King

In King's book "Cell", the main character (a comic book illustrator who is unhappily estranged from his wife and misses his young son) has just signed a great deal and decides to celebrate by buying a few treats for himself and his son.

While stopping for an ice cream, he observes two teenage girls suddenly "lose it" and begin attacking each other and random passers-by. What begins as a confusing mess turns into a long, BORING plot of people being plagued by a "cell-phone virus" that causes them to essential turn into stereotypical zombies.

The story drags on and on with no real further plot development; the main character meets others, they travel towards a rendezvous point, they try to figure out the virus, etc. The plot is incredibly predictable.

The story's anticlimatic ending involves the reunion of the main character and his son--who, of course, has been affected by the virus. (You see this coming from another time zone.)


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Horror story? Yes
Horror plotlets - the zombie chased me!
Descript. of chases or violence - 30 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Computer
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - mind reading
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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