Hearts In Atlantis

[MrBorges]

Hello all you Stephen King 'Constant Readers'. I'm new to this site, and for the past year, I've managed to read quite a bit of Stephen King's genius works, as well as collecting a bunch of his older hard-cover novels. Recently, I'd purchased Hearts in Atlantis (1st Edition) and I'm about 3 quarters into the book. In the first story of the book,'Low Men In Yellow Coats', I've come across about 16 pages throughout that are completely blank! Now, this seems quite strange to me, and I assume maybe it was a production error. My question is, has anybody else come across this? I'm curious.. :oops:

Long Days, and Pleasant Night!:smile2:

[tillyn]

No, my book is good, no blank pages i would just die (well maybe not) if i was going through a story and there was stuff missing. Is there stuff missing?

[MrBorges]

In the first half of the book, "Low Men In Yellow Coats" is missing the following pages:

227,228,229,230
235,235,237,238
243,244,245,246
251,252,253,254

[Srbo]

Nope, no blank pages in my copy either.

Welcome to the MB. :smile2:

[coolambindang]

Ka doesn't want you to know about the Low men LOL JK

[Black Suit]

It was the Low Men.. they are covering their tracks!

[MrBorges]

It quite possibly be either Ka or the Low Men.. does this mean my book is worth something, or worthless? haha:smile2:

[MrBorges]

It quite possibly could be Ka.. I found this copy at a used book sale, in great condition, but I guess the previous owner thought it to be worthless with so many unprinted pages.. ah well, I think it makes it unique haha :smile2: I didn't get those fuzzy lines in the back of my vision, or any other strange sensations, so I highly doubt the Low Men were around hehe:biggrin2:

[Leighjavu]

In the first half of the book, "Low Men In Yellow Coats" is missing the following pages:

227,228,229,230
235,235,237,238
243,244,245,246
251,252,253,254

I would say the error was born of the press from whence it was printed.You could exchange it. Unless its a used copy, then hard to know what happened...I saw the "F" word and references to marijuana on those pages in my copy, maybe the previous owner (if a used book ) had an overprotective parent issue??? Just kidding

[Trailmix]

That's the newest SK book I've bought. I'm still in the story about the Low Men in Yellow coats. Pretty good so far I need to start reading it more.

[Bryan James]

Keep that book. Quit reading it. Stick it somewhere safe. Buy another copy. Read that then watch the movie, Hopkins is great.

I'm not a collector of anything, but a first ed. mis. might be worth something.

Someday.

BJS

[JRLauer]

Keep that book. Quit reading it. Stick it somewhere safe. Buy another copy. Read that then watch the movie, Hopkins is great.

I'm not a collector of anything, but a first ed. mis. might be worth something.

Someday.

BJS

Bryan may be right. I've never heard of another copy of Hearts in Atlantis with blank pages.

[tillyn]

I guess that means yes stuff is missing, i thought maybe one page then blank then continues on, wouldn't want that book. Hey maybe its a collectors item now.? Any way, go to the library or used book store and pick up another, i enjoyed this book. you probably will to.

[MrBorges]

Thanks for all your feedback on the topic. I've finished the book, and I'll definitely keep it safe. It may definitely be worth something someday, so why not! :smile2:

[moonhoney2]

I read this book a few years ago. From what I remember, it just didn't make any sense to me. I was very confused when I finished it and not very happy. LOL Not even sure I kept it....

From what I remember, it was 4 different stories that didn't seem to be connected to me at the time. I kept waiting for that "Aha!" moment, but it never came. Maybe I should give it another try....

[cnic419]

Im sure Calvin Tower would love that book!

[calynn79]

I have read this one about 4 times and to be honest with you it is one of my favorites, but there are parts that I am like "okay..what's going on?" BUT, i will say, when it happens, keep reading and it will all clear out. also, the guts of the story is what matters and i think i have such a different view of vietnam and the soldiers that went that it made a difference to me completely. good luck!

[Richard_B]

Just checked... no blank pages. I found HiA great but frustrating.. really wanted to learn more, especially "Low men in Yellow coats" - also found it quite scary as it seemed in my 6th form (UK - High School in the US?) we seemed to do nothing but play hearts... just wondering if Sai King had second sight.:wow:

[Goodlovin]

On a scale of 1-10 of IT or the Stand is a 10 where would you put Hearts in Atlantis?

For whatever reason I have on occasion tended to avoid reading the book when it doesnt look all that appealing to me and I have seen the movie.

I want to get around reading this so how good a book is this one?

I know its all subjective but humor me please.

[cnic419]

Probably a lot of people would disagree, but I did not care so much for Hearts in Atlantis. Maybe because I had just read the DT series and I expected it to be more about the Tower and what not. Its really more about Vietnam and like someone said earlier, I didn't really see how the different sections tied in to one another.

[sam peebles]

Probably a lot of people would disagree, but I did not care so much for Hearts in Atlantis. Maybe because I had just read the DT series and I expected it to be more about the Tower and what not. Its really more about Vietnam and like someone said earlier, I didn't really see how the different sections tied in to one another.

Yeah, I'm going to have to disagree. I devoured this book in two days, and the ending drove me nuts (not really a good or bad ending, just drove me nuts). On a scale of one to ten, ten being It or The Stand, I give Hearts an eight, maybe even a nine. One of my new favorites, but I went into it without the expectation that it was going to have a lot to do with the Dark Tower.

[michal]

Mine's just fine - but its a really REALLY old edition. The pages are slightly falling out (I actually kind of like this in a book - it means it was properly read by many people), but they are all there. Try and find what you're missing, this book is definitely worth reading.

[aullori]

On a scale of 1-10 of IT or the Stand is a 10 where would you put Hearts in Atlantis?

For whatever reason I have on occasion tended to avoid reading the book when it doesnt look all that appealing to me and I have seen the movie.

I want to get around reading this so how good a book is this one?

I know its all subjective but humor me please.

Actually good question; I'd rate the Stand at 10 and put Hearts at an 8. I'm a big fan of SK's use of children in his books, though all of them at times seem "wise beyond their age..." they are completely believable. (Other examples: Mark Petrie in Salem's Lot, Bobby in Hearts, Tad in Cujo, "It" and of course, Jack, in another 10, "The Tailsman.") Sometimes I think the child slash father relationship is when he is at his best especially in his older novels. As a parent I think I relate to the very human adults in the kids lives who don't always come through in the end.

[stickfigure8]

GAR!!! HERE THERE BE SPOYLERS

I'd have to say, for me (as talking about this book is an exceedingly subjective experience) that Hearts is a ten. I saw the film and coincidentally had the book around the house, started reading it at work one day (and yes i didn't get any work done ha ha ha)...but I've read this book SO MANY TIMES in the past seven years that it's almost like something that's happened to me. I remember the characters like I remember people I've known in my life; Bobby, Ted, Carol, Sully, Rionda, Herb McQuown (no one beats that shuffle), Pete, Nate, Skip, Dearie, Malenfant, Slocum, Willie, Len and Alanna, everybody.

(GAR YE'VE BEEN WARNED!)
I don't really understand what was posted earlier about 'Hearts' ending...I thought 'The Stand's ending was much more of a boner:

"I don't know."

Yes, you can argue with me all you want, but if you're looking for a great ending, don't look to 'The Stand'. It's much more of a journey (and how) than a destination. This is coming from a guy who used to think that 'The Stand' and 'IT' were both the best writing the man would ever do. I even began to dismiss his other works out of hand, not even reading them. Then I happened to see this movie and I loved it. Then I read the book and got pissed off at the movie. Everybody's saying they don't like the ending, that it's just random events with no underlying theme. Here's your theme (GAR!)

BEING CARRIED (the stronger helping the weaker), and mostly a healthy dose of nostalgia from the author that BLEEDS through to the page. I love it. I'm a sap, forgive me! (sorry Jack Lucas)

Also, if you're looking for a hint of magic on the periphery, think of the places where characters either hear or imagine they hear 'Twilight Time' by The Platters:

When Bobby puts up his mental 'wall' in the back of the cab (older Carol).
Pete and Carol in his station wagon.
Sully in his car with the Alvin Dark model.
Bobby and Carol sitting on the bench in Commonwealth Park.

It's beautiful man. And the reason I said it was an exceedingly subjective experience for me is because I had a period in my life, right around Bobby's age, where my family flipped upside down, and I went through several years after that getting into trouble and not caring, so I REALLY relate to this story.