Mike Noonan

[graywritingdog]

It's not that Mike is a whimp, he's real, as real as any character (bag of bones- inside joke) can be. He's not Rambo, or the terminator and that is what makes him to great. I know I wouldn't have done half the things he did, I love this book. It's King's best in my opinion.

It's heart warming, breaking, a compelling read and hard to put down. I have this in audio book, it's nearly 24 hrs long and I've listened to it several times, also read it twice.

Duma key is a close 2nd to this book.

[becks]

I'd share a six-pack or two with the guy. We've bonded! :-) If you're having a hard time getting into the story, listen to Steve reading it first. Afterwards you'll wonder what you were thinking ... trust me.
Best, Becks.

[constantreader85]

I thought Mike Noonan was a great character in the book.

[Mr. Jingles]

I like Bunter

[JRM]

I'd share a six-pack or two with the guy. We've bonded! :-) If you're having a hard time getting into the story, listen to Steve reading it first. Afterwards you'll wonder what you were thinking ... trust me.
Best, Becks.

LOL! Same here. He's my hommie. To this day he remains my favorite main character.

[TimAH]

The one thing I really didn't get about the character was how he kept so much information to himself. First, you gotta tell someone about the rock throwing stuff. Even if you dont tell the police, you need to let someone know just how dangerous that old guy is. Secondly, it made zero sense to me that he would simply listen to Matties stories about the words on the fridge and not tell her he had it happen too.

[Mobe1969]

It is a fantastic novel. The audiobook is awesome also - narrated by Stephen King. Some pretty evil characters in it too. Gave me chills.

[Denise Marsden]

I think the reason Mike is so blocked after Jo's death is that they almost ritualised his writing as a couple. She gave him the space to write but maintained a supportive presence and then at the end of a piece of work the ritual of the last word was almost part of his identity as a writer. There is certainly a degree of crazyness in his behaviour but understandable when sudden death take away someone very loved. I liked the character for his sensitivity.

[Audaciousfox]

I'd share a six-pack or two with the guy. We've bonded! :-) If you're having a hard time getting into the story, listen to Steve reading it first. Afterwards you'll wonder what you were thinking ... trust me.
Best, Becks.

I agree. My ears read the book before my eyes did and I really liked Mike Noonan. Maybe if my eyes had done the work first, I wouldn't have felt the same....but King makes Mike very real, very troubled and not at all sissified. The segment that includes the rock-throwing isn't hard to believe as it is written. I think Mike could have easily overcome the two mad seniors had he immediately understood their intent: murder. But he's a relatively young fellow with integrity; things got out of hand very quickly...and I believe it is a lot easier to say I'd throw the two buzzards on their heads and into the drink than it would be to do it. These guys are very old and (looking) infirm. Not so easy to smack around if you were brought up right.

[SCano]

Noonan's character was "meh" at best. In all actuality, I felt the main character in Death at the Gotham Cafe to be much more... kick-ass, I guess you could say.

However, what made me dislike him so much was the fact that although he missed his wife and wanted nothing more than to have her back in his life, he almost all but completely forgot her once the pretty young blonde mother (who screams "damsel in distress" better than anyone) came into the picture. Then it seemed all he did was have wet dreams about the three women who plagued his thoughts. It just made it so comical.