Lessons for every writer in 'the girl who loved tom gordon'

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a slow-build that is masterfully crafted to build tension despite a pretty simple plot line. Tricia, nine-years-old, gets lost in the woods when out on a hike with her family. The book follows her harrowing journey through the woods and the psychological effects it has on her.

Overall, there isn't a lot of action in this book or obvious scares that you would expect in a King book. Nonetheless, the eerie atmosphere coupled with the psychological terror builds a creepy read you can really put yourself in.

The book oozes with outstanding description that really makes the scenes come to life. This book is a perfect read for writers because it really shows the power of masterfully crafted descriptions and how word choice can really bring a particular mood to the forefront. This work also shows that terror often comes from the inside and doesn't have to involve relentless chases and horrors. The scariest things can often be the most realistic, and that's what really haunts in this book: the fact that so many of us could picture this happening to us or a family member.

The ending was a bit anti-climactic, but overall this book was a quick read that shows how good of a writer Stephen King really is. With a limited setting and characters, he was able to weave a tale that sticks with the reader long after the final page.

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