Jonathan Kent's Blog

I've always been a HUGE Stephen King fan ever since I read 'Salem's Lot way back and am always eager to pick up his latest. This one intrigued me as it was written with his son 'Owen King' and the idea that all the women in the world suddenly fall asleep seemed like an interesting fantasy/thriller concept.

I must say that I tend to agree with a lot of the reviews on here as it took me a long time to finish. I got stuck about halfway through and actually gave up on it for about three months. The first half involving the 'Aurora' outbreak is strong and not too dissimilar to 'The Stand' in the way a (large) variety of characters are introduced as the outbreak grips the world. The second half narrows the narrative down to a dramatic stand-off at a female prison involving the otherworldly 'Eve Black' who may or may not be the cause for the entire outbreak.

The idea is strong and once you can get around the sheer amount of characters involved, it bottles down to a decent thriller where men without women simply cannot survive! Not without killing each other anyway...!

The idea is also very current and very few of the male characters are shown without flaws. Be it an alcoholic Police deputy, an animal warden with serious anger issues or the stories 'hero' accused of having another child outside of marriage. It is all very skewed towards women who are ultimately given the choice to have a life either with or without their men.

Having read a lot of King, you get to know his voice and whilst the idea of the outbreak and the whole town literally going to hell is pure King, I get the feeling that Owen did a lot more of the leg work. A lot of the passages lack the short, punchy tone that I'm used to. None of it detracts from the story which hangs together well and comes to a satisfactory conclusion.

Not one of his standout novels, but much, much better than some of his lesser work and if you're not daunted by the list of characters at the start of the book, it rattles along at a decent lick.

Solid 4/5

For some reason, I missed this one in the cinema, but managed to watch it the other night. Thought is was excellent and not really what I expected at all.

Loaded with 80’s pop culture references and on reflection it could only have been directed by the king of the 80′s – Steven Spielberg…

‘The Shining’ segment is inspired….!!!!

I know the World Cup didn’t quite pan out as we hoped but today is the start of the England v India Test Series. Five back to back matches pitching England’s young hopefuls against the world’s number 1 team….

I’m really excited about some of the selections and I’m looking forward to a tight series!!

COME ON ENGLAND!!

28 years since our last semi final….

52 years since we last made a final….

England are 90 minutes away from a World Cup final showdown with France.

The party is not over yet!!

COME ON ENGLAND….!!

I think this picture perfectly sums up the mood of the nation...

Not only are we basking under 30 degree heat, but our Three Lions are 90 minutes away from a World Cup Final..

COME ON ENGLAND!

I still can't get my head around it, but England are in the World Cup Semi Finals!!

Such a weird feeling watching a comfortable 2-0 win over Sweden to book a Semi Final spot against Croatia on Wednesday.

Could this summer get any more surreal??

COME ON ENGLAND! You are only 90 minutes away from the Final...!!

It's coming home!
It's coming home!
It's coming...
Footballs coming home!

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!

Where will you be 3pm tomorrow as England look to book themselves a Semi Final spot against either Russia or Croatia.

Over 24 million people watched the penalty shoot out on Tuesday. Tomorrow could be the biggest party the country has seen for a generation!

Can the Three Lions do it??

COME ON ENGLAND....!!