The Library Policeman

The first library scene: the deserted old library, nostalgia turning sour upon sight of the chilling posters and then the arrival of the sinister librarian, was my favorite part. The intrigue and subtlety of that didn't quite come through the rest... But I did like the haunting parallel uncoverings of the history of the library and the protagonist's long-ago trauma. King brings in the AA aspect again, that is also quite real. I always come back to King because of his irrepressible realness.

There was a nice little dig where the protagonist says most are bored by talk of his real estate/insurance work; those who aren't bored... are disgusted by it. I thought, indeed they should be!

I'd say mainly my issues, besides kind of leaving behind show more the sinister old library/librarian would concern the sort of typical dopey "regular joe" guys that some of King's novels are obsessed with, and how women get short shrift. In ways it's very (when was this published? Early nineties?).. Yeah. For example, such constant use of the B-word. show less

Raamatukogu raamatu kaotamisest ja mitteõigeaegsest tagastamisest saab alguse peategelase luupainaja. Lõpuks peategelane laseb mälestustel endast välja tulla ja saab ka ise teada, millise lapsepõlve trauma tõttu ta kardab nii raamatukogusid kui raamatukogupolitseid.

The Library policeman:

This novella is messed up. One of Stephen's most horrifying stories. When it comes to content.. there is a scene in this book..that is literally horrifying. I will say nothing further because that scene must not be spoiled. It is a trigger warning for some. I have no triggers and read extreme horror so it didn't bother me. I will never return a library book late, EVER again. Such a great novella. You will not forget this story. It will stay with you. My most recent re-read was in 2021 and the imagery is burnt into my brain, unfortunately. He intended to horrify and he succeeded.

Go to the library--get stalked by a killer librarian. What fun? The star character is believable and he just keeps digging deeper into the library and gets into more trouble. I couldn't help the feeling that there's more to this than just what's on the surface, but didn't get it quite. Will I ever get another library card?

Sam sells insurance in a small town in Iowa. One day, the Rotary Club's scheduled speaker has to cancel due to an injury, so Sam gets volunteered to prepare a last minute speech at the meeting. A friend recommends visiting the local library to get some material to help with his speech, which Sam does. Sam meets the local librarian, an eccentric and creepy woman. As he is checking out his books, the librarian reminds him to have them back on time or she will have to send out the "Library Policeman." Sam laughs this off as silliness until he is unable to find the library books, and his life unravels into terror.

How could I turn down a horror about librarians? Librarians in Iowa, even! Excellent story, and Ken Howard does an amazing job as show more the reader. show less

The first time I read this, I thought it was creepy and entertaining, like most of his work. But it didn't really resonate with at all. But the second time that I read it, after my son was born, I was truly terrified reading it.