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  • Bag of Bones

  • By: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Stephen King
  • Length: 21 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (917 ratings)

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Bag of Bones cover art

Bag of Bones

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Stephen King
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Summary

The number one best seller: King at the peak of his powers - at once a first-rate suspense novel, a legal thriller, a haunted house story and a love story.

When Mike Noonan's wife dies unexpectedly, the best-selling author suffers from writer's block. Until he is drawn to his summer home, the beautiful lakeside retreat called Sara Laughs.

Here Mike finds the once familiar town in the tyrannical grip of millionaire Max Devore. Devore is hell-bent on getting custody of his deceased son's daughter and is twisting the fabric of the community to this purpose.

Three year old Kyra and her young mother turn to Mike for help. And Mike finds them increasingly irresistible.

But there are other more sinister forces at Sara Laughs - and Kyra can feel them too....

© Stephen King; Recording © and (P) Simon & Schuster Inc.

What listeners say about Bag of Bones

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    573
  • 4 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
    18
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Performance
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  • 4 Stars
    139
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    34
  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    474
  • 4 Stars
    174
  • 3 Stars
    56
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    14

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved It

I loved this book. The fact that it is narrated by the author added to the enjoyment. A really sad story, full of suspense and twists.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect! Well read and a great story.

Would you listen to Bag of Bones again? Why?

I would listen again as the book has such a lot to offer.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bag of Bones?

When Mike first returns to Sara Laughs.

What does Stephen King bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Depth and true understanding of the characters and story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes but its a long listen so it wasn't possible but it gave me something to look forward to each day.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to many audio books, this one is my favourite. Narration was perfect and the story held me from start to finish.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly Enjoyed It

I didn't love this book quite as much as Lisey's Story, but I did really enjoy it.
Stephen, even though he's not an actor, read the book superbly and probably gave the book more character than if you read it yourself.
I found it a little slow to start, but after an hour I was hooked. And the last 3 hours I had to listen to continuously!!
If you love Stephen King, you'll love this.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A rattling good listen.

I read some reviews that this story was a slow starter. I disagree. The time taken to "paint" the background and primary character was important to me. Once these things were established, the story began to take its sinuous shape.

There were enough twists and turns to keep me glued to the story. Vivid descriptions of characters and places allied with the pace that events took place, kept me enthralled.

Thoroughly enjoyable and recommended. Shame about the music but that is just my take on listening.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A TREAT

This is a good story- not the usual horror- more of a haunted house spooky story, but very effective. The best part is that it's read my Mr King himself, who is just superb at it. And after the book, there's an interview with him too. I haven't read that many books by Stephen King, but I really enjoyed this one. Highly recommended.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

ENTIRELY BELIEVABLE

An involving tale which hits so hard as it is an adaption of a fear that many of us have. Well narrated and, as usual Stephen King's characters, well the nice ones anyway, become your friends for the duration!!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A lenghtly saga

Sometime I feel that Stephen King gets paid by the page! This book has a slow start, but eventually gets going into a reasonably absorbing tale. The listener who stays the course will enjoy the final development of the storyline as the pace picks up. I've recently finished (reading) Lisey's Story, to which similar criticism applies. If you can get past the first couple of hundred pages of seemingly waffle, you get to a story. This book is better than Lisey's Story!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this audio book, a bonus that it was read by Stephen King himself, he really brought the characters to life.
As soon as i finished it, I downloaded another Stephen King novel, and thats fab too.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Recommended

Gotta love SK!!!!! I'm a huge fan, However I think I prefer his books when they stay away from the ghost story type theme. I would still recommend this though, its funny how much the little girl, who is only three, can express herself, perhaps she could have been a little older like they made her in the film - which stars Pierce Brosnan (avoid the film at all costs, they completely changed the story!)

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

VERY enjoyable

Just to reinforce what has been written so far. I would say you need to give it a couple of hours to really get going (the only reason it isnt at 5* and i would give it 4.5 if i could). After that though it is all good, great even, and has a good ending which can sometimes be Kings' self-confessed failing. Worth it by a long chalk.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Nigel Bond
  • 19-10-09

Great audio book

Even if you have read this before, listen to Stephen King read what he rates as one of his favorite books. As the author there are parts of the journey he takes you on that I think only he could do. The characters are great, the way you build up a strong set of images from the story line, just great. My favorite of his and I have read about 10 of his books.

The interview at the end is also very interesting, he lets you into his head regarding making a great book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • David P Toohey
  • 10-03-11

Excellent, spooky, keeps you hooked

If you like Steven King you'll love this. I read a lot of his books when I was young and had much more time than I do now. More than 15 years later this is the first of his audiobooks I've listened to, and was a great re-introduction.

The story builds up really well, with Mike Noonan (the protagonist and narrator of the story) gradually discovering more and more about his dead wife's activities and the history of the "the TR" and its "Martians" (i.e. residents).

The music and sounds added into the production were very good. The music gave you a break from the voice and the sound effects heightened the suspense at only the very important moments.

To me there was also an interesting sub-text with Steven King being the author and narrator, and the main character who was also an author was also narrating the story in the first person. And then an interview with Steven afterwards was a very worthwhile addition.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Melissa
  • 30-11-21

One of his best.

Great story, excellent narration of the various voices. plot well woven, with many hooks for thinking readers. Recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 06-09-19

Special Experience

It is a privilege to hear the story being told by its creator, the story really comes to life and though I have read the book at least half a dozen times, it felt like the first time I was hearing the tale.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Sam
  • 04-06-14

Fabulous! Nobody tells it like the author!

What did you love best about Bag of Bones?

It was just so real, the fact that Stephen reads it really brings the story to life. I definitely enjoyed this book as a audio book simply due to it been read by Stephen as he really know how to draw you into his character. This has become my favorite. I must admit it was a little slow to start but I have come to expect that from Stephen King books either audio or print but by the end I couldn't stop listening!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes

Which scene was your favorite?

OMG! So many to mention but it would have to be the one where his late wife comes to save him.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Todd
  • 31-03-14

Unfortunately not what was expected

I bought this book under the impression that it was about a troubled widower with writer's block who moves to his lakeside retreat, only to find it haunted by malicious ghosts. While this is partly true, the story focuses more on the main character's interaction with a single mother trying to protect her daughter from her evil custody-seeking father-in-law. The ghost stuff takes more of a backseat to this other storyline. Eventually the two parts unite to show that they were all part of the same story anyway, but it still felt like a cop out.

I wasn't looking forward to Stephen King's narration. After listening to him speak in the afterword of his other books, he sounded too much like he was reading from the page. Not natural enough. However I enjoyed his reading of this book more than I expected to. While he is not as good as other readers (I think anyone could have done a better job), I found I wasn't as distracted as I thought I would be. He lends good nuances to some of the characters and isn't too bad.

The book is a mediocre read in the grand scheme of King's other work. If you're planning to listen, make sure you know what you're getting into.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Thomas
  • 07-01-14

If you haven't had this one-GET IT!!!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Bag of Bones the most enjoyable?

Read by Stephen King-subtle but full of emotions. Time just flew, never any boredom even when he describes things in meticulous detail.

What did you like best about this story?

The meaning of love and the connection between 2 people.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Mike overcoming the urge to drown the girl with Joes help

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Wanda
  • 26-03-13

Brilliant book

The production was that - a production which served to add nuances to an already loaded story! I loved this as I am sure all who have read and loved the early King books would!
WaAr

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Pamela
  • 19-09-12

Phantastical Ghost Story

Would you listen to Bag of Bones again? Why?

Absolutely. I'll bet there is so much I could get out of the story if I listened to it again. And to have it read by Stephen King himself makes it really pop. I

What about Stephen King’s performance did you like?

The accents he gives the different characters. It feels like I've watched the movie..

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was intense. I see a different meaning to the shadows now.

Any additional comments?

Looking for the next Stephen King to add to the collection.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Terri-Anne
  • 13-05-10

Terrific reading of a great book

'Bag of Bones' has always been the Stephen King book that I give to people who think Stephen King's a hack horror writer: it's a great ghost story, probably my favourite King book. The characters are engaging, and the depiction of a small town - those invisible cables, unseen but felt, that run under the surface - is solid.

It's a great surprise to discover that King does a pretty good turn as a reader as well as a writer. I've really enjoyed the reading, not just the story.

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