Book review by Dennis D. McDonald

The treatment of evil that lies at the center of Stephen King’s The Institute must be one reason that so many are simultaneously attracted and repelled by King’s books. One’s first thought about The Institute might be, “Such a diabolical scheme that puts so many children at risk could never happen!”

But then, when you think about modern history and the man-made horrors that have actually  transpired, you realize that, yes, something like this could actually happen and, yes, many people could find it in themselves to accommodate such horrible behavior.

As with other King books there are humane, relatable, and even likable characters here. While no single impressive character like Holly Gibney from the Hodges trilogy shows up, King’s portrayal of the kids in this book and how they bond with each other is touching and suggests that some very complex and detailed thought has gone into creating such characters.

King has a real gift for putting the reader into the shoes of his characters even when the events he portrays are fantastical, surreal, and even repulsive. The Institute is another successful example.

Review copyright © 2020

More “Horror”