Fairy TaleFairy Tale
What it's about
Charlie Reade is seventeen, living with his father, a recovering alcoholic, when he saves a reclusive old man, Mr. Bowditch, after a fall, and comes to love him and his aging German shepherd, Radar. When Mr. Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a secret: a passage in his shed that leads down to another world, where Charlie hopes to save Radar's life, and finds a kingdom under a terrible curse.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's King's big, warm fantasy adventure, full of fairy tale echoes.
You'll love it if you liked
The Institute
The Ocean at the End of the LaneGood to know
The first third, before the other world, is slower. There's violence in the second half.
By the numbers
- Readers51 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller75 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #114 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #149 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #178 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1011 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Dark
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Quick answers
Is Fairy Tale worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #1,011 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Fairy Tale about?
Charlie Reade is seventeen, living with his father, a recovering alcoholic, when he saves a reclusive old man, Mr. Bowditch, after a fall, and comes to love him and his aging German shepherd, Radar. When Mr. Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a secret: a passage in his shed that leads down to another world, where Charlie hopes to save Radar's life, and finds a kingdom under a terrible curse.
How long does it take to read Fairy Tale?
About 15 hours (608 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Fairy Tale?
If you liked it, try The Institute by Stephen King or The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.