The little town of Castle Rock, Maine has witnessed some strange events and unusual visitors over the years, but there is one story that has never been told... until now.
There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974 twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong (if time-rusted) iron bolts and zig-zag up the cliffside.
At the top of the stairs, Gwendy catches her breath and listens to the shouts of the kids on the playground. From a bit farther away comes the chink of an aluminium bat hitting a baseball as the Senior League kids practice for the Labour Day charity game.
One day, a stranger calls to Gwendy: "Hey, girl. Come on over here for a bit. We ought to palaver, you and me."
On a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat like for a suit, and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. On his head is a small neat black hat. The time will come when Gwendy has nightmares about that hat.
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[There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 17, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs]***
(Cemetery Dance Publications, 16 May 2017, 175 pages, ebook, bought from Amazon)
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I loved this little novella. I'm sorry I waited so long to read it. I actually forgot I'd bought it. I recently read and loved Elevation which had an extract from this book at the back and I remembered I had a copy. This novella is set in Castle Rock, a fictional town featured in numerous King works. It's my favourite fictional place and it was a delight to return there. I expected Gwendy's Button Box to be a lot darker than it was. This didn't make it any less enjoyable. I loved the concept of the story, a creepy stranger gives Gwendy a box that can generate the most delicious candy in the world and silver coins worth a small fortune. The box also has buttons in it and Gwendy knows terrible things will happen if she presses one of them. Gwendy's Button Box is a great read from start to finish.
