Gwendy's Button Box: Includes bonus story "The Music Room"
Written by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar
Narrated by Maggie Siff
4.5/5
()
About this audiobook
Stephen King teams up with long-time friend and award-winning author Richard Chizmar for the first time in this original, chilling novella that revisits the mysterious town of Castle Rock.
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 precarious cliffside.
Then one day when Gwendy gets to the top of Castle View, after catching her breath and hearing the shouts of kids on the playground below, a stranger calls to her. There on a bench in the shade sits a man in black jeans, a black coat, 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…
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.
Stephen King
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
More audiobooks from Stephen King
Holly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related to Gwendy's Button Box
Related audiobooks
Gwendy's Final Task Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gwendy's Magic Feather Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5UR Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Colorado Kid Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gingerbread Girl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Joyland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5LT's Theory of Pets Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Black House Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Drunken Fireworks Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mile 81: Includes bonus story 'The Dune' Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Duma Key: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Big Driver Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blood And Smoke Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lisey's Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stationary Bike Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blaze: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Elevation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Revival: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hearts In Atlantis Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Face in the Crowd Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Talisman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sleeping Beauties: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Man in the Black Suit: 4 Dark Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Full Dark, No Stars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just After Sunset: Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Skeleton Crew: Selections Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Road Rage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Road Virus Heads North Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Thrillers For You
The Housemaid Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Terminal List: A Thriller Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Silent Patient Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never Lie Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Listen for the Lie: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Flicker in the Dark: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hidden Pictures: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Guest List: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Teacher Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hunting Party: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rose Code: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Perfect Marriage: a completely gripping psychological suspense Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Local Woman Missing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Inmate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All the Dangerous Things: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Did I Kill You?: A Thriller Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last House on Needless Street Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wrong Place Wrong Time: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bright Young Women: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paris Apartment: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Institute: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finders Keepers: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Family Upstairs: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fool Me Once Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Huntress: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cabin at the End of the World: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Perfect: A Thriller That Will Grab You By Your DNA Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Gwendy's Button Box
531 ratings11 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pure King! King tackles morality in a way only King can.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Another amazing King novella. This story seemed soft at times yet was captivating.
In the end, it was sinister yet humanistic.
A phenomenal collaboration and a truly enjoyable quick read.2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Enjoyed the book not scary but makes you think about life choices
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It felt rushed, despite so much untapped potential and intrigue, having hundreds of pages left unwritten.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a fantastic little story! One day after a run (she's trying to lose weight and doing a bang up job of it) 12 year-old Gwendy meets a mysterious man named Richard Ferris who hands her an equally mysterious box to hold on to. Constant readers of King's other works know that mystery men with the initials "R" and "F" are usually one character that pops up using different names - Randall Flagg, Richard Fannin, etc,. The box is covered with colored buttons, along with two levers on the sides. But this is no ordinary button box; it has a power that Gwendy can feel, and is instantly drawn to. A great coming of age tale with a delicious side of the supernatural. The narration by Sons Of Anarchy actress Maggie Siff is spot on!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A beautiful collaboration. Can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ⓐⓤⓓⓘⓞⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
"??????'? ?????? ???" + "??? ????? ????"
??: Stephen King & @richard_chizmar
????????: Maggie Siff
?????: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction
?????????: @simonschusteraudio
????????? ??: May 16th 2017
@????????? ?????: 3.91
?? ?????: ???? / 5 Buttons
Ⓢⓨⓝⓞⓟⓢⓘⓢ
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.
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...
Ⓜⓨ Ⓣⓗⓞⓤⓖⓗⓣⓢ
We've taken a journey back to Castle Rock again in this chilling novella by the King of horror and award-winning author Richard Chizmar.
What would you do if you had a button box? One that called you to use it? One that could do good and horrible evil things? One button for every continent, one button for the world, and a red button for your imagination to use. Give you what you wanted, needed or longed for. Would you be careful how you used the power? Or would it be everyone for themselves?
I really enjoyed this clever novella by these two authors and I'm excited that a 3rd final book will be out this month! I still have to read the 2nd one but I just have a good feeling about the whole thing in general that it'll be great because it's very rare do I not love anything Stephen King writes.
I also thought the short story of "??? ????? ????" by just Stephen King was very eerie and clever as well. I also felt a little humor with it too. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5pretty good audiobook. I would recommend it to anyone who likes Steven King
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I enjoyed the intrigue of the “button box”, however left me feeling a bit empty over its purpose - other than speculation. Red button? Not a problem, loud and clear on that one! Story moves very fast and even though the box is a bit vague (ramifications of buttons) how much can really be fit into a appetizer novella? I’ll be reading the next in the trilogy.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I haven't read a Stephen King book in YEARS but while looking for something short and different I stumbled on this collaboration. I really liked it. For me I heard the message of everything in moderation being taught during the teenage years. Maybe that's what it is, maybe not. ?
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gwendy’s Button Box, Stephen King, Maggie Siff, narrator When Gwendy, (combo of Wendy and Gwendolyn) is 12 years old, she is taunted at school about her weight and called “Goodyear” by a nasty boy at school. She decides to slim down and exercises running up and down suicide stairs, in Castle Rock, Maine. One day, an odd man with a small black hat who has been sitting on a bench close by for days, without speaking to her, suddenly calls out to her. After a brief conversation, he presents her with a gift, she really cannot refuse. It is a beautiful box for which she is now responsible. It has several buttons and levers. One lever provides a small beautiful animal made out of a delicious chocolate, no bigger than a jelly bean. What does this chocolate do for Gwendy? The other lever dispenses rare silver coins. There is a red button which grants wishes and a black button she is warned never to touch. There are seven buttons representing the continents of the world.How the box changes her life is the subject of the story. It is entertaining and read well by the narrator. Her character is developed clearly as is the character of the man with the black hat, Mr. Ferris. Over the next decade, we share Gwendy’s life. Will Mr. Ferris ever return, or will Gwendy bear the burden of the box forever? Is the box good or evil? Why was Gwendy picked to watch over it?The Music Room, Stephen king, author; Maggie Siff, narratorIt is around the time of the Great Depression. People are starving and suffering. The Enderbys, a childless couple, have devised a diabolical way to make it through these difficult times. In their home there is a sound proof closet in which they have placed various guests. What happens to those guests is revealed as the short story plays out. Are they murderers or thieves? I didn’t find this story plausible by any stretch of the imagination.