The Institute by Stephen King

I am still in a spooky reading mood even though it isn’t October anymore. I always hear great things about Stephen King's books and that everyone finds them really spooky, so I picked up The Institute at my local library and started to read.

First, we learn a little bit about the town, but the story really starts after Luke Ellis, a 12-year-old boy, gets introduced. He gets taken out of his home because he is brilliant and has little telekinetic power. He gets taken to the Institute. There, he wakes up and finds out there are more children like him that are held captive. They have to go through horrible experiments and tests. Scientist wants to enhance their telepathic and telekinetic powers. Luke works together with the other children to find a way to get out.

“This life we think we’re living isn’t real. It’s just a shadow play, and I for one will be glad when the lights go out on it. In the dark, all the shadows disappear.”

Stephen King, The Institute

I found the story concept very interesting, but the book itself was hard to get through. I have read one book by Stephen King before and felt the same way, so maybe his writing style isn’t really something for me. For me, the book's first half was the most enjoyable, but after a while, the story became less attractive and way messier. I also found it longer than it needed to be, and to get myself through it, I listened to the book's last forty per cent because I couldn’t get myself to keep reading the physical book.

“Sane people don't sacrifice children on the altar of probability. That's not science, it's superstition.”

Stephen King, The Institute

I hope that the next Stephen King book I pick up will give me the Horror vibes I expect after hearing all I heard about his books. This one didn’t do it for me.

It will get three stars, but only just. I would have given it two if the story concept wasn’t as good as it is.