Stephen King's "The Institute" Review

   

As an avid reader, I have always wanted to read the best books by the best authors. Throughout the years, I've enjoyed the likes of Agatha Christie, J.K. Rowling, and Alexander Dumas. However, one author was missing from my resume of novels and stories. This was the world-renowned, Stephen King. I had first wanted to read King's books about a year ago, but with a busy schedule and working parents, it took a while for me to finally pick out a novel and read it. "The Institute" is the first book I have read by the acclaimed author. 

    "The Institute" revolves around Luke, a prodigious child with telekinetic powers. One day, Luke is abducted by a trained task force while his parents are murdered. Luke is brought to the Institute where he is tortured brutally by the staff to exploit his powers. At the Institute, Luke makes friends with other psychic children. The novel follows Luke's journey to escape the Institute and save his friends.

    Despite an interesting plot line (although eerily similar to Stranger Things), "The Institute" did not meet expectations. For such a famed author, I was thoroughly disappointed by the novel’s lack of complexity and development. The plot was extremely predictable, leading to a lack of threat and danger. Furthermore, the story’s unwillingness to deviate from the original conflict caused the novel to seem mundane. Even character development was minimal, with every death feeling anticlimactic and formulaic. While the book had potential, its fundamental shortcomings left the plot bare.