Roadwork

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: G. Valmont Thomas

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Only Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, can imagine the horror of a good and angry man who fights back against bureaucracy when it threatens to destroy his vitality, home, and memories.

Barton Dawes' unremarkable but comfortable existence suddenly takes a turn for the worst. A new highway extension is being built right over the laundry plant where he works - and right over his home. Dawes isn't the sort of man who will take an insult of this magnitude lying down. His steadfast determination to fight the inevitable course of progress drives his wife and friends away while he tries to face down the uncaring bureaucracy that has destroyed his life.

This number-one national best seller includes an introduction by Stephen King on "The Importance of Being Bachman".

©1981 Richard Bachman (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Under any name King mesmerizes the reader." ( Chicago Sun-Times)

Good book, not so great narration

I enjoyed the story, but the narrator was difficult to listen to when he did female voices. Other than that, it was fine.

Slow Burning Suspense

First, I thought I wasn't going to like this story very much. it was a bit slow to start but once it got rolling from about the middle on to the conclusion, you learned to care for the characters and the story always kept you wondering until the end how things would work out.This ended up being another fine story by Stephen King as Richard Bachman.

Either you will love this or hate it

This book along with The Running Man have become my all time favorite King books. Or is it Bachman? Whatever the case, I would have most likely never made it through either book if it was fifteen or twenty years ago due to relatability whereas being in your thirties or forties really makes the difference for me, and why the Bachman books are so damn good.

They are dark. They are sad. They are manic and sardonic. You can tell King was going through a rough patch in life. Skipping the supernatural to focus on something even more frightening, THE IMPOTENCE OF LIFE WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE AN OUTSIDER, A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND

One of Bachman's Best

Roadwork isn't universally loved in the Stephen King circles but in my opinion it's one of the best Bachman books. It's definitely a slow burn but pays off

ROAD WORK

Have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I love the way King weaves his stories and move you to think about life and how it moves people to do the things they do.

Excellent story Excellent reading

As always, no matter what name Mr. King uses, this story never disappoints. From subtle innuendo to blatant statements this story piques interest and then grabs ones full involvement throughout! This is not paranormal but paranoia. It’s one mans fall into dementia and lunacy based on a single human emotion; love, home and hearth. I love it and so will you.

king in order - book 11

a younger, angrier king wrote this story. it’s clear that he had not yet developed the voice he’d be later be known for, but enjoyed the story and the performance.

completed: 1/29/23

Nice Early King

I enjoy King as Bachman. He was a more thoughtful writer back then and a little more prose-y. Nice little story, nothing to exciting, wouldn’t be a good movie, but nice story.

ooof

Not my fave.... at all...🤷
But, I'm part of a book club. We're reading them all.

Like watching a train wreck in slow motion (Classic King)

Do not read this book if you’re having a midlife crisis. The main character is far too relatable. Like a Greek tragedy, compelling to very last page,

RIP Richard Bachman lol