I thought this story was good but could have been better. It was so underdeveloped it almost seemed unfinished. I am still wondering what happened to the poor old guy that ran the bridge.

Oh, and just an FYI for those of you who seemed confused by the title, I believe it is a reference to the kid's story "Gingerbread man" as in "run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man."

Mare Winningham does an excellent job narrating this two-CD audio version of Stephen King's long story. It doesn't feel long, though. This one is a well-built thrill ride, and King proves once again that he can reach into his bag of tricks and scare the daylights out of the listener. The story is simple almost to the point of bare-bones, but it has a lot of tension and plenty of surprises in store. Any fan of King who enjoys audiobooks will like this one. It's not profound, but it's great at what it does, gripping the listener in a vice of tension and suspense and not letting go. Saying any more would only risk spoiling this delightful treat for King's fans.

It's Stephen King, it's not too long, and it's beautifully read by Mare Winningham (who also read Lisey's Story on audio cd). It wasn't my favorite story by him, but it wasn't bad. It's definately suspenseful in parts, but I felt a little cheated at the end.

This story had me on the edge of my seat, begging to hear more and gasping in fear right along with Emily. I became Emily in my imagination and suffered along with her. Her fears were mine as well as her triumphs. This is one I will listen to again and share with my friends and family.

Having read and/or listened to nearly all of King's work (okay, uncle, I didn't make it through _Insomnia_ or _Lisey's Story_), I have to say that this falls somewhere between _Gerald's Game_ and _Rose Madder_. This isn't King at his worst, but he's not at his best either. Other than _The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon_ (and that was written from the kid's POV), I'm not at all sure that King does well when it comes to writing about women or from a woman's point of view. As was the case with Lisey, this female protagonist was neither believable nor particularly interesting, and the action was drawn-out waaaayyyy too long.

Oh, and I agree with another reviewer: just WHAT did the title have to do with ANYTHING?

The narrator was credible; she's a bit like Lindsay Crouse who did _Gerald's Game_, but I found myself glancing repeatedly at my iPod, wondering just how much longer I had to listen to the perils of Pauline.

If Florida is to become King's next "Maine" -- as it seems from this and _Duma Key_ -- then I hope he figures out something more interesting to do in such claustrophobic climes. _Duma Key_ was very good, but if I have to sit through one more island narrative, I might build myself a raft.

As usual good story, expected a longer one. He always keeps you on your toes.

I'm hooked on all the Stephen King audiobooks, having just finished the Dark Tower series doing time in my Toyota over the last 4 months and loving every minute! I'm a big fan and was just mildly disappointed that the "bad guy" in this offering was underdeveloped--so much so that he seemed less frightening than stereotypical. Definitely entertaining but not so much 'meat' here, in my opinion.

I love audiobooks and especially short story audiobooks because they can be consumed so quickly. The Gingerbread Girl is better than King's Stationary Bike but not as good as Riding the Bullet or some of his efforts in Everything's Eventual.

Gingerbread Girl has a lot of focus on "exercise/getting in shape" (a common King theme since his accident, see also Stationary Bike and Duma Key). It is also less supernatural and more of a classic thriller. It is pretty gripping once it gets going. However, I didn't really connect much to the female character, so I didn't feel as invested as I should have been. For the recording, Mare Winningham does an okay job. Her voice can be a little plain at times.

It is a two hour story - one disk. I enjoyed the story. I love Stephen King's books/audios ;-)

Another great book by Stephen King. However, this was my first encounter with books on CD and I found it to be a very satisfying experience. Mare Winningham did a commendable job with the read.

The Gingerbread Girl
This is the latest short story written by Stephen King and Narrated by Mare Winningham. This is not the all out horror one might expect from King, but instead is really more of a psychological thriller. I did not care for the narration overly much, but I did not hate it either. I am also not much of a fan of Ms. Winningham's, so that may be why. I did enjoy the story and I am always delighted to have more King material to read/listen to.
I think King stepped a bit away from his usual style in the writing of this piece, and though I love his normal style, I enjoyed this new evolution too. I think it is going to please new and old King fans alike, and maybe even bring a few more into the fold.

This is decent little tale by King. He sure knows how to put knots in the belly via suspense. As with all of Kings short stories I'm left wanting more.
This abbreviated yarn is about a lady who's driven to run. She's lost a child and to fill in the empty hole, she runs. She runs out of her current life sans house and hubby and goes to live in a conch shack on a nearly deserted Key in Florida. Here she comes face to face with evil and must summon from the strength her running has built in her to escape.
One can never trust King not to "off" a main character so the tension continues to the end. Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Girl.....but can he????...bg

I was so sorely disappointed in this book. The first Stephen King book I did not like. First, the title of the book had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOOK, unless I'm missing something. It was very short, and nothing like anything I have ever read by King. I feel cheated. I will continue to read Stephen King, of course, and just assume he was having a bad day when he wrote it. As short and bland as it was I assume it only took him a day to write it. Sorry Stephen.

The first audio-book I've listened to.
Easy to be cought up in.
A tremendous good job reading by Mary Winningham,
well spent money, I can asure you!

While the story of Gingerbread Girl plays out like you would expect an SK story to, it was just okay to me. Not because I felt that the story was lacking, actually quite the contrary; the story was fantastic, it was the reader.

Mare Winningham just was not a good choice in my opinion. I found her voice distracting and at times boring.

The Gingerbread Girl is about a woman suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (in my opinion) after the loss of her child. Frustrated with her husband and life in general, she decides to leave him and take up residence at her fathers cottage in Florida (sound familier Duma Key: A Novel fans?). While there she stumbles across a grisly murder and ends up in a really cool chase with the murderer. ***spoilers removed***

I get really excited anytime something new from SK is released and TGG was no exception. The story was good, but I found the final chase (although well done) the be on the lengthy side. I was ready for it to be over about twenty minutes before it actually was.

Overall, I was really only disappointed with the reader. For this type of story, you really do need a female reader however they could have chosen someone a little more pleasant to listen to.

Stationary Bike was really well done and Ron McClarty is someone who I could listen to over and over again. I expected the same experience with TGG but alas, it was not to be.

- Dan.

Very tight story.. leaves little time to catch your breath, but still has those bits of King humor that keep it from being unbearable. If you are a fan of his recent short stories, you are going to love this one too!

Another plus - Mare Winningham has such an amazing voice... she does an incredible job (as usual)!

I highly recommend - and I bet you can't keep from listening to the whole thing in one sitting (or run)!!!

All the best,

Jay

Normally the unabridged version of a book is 8-11 hours long. Nowhere in the description is it disclosed this ends up being a 2 hour short story.