Firestarter by Stephen King

Date: 1981
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 401
Genre: Adult horror
Rating: 4/5

This is a story about secret government experiments and a young girl with an extraordinary power - a psychic ability that allows her to set things (and people) on fire. Her father is frantic in trying to protect her from those that would use her as a weapon, so the book opens with the two of them on the run.

This is a shorter King novel, which is good for a change from his usual 700+ page beasts. The other short novel I read of his was Misery, in which I absolutely loved. Similar to Misery, the focus on here is only on a small handful of characters instead of a mural of people. We are constantly zoomed in on what happens between Charlie and her father and it really pays off. One of the things I love about King is his way to really make the characters feel real, no matter how many there are. I find myself feeling interested and intrigued in all characters, even the so called "bad guys."

Sometimes, King's prose is amusing and I find myself chuckling at the words he chooses or weird things the characters say. That didn't happen as much in this novel, but it was still a pleasure to read. It was fast paced, exciting, suspenseful, and had a satisfying ending. I loved Charlie's development as a little girl and as a little girl in this terrible situation, and felt it was both appropriate and engaging. It isn't as strong of a book as Misery, but it is still a great read and I would recommend it to King fans that are looking for a fast paced, action read.

King of Horror: The Shining (Book & Movie Review)

The Shining by Stephen King

"The Overlook Hotel is more than just a home-away-from-home for the Torrance family. For Jack, Wendy, and their young son, Danny, it is a place where past horrors come to life. And where those gifted with the shining do battle with the darkest evils. Stephen King's classic thriller is one of the most powerfully imagined novels of our time." - Amazon.ca Description

I recently read the book and watched the movie starring Jack Nicholson. First I will talk about the book and then my thoughts on the movie (spoiler-free of course!).

My Rating: 4/5

We have all heard of the Shining. We all know it is one of Stephen King's greatest novels. But what exactly is it about? Personally, my only recollection of the story concerned a parody the Simpsons did several years ago. I knew a hotel was involved, something called "redrum," and lots of blood.

The book is brilliantly written, although some foreshadowing was a bit obvious. I really felt like we got to know the characters. Not only are we acquainted with their stay at the hotel, but we learn of their past struggles as a family. These past episodes add a depth to the characters that can be interpreted later in the story as being significant or not. Jack, the father, is a man with a history that is trying to support his family. He is an aspiring author and is looking forward to months of peace and quiet. His wife, Wendy, is along for the ride and plays a very supportive role. They have a little boy, Danny, and he is special. 

Let's talk about the real aspect of the book: the horror. The horror was the believable type with a bit of supernatural essences thrown in. Or, if you'd like, it was purely believable. There were several scenes in the book with their fair share of gore, but also several creepy moments that I felt were more convincing than the gore itself. The book is not particularly scary, but it is absolutely creepy. Imagine being in a large hotel in the middle of a snowstorm, phones are out, radio doesn't work, and you can't escape. Then creepy things begin to happen. Ready to leave yet? This family all struggles with the hotel in their own way, and I felt the progression of the story with the winter was really fitting. 

Movie Review - Rating: 3/5

The movie was adapted from the book, so it did not follow the same script. Some minor things were changed and the ending was also slightly adjusted. I was a bit disappointed in that the movie chose to omit some of the best gory and creepy scenes, and also a large part of back-story for Jack's character development. The movie demonstrates that he is trying to write a book but it does not tell what the book is about. In the book we learn exactly what he is writing and why it is affecting him so much. As well, the movie added a huge element to the story - an outdoor hedge maze. Although plants were significant in the book, I was disappointed in the maze because it meant an omission of two scenes I was looking forward to seeing on the screen.

However, it should be noted that Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Jack was an amazing performance. His famous line, "Here's Johnny!" should be witnessed sometime in your life, and can be if you watch this movie.

King of Horror: Misery by Stephen King

Misery by Stephen King

338 Pages
Published 1988, Signet
My rating: 4.5/5
Click below to purchase the book or the movie!

Paul Sheldon. He’s a bestselling novelist who has finally met his biggest fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes and she is more than a rabid reader–she is Paul’s nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house. Now Annie wants Paul to write his greatest work–just for her. She has a lot of ways to spur him on. One is a needle. Another is an ax. And if they don’t work, she can get really nasty… (From Goodreads.com )

 My Review:

I really enjoyed this one. It felt so realistic, which made it feel very creepy.

The protagonist, Paul, is an author that ends up in the care of a crazy fan/ex-nurse after being in an accident. She is nuts! Most of all, she wants him to continue writing the series of books he is known for. The set up – being trapped in a room with limited access to anything at all – feels like the story could be restrictive or drag, but it was quite the opposite. The tension and suspense was high in this one!

What I liked the most about the book was that whenever Paul was in a situation, he would think of all his options. The process of him thinking of his options felt similar to how my brain works so I felt like we were on the same page (har har puns). While reading, I would think of something and then Paul would think of it too. Then King would decide if it would work or not. It was exciting trying to figure out what to do during different situations. It made it feel like *I* was Paul and I had some crazy bitch after me. So, it felt exciting!

The amount of gore and horror was great. It was gruesome, but realistic, which is perfect for this type of story. It was also spaced nicely throughout the story. The ending was also very satisfying.