Thinner by Stephen King (written as Richard Bachman)
1984 / 442 pgs. (95,716 words) Horror

The premise of Thinner centers on William “Billy” Halleck, an overweight lawyer who kills an old Gypsy woman in a driving accident. When Halleck uses his connections to avoid legal consequences, the woman’s elderly father deems it unjust and places a curse on him: “Thinner.” The novel chronicles Billy’s terrifyingly rapid weight loss and the looming question of whether the curse will prove fatal.

While the plot’s predictability, especially towards the conclusion, is a minor drawback, it doesn’t completely detract from the story. Reading it prompts relatable thoughts: rapid, unexplained weight loss in a loved one would likely first suggest cancer, and claims of a “Gypsy curse” might be dismissed as denial. Much of the narrative telegraphs future events, including the ending.

So, is Thinner a bad book? Not at all. I’d still recommend it if asked, though it wouldn’t make my personal list of top Stephen King novels. Its somewhat foreseeable nature prevents it from being a completely captivating read, slightly diminishing its ‘getaway novel’ appeal.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a delightful book!

Lopaka

Interesting Notes:

Recognizing the Gypsy curse as a common storytelling device (a trope), I immediately thought of Sideshow Bob shouting “Trope Alert!” in a Simpsons‘ Halloween special.

Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King
1985/ 128 pgs. (32,000 words) Horror

Cycle of the Werewolf is a graphic novel.  It is divided into 12 chapters, that correspond with the months of the year.  The story is simple, every full moon, a werewolf comes out and kills someone in a small town in Maine, Tarker Mills.

Over each month, people start to get afraid until a child in a wheel chair figures out who the werewolf is.  Then on the final night in December, it all comes to an end. 

For most of the chapters, they are very short. Victim is walking around or doing an action when a man size wolf standing on its legs attack and kills the victim. Seriously. The story builds a little bit in July with Marty, the child in the wheelchair, the only one to survive the werewolf attack.  From August to November, there are a few more short chapters with more victims, except in September and October. Naturally, it is Halloween when the secret is reviled.

There is not much to this graphic novel. It is not amazing by any means and is a very fast read.  There is not any meat for this. Again, this is a graphic novel. One could read it in just over an hour. I would recommend finding it in a library and sitting down and reading it quick.  It is not worth the price to purchase it, unless you are building up the King collection. 

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a delightful book!

Lopaka

Christine by Stephen King
1984 / 736 pgs. (184,000 words) Horror

The most famous horror car in history, Christine, a 1958 Plymouth Fury. Painted Red and White, which Plymouth never offered. King takes us on an automotive adventure that changes horror. At first, as you read about this car, you think Christine is possessed by the devil or a demon of some type, alas dear reader, you would be wrong, just as I was.

Arnie falls in love with Christine at first site. She is badly falling apart, a car that has been sitting and neglected for many years. It should have been sent to the junk yard, destroyed, and recycled. Something about her infatuates him. Something that causes him to do anything to purchase her from her original owner, an Army veteran named Roland LeBay. LeBay hates everything and everyone. Although he loves Christine. As he does everything for the car, his family suffers from his desires for the car. His wife and daughter die within Christine. After making the deal to sell Christine to Arnie, LeBay dies, and the true power of the car becomes known and starts its deadly reign of death and destruction.

This novel is narrated by Dennis, Arnie’s best friend. As Dennis states, he wrote a reflection of events five years after the final act and also as a record in case something happen. He wrote it after reading the paper that the last surviving member of Buddy’s gang died when a car crashed though a wall killing him. Just like, Pet Cemetery, King leaves us wondering, is there more to come.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It is on the list for a recommended book by King to read. Not at the top of the list. However, its one that would not disappoint a new reader.
 
Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a delightful book!

Lopaka

Cujo by Stephen King
1983 / 309 pgs.  Horror

Another Mr. King classic.  Many know the story. A lady and her son get stuck inside a broken-down Ford Pinto. Outside watching them, a rabid Saint Bernard named Cujo is ready to attack.  A famous scene from the movie of the mother and son inside the car with a large dog slamming the door, trying to get inside the car and kill them.

Like all Stephen King stories, this will not end the way you hope.  That, for me, is what makes reading Mr. King so interesting. You honestly don’t know how the book will end as they don’t end on a bright spot many times.  This story is no different.  What is fascinating is the narration from inside the dog’s thoughts. Mr. King takes us inside Cujo and tries to understand why the dog is attacking and killing the people he once loved. 

At times, the story does drag on, although I did love the ending and not because I reached the novel’s end.  Many times in the book, I kept looking at my time, wondering how much longer I had to read.  The different plots were necessary for the overall story; sadly, the book drone on for many passages.   The best subplot central to the book is with Donna, her husband, Vic, and their son Tad.  Donna and Tad are stuck with a large dog waiting outside in the car.  Also, Vic and his work partner Roger are also pivical to the story as it builds the human element.  It changes the perspective of what is essential and not. The other subplot brings no meaning to the story; this is of Charity and Brett, who owns Cujo.  Although much of the book is about them, there is no importance to the main plot; this is the drag on the whole book, the parts that made me look at the clock.  The rest of the book is incredible.  The entire segment of Donna, Tad, and Cujo is outstanding.  It hits hard if you have kids of your own.  It makes reading the narrative worth it.    

Overall the story is good when you can bear through the rough sections. It’s not on my top 5 King books; however, it’s still a good read.  I wouldn’t say avoid it.  Understand, there is a lot of fluff in the book.  If one can survive reading Moby Dick, one can enjoy Cujo!     

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka

Night Shift by Stephen King
1978 / 342 pgs Horror

Night Shift is a collection of twenty short stories.  Some of these stories appeared in magazines that Stephen King submitted to publish to make money before Carrie became a best seller.  A few of these stories were made into movies, Children of the Corn, Truckers (Maximum Overdrive), Quitters Inc and The Ledge (Cat’s Eye), Graveyard Shift, and finally The Mangler.  The Lawnmower Man was also a movie that just used the title to Stephen King’s story and nothing of the plot.

A few were also made into T.V. Mini Series.  Some of the stories are the classic creepy suspense that King is famous for, and some are decent readings.  The stories are in order, Jerusalem’s Lot, Graveyard Shift, Night Surf, I am the Doorway, The Mangler, The Boogeyman, Gray Matter, Battleground, Trucks, Sometimes They Come Back, Strawberry Spring, The Ledge, The Lawnmower Man, Quitters Inc, I know what you need, Children of the Corn, The last rung on the Ladder, The man who loved Flowers, One for the Road, and finally, The Woman in the Room. 

Of these, my favorites are Quitters, Inc, Battleground, The Ledge, and Children of the Corn.

Quitters, Inc is about Morrison, a man who wants to stop smoking.  When he sees a friend at the airport that he attended college with and smoked, he asked him how he quit smoking.  He mentioned Quitters, Inc.  Morrison contacts them, and they state they can guarantee they can stop him from smoking.  They say the method is they torture and beat the family until he stops.  After ten failures, the final solution is used….

            The battleground is about a guy that receives a G.I. Joe box that little green men with helicopters, jeeps and even a rocket launcher comes out of to kill him….

            The Ledge is a story about a tennis pro that is caught sleeping with a wealthy man’s wife.  The Richman makes a wager that the tennis pro could walk around the ledge of the 26 stories building, and he would get $20,000, the wife, and his freedom.  If he doesn’t, the police will arrest him with the heroin that was stashed in his car….

            Children of the Corn are about children in a cornfield in Nebraska that kill any adults who enter their small town and anyone over 18 years old, including the children raised in the corn….

I would recommend this collection of stories to read. It’s not on top of my King list, but some good ones will make your skin crawl.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book,

Lopaka