Blaze
Published: 12, June 2007
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classics, Fiction, Horror, Kidnapping, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
Blaze Summary
The Review
Stephen King's work Blaze was published under the alias Richard Bachman. On his website, Stephen King stated that he "discovered it" in an attic. It was written before Carrie, according to the afterword of Different Seasons. The first manuscript of the novel was sent to Doubleday publishers at the same time as Salem's Lot; the latter was chosen as his second novel, and Blaze was relegated to a trunk novel.
Stephen King reworked the manuscript, removing much of what he saw as the original text's over-sentimentality, and offered the book for publishing in 2007. Memory, a short tale initially published in 2006 and incorporated into Duma Key by the author, is also included in the collection.
It's difficult to have high expectations for a book that begins with the author admitting in "Disclosure" that he has no feelings for his own work and has discarded the original hardcopy.
In my perspective, the "Disclosure" is essentially a part of the tale and helps to generate excitement, and I enjoyed reading it even if it does make you reconsider the novel after reading it.
However, I think Blaze is a fantastic book. It immediately draws you in with its compassionately sluggish main character and drags you along to the inevitable conclusion.
The author always understands what works and what doesn't in his books, and he's right that this book's flashbacks are its strongest feature. They had a clear sweetness that I like, even when they occasionally drift into Near-Upton Sinclair-Esque melodrama.
If we're being honest, they're a touch clichéd, but author has always been a master of the little aspects of spirit and humanity. That's on a full show right now.
In this work, author does a fantastic job of making you appreciate someone who is doing something he knows is wrong. Blaze is the ultimate pulling on your heartstrings huge stupid person — Actually, he's the original John Coffey in my mind.
Blaze is a clever youngster who had his brain scrambled by a drunk, abusive father and now stands a gigantic 6'7". He is a small-time con artist whose partner dies just before their big final score, and Blaze must carry on alone, with the assistance of his partner's spirit.
Blaze thinks he's outsmarting everyone, but he's clearly building a trail that will lead directly back to him, so you almost have to shake your head in compassion. The unraveling of his crime is as predictable as his reaction to the items he has taken.
Blaze's tragic increasing attachment for the infant he kidnaps is almost funny in its melodrama, yet you can't help but be affected by it. That's all down to author's skill to make you care about such a situation and the person involved.
Stephen King's Blaze is a plain, almost romantic novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed every nostalgic bit of it.
This is a short book with an excellent narrative. It was written in the 1970s, but Stephen King refused to publish it because he didn't think it was a decent story. You come to know the characters and experience a sense of intimacy with them, as you do in all Stephen King books.
This one is the same, and you'll find yourself rooting for the bad guy since he'll remind you of John Coffey from The Green Mile, as I mentioned before.
If you like Of Mice and Men, this is a terrific Stephen King novel to read. Both involve a couple of guys attempting to make ends meet, one of which is the smarter of the two, and the other is this 6'7" gentle giant who isn't that bright owing to his father's beatings as a child.
This does not, in my opinion, belong in the Richard Bachman vault, but it was a good read with a sentimental crime fiction flavor rather than suspense, thrills, or terror. A must-read for Stephen King fans and serious collectors, but not one I'd suggest if you're looking for his best horror stories.
Although the author is well renowned for his horror novels, his non-horror works are equally as outstanding. Billy Summers comes to mind, as does this older book.
Blaze, like Billy Summers, is about a criminal, a damaged individual who commits evil acts but whom you can't help but like since the amazing author portrays him sympathetically.
We are reminded that there is a huge range of tones between black and white. Blaze, the titular character, is lost in the mists of time. He's a con artist, yet he's likable. He commits atrocities, but one can't help but feel sad for him. I believe his life might have turned out quite differently if he had a better start in life if his father hadn't pushed him down a flight of stairs and harmed his brain.
But, like the rest of us, Blaze can't change his history. He's a victim of circumstance who is eking out a living the best he can.
Stephen King's writing style astounds me, and his ability to make any scenario appear genuine. I had to tell myself that Blaze is a fictional character, and I don't have to feel sorry for him. But I adore it when I feel so strongly about a character that it's nearly difficult to believe they're not a real person.
If you're a fan of Stephen King or simply enjoy a well-told narrative, you should read this one. You won't be scared, but you'll most likely love it.
Final Thoughts
Stephen King's stories are usually dripping with bleak reality. I've always believed that's one of the reasons he's been so successful. One of his specialties is bringing the horror genre out of the gothic castles and into the American breakfast table and it always seems to work.
This narrative is really no different in that it depicts a tragic situation that, hopefully, most of us will never have to face. It was fantastic!
This narrative has the same relatively similar tone as every previous novel Stephen King has written as Richard Bachman, with the exception of Thinner.
With the lengthy, Lisey's Narrative being the last Stephen King novel released before this one, the compact, brutal storytelling is a wonderful surprise. This work might easily be categorized as the fifth in The Bachman Books.
The tone is almost identical to that of Road Work and Rage. This is a definite winner if you enjoy either of those. I believe King mentions "Of Mice and Men" as a source of inspiration somewhere in the preface, and the influence is undeniable. However, there is a definite Stephen King spin to it.
You owe it to yourself to take up this book if you like the old stuff.
Synopsis
“Master storyteller Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) presents this gripping and remarkable New York Times bestselling crime novel about a damaged young man who embarks on an ill-advised kidnapping plot—a work as taut and riveting as anything he has ever written.
Once upon a time, a fellow named Richard Bachman wrote Blaze on an Olivetti typewriter, then turned the machine over to Stephen King, who used it to write Carrie. Bachman died in 1985 (“cancer of the pseudonym”), but this last gripping Bachman novel resurfaced after being hidden away for decades—an unforgettable crime story tinged with sadness and suspense.
Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., was always a small-time delinquent. None too bright either, thanks to the beatings he got as a kid. Then Blaze met George Rackley, a seasoned pro with a hundred cons and one big idea. The kidnapping should go off without a hitch, with George as the brains behind their dangerous scheme. But there's only one problem: by the time the deal goes down, Blaze's partner in crime is dead. Or is he?”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Bachman Books, Bad Guy, Character Development, Clayton Blaisdell, Dent In His Forehead, Duma Key, Even Though, Highly Recommend, Main Character, Mice And Men, Trunk Novel
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.
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