Cujo
Published: 8, September 1981
Author: Stephen King
Genres: American, Animals, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Psychological, Rural, Small Town, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
Cujo Summary
The Review:
Stephen King's novel Cujo was partially inspired by a visit to a mechanic in the spring of 1977. Author recalls how problems with his motorbike led him to an auto shop on the outskirts of Bridgton, Maine, in an interview. When he got to the shop, his motorcycle died, and a Saint Bernard appeared from the garage, barking at him and clawing for his hand.
Despite the fact that the mechanic used a wrench to stop the dog from injuring Stephen King, he was nevertheless terrified by the experience. This occurrence, as well as a tale of a little kid mauled by a Saint Bernard that appeared in a Portland, Maine newspaper, served as inspiration for the novel.
At the time, the author also owned a faulty Ford Pinto, the same car model that the novel's heroine, Donna Trenton, brings to the mechanical workshop where she meets the rabid Cujo.
If you've never seen the movie or read the book, the first thing you'll notice when you start reading this book is that you get a true sense of why Cujo went insane and attacked humans.
Cujo turned virtually mad after contracting rabies, according to the book. Furthermore, the author does a fantastic job of immersing the reader in Cujo's psyche, since the dog's hazy thoughts are occasionally conveyed, which was a real joy for me.
The location and subplots were well-done, and the novel didn't feel out of date. In fact, a book like this would be better placed in the 1980s, when people couldn't use their mobile phones or send text messages when they were in danger or needed assistance.
That adds to the suspense because it reduces things to the bare fundamentals with a level playing field, as desperate situations pit man against the dog, or woman against the dog, with no technology to intervene.
There are lots of other sidetracks in the plot that don't include Cujo; it's not simply a dog following humans for 400 pages, but Cujo is definitely the straw that breaks the camel's back. Overall, no dog has ever been more stunning on paper or on-screen than Cujo, which is why the title will always be remembered.
Because I am an animal lover who does not want to watch animals being hurt, I did not consider this a fantastic book at first, but the book and writing are excellent, as one would expect from Stephen King, but what made me unhappy was Cujo's condition.
To solve this problem, I decided that Cujo was not a dog, but rather a monster that needed to be exterminated, thus I enjoyed it as a creature feature. If you've read any of his other books, you should give this one a go.
This novel really exceeded my expectations. I heard it was about a rabid dog, but I was expecting a straightforward horror story. I wasn't expecting such a diverse cast of individuals or a complicated narrative.
I liked how realistic the characters were. The youngster afraid of creatures in his closet, the pair dealing with marital issues, the lovelorn lover, and the mother desiring a better life for her son were all touching and relatable.
I was concerned for every one of them. I even felt sad for the tenacious, dominating, and abusive dad, which, made me think, what a fantastic work of literature, if I can feel sorry for a man like that, and it was because he wasn't completely black and white.
Although he was a darker shade of gray than the story's protagonists, there was still plenty about him that I could relate to. I didn't feel sorry for the lovelorn, fanatical lover, the sort that goes off the handle and throws a terrifying big boy attitude when he doesn't get what he desires, but I can say I've known individuals like him.
All of the characters were genuine people. The dog's character was also well-written. I haven't read any other stories with such well-written pets. Call of the Wild was one of the first books I read, and the dogs in that novel felt far too human.
I don't know what it's like to be a dog, but I thought this dog character to be convincing. The finale was gloomier than I had anticipated or desired, but it was not unsatisfying.
Cujo reminds me of a period when Stephen King's writing was more free-form when unfettered masterpieces like Firestarter and The Stand were still new on bookstore shelves.
Cujo represents a period in my life when the author would place pedestrian characters in exceptional situations and leave them to figure things out on their own. It's less delicate than Lisey's Story and Duma Key, but it's more dynamic. And you constantly have the feeling that anything may, and probably will happen. That's what makes Cujo so special.
Final Thoughts:
I'm telling a story based on one of my own nightmares. I had several dreams as a child of being attacked by dogs and other creatures, and they always attacked the side of my neck, and I always woke up at that point. But as I grew older, I began to dislodge these creatures' jaws like Tarzan. I'm sure I didn't have these nightmares because of reading/watching Cujo, but this story reminded me of them.
The supernatural component is almost entirely absent, leaving the reader to question whether this is merely a consequence of rabies or something even more malevolent. Regardless, the shocks and thrills are constant.
I like Stephen King's sympathy for Cujo; the dog has moments when he realizes something is wrong with him but is perplexed by his ailment. This story will not disappoint; strange circumstances leave a mother and boy alone on a lonely property with the dog.
Cujo is a Stephen King novel about a well-mannered St. Bernard that goes rabid after being bitten by a Rabies Positive bat and terrorizes the quiet town of Castle Rock, Maine.
The author creates a terrifying creature that becomes the standard representation for all violent and horrific creatures to follow. I couldn't put the book down because I couldn't wait to know what happened next, who would be the next victim, and whether they would survive the meeting with the ferocious creature.
The reader will be completely enthralled by this page-turner. If you haven't already read it, I highly encourage you to do so since it is an old classic for the times we live in.
Synopsis:
“The #1 New York Times bestseller, Cujo “hits the jugular” (The New York Times) with the story of a friendly Saint Bernard that is bitten by a bat. Get ready to meet the most hideous menace ever to terrorize the town of Castle Rock, Maine.
Outside a peaceful town in central Maine, a monster is waiting. Cujo is a two-hundred-pound Saint Bernard, the best friend Brett Camber has ever had. One day, Cujo chases a rabbit into a cave inhabited by sick bats and emerges as something new altogether.
Meanwhile, Vic and Donna Trenton, and their young son Tad, move to Maine. They are seeking peace and quiet, but life in this small town is not what it seems. As Tad tries to fend off the terror that comes to him at night from his bedroom closet, and as Vic and Donna face their own nightmare of a marriage on the rocks, there is no way they can know that a monster, infinitely sinister, waits in the daylight.
What happens to Cujo, how he becomes a horrifying vortex inescapably drawing in all the people around him, makes for one of the most heart-stopping novels Stephen King has ever written. “A genuine page-turner that grabs you and holds you and won’t let go” (Chattanooga Times), Cujo will forever change how you view man’s best friend.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:
Castle Rock, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Danny Pintauro, Dead Zone, Dee Wallace, Donna And Tad, Donna Trenton, Edge Of Your Seat, Frank Dodd, Monster In The Closet, Rabid Dog, Saint Bernard, Trapped In The Car, Well Written, Years Ago
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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Cujo (1983) (R)
The Stand (2020 Limited Series) (NR)
The Stand (1994) (NR)
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