Cujo Review

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The location and subplots were well-done, and the novel didn't feel out of date.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.”

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Rating: 95/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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The Stand Review

The Stand

Published: 3, October 1978

Author: Stephen King

Genres: American, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Metaphysical, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Suspense, Teen, Thriller, Young Adult

Check the summary of this book here:

The Stand Summary

The Review:

Stephen King's The Stand is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy book. The narrative revolves around a devastating catastrophe of engineered influenza and its consequence, in which the few people who survive are divided into groups, each guided by a figure of good or evil, and appear destined to battle. The author wanted to write an epic in the vein of The Lord of the Rings but set in modern-day America.

Because of the enormous number of characters and plots, he found the novel challenging to write. But, at 1,152 pages, Stephen King's The Stand complete and uncut edition is his longest stand-alone work, surpassing his 1,138-page novel IT.

By the time I was writing this post, the book had sold 4.5 million copies (19 January 2022.) This novel is regarded as one of the author's greatest, and sure, it is quite good if you can actually finish it.

I was fortunate enough to watch the 1994 television series based on this novel, but it was a watered-down version that was only watchable because the screenplay was written by none other than Stephen King himself.

I was unaware of the most recent adaptation of this novel as a television miniseries, but I will definitely watch it as soon as I can.

Marvel Comics' graphic novel version of this book was likewise a hit, and I enjoyed it much.

I read this book a long time ago and was hesitant at first because I couldn't make sense of all the diverse characters with such complex backgrounds. But I kept reading, occasionally going back, and eventually, I found myself tethered to the plot.

A story that begins so descriptively and deeply will suddenly stir in your dreams as you sleep, and I had to put this book down for a few days because I began to have dreams in which I found myself trapped in the same universe as these characters, for every page turned is a shadowy journey of the stuff that waits patiently for the unfortunate people of this legend.

Some spirits are powerful, while others are ineffective. Even the weakest souls, however, warn us and speak of our own crimes, flaws, and burdens to bear, that we should all be wary of white in our hair.

The Stand was a significant bestseller years before the extended variation was released; there was no purpose for the larger version to be created other than to freshen sales in the eyes of many readers, but as an author myself, I understand why it was published.

It had to be published in its trimmed version a long time ago since the publishers demanded that the author cut at least 300 to 400 pages from his real book, which he had to do in the end.

But now that he has the freedom to do anything he wants and publish as many pages as he wants, he went ahead and did it. Because a book is like a child to its creator, and I am proud of him for finally getting the book published the way he desired.

I have already read both versions, and despite the fact that the first edition was already a lengthy novel, I found it to be immensely engaging.

I have to mention something that will make a reader decide whether to read the first version or not. The extended version is far too large for the average reader.

For me, it was like returning to a location I had missed as a child but only had the opportunity to see after I had grown up, and it was like hunting for signs and things that I had wanted to see in the first place.

I was not disappointed, but as I previously stated, it is not for the average reader, and if you have previously read the earlier edition, you may not enjoy it as much as I did due to the way it seems stretched and modified.

I should clarify that it is not actually stretched or whether fillers were added to make it feel larger; instead, so much new material is added to the story that a reader who remembers the first book thinks it isn't the same, even though it is the same book with all the missing material that was supposed to be in it in the first place.

Like there's a character in the enlarged edition who was totally removed out of the original; that character is uninteresting as a good man or a villain, and we already know he brought nothing but a detour that added no additional dimension to the novel's overall ambiance and tone. However, this is just my perspective, and others may enjoy this feature.

Now something about the features that I loved. The extended version is fantastic since it includes backstory and Easter Eggs from previous Stephen King works. If you're a fan like me, you'll see those small connections every time you read.

The personalities, the battle, and the build-up of the pandemic are all fascinating. Flagg is also in this one, and Stephen King aficionados and ardent readers are familiar with him, so I won't say anything about him for the benefit of new readers.

Another feature of these novels is that you may locate and read something new each time you read them, even if you've already read them many times.

Because I know Stephen King nearly always includes secrets and Easter Eggs in his novels that are related to his previous novels, I find myself searching things up to see if they lend context to events that occurred in earlier works.

At the author's epic narrative, you'll smirk and frown, but I'd wait till you're mature enough because things do become gory. If you enjoy this author's approach, I recommend placing this book at the top of your to-read list.

Final Thoughts:

I was going to give it ninety-five points but then I recalled how big this book was and how much effort Stephen King, the great author, put into it, so I revised it to a full hundred points. I know it doesn't matter to many readers, but it doesn't matter to me either since the author deserves all the admiration and respect for what he has accomplished; just try writing one complete page of a tale and then try to recall how many pages this book has.

Here you will discover misery, loss, and tragedy. You'll also discover togetherness and warm beer cans. It's a battle of good over evil, love versus hate. There's a lot of sex and violence in this massive work, but it's evenly divided across the pages.

I'm torn about what to advise people about which version to read because both versions were fantastic in their own right. And I believe I just supplied the solution a few lines ago, so it should be easy for both old and new readers to determine after reading that. So I'm not going to say anything further, and it's up to the readers to decide.

Synopsis:

“The tie-in edition of the nine-part CBS All Access series starring Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgard, and James Marsden.

When a man escapes from a biological testing facility, he sets in motion a deadly domino effect, spreading a mutated strain of the flu that will wipe out 99 percent of humanity within a few weeks. The survivors who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge--Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a peaceful community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg, the nefarious "Dark Man," who delights in chaos and violence. As the dark man and the peaceful woman gather power, the survivors will have to choose between them--and ultimately decide the fate of all humanity.”

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Rating: 100/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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The Eyes of the Dragon Review

The Eyes of the Dragon

Published: 1984

Author: Stephen King

Genres: Action, Adventure, Arthurian, Classic, Dragons, Fantasy, Ghost, Literature, Mythical Creatures, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Witches, Wizards

Check the summary of this book here:

The Eyes of the Dragon Summary

The Review:

Stephen King's fantasy novel The Eyes of the Dragon was a departure from his standard at the time of release since he was most known for his horror novels. The novel is an epic fantasy set in a quasi-medieval world, with a clearly defined fight between good and evil with magic as a central theme. The Napkins was the initial title for The Eyes of the Dragon, but I think it's a good thing it was altered.

This book is fantastic! It's a novel Stephen King wrote for his daughter when she was little, which is why it occasionally feels like a father reading his children a bedtime story. That is why it is such a lovely, terrific, and wonderful book!

Once again, the author has constructed a universe that begins as a Medevil-era fantasy and evolves into the reader's reality.

His ability to construct personalities and situations through wordplay is so impressive that the reader is transported from one time and place to another in the blink of an eye.

This was a fantastic read for me. As is typical of Stephen King's writings, it is a story of good triumphing against evil.

The fantasy setting, as well as the third-person storytelling narrative, offer this novel a purity and beauty in storytelling that set it apart from the rest of author's work for me.

It is not a simple work; its central characters are complicated and multi-dimensional; but, its core perspective is straightforward: there is Good and Evil, and we will finally identify them for what they are. This contrasts with the destructive moral subjectivity prevalent in today's fantasy fiction.

When you compare The Eyes of the Dragon to most of Stephen King's other works, you'll see that, although retaining some of his hallmarks, it's really rather refreshing.

Several components of this novel were based on works that the author had previously written, yet he still manages to build a totally new universe with distinct characters while staying true to the Protagonist's Path template.

The characters in this novel, from the main characters to the common people, are all incredibly human and realistic. The protagonist and antagonist have extremely different points of view, and unlike in many other stories, they are not aware of each other's thoughts.

When I first started reading, I was worried that the book's basic language and small chapters would make it difficult to get through, especially given its length. Instead, I was unable to put the book down.

While telling a gripping narrative, author slipped in a few brilliant or beautiful words. Anyone who enjoys the Dark Tower books should be interested in learning more about Flagg's past.

This novel may be read and enjoyed without having read The Dark Tower series. It's not really that directly tied to the Dark Tower, but it does feature the Flagg character, and if you haven't read the Dark Tower series, you should definitely try it.

In any case, I had a good time reading this novel. It was a short, simple read with an interesting tale. The story revolves around King Roland, his two sons, and his magician/assistant.

When the time comes for the heir to the throne to become the next king, there is a struggle. It seemed as if I were reading a fairy tale. You will appreciate this book if you are a Stephen King fan.

It's one of my favorite books. Of course, Flagg is still out there, but under a different identity and with the same terrible objectives.

We've all run into him in one way or another, therefore the battle continues to this day. I wish you well once you see his actual character, since evil exists, and the virtuous must not just fight it, but also admit it.

A wonderful, not too kindhearted tale of a young king, a magician, and devoted companions from the King of horror.

However, you can tell who the evil monster is straight away, and he is exceedingly terrible in the Dark Magician tradition.

He also allows his boy-king to be extremely good, almost superhuman. I doubt that readers will be interested.

There is ugliness in the adult world, and young readers will encounter it here. They will also discover tenacity, loyalty, and intellect. What It Means to Be Human is hidden behind it all.

It was enjoyable for me. It's not a particularly profound novel, but it's entertaining and amusing nonetheless, especially knowing that you'll see some of the characters again in author's other writings.

The writing was my favorite aspect of the book. The author understands how to keep my interest by spinning a good yarn, which I always appreciate.

Once again, I must mention another aspect of this story that I like was the absence of the vulgarity that I typically associate with Stephen King's work.

I realize the importance of being truthful in writing. It's just great to know that certain stories may be told truthfully without being crude.

Final Thoughts:

Stephen King writes this book as though he were narrating a story for the first time. This will appeal to fans of the classic fantasy story. It has a relatively clean material, making it ideal for younger readers.

The tale hops back and forth a little, and there's no real mystery as to who the bad guy is or what the story's ending will be, but how it all plays out is a fantastic adventure in and of itself.

A fantastic middle-grade book, not just because of the precise plotting, but also because the language is excellent, the storytelling style is congruent with that of the great British tale spinners, and the story is ripe enough to stimulate the reader's interest in learning more.

The Eyes of the Dragon, written in the style of traditional fairy tales, can retain the attention of both children and adults.

There are ties to The Dark Tower series and The Stand for author’s aficionados, but the novel can stand on its own for any reader who wants to reminisce about their childhood fairy tales packed with dragons, kings, and magicians. If you do that, you will appreciate this book.

Just keep in mind that this was written at the request of Stephen King's own daughter, who requested that he include less terror.

Basically, if you don't like it or don't think it's good enough for you, keep in mind that someday your children may wish to read a book, and if you're searching for a clean book, then buy this one or give it to them if you already own it.

But the issue that concerns me is how are you telling others that this book is worthless if you don't have it?

Synopsis:

“It is just not possible to stop turning the pages” (The Washington Post) of this bestselling classic tale—an epic fantasy as only Stephen King could envision it.

“Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a king with two sons….”

Thus begins one of the most unique tales that master storyteller Stephen King has ever written—a sprawling fantasy of dark magic and the struggle for absolute power that utterly transforms the destinies of two brothers born into royalty. Through this enthralling masterpiece of mythical adventure, intrigue, and terror, you will thrill to this unforgettable narrative filled with relentless, wicked enchantment, and the most terrible of secrets….”

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Rating: 90/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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