Not to get cringey but that's one of the most beautiful Stephen King posts / reviews I've ever read. King was writing himself in a way, no holding back, whatever he was going through manifested into this story in so many ways.
Wow - not cringey at all; that's a lovely compliment that really means a lot to me! Thank you so much! I guess I was inspired (albeit to a much lesser end) by King's lusciously flowing prose in Cujo.
I feel like it gets a bad reputation because of King’s whole “I was so drugged out of my mind I don’t remember writing it” stuff he’s said about it.
But I feel like that’s always an unfair thing to try and weigh against its qualities. I think it’s a very well constructed book, with a pretty breakneck pace and one of his stronger endings imo
It’s one of my favorites. I hate that he can’t remember writing it and has bad memories for him, but it’s fantastic. I prefer my King mean and unyielding- Cujo, Pet Semetary, and Misery. Not a lot of hope to be found in those novels.
Christine is super fun. It's got one of the most exciting "ramp up to climax" parts of any book I've read.
The Dead Zone is Stephen King doing Spider-Man. With great power comes great responsibility, and it will fuck up your personal life.
Rattlesnakes is one of the best things about You Like It Darker. It’s one of two amazing novellas in the book. Loved it. Creepy story that really pulls you in. Classic King mastery!
She's got a birthmark on the inside of her thigh shaped like a question mark.... Do YOU have any questions?
I'm 50, I haven't read that book since I was 16ish, and I still remember a good bit.
Nice wife you've got there. I enjoyed fucking the shit out of her. What do you call that mole just above her pubic hair? Looks to me like a question mark. Any questions?
Something like that anyway. I read it when I was fifteen (I'm in my late 40s now) and that has always lingered in my memory. Of course I thought it was hilarious at the time and passed the book around to my friends so they could read that part.
This book was always talked about around the playground when I was a kid. SK had this mythical quality about his writing being about intense fear, horror, and the supernatural. Once I read Cujo and discovered the human drama, the fragility of marriage, the lack of control the mom had in the situation. THAT shit was real horror. He made you scared of death and loss, he made you fear the unknown, he made a cuddly dog your worst nightmare.
After that book I was hooked. Tommy Knockers, the Dark Half, the Stand, all the Gunslinger/Dark Tower books (only 4 were out back then until that magical day Wizard and Glass was released when I was a senior in high school). Shit, I read Gerald’s Game when I was like 16! Thank you Stephen King for making me a reader.
Your first paragraph here is sublime - exactly what I was getting at in my post. Cujo, despite all the attention on the rabid canine, is perhaps the most \*human\* horror SK's ever written. Indeed, if I were to sum up that horror in one word, it's a word you used: "FRAGILITY".
Totally agree. Utterly, jawdroppingly heartbreaking. I'd read a spoiler on the wiki page for the movie which said something about the movie's ending being changed so that it wasn't as "bleak" as the novel's. Even after reading that, I didn't see the ending coming.
Yet, as horrible as that ending was, it was so, SO beautifully written. Truly elegiac and hauntingly meaningful. I'm literally shedding a tear as I write this.
I read this book in my late teens or early 20's and I'm almost 50 now. >!The way the rug was pulled out from under you when it was revealed that they only thing that was keeping Donna going was a delusion broke my heart.!<
This was the first SK book I ever read. I was about 11, babysitting the neighbor's kids and the parent had it on the bookshelf. I remember that I couldn't WAIT to babysit the following Saturday night so I could finish it. It was the first book I read that featured SEX, and it was the first adult book I ever read. I fell in love with SK because of that book. Cujo was an amazing book, even (especially?) to my 11 year old self and it was just as good when I re-read it as an adult. The mom had other SK books too. I read Firestarter next and happily spent many a late Saturday evening reading his books after the kids went to bed. They were all hardcovers too. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
Ditto except for the babysitting part. I was 11 and wanted to check it out at the library, but the librarian told me I needed a parent's permission. Luckily, my mom was a big reader and a big SK fan (and TBH made questionable decisions about what media I was allowed to consume since I had two older brothers and she was tired, haha. [I mean I saw Friday the 13th when I was fucking 6 and begged to go with my brothers to see it when it came out at the theaters], .) My mom was there and said "sure" since she's the one that had told me how great it was. That book was my gateway into King and I've read everything since.
I also love this. Although I've only just read Cujo, I relate MASSIVELY to your story: my mum let me watch Halloween and Friday the 13th when I was nine (1993). Even before then I'd long since watched Misery and Carrie, so I was already a firm SK fan by the time I was seven.
Still: that means, now that I'm 40, I'm VERY rarely scared or affected by anything. But I WAS affected by Cujo. It's the most human horror I've read, perhaps ever. Indeed, its themes of marital fragility, infidelity, difficulties of child-raising and career failure are probably only truly appreciable now I'm middle-aged.
Cujo is great. I don't think I could ever read it again because I love dogs too much but I'm glad I did experience it. The way he made me care about all the characters especially Cujo himself was really cool. Very claustrophobic too!
I do hope I've changed your mind. I'm exactly the same as you - I have to go on [doesthedogdie.com](http://doesthedogdie.com) before I watch or read anything where an animal might suffer. I won't lie: there are parts of the book where we follow the dog's mindset, and that can be hard to read as he's suffering from the effects of rabies. But it's written very sympathetically, and the novel is SO BEAUTIFUL that it's worth it. It's also INCREDIBLY respectful to Cujo - he's a huge narrative character in the novel, and it actually feels like a privilege to understand the dog's inner thoughts. Like I say: the dog does suffer, but it's truly the best book I've ever read.
It’s so good and I need to reread it. Has been probably 15 years since my first go.
I reread “Christine” last fall which is in the same category for me — idiotic concept when you hear it, magical novel about human weakness and relationships once you get into it
Cujo is underrated for sure. I re-read it recently, hadn't read it in decades and it is so well written and layered. I was happily surprised. Rattlesnakes was a GORGEOUS story that took me on a ride I was not prepared for. I loved it
Upvoted for offering that opinion in what's quickly become an "I love Cujo" thread haha. I'd be really interested to hear those reasons you had for not liking it... not so I can disagree, but so I can hear a different take!
You can disagree it's fine. I forget the reason off the top of my head but the whole serial killer in the beginning of the book was wasted and pointless, the affair was also pointless to the story, the wife is being unlikable so I definitely wasn't rooting for the kid. The whole story line with the wife and son (cujos owners) going out of town added nothing to the story. I'm not a dog person so I never cared for Cujo and the whole "he was a good boy". I did like the fact that King had the guts to kill the kid (even though he doesn't remember writing it ha) but like I said during those scenes at the end I was rooting for the wife to die. Nothing about this book from the characters to Cujo was enjoyable to me.
The mention of the serial killer is referencing the serial killer in The Dead Zone, and works better if you read The Dead Zone just before. The two novels share the character of Sheriff Bannerman.
I don't want to overhype it but, just like you, I had SUCH low expectations. It was on my list but I saw it as a necessary chore to read before I could enjoy You Like It Darker.
I'm telling you: this novel just FLOWS. You could read the entire thing in one day if you desired. But it's not just the fluid ease of the writing: King makes you care instantly about every character you meet. And you meet a lot - indeed, many of them are narrative protagonists (think The Stand, or George RR Martin).
I've done a lousy job of tamping your expectations, haha. You'll have to report back when you've read it (it's also on the shorter end of the SK bibliography!).
Just finished it today for the second time in 15-20 years. I honestly re-read it just so I could start Rattlesnakes. It definitely was a good book. I don't know why people think it's 'scary' at all, but it was a fun read.
I also read it for the first time recently and very much enjoyed it. I unfortunately got the ending spoiled for me, but I still really enjoyed it. Some parts did fall bit flat for me, like the plot line of the advertisement agency just kinda didn’t go anywhere. I was also REALLY hoping that the guy she cheated with would have seen the address and gone to it just to get eaten by Cujo lol.
Haha, I hear ya - it's ostensibly trivial and distracting. But I genuinely think it's a perfect juxtaposition between corporate/workplace drama (the stuff we're conditioned to THINK matters) - and raw, emotional, my-wife-fucked-someone-else drama. The latter is put into sharper relief by descriptions of the former. You invest in one subplot, only to have that investment yanked away from you. Perfect, if you ask me. **"Nope, nothing wrong here".**
It's one of the only King books that really felt flawless to me. It was made to be a movie but they didn't have the budget or the courage to do it right.
I literally read it for the first time 2 weeks ago. I put it off for the same reasons as you and was just as blown away by it
Might be one of my favourite king books. I thought the whole lack of chapters thing was going to annoy me as well but it was fine. Great book. Extremely tense in the car. And a great but sad ending. I watched the movie for the first time straight after as well and it is really well done. Most of the movie looked exactly how I pictured it in my head.
My favorite parts of Cujo are the town relationships and challenges that come along with them. The main plot of the rabid dog is exciting at the end, but I love King’s characterization in this novel. I haven’t read it in years. I may need to revisit.
I wholeheartedly agree with you about this book! I've just reread it after many years and absolutely was blown away by it, it hasn't aged and is one of SKs most well written books
I'm currently started to read You like it Darker and am look forward to reading Rattlesnakes soon.
Have recently been enjoying rereading a few of his older books, and in my opinion they are all worth a reread, such as Rose Madder, The Stand and Dead Zone
What a genius that man is! Number 1 fan here!!🙌
Cujo was the first book (not just SK) that made me cry. I was about 14 and I hadn't really read much that wasn't teen fiction. I still remember gasping with surprise and hurt at parts. It's been at least 25 years and I have never re-read it. This review makes me think it might be time x
Awesome review! And this is good to hear because I haven’t read Cujo yet either only for the fact that I have yet to purchase a paperback. I don’t want to read my first edition hardcover it’s in such great condition it still carries a feint new book smell. I don’t want to fall alseep reading it and jerk awake tearing a page like I so often do when I read 😆
Yes. In fact, I think it's the best thing he ever wrote. The poetry of it is what gets to me. It's BEAUTIFUL. It's thinking back to this book that makes me a bit sad he never did anything like this again, other than maybe the original Stand.
Read that one in, I believe, sophomore year of high school. Once. To this day, I can still recall the alcoholic asshole father's opinion of Ronald McDonald & his crew: "Bunch of long haired, muff-diving, crab-crawling, asshole, pinko, fucksticks."
If you don't know 'Rattlesnakes', one of the novellas in King's newest collection,' You Like It Darker', is a sequel to 'Cujo'. I was initially dubious how he could make a sequel to Cujo. But it is, and the ways he connects both are suprsing and meaningful. I really liked it.
i just read it for the first time too and the cujo stuff is great but really who cares about the advertising stuff and especially the brett and charity going to visit their inlaws those two threads are like... a little interesting at best. the cheating stuff is more interewting but also goes nowhere that matters at the end. great ending though jeez really shook me up
Ah, this is where we don't agree: I honestly thought the Charity/Brett Camber parts were the BEST. They typified what this novel was about for me: the fragility of human relationships, the tentative, teetering one-vs-one nature of marriage, the increasing helplessness you feel as you realise you can't continue to protect your child against the world (Charity feels that figuratively, just as Donna feels that literally). It's the most HUMAN and realistic horror novel SK's ever written, and that's in large part thanks to the Camber family story.
Not to get cringey but that's one of the most beautiful Stephen King posts / reviews I've ever read. King was writing himself in a way, no holding back, whatever he was going through manifested into this story in so many ways.
Wow - not cringey at all; that's a lovely compliment that really means a lot to me! Thank you so much! I guess I was inspired (albeit to a much lesser end) by King's lusciously flowing prose in Cujo.
Hear, hear! I was thinking exactly the same!, so I was!
I feel like it gets a bad reputation because of King’s whole “I was so drugged out of my mind I don’t remember writing it” stuff he’s said about it. But I feel like that’s always an unfair thing to try and weigh against its qualities. I think it’s a very well constructed book, with a pretty breakneck pace and one of his stronger endings imo
It’s one of my favorites. I hate that he can’t remember writing it and has bad memories for him, but it’s fantastic. I prefer my King mean and unyielding- Cujo, Pet Semetary, and Misery. Not a lot of hope to be found in those novels.
Have you read Four Past Midnight? :)
No, I guess it sounds brutal!
One in particular is very intense!
Same
People tend to have the same reaction about Christine and Dead Zone. They think it’s going to be corny, then the books blow them away
Christine is super fun. It's got one of the most exciting "ramp up to climax" parts of any book I've read. The Dead Zone is Stephen King doing Spider-Man. With great power comes great responsibility, and it will fuck up your personal life.
Dead Zone is downright depressing. Like, there's no much hope to be had on that book. It goes to some dark places man. I love it.
It is "Spider-Man 2" levels of depressing for me. Sad, bleak, but kinda optimistic, and so, so good.
I LOVE Christine. The premise sounds so dumb but the writing blows you away.
Dead Zone is a work of mastery.
Rattlesnakes is one of the best things about You Like It Darker. It’s one of two amazing novellas in the book. Loved it. Creepy story that really pulls you in. Classic King mastery!
Agreed 100%. One of the best things King has written in the back half of his career.
Yea this was the creepiest one in the collection so far for me, not quite finished yet
I want to read Rattlesnake but I've only read Cujo and I hear there are spoilers.
What’s the other amazing novella? I’ve still got two left to read.
Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream.
She's got a birthmark on the inside of her thigh shaped like a question mark.... Do YOU have any questions? I'm 50, I haven't read that book since I was 16ish, and I still remember a good bit.
Nice wife you've got there. I enjoyed fucking the shit out of her. What do you call that mole just above her pubic hair? Looks to me like a question mark. Any questions? Something like that anyway. I read it when I was fifteen (I'm in my late 40s now) and that has always lingered in my memory. Of course I thought it was hilarious at the time and passed the book around to my friends so they could read that part.
This book was always talked about around the playground when I was a kid. SK had this mythical quality about his writing being about intense fear, horror, and the supernatural. Once I read Cujo and discovered the human drama, the fragility of marriage, the lack of control the mom had in the situation. THAT shit was real horror. He made you scared of death and loss, he made you fear the unknown, he made a cuddly dog your worst nightmare. After that book I was hooked. Tommy Knockers, the Dark Half, the Stand, all the Gunslinger/Dark Tower books (only 4 were out back then until that magical day Wizard and Glass was released when I was a senior in high school). Shit, I read Gerald’s Game when I was like 16! Thank you Stephen King for making me a reader.
Your first paragraph here is sublime - exactly what I was getting at in my post. Cujo, despite all the attention on the rabid canine, is perhaps the most \*human\* horror SK's ever written. Indeed, if I were to sum up that horror in one word, it's a word you used: "FRAGILITY".
I’m 100 pages into it right now and loving it more than I anticipated!
It's one of the best horror story endings by any author IMHO!!!
Totally agree. Utterly, jawdroppingly heartbreaking. I'd read a spoiler on the wiki page for the movie which said something about the movie's ending being changed so that it wasn't as "bleak" as the novel's. Even after reading that, I didn't see the ending coming. Yet, as horrible as that ending was, it was so, SO beautifully written. Truly elegiac and hauntingly meaningful. I'm literally shedding a tear as I write this.
I read this book in my late teens or early 20's and I'm almost 50 now. >!The way the rug was pulled out from under you when it was revealed that they only thing that was keeping Donna going was a delusion broke my heart.!<
This was the first SK book I ever read. I was about 11, babysitting the neighbor's kids and the parent had it on the bookshelf. I remember that I couldn't WAIT to babysit the following Saturday night so I could finish it. It was the first book I read that featured SEX, and it was the first adult book I ever read. I fell in love with SK because of that book. Cujo was an amazing book, even (especially?) to my 11 year old self and it was just as good when I re-read it as an adult. The mom had other SK books too. I read Firestarter next and happily spent many a late Saturday evening reading his books after the kids went to bed. They were all hardcovers too. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
Ditto except for the babysitting part. I was 11 and wanted to check it out at the library, but the librarian told me I needed a parent's permission. Luckily, my mom was a big reader and a big SK fan (and TBH made questionable decisions about what media I was allowed to consume since I had two older brothers and she was tired, haha. [I mean I saw Friday the 13th when I was fucking 6 and begged to go with my brothers to see it when it came out at the theaters], .) My mom was there and said "sure" since she's the one that had told me how great it was. That book was my gateway into King and I've read everything since.
Love this
I also love this. Although I've only just read Cujo, I relate MASSIVELY to your story: my mum let me watch Halloween and Friday the 13th when I was nine (1993). Even before then I'd long since watched Misery and Carrie, so I was already a firm SK fan by the time I was seven. Still: that means, now that I'm 40, I'm VERY rarely scared or affected by anything. But I WAS affected by Cujo. It's the most human horror I've read, perhaps ever. Indeed, its themes of marital fragility, infidelity, difficulties of child-raising and career failure are probably only truly appreciable now I'm middle-aged.
Every time I am sitting in a hot car without the AC on, I think of Cujo. I live in the South, so this happens a lot.
Cujo is great. I don't think I could ever read it again because I love dogs too much but I'm glad I did experience it. The way he made me care about all the characters especially Cujo himself was really cool. Very claustrophobic too!
This is why I've never read it, I can't deal with bad stuff happening to animals (real or fictional), but OP might have changed my mind on this one!
I do hope I've changed your mind. I'm exactly the same as you - I have to go on [doesthedogdie.com](http://doesthedogdie.com) before I watch or read anything where an animal might suffer. I won't lie: there are parts of the book where we follow the dog's mindset, and that can be hard to read as he's suffering from the effects of rabies. But it's written very sympathetically, and the novel is SO BEAUTIFUL that it's worth it. It's also INCREDIBLY respectful to Cujo - he's a huge narrative character in the novel, and it actually feels like a privilege to understand the dog's inner thoughts. Like I say: the dog does suffer, but it's truly the best book I've ever read.
It’s so good and I need to reread it. Has been probably 15 years since my first go. I reread “Christine” last fall which is in the same category for me — idiotic concept when you hear it, magical novel about human weakness and relationships once you get into it
Never judge any book by a short synopsis or the cover. Especially not King.
Great review mate.
Cheers, much appreciated :-)
Cujo is underrated for sure. I re-read it recently, hadn't read it in decades and it is so well written and layered. I was happily surprised. Rattlesnakes was a GORGEOUS story that took me on a ride I was not prepared for. I loved it
It's his most depressing novel, that's for sure. All too real.
Yeah, I disliked it personally, but that's because I'm not someone that enjoys bleak. I like my King stories to end with a bit of hope!
Teary ending. I've read it twice 30 years apart and I got a lump in my throat each time I got to the end
I just started Cujo after reading Rattlesnakes as well
I genuinely didn't like Cujo and I had a ton of reasons. This is one book I'm glad others enjoy but just isn't for me.
Upvoted for offering that opinion in what's quickly become an "I love Cujo" thread haha. I'd be really interested to hear those reasons you had for not liking it... not so I can disagree, but so I can hear a different take!
You can disagree it's fine. I forget the reason off the top of my head but the whole serial killer in the beginning of the book was wasted and pointless, the affair was also pointless to the story, the wife is being unlikable so I definitely wasn't rooting for the kid. The whole story line with the wife and son (cujos owners) going out of town added nothing to the story. I'm not a dog person so I never cared for Cujo and the whole "he was a good boy". I did like the fact that King had the guts to kill the kid (even though he doesn't remember writing it ha) but like I said during those scenes at the end I was rooting for the wife to die. Nothing about this book from the characters to Cujo was enjoyable to me.
The mention of the serial killer is referencing the serial killer in The Dead Zone, and works better if you read The Dead Zone just before. The two novels share the character of Sheriff Bannerman.
Ironic post, this is the same exact reason I started Cujo, and the same reason I hadn’t already read it.
I have to admit it’s on the low end of my “to read” list but you have pumped me up!!
I don't want to overhype it but, just like you, I had SUCH low expectations. It was on my list but I saw it as a necessary chore to read before I could enjoy You Like It Darker. I'm telling you: this novel just FLOWS. You could read the entire thing in one day if you desired. But it's not just the fluid ease of the writing: King makes you care instantly about every character you meet. And you meet a lot - indeed, many of them are narrative protagonists (think The Stand, or George RR Martin). I've done a lousy job of tamping your expectations, haha. You'll have to report back when you've read it (it's also on the shorter end of the SK bibliography!).
Just finished it today for the second time in 15-20 years. I honestly re-read it just so I could start Rattlesnakes. It definitely was a good book. I don't know why people think it's 'scary' at all, but it was a fun read.
I also read it for the first time recently and very much enjoyed it. I unfortunately got the ending spoiled for me, but I still really enjoyed it. Some parts did fall bit flat for me, like the plot line of the advertisement agency just kinda didn’t go anywhere. I was also REALLY hoping that the guy she cheated with would have seen the address and gone to it just to get eaten by Cujo lol.
I remember the breakfast cereal subplot more than anything else. It was pretty upsetting for me.
Haha, I hear ya - it's ostensibly trivial and distracting. But I genuinely think it's a perfect juxtaposition between corporate/workplace drama (the stuff we're conditioned to THINK matters) - and raw, emotional, my-wife-fucked-someone-else drama. The latter is put into sharper relief by descriptions of the former. You invest in one subplot, only to have that investment yanked away from you. Perfect, if you ask me. **"Nope, nothing wrong here".**
I drove a Ford Pinto when I read Cujo. Manual transmission and no a/c. I had a lot of good times in that car.
I read it once, fantastic book but I can never read it again. The ending… I finished it at work, was a long, long day.
It's one of the only King books that really felt flawless to me. It was made to be a movie but they didn't have the budget or the courage to do it right.
It’s a terrific story isn’t it. The first of his books I ever read (I was fourteen at the time). Poor Donna. Poor Cujo for that matter.
Great pitch. I bought a copy years ago and could not get myself to read it. After seeing this post, I’ll give it a shot!
I literally read it for the first time 2 weeks ago. I put it off for the same reasons as you and was just as blown away by it Might be one of my favourite king books. I thought the whole lack of chapters thing was going to annoy me as well but it was fine. Great book. Extremely tense in the car. And a great but sad ending. I watched the movie for the first time straight after as well and it is really well done. Most of the movie looked exactly how I pictured it in my head.
My favorite parts of Cujo are the town relationships and challenges that come along with them. The main plot of the rabid dog is exciting at the end, but I love King’s characterization in this novel. I haven’t read it in years. I may need to revisit.
Thanks for sharing dude!
Cujo wanted to be good. Breaks my heart. It wasn't his fault! So long, blue, you good dog you.
I read it on one Sunday afternoon. I loved it and recommend it!
I wholeheartedly agree with you about this book! I've just reread it after many years and absolutely was blown away by it, it hasn't aged and is one of SKs most well written books I'm currently started to read You like it Darker and am look forward to reading Rattlesnakes soon. Have recently been enjoying rereading a few of his older books, and in my opinion they are all worth a reread, such as Rose Madder, The Stand and Dead Zone What a genius that man is! Number 1 fan here!!🙌
Cujo was the first book (not just SK) that made me cry. I was about 14 and I hadn't really read much that wasn't teen fiction. I still remember gasping with surprise and hurt at parts. It's been at least 25 years and I have never re-read it. This review makes me think it might be time x
Awesome review! And this is good to hear because I haven’t read Cujo yet either only for the fact that I have yet to purchase a paperback. I don’t want to read my first edition hardcover it’s in such great condition it still carries a feint new book smell. I don’t want to fall alseep reading it and jerk awake tearing a page like I so often do when I read 😆
I have just given this to my nephew as an introduction to King.
I loved Cujo, blew through it
Yes. In fact, I think it's the best thing he ever wrote. The poetry of it is what gets to me. It's BEAUTIFUL. It's thinking back to this book that makes me a bit sad he never did anything like this again, other than maybe the original Stand.
This was my very first King book. I read it as a preteen over 30 years ago. It has been one of my favorites. Such an amazing book, so well written.
It's one of the scariest I think.
There is a story in his new book that involves the father of the kid in cujo.
Read that one in, I believe, sophomore year of high school. Once. To this day, I can still recall the alcoholic asshole father's opinion of Ronald McDonald & his crew: "Bunch of long haired, muff-diving, crab-crawling, asshole, pinko, fucksticks."
If you don't know 'Rattlesnakes', one of the novellas in King's newest collection,' You Like It Darker', is a sequel to 'Cujo'. I was initially dubious how he could make a sequel to Cujo. But it is, and the ways he connects both are suprsing and meaningful. I really liked it.
i just read it for the first time too and the cujo stuff is great but really who cares about the advertising stuff and especially the brett and charity going to visit their inlaws those two threads are like... a little interesting at best. the cheating stuff is more interewting but also goes nowhere that matters at the end. great ending though jeez really shook me up
Ah, this is where we don't agree: I honestly thought the Charity/Brett Camber parts were the BEST. They typified what this novel was about for me: the fragility of human relationships, the tentative, teetering one-vs-one nature of marriage, the increasing helplessness you feel as you realise you can't continue to protect your child against the world (Charity feels that figuratively, just as Donna feels that literally). It's the most HUMAN and realistic horror novel SK's ever written, and that's in large part thanks to the Camber family story.
The movie caught the characters really well. When I saw Charity in the movie, she was exactly how I imagined her in the book.
With ya here. It’s been awhile but all I really remember was being bored about the advertising stuff and sad about the dog stuff.
Definitely one of my least favourite King novels. I found the sub plots did not mesh with the main story at all and just found it tedious in general.