You have to hand it to King...over his prolific, heralded/bashed career, he has managed to write books that even at their most ineffectual, still demonstrate his mastery of characterization, and the terror we find in ordinary settings and places. In "From a Buick 8," it's not so much the "horror aspect" that makes this such an engaging read. It's the characters---the troopers who have kept a horrific secret for almost three decades, and whose lives are played out in reminiscences from many of the troopers. All for the sake of young Ned Wilcox, whose father was killed in a terrible accident just a year before our story begins. Seems his father was the most mesmerized by this strange car that comes out of nowhere and over the course of these thirty years, does some strange things. It's not as compelling a plot as I would have liked, but the characters are all gripping, believable and speak the vernacular that has both won praise and condemnation from those nasty critics. At any rate, if you enjoy Mr. King's novels as much as I have over the years, this one won't disappoint. At times, it's leisurely, but never dull. The character of Shirley Pasternak is one of the best female characters has created since Dolores Claiborne. She is rich in compassion, humor, and is the kind of woman any man would delight in going home to. Although King does go a bit overboard with Brian Lippy (no one really behaves like this, do they?), it does help in the full realization of the wonderful character, Eddie, whose fate is inevitable, but sad nonetheless. Don't get me wrong..King hasn't lost his touch for creating some really creepy, horrifying scenes. Just focus on his wonderful style; even his personal experience of being hit by an automobile is woven into the story, and it's as frightening as the Buick 8.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. HE IS THE KING.
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Reviews with images
Finally Read This Book!
I bought this book 15 years ago and never read it. A couple of months back I was looking for something to read and stumbled across it again.It’s not that I didn’t want to read it, but the 4 or 5 times I’d picked it up over the years and started in, the hook just never got set and I’d put it down again.Determined to see this book through, I’ve finally reached the last page.Here’s my take: it’s a good book in the end but it takes awhile to get going. I agree with many of the other reviewers that this is not his finest, but it does have some really good writing. Like so many of his stories, the pieces start to come together in the second half and it speeds along from there. This book has interesting and imaginative writing and is worth a read.Tip: I didn’t figure this out until well into the book, but when it says NOW: Sandy, Sandy is the one telling the story in first person in the present time. When it says THEN: Eddie (for example), Eddie is telling the story in first person in flashback. It’s a unique way to tell a story, having everyone tell it from their perspective in present time and in flashback.Last thing: to the reviewers: if you didn’t finish the book, don’t review it. It’s not fair to give it 1-star having quit half way through.
Top reviews from other countries
T. Dar
An underrated Stephen King treasure
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 29, 2024Mahi the reader
Awesome
Reviewed in India on December 4, 2020
Mahi the reader
Reviewed in India on December 4, 2020
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