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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
This book was a thrill! I read it in the hospital while recovering from an automobile accident, so that actually added to the excitement for me. I really like the movie, too, which is weird.
Christine, oh Christine... How you made me stay up late all night, you wouldn't know.
I am one of those readers that internalizes everything. I am one of those readers that has a very very very (more than VERY) active imagination which is why in my mind, I have visualized Christine, Arnie and Dennis a thousand times, especially because I listened to the audiobook as well. It's surreal, imagining a classic car come to life all by itself, but no matter how surreal it is, I can take that. I can take a car coming to life. What I can't take is the "taking over" of the soul that tainted the car. I swear, I was creeped out by Arnie! He was just darn weird and terrifying after the "take over". I had high hopes for his characters. I was thinking and praying that things will go well for him in the end, but, alas.. it was not meant to be. When I got to the end of the book, all I can say was . . .I'm so glad that it's now finished! LIKE *WHEW*
I am one of those readers that internalizes everything. I am one of those readers that has a very very very (more than VERY) active imagination which is why in my mind, I have visualized Christine, Arnie and Dennis a thousand times, especially because I listened to the audiobook as well. It's surreal, imagining a classic car come to life all by itself, but no matter how surreal it is, I can take that. I can take a car coming to life. What I can't take is the "taking over" of the soul that tainted the car. I swear, I was creeped out by Arnie! He was just darn weird and terrifying after the "take over". I had high hopes for his characters. I was thinking and praying that things will go well for him in the end, but, alas.. it was not meant to be. When I got to the end of the book, all I can say was . . .I'm so glad that it's now finished! LIKE *WHEW*
Finally have read this one. Great book - it almost completely follows the movie but there is a major difference to be had. While the events are the same basically, the story behind it is altered majorly. I was a bit peeved about Dennis and Leigh, and it was odd with King's point of view -- for the first 200 pages or so he told the story through first-person (Dennis, the friend.) Suddenly, he switches to multiple viewpoints until page 350 or so. Then he stays in first person, Dennis only, for the rest of the book. So strange! The very end was well done and I wish it wasn't over in a way. Nifty ensemble of characters, quickly paced, unique story with various ups and downs, and a sad, bittersweet touch. The main focus is triangles - Arnie, Dennis, and Leigh --- and Arnie, Lebay, and Christine.
Now, the below is rambling on why I think the book is changed from the movie, in that it was Lebay who made Christine alive and was the real power rather than it being an evil powerful car by itself. It's filled with spoilers so don't read if you haven't read the book.
Just read it, finished it for the first time tonight. Thoroughly enjoyed it and put up a short review.
I agree the character of Arnie was sad and he was very likable.
Confused on the possession too. It seems to me that LeBay made Christine alive somehow rather than how the movie shows it? When the brother is telling Dennis during their first conversation about his brothers obsession with the car, he mentions that Lebay was always hunting for a car and then finally ordered one and had custom things done to it like the paint job. This would indicate to me he ordered that style of car in the way he wanted, but that he never saw it in person prior, right?
So either the car was a normal car and it was supernaturally began with their link, or else the car he just happened to pick was Christine, already inhabited.
However, if the second is the truth -- then why would Christine let herself sit in a bodyshop or dealer? And, if she always liked to keep everything the same with her stubborn personality, why did she allow herself to be custom painted and keep that paint?
This is what's been nagging me about Christine being alive herself from the start. Additionally, instead of making it about Christine - once LeBay was revealed, it seemed mainly about him the duration of the book, in control of Christine basically. It would seem because of that that he is the driving force. Even the very end of the book now ends with "His undying fury", rather than hers. King changed it as readers learned more and read further.
The other thing I think of is if Christine was alive and changed the peoples lives and absorbed them, so to speak, then why would she merge LeBray and Arnie? Why would she not leave him as he is and slowly change him into another version of himself?
If she just changes people and gets them addicted to her, that would explain Lebray, but it wouldn't explain Arnie merging with Lebray until Lebray was the main driving lifeforce behind the car. Otherwise, a previous owner would also have been merged in Lebray I think. And it's made clear with backstory that Lebray was always an evil sort of man, way before he met Christine.
The last hang-up I have is, why did the car deteriorate so bad under Lebrays watch? I guess it did not have as much power or restoration before being purchased by Arnie? Dennis seems to start finding that out at the end. So, again, that would mean previously Christine - before Arnie and Lebay merged, did not have as much power by itself? And that the merging of the two would make the car as alive as it was, which would again indicate they were the only owners ever of Christine....thus meaning it was Lebray again rather than Christine possessing him at first.
Now, the below is rambling on why I think the book is changed from the movie, in that it was Lebay who made Christine alive and was the real power rather than it being an evil powerful car by itself. It's filled with spoilers so don't read if you haven't read the book.
Spoiler
Just read it, finished it for the first time tonight. Thoroughly enjoyed it and put up a short review.
I agree the character of Arnie was sad and he was very likable.
Confused on the possession too. It seems to me that LeBay made Christine alive somehow rather than how the movie shows it? When the brother is telling Dennis during their first conversation about his brothers obsession with the car, he mentions that Lebay was always hunting for a car and then finally ordered one and had custom things done to it like the paint job. This would indicate to me he ordered that style of car in the way he wanted, but that he never saw it in person prior, right?
So either the car was a normal car and it was supernaturally began with their link, or else the car he just happened to pick was Christine, already inhabited.
However, if the second is the truth -- then why would Christine let herself sit in a bodyshop or dealer? And, if she always liked to keep everything the same with her stubborn personality, why did she allow herself to be custom painted and keep that paint?
This is what's been nagging me about Christine being alive herself from the start. Additionally, instead of making it about Christine - once LeBay was revealed, it seemed mainly about him the duration of the book, in control of Christine basically. It would seem because of that that he is the driving force. Even the very end of the book now ends with "His undying fury", rather than hers. King changed it as readers learned more and read further.
The other thing I think of is if Christine was alive and changed the peoples lives and absorbed them, so to speak, then why would she merge LeBray and Arnie? Why would she not leave him as he is and slowly change him into another version of himself?
If she just changes people and gets them addicted to her, that would explain Lebray, but it wouldn't explain Arnie merging with Lebray until Lebray was the main driving lifeforce behind the car. Otherwise, a previous owner would also have been merged in Lebray I think. And it's made clear with backstory that Lebray was always an evil sort of man, way before he met Christine.
The last hang-up I have is, why did the car deteriorate so bad under Lebrays watch? I guess it did not have as much power or restoration before being purchased by Arnie? Dennis seems to start finding that out at the end. So, again, that would mean previously Christine - before Arnie and Lebay merged, did not have as much power by itself? And that the merging of the two would make the car as alive as it was, which would again indicate they were the only owners ever of Christine....thus meaning it was Lebray again rather than Christine possessing him at first.
I've read a lot of reviews on this book that say it's too long and not scary, I even saw a review saying "it's a car, climb some stairs already". I get why people would say this book isn't scary because it's only a car that's going around killing people but for me, I don't think that's what made the book scary. It was Arnie's descent into madness and obsession. King is excellent at writing human emotion and making you feel something for the characters in his books. He fleshes them out so well. This is an over 600 page book about a killer car but I couldn't wait to continue reading it every night. I especially liked how it was written like a memoir from Dennis and the shift in perspective didn't bother me at all. The ending was bittersweet and not gonna lie, I wanted to tear up a little bit reading the epilogue. I was surprised by how differently the book and movie end but I like the books ending a lot better, it was more ambiguous with Arnie's fate and it made you really believe that that car killed all those people on it's own because it was possessed by LeBay's ghost. I felt in the movie, it was left up to the viewer to decide if Arnie was in the car while those killings happened or not. I would certainly recommend this book to horror fans, it's scarier than you think.
side note: I'm pretty sure King has a "high cheekbone" fetish lol
side note: I'm pretty sure King has a "high cheekbone" fetish lol
This so-so novel has a few chills, although it can be a bit ridiculous at times. The premise is, when you boil it down, a bit silly and the plot itself is a bit outdated. However, if you are reading it for enjoyment, you will probably be pleased with CHRISTINE.
It isn’t quite as simple as the premise makes it sound, and King adds quite a few unique traits to the titular Christine, along with the way that she takes over Arnie and changes him. You see Arnie become obsessed with Christine and slowly begin to become physically attractive as he fixes the car. However, he also begins to become more like the car‘s former owner, a cruel man named George LeBay.
Although it isn’t much, it’s a long novel that won’t disappoint you and may evil give you a few scares.
It isn’t quite as simple as the premise makes it sound, and King adds quite a few unique traits to the titular Christine, along with the way that she takes over Arnie and changes him. You see Arnie become obsessed with Christine and slowly begin to become physically attractive as he fixes the car. However, he also begins to become more like the car‘s former owner, a cruel man named George LeBay.
Although it isn’t much, it’s a long novel that won’t disappoint you and may evil give you a few scares.
While it took some time for me to make it through this one, Christine really impressed me. There is a warmth to be found in this story despite the bloodshed. The relationships between the characters make a fascinating web and of course there is the villain that keeps coming back for more. While the writing style isn't King's smoothest, there is a lot to be said about this earlier classic.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wasn't expecting to fall in love with this book the way that I had, the idea of Christine as this living breathing character was so visual and vivid. The relationship between Arnie and Dennis was so innocent and perfect - their banter really made the two of them characters that I wanted to root for. The relationship Arnie had with his family was also beautifully written, I didn't know whose side I wanted to be on - Arnie's? with his rebelliousness, or Michael who wanted to keep the peace.
“You’re wrong about that. Just as wrong as you can be. She sounds like her, and you sound like her, but I just sound like the guy in charge of some dumb UN peacekeeping force that’s about to get its collective ass shot off.”
There was a lot of focus on the eyes of the characters, which I loved, a lot of moments where characters laughed but the narrator was always noticing how it didn't go up to their eyes.
There was a lot of focus on the eyes of the characters, which I loved, a lot of moments where characters laughed but the narrator was always noticing how it didn't go up to their eyes.
I think with any Stephen King book it's hard not to compare it with others, and honestly other than The Outsider, this book is a strong second. My biggest surprise is that I enjoyed it more than Misery - Christine also seemed to be peppered with a more light-hearted stream of consciousness writing as well. My biggest complaint was the way King uses racist and sexist undertones to evoke that feeling of horror still doesn't sit right with me - although I feel like with Misery, The Outsider and If It Bleeds, there wasn't so much of that. That aspect of his older writing makes me feel like I shouldn't be supporting his books, but I still want to read Dolores Claiborne.
Some highlights:
" up—I’m okay, you’re okay, I’m a person, you’re a person, we all respect each other to the hilt, and whenever anybody does anything wrong, you’re going to get what amounts to an allergic guilt reaction."
"Love is the old slaughterer. Love is not blind. Love is a cannibal with extremely acute vision. Love is insectile; it is always hungry.”
"But the mind, that perverse monkey—the mind can conceive of anything and seems to take a perverse delight in doing so."
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book really surprised me, I absolutely didn’t think I’d be giving 5 stars but here we are!
It took me a little while to get into, slowly working it’s way into my psyche. Creeping like a vine until I was hooked and thinking about the book all the time.
So atmospheric, I felt like I was right there in the middle of this world and story. My first 5 star of the year!
It took me a little while to get into, slowly working it’s way into my psyche. Creeping like a vine until I was hooked and thinking about the book all the time.
So atmospheric, I felt like I was right there in the middle of this world and story. My first 5 star of the year!
"And now the dashboard instruments really were eyes, great round unemotional eyes watching her choke to death."
Christine was an utterly compelling read and one that I struggled to put down. Detailing a possessed car's determination to end the shitters, King produced an entirely captivating - and terrifying - novel that excelled completely. I'd even go as far as to say it's his scariest novel that I've read so far.
Christine was an utterly compelling read and one that I struggled to put down. Detailing a possessed car's determination to end the shitters, King produced an entirely captivating - and terrifying - novel that excelled completely. I'd even go as far as to say it's his scariest novel that I've read so far.