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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
The first thing I really adored about this book was the character of Dennis. He simply felt very alive to me, real, someone I might know. I appreciate that real ness. I also really liked how the terror was expressed. Nothing super over dramatic, and the terror was small at first, slowly growing. The suspicion and nerves really got to me.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Stephen King can be hit or miss for me, and this one hit. I was actually wary around some cars for a while! The writing was good, the characters were in depth and likable. I found the story unique and refreshing as well. If you’ve seen the movie, this is SO much better!!! Highly recommend to get your horror fix in.
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think most people go through King when they're in their teens. So it was with me and I suspect Christine was one of the first I read, after The Shining.
It hasn't lost any of its sparkle these years later. The tale of a nerd and his demonic car still crackles. Good portrayal of growing up and rebellion, topped with lots of car-specific lyrical snatches. Not rocket science but plenty popcorn.
It hasn't lost any of its sparkle these years later. The tale of a nerd and his demonic car still crackles. Good portrayal of growing up and rebellion, topped with lots of car-specific lyrical snatches. Not rocket science but plenty popcorn.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pleasantly surprised that the plot kicks in from the first sentence, and moves at a pretty satisfying clip for the first 300 pages. It's the last 300 pages that feel bloated, as several characters work out what readers already know before settling into a fairly brief (but, again, satisfying) conclusion. One sticking point: if Christine was so hellbent on keeping Arnie to herself, wouldn't she be pleased that Arnie's girlfriend Leigh turns her attentions to Dennis? Christine seems to want Leigh dead both when she's with Arnie and after she's spurned him. To be fair, any explanation of Christine's wrath takes a backseat (sorry) to her insatiable bloodlust, which is goofy, entertaining, and occasionally chilling.
I don't know what it was about this book but I really struggled with it. It wasn't a bad book by any means it just didn't draw me in like many of King's other books. This being said, the last 100 pages or so I couldn't put it down. I had to know how this story would play out. I love the little hint at the end that this story might not exactly be over yet and our protagonist might not be as safe as he thinks he is. Overall I did enjoy the book, I just wished it didn't take so long for me to get into.
Bummed.
This one started off strong and I was invested with this idea of this car coming to life, and the beginning was really setting me up to love this one. And then it continued to set us up for Christine to come to life. Later, still, it was setting us up for Christine to actually do something. Then it finally happens and I’m invested again! And then it develops the already developed story, instead of focusing on the abilities Christine has to really speed off with the story herself.
For me, it just missed what could have been a much better story. It dragged on so much that I resorted to skimming the last 1/4, which actually help me to cut away most of the summaries of prior incidents being told to other characters and it improved for me. I just would have preferred the story to focus the last 1/3 on Christine’s perspective instead of further se elopement of the story.
It just could have been edited down a lot and made shorter and more palatable.
This one started off strong and I was invested with this idea of this car coming to life, and the beginning was really setting me up to love this one. And then it continued to set us up for Christine to come to life. Later, still, it was setting us up for Christine to actually do something. Then it finally happens and I’m invested again! And then it develops the already developed story, instead of focusing on the abilities Christine has to really speed off with the story herself.
For me, it just missed what could have been a much better story. It dragged on so much that I resorted to skimming the last 1/4, which actually help me to cut away most of the summaries of prior incidents being told to other characters and it improved for me. I just would have preferred the story to focus the last 1/3 on Christine’s perspective instead of further se elopement of the story.
It just could have been edited down a lot and made shorter and more palatable.