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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
This is a Stephen King trunk book - a book he wrote in his Richard Bachman days and stored it away for 30 years before dusting it off, editing and revising it and then releasing it. SK says in the introduction that this is a bit reminiscent of Of Mice and Men and it most certainly is. It also reminded me of the movie Savannah Smiles, although it has been over 30 years since I've seen that movie, as I recall the two bumbling kidnappers of Savannah end up caring about her. So is the case in Blaze. Blaze is a Goliath, but he isn't very smart due to the enormous dent in his forehead that was caused when his father pushed him down the stairs as a child. Blaze is set to carry out the big heist that he and his cohort, George planned - kidnapping the child of a rich family. The problem is that in between George planning it and it actually being carried out George died. So now it is up to Blaze to pull it off on his own.
This is my first Bachman book, and I loved it! It's just the right length- not too long winded like a lot of King's stuff, and not too short to leave you wanting more. The writing was very gripping, and I finished this in one sitting. The ending, however, was not very satisfactory, but I have come to expect that from King (even under an alias!). There were some bylines in the plot that I think could have been utilized more, however, and the ending could have been much more meaningful. Loved the flashbacks, however, and I love it when you can root for a villain!
Anyway, rating this 3 out of 5 stars a/c to King standards, but 4/5 overall, if I knew King had never touched this.
P. S. I have no idea why king kept apologizing for this book! It is just so entertaining.
Anyway, rating this 3 out of 5 stars a/c to King standards, but 4/5 overall, if I knew King had never touched this.
P. S. I have no idea why king kept apologizing for this book! It is just so entertaining.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Before reading this book, I knew nothing about it. I didn't read any reviews or even read the blurb. I wanted this book to be a blind date. I expected this novel to be a thriller but it turned out completely different but yet adorable.
First thing to know about the book is that it is a trunk novel. Richard Bachman's name is on the cover because this book was written during the time when Stephen king used to write books under two pen names. This one was written in 1972 and early 1973, but got published in 2007 as author wasn't satisfied much with the work back in the days. Later, he published the book editing it.
The story is about Blaze, whose life takes major breakdown when loses his best friend George. He couldn't accept the fact that he was dead.(not a spoiler; even mentioned in the blurb) Is he even dead? Is he still alive? These questions ring continously in our minds as we proceed through the story.
Keep your expectations low, keep an open mind and enjoy your journey reading this book. U will like it. I wish I could talk more about the story, but I dont wanna ruin the experience.
First thing to know about the book is that it is a trunk novel. Richard Bachman's name is on the cover because this book was written during the time when Stephen king used to write books under two pen names. This one was written in 1972 and early 1973, but got published in 2007 as author wasn't satisfied much with the work back in the days. Later, he published the book editing it.
The story is about Blaze, whose life takes major breakdown when loses his best friend George. He couldn't accept the fact that he was dead.(not a spoiler; even mentioned in the blurb) Is he even dead? Is he still alive? These questions ring continously in our minds as we proceed through the story.
Keep your expectations low, keep an open mind and enjoy your journey reading this book. U will like it. I wish I could talk more about the story, but I dont wanna ruin the experience.
I liked this book a lot. A crime novel that is so much more.
I read this for the 2017 POPSUGAR Challenge prompt 'A Book by an Author Who Uses a Pseudonym'
1/4 - I really enjoyed Blaze. This is the first 'King' book I've read in nearly five years (I read [b:The Dead Zone|11573|The Dead Zone|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1283509622s/11573.jpg|2745957] in August 2012) and I was a bit worried about the quality considering the low average rating here, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I thought was an interesting thriller (sorry guys, definitely not horror, there were some supernatural goings on but it wasn't in the least bit scary) with a surprisingly sympathetic villain/MC. Blaze's horrible childhood combined with his diminished mental age were enough to get me on his side and hoping for his escape (I was undecided about whether his escape should be with the baby, or not).
Rest of review in the morning...
Sorry, make that four days later *oh well, life got busy and then I forgot*. As I was reading this I saw a lot of Stephen King's writing in [a:Edward Lorn|5751572|Edward Lorn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1492199516p2/5751572.jpg]'s books (which I hope is a compliment for E as I know King is one of, if not his most, favourite authors). If I had read this without knowing who the author was I could easily have picked E as the author, more easily than King as I haven't read anything by him in quite a few years. Usually I hate those "if you enjoyed then you'll love this" recommendations that publishers have been sticking on the covers of books recently, but in this case I am happy to say that if you enjoyed this book then [a:Edward Lorn|5751572|Edward Lorn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1492199516p2/5751572.jpg] could be another great author for you to try.
Disclaimer: E and I are friends here at GR, but I'm not a promoter/pusher/advertiser for him (check out some of my reviews of his work if you want proof that I'm brutally honest and won't recommend an author I don't wholeheartedly enjoy reading) and he certainly didn't ask me to write this.
1/4 - I really enjoyed Blaze. This is the first 'King' book I've read in nearly five years (I read [b:The Dead Zone|11573|The Dead Zone|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1283509622s/11573.jpg|2745957] in August 2012) and I was a bit worried about the quality considering the low average rating here, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I thought was an interesting thriller (sorry guys, definitely not horror, there were some supernatural goings on but it wasn't in the least bit scary) with a surprisingly sympathetic villain/MC. Blaze's horrible childhood combined with his diminished mental age were enough to get me on his side and hoping for his escape (I was undecided about whether his escape should be with the baby, or not).
Sorry, make that four days later *oh well, life got busy and then I forgot*. As I was reading this I saw a lot of Stephen King's writing in [a:Edward Lorn|5751572|Edward Lorn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1492199516p2/5751572.jpg]'s books (which I hope is a compliment for E as I know King is one of, if not his most, favourite authors). If I had read this without knowing who the author was I could easily have picked E as the author, more easily than King as I haven't read anything by him in quite a few years. Usually I hate those "if you enjoyed
Disclaimer: E and I are friends here at GR, but I'm not a promoter/pusher/advertiser for him (check out some of my reviews of his work if you want proof that I'm brutally honest and won't recommend an author I don't wholeheartedly enjoy reading) and he certainly didn't ask me to write this.
The beginning was a bit slow but as I kept
Reading I really liked it. Liam, Gerald And Rachel
were awesome together, the chemistry was off the charts.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reading I really liked it. Liam, Gerald And Rachel
were awesome together, the chemistry was off the charts.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow, what a tale. This is truly a sad story, and Blaze, criminal or not, just tugs at your heart, and you want something good to happen to him after everything he's been through. Great writing from Stephen King's Bachman era.
Forgettable characters. The plot wasn't interesting but setting and time period of this book brings it to 2 stars.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes