Reviews - Cujo | The StoryGraph

3.18k reviews for:

This was my Stephen King book for July. I didn't have any time to read in the month of August due to personal issues.

This book was not my favorite King story. Though it has many awesome moments (the monster in the closet has always stuck with me since I skimmed that chapter back in high school) much of the book is taken up with business meeting jargon and a fairly boring infidelity subplot. I think this would have been much better had King cut it down into a short story. Ironically, the character you feel for the most is Cujo. He's more interesting and memorable than the fairly standard main characters. Though I loved the bits from Cujo's point of view, showing his mind slowly deteriorating and the small subplot of the kid seeing the monster in the closet (seriously, what was that thing?) I can't deny that large chunks of this novel got to be a little boring. Not the worst King book, but not nearly one of the best.

jenniferstrand's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

pinaforestethoscope's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

avidfisherman01's review against another edition

4.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

laniiiiii's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

It's both exactly and not at all what I expected the story to be. The main anticipated conflict doesn't even start until the last 30-40 chapters, but somehow it's still engaging. You could say it drags on too much on unnecessary details, but I think it adds dimension to everything. It's not just a book about a rabid dog terrorizing people. It's a book about the Trenton family, and the Cambert family, and Roger, and the Sharps, and the series of unfortunate coincidences that lead to the final, gut wrenching tragedy that I hoped so dearly wouldn't happen. I really felt like I was watching a disaster unfold and I couldn't do anything about it... which is basically it. That's the book.

Content Warnings

james_a's review against another edition

5.0

Cujo has all of the best qualities of a Stephen King novel. A small town setting, terrifying prose, and a monster that sends shivers down your spine. This book should be held in the same regard as Misery and Salem’s Lot.