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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
Probably my favorite "serious" anti-hero novel. By serious, I mean as opposed to, for example, the ludicrous antics of the title protagonist of the Sir Apropos of Nothing series.
The main character is a high school student, and the events of the book take place in his high school (with flashbacks to earlier parts of his life) but it is definitely a book aimed at adults in terms of its subject matter.
Is the main character a sociopath? Is it intrinsic to his character or the product of his upbringing and environment? We don't really know. We get glimpses into his past as he discusses his life with his fellow students. Did he develop misogyny as a result of incidents in his past with his father and mother's relationship? Or with his failed attempts at sexual relationships with girls? Again, we don't really know. It's left to the reader to piece together whether there is any sane and logical path that brought him to the point where we start the book.
I rate this book highly because of its blend of interesting storytelling with deeper underlying questions that make you think.
The main character is a high school student, and the events of the book take place in his high school (with flashbacks to earlier parts of his life) but it is definitely a book aimed at adults in terms of its subject matter.
Is the main character a sociopath? Is it intrinsic to his character or the product of his upbringing and environment? We don't really know. We get glimpses into his past as he discusses his life with his fellow students. Did he develop misogyny as a result of incidents in his past with his father and mother's relationship? Or with his failed attempts at sexual relationships with girls? Again, we don't really know. It's left to the reader to piece together whether there is any sane and logical path that brought him to the point where we start the book.
I rate this book highly because of its blend of interesting storytelling with deeper underlying questions that make you think.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Yes
It was an interesting take but just not to my liking. Lots of disjointed storytelling and jargon. Even though it was a short book I kept putting it down. Took me over a month to finish it. Not sure how I feel about reading more Stephen King novels since I started with this one but I understand this probably wasn’t an accurate representation of his style.
Rage wasn't uninteresting but was just kind of dull and strange. The fact that only one kid in the whole class seemed to care that 2 teachers had been shot and killed in front of them (one teacher's dead body still in the classroom as the events of the novel unfold) and even that child not caring too much just seemed a little too unrealistic. Every student's reaction except for Ted Jones seemed to me to be bizarre but so bizarre and unnatural that it took away from the story because I don't see how anyone could react to the situation like that. Ted Jones seemed to me to be the only sane child in the classroom and the Stockholm syndrome that takes place seemed a little too immediate and unrealistic. From what I have read surrounding this book, at the time it was written school shootings weren't nearly as common as they have been since and maybe this seemed like a more reasonable way one could go down, but it is hard for me to enjoy this book, despite it being fiction, when it seemed so outrageously wrong in the details.
SPOILERS AHEAD
What could be more interesting than a banned book by one of my favourite authors? Rage by Stephen King is all about a school shooting and it was withdrawn from publication after copies of the book were found in the possession of several real school shooters. Having read it now though, I can't help but wonder if it's withdrawal had more to do with how it ends...
Rage tells the story of Charlie Decker, a teenage with (you guessed it) a lot of rage. After one too many clashes with the establishment and his father, he brings a gun into school, shoots two of his teachers and then holds his class hostage. The rest of the book is basically like a therapy session for them all, with each student confessing/sharing a story from their past while Charlie explains what led him to do this.
This carries on for about 160 pages or so before finally Charlie lets everyone go, promptly gets shot and surprisingly, actually survives. This leads us to my big problem with the novel-in the end, the shooting is sort of portrayed as being a good thing. None of the students themselves get shot and apart from poor Ted, they're all happier and a lot more emotionally-balanced after the shooting takes place. This, while certainly being an interesting ending, is more than a little uncomfortable to read given the vast amount of real-life shootings which have taken place. Ultimately it spoiled my enjoyment of the book too because of how uneasy it made me feel. I'm not one of those people who believes fiction should shy away from difficult topics but there's a difference between telling a story about a school shooting and telling a story which paints a school shooting in positive light.
Was it enough to ruin the book entirely for me? Of course not. This is still a fascinating read and as always, King manages to create a compelling cast of characters. They are perhaps a little less defined than in some of his later work but given its short length, I would still say Rage is definitely worth checking out. Not King's best but certainly not his worst either.
Overall Score: 4
What Everyone Else is Reading
What could be more interesting than a banned book by one of my favourite authors? Rage by Stephen King is all about a school shooting and it was withdrawn from publication after copies of the book were found in the possession of several real school shooters. Having read it now though, I can't help but wonder if it's withdrawal had more to do with how it ends...
Rage tells the story of Charlie Decker, a teenage with (you guessed it) a lot of rage. After one too many clashes with the establishment and his father, he brings a gun into school, shoots two of his teachers and then holds his class hostage. The rest of the book is basically like a therapy session for them all, with each student confessing/sharing a story from their past while Charlie explains what led him to do this.
This carries on for about 160 pages or so before finally Charlie lets everyone go, promptly gets shot and surprisingly, actually survives. This leads us to my big problem with the novel-in the end, the shooting is sort of portrayed as being a good thing. None of the students themselves get shot and apart from poor Ted, they're all happier and a lot more emotionally-balanced after the shooting takes place. This, while certainly being an interesting ending, is more than a little uncomfortable to read given the vast amount of real-life shootings which have taken place. Ultimately it spoiled my enjoyment of the book too because of how uneasy it made me feel. I'm not one of those people who believes fiction should shy away from difficult topics but there's a difference between telling a story about a school shooting and telling a story which paints a school shooting in positive light.
Was it enough to ruin the book entirely for me? Of course not. This is still a fascinating read and as always, King manages to create a compelling cast of characters. They are perhaps a little less defined than in some of his later work but given its short length, I would still say Rage is definitely worth checking out. Not King's best but certainly not his worst either.
Overall Score: 4
What Everyone Else is Reading
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“The mind is its own worst enemy.”
― Stephen King, Rage
Rage, by Stephen King (published under The pseudonym Richard Bachman), stands apart from his later, more famous novels. It takes readers on a disturbing journey into the mind of a troubled high school student and his classmates, a psycho that went berserk, focusing less on external horror and more on the exploration of the psychological depth. Particularly within the context of violence, alienation, and youth mental health.
“That was Dad's life, and I was the birdshit on his windshield.”
― Stephen King, Rage
The novel opens up intensely, followed by a series of shocking events right early in the book, it grabs your attention immediately, then as the story unfolds the nature of the story shifts into the true meaning of the book centering on the psychological tension that develops among the students trapped in a hostage situation. While the protagonist, Charlie, is the obvious “psycho” of the story, the real depth lies in how King subtly compares him to his classmates. Though they haven’t acted out violently, each harbors inner turmoil and psychological issues. This peeling back of the characters layers is often of Dostoevsky's (my number 1), where the deeper we go, the more complex and raw the characters become, like peeling layers of an onion.
“They talk about responsibility, but no one really believes in it. No one wants to take it. The world is full of little minds, dreaming up big things they don’t have the guts to follow through on.”
― Stephen King, Rage
Despite the story taking place almost entirely within the confines of a classroom, showcasing his early talent as a storyteller and his mastery in developing character dynamics in such a limited space. It’s a testament to his writing skills, even early in his career, He's a Natural in keeping readers engaged, letting the psychological tension take center stage.
“We were all insane now, and we would all remain insane for as long as the situation lasted.”
― Stephen King, Rage
One of the book’s strengths lies in its dark, page-turning thriller qualities, though it’s important to note that "Rage" is not a horror novel. It has more in common with crime and psychological thrillers, focusing on the characters’ internal battles rather than external frights.
Its imo more entered around youth mental health and societal issues with a sensitivity that makes it both provocative and potentially dangerous for some readers. The novel raises critical questions about the underlying dangers in society, particularly with younger generations, and how mental health can shape individuals in troubling ways.
“I think we’re all mentally ill. Those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better.”
― Stephen King, Rage
The ending, though predictable, feels necessary. Unlike King’s typical unpredictable conclusions, Rage takes a different approach, focusing on the psychological rather than dramatic twists. While it might not surprise readers, it serves its purpose in prioritizing the novel’s focus on character analysis over the incident itself.
““It's only a little secret, but having a secret makes me feel better. Like a human being again.””
― Stephen King, Rage
In summary, Rage is an early example of King’s mastery of psychological complexity. While it may not be as famous as his other works, it offers a provoking look into the dark corners of the mind, proving that King was a natural storyteller from the very beginning.
“In the end, we are all just a product of what we hide.”
― Stephen King, Rage
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
I get why he wanted this out of print. Definitely reads like breakfast club but Judd Nelson kills a couple people.
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes