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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
All of the Bachman books seem to be inspired by a weird rage so this was a fitting place to start. The book is drenched in te contempt of the school shooter protagonist and you can see why King decided not to have the book reprinted. The sympathy he has for his antihero is difficult to digest. This guy is no Holden Caufield. There’s a misogyny and a racism here too as King exorcises his resentments but there’s also a lack of cohesion. A scatter gun approach. Ultimately high school was dissected much more effectively in Carrie.
(2.5 stars) Finally got around to King’s famously pulled early novel involving school shooting. It was fine. A few glimpses into the writer he’d become.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
Not the best, not the worst. One of King's earliest works, and one that has been removed from the shelves due to its topic being rather relevant these days. It's an interesting short read, but not one that you need to dedicate time to finding if you don't easily have access to it.
I actually enjoyed this, despite the nonsensical characters and plot development.
It suffers in a lot of ways, most stemming from King being a young writer at the time. But unlike an equally poorly-written book from his early days, The Long Walk, this is at least dumb fun.
2.5 out of 5
Bright-red Pennywise Clown Noses
It suffers in a lot of ways, most stemming from King being a young writer at the time. But unlike an equally poorly-written book from his early days, The Long Walk, this is at least dumb fun.
2.5 out of 5
Bright-red Pennywise Clown Noses
The first book published by Stephen King under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, it is a departure from his horror novels that made him famous. It remains the only book written by Stephen King that is out of print, at the request of the author himself. It was found in the possession of a student in Kentucky who killed three students. After the incident, Stephen King asked that it be taken out of print.
The story of a high school student shooting teachers and holding a classroom hostage is the premise of an other wise dark and dreary story of teenagers coming to grips with growing up. It's a short read. It took me a day or so to read the whole thing, and while it wasn't captivating, it was intriguing. The first few Stephen King novels seem to set a ton that will echo through out his career -- youths in turmoil. Carrie: teenage girl tormented because she was different. salem's Lot features a young boy assisting in the fight versus the vampire. The Shining centers around a five year old boy who can see ghosts.
Rage is what happens when a young kid is pushed and snaps. Much like Carrie, he is pushed too far and reacts violently, but what makes this scarier than Carrie is that it's grounded in reality, and that is what makes this story scarier. The protagonist (or antagonist, the story is a bit muddled in that regard) brings a gun to school and kills teachers. Carrie used telekenetic powers to hurt everyone. You tell me, what's more scary?
I choose to give it only two stars because after the killings it becomes a bit stunted. Instead of treating it as a hostage situation, the story devolves into a psychotherapy session where all the students tell each other their deepest darkest, most embarrassing secrets. I found it quite unbelievable and uncomfortable to read. Maybe that was the point, I don't know.
The story of a high school student shooting teachers and holding a classroom hostage is the premise of an other wise dark and dreary story of teenagers coming to grips with growing up. It's a short read. It took me a day or so to read the whole thing, and while it wasn't captivating, it was intriguing. The first few Stephen King novels seem to set a ton that will echo through out his career -- youths in turmoil. Carrie: teenage girl tormented because she was different. salem's Lot features a young boy assisting in the fight versus the vampire. The Shining centers around a five year old boy who can see ghosts.
Rage is what happens when a young kid is pushed and snaps. Much like Carrie, he is pushed too far and reacts violently, but what makes this scarier than Carrie is that it's grounded in reality, and that is what makes this story scarier. The protagonist (or antagonist, the story is a bit muddled in that regard) brings a gun to school and kills teachers. Carrie used telekenetic powers to hurt everyone. You tell me, what's more scary?
I choose to give it only two stars because after the killings it becomes a bit stunted. Instead of treating it as a hostage situation, the story devolves into a psychotherapy session where all the students tell each other their deepest darkest, most embarrassing secrets. I found it quite unbelievable and uncomfortable to read. Maybe that was the point, I don't know.
dark
tense
fast-paced
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
As ugly as it is necessary to read. A title I wish more young people would not only read but discuss in classrooms .