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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
I'm not really sure how to write a review on this book. It's like a mix between Joker, The Breakfast Club and Freaks.
Is it bad? Not in the traditional sense. It's well written and very tense throughout.
Is it good? On a purely technical level, maybe. But, the subject matter is so upsetting. It's probably one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. The protagonist is literally the worst kind of person. And the one that's considered the antagonist (he's only the antagonist because he stands in the way of the protagonist's end goal) is mostly good and by no means deserves what he gets in the end.
Even if you could get your hands on a copy (it's been taken out of print, for good reason) I don't recommend you read it.
Is it bad? Not in the traditional sense. It's well written and very tense throughout.
Is it good? On a purely technical level, maybe. But, the subject matter is so upsetting. It's probably one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. The protagonist is literally the worst kind of person. And the one that's considered the antagonist (he's only the antagonist because he stands in the way of the protagonist's end goal) is mostly good and by no means deserves what he gets in the end.
Even if you could get your hands on a copy (it's been taken out of print, for good reason) I don't recommend you read it.
“When you're five and you hurt, you make a big noise in the world. At ten you whimper. But by the time you make fifteen you begin to eat the poisoned apples that grow on your own inner tree of pain.”
Rage was a thrilling, quick ride! It's honestly quite ridiculous that this book was banned due to the sensitivity of the issue. I understand that it may make some people upset but people need to learn to separate the novel from reality.
Just in case anyone doesn't know, Richard Bachman is Stephen King's pseudonym.
For those who don't know about Rage, it is essentially about a student with mental health issues who decides to invoke a school shooting and hold a classroom hostage. The captive students begin to slowly lean into the rage that the MC invokes.
You will be on your toes the entire time you're reading this story!
I finished this book but hated it. The writing was competent but the story was juvenile in the worst sort of ways. Mr. King must have been one messed up teenager. The point of view and behavior of the hostages reveal a pretty ugly side of the writer. I can see why SK pulled this book from distribution.
I disagree that this is King's worst work. I think it took a lot for an author to dive this deeply into a troubled psyche, and I think it was necessary. I know King decided to stop further publishing this book/story due to concerns of school shootings/violence, but I can't agree that this is capable of causing violence- it does however show an intimate portrait of the mind of someone who is struggling with extreme inner anger and personal demons, and that can be related to. The dialogue and detail is up to par with Stephen King/Richard Bachman's other works. I think most of the reviews that view this one negatively are due to the content, and I can understand how it would be hard to see anything like that in a positive light of any sort. 4 stars, because it wasn't my personal favorite, but I couldn't put it down either!
King is a fantastic writer in that he can make the stream of consciousness of a school shooter a riveting read. But, this is not something I enjoyed nor do I think I'll ever read again.
Maybe I am the anomaly but I found this to be quite enjoyable. It’s a controversial read, supposedly being the inspiration for school violence but I, personally, don’t think we can blame media for the actions of others. (At least not without blaming a slew of other sources such as video games, violent films etc).
This was f’d up. It was very disturbing but I found Charlie’s dialogue to be quite interesting. He’s clearly very mentally disturbed but I enjoyed the taunting and dark comments he made. It’s one of those things that I would be very disgusted by irl but don’t mind from a fictional standpoint.
He goes to school, shoots his teacher, and then holds a class “hostage,” but after awhile it seems as if they don’t feel like hostages anymore. Very interesting takes on early adulthood and authority.
I think this is one of those things that on the surface doesn’t seem that important, but if you really give it some deep thought you’ll find some good messages here.
Lost one star purely because of some very weird dialogue choices, and the fact that I really have no clue what I just read.
This was f’d up. It was very disturbing but I found Charlie’s dialogue to be quite interesting. He’s clearly very mentally disturbed but I enjoyed the taunting and dark comments he made. It’s one of those things that I would be very disgusted by irl but don’t mind from a fictional standpoint.
He goes to school, shoots his teacher, and then holds a class “hostage,” but after awhile it seems as if they don’t feel like hostages anymore. Very interesting takes on early adulthood and authority.
I think this is one of those things that on the surface doesn’t seem that important, but if you really give it some deep thought you’ll find some good messages here.
Lost one star purely because of some very weird dialogue choices, and the fact that I really have no clue what I just read.
dark
reflective
tense
fast-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
I debated not writing a review for Rage, as it is Stephen King's most controversial publication, and perhaps his most polarizing one, too. Ultimately, though, I decided to share my thoughts because I feel that this is such an important story and still holds relevance today.
Over the course of one morning, we follow Charlie Decker, a troubled student who embarks on a rampage throughout his school. He shoots and kills two members of school staff, and holds a classroom of fellow students captive while chaos ensues outside. The topic of mass shootings, especially ones that take place in an educational environment, is a delicate subject matter due to an increase in gun violence. That being said, Rage was first released in 1977 when societal discussions surrounding these acts of violence were much different from what they are today, and I think it's important to keep this in mind when reading the novel. I don't think King was trying to do anything other than create a story that explores the complexity of human nature and the consequences of unchecked anger and despair.
In terms of his writing, King's prose is as captivating as ever. His storytelling is particularly notable, as he seamlessly weaves together suspense, psychological introspection, and moments of stark realism throughout the narrative. He forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about society, parental responsibility, and the human state. In this respect, Rage is just as relevant today as it was four decades ago.
Any King fan knows that Rage was taken out of publication per King's request, after several teenagers committed, or tried to commit, acts of violence in their school; these young adults were said to have owned copies of Rage, and so the book eventually went out of print. I think that there is an element of Stockholm Syndrome in Rage that, to some, could idealize or romanticize perpetrating a school shooting. For me, the presence of Stockholm Syndrome adds a layer of complexity to the story and psychology of its characters. Whichever camp you fall into, I think that Rage is one of King's most terrifying stories and is worth the read, if you can get your hands on a copy.
Over the course of one morning, we follow Charlie Decker, a troubled student who embarks on a rampage throughout his school. He shoots and kills two members of school staff, and holds a classroom of fellow students captive while chaos ensues outside. The topic of mass shootings, especially ones that take place in an educational environment, is a delicate subject matter due to an increase in gun violence. That being said, Rage was first released in 1977 when societal discussions surrounding these acts of violence were much different from what they are today, and I think it's important to keep this in mind when reading the novel. I don't think King was trying to do anything other than create a story that explores the complexity of human nature and the consequences of unchecked anger and despair.
In terms of his writing, King's prose is as captivating as ever. His storytelling is particularly notable, as he seamlessly weaves together suspense, psychological introspection, and moments of stark realism throughout the narrative. He forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about society, parental responsibility, and the human state. In this respect, Rage is just as relevant today as it was four decades ago.
Any King fan knows that Rage was taken out of publication per King's request, after several teenagers committed, or tried to commit, acts of violence in their school; these young adults were said to have owned copies of Rage, and so the book eventually went out of print. I think that there is an element of Stockholm Syndrome in Rage that, to some, could idealize or romanticize perpetrating a school shooting. For me, the presence of Stockholm Syndrome adds a layer of complexity to the story and psychology of its characters. Whichever camp you fall into, I think that Rage is one of King's most terrifying stories and is worth the read, if you can get your hands on a copy.
This novel is chilling, in a different way from the rest of Stephen King's stuff. It's much more than a disturbed teen taking his classmates hostage; it's a psychological tour de force of mind games, teenage angst, coping with pain and exploding in anger, all in 131 pages.