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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this so much more than I thought I would. It made my heart hurt, but in a good way.
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was... really disappointing.
The characters in this novella, "Elevation" by Stephen King, are quite one-dimensional stereotypes. The protagonist, Scott Carey, is depicted as a bland Good Guy who navigates his life delicately without causing any disturbance, even as his body begins to inexplicably lose weight. Alongside him are the vegetarian Lesbian Couple, Missy, a sweet foodie, and Deirdre, an abrasive runner. The side characters are categorized as Homophobic Trumpers and a Benevolent Doctor.
As the story progresses, Scott discovers that despite losing weight consistently, his physical form remains the same. Additionally, he unveils a peculiar ability where he can make people and objects weightless by touch. The central question that drives the narrative is what consequences await when Scott's weight reaches zero.
In my opinion, the story could have been intriguing, but the direction it took ultimately left me feeling dissatisfied. Scott's unusual condition ends up unexpectedly uniting two opposing groups - the gay couple and the homophobes - in a way that seemed overly deliberate and overly tidy for my liking. Although I appreciate Stephen King's inclination towards incorporating political themes in his work, I found the political undertones in this particular narrative to be forced and lacking in execution.
The overarching message of "Why can't we all just get along?" is undoubtedly heartwarming, especially in today's divisive climate, but it would have benefitted from a more compelling storyline and a reduction in stereotypical characterizations to avoid coming across as overly sentimental and contrived. Unfortunately, these elements were missing in this instance.
Liked the messages in the stories. Cute, which sounds weird for a Stephen King book.
It's been too long since I've enjoyed a Stephen King story! Reminiscent of and a shorter version of Thinner, Elevation is an interesting story of connections and commitment among friends.
Horror book of the year? Did ya all actually read it? lol
This was a sweet little novella and a perfect read on a Saturday morning with some tea.