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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
As with many King books, engrossing and hard to look away once it got goinfg, but not as compelling for me as many of his others.
I understand that there are really only two real characters here, and that everyone else is seen through the twisted lens of our disturbed POV, but there was a lack of that character depth that I love from many of the other works. The violence is fast and shocking, in a good way given the long stretches of dialogue and psychoanalysis.
Overall, this book cannot be viewed or approached outside of its effect and context- go read King's essay "Guns" to understand.
I understand that there are really only two real characters here, and that everyone else is seen through the twisted lens of our disturbed POV, but there was a lack of that character depth that I love from many of the other works. The violence is fast and shocking, in a good way given the long stretches of dialogue and psychoanalysis.
Overall, this book cannot be viewed or approached outside of its effect and context- go read King's essay "Guns" to understand.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
in all honesty, i was expecting more from this book, considering it's been pulled from publication since the 90s, and you're going to pay an arm and a leg to get yours hands on any existing copy (not even mad about it tbh). but it reads exactly like every other stephen king novel i've read before; i don't know how he ever thought he was going to convince people he was a different person. tone, inflection, stream-of-consciousness ramblings without a lot of action for several pages? it's his voice exactly.
i can see why he wanted this pulled from publication. as i predicted before i started, both the students he's taken hostage and the narrative itself justifies his actions. the one student who defies him is openly mocked, and later even turned upon by the other students. everyone in an authority position is brought to heel by the shooter, and even in the end he isn't truly punished. i've seen other reviews saying that banning this book but not other violent media is hypocritical, but i disagree. the context of events matters. fantasies of vigilante justice being brought against killers or pedos are not as personal (or as common) as an angry white boy shooting up a school and blaming his parents.
i can see why he wanted this pulled from publication. as i predicted before i started, both the students he's taken hostage and the narrative itself justifies his actions. the one student who defies him is openly mocked, and later even turned upon by the other students. everyone in an authority position is brought to heel by the shooter, and even in the end he isn't truly punished. i've seen other reviews saying that banning this book but not other violent media is hypocritical, but i disagree. the context of events matters. fantasies of vigilante justice being brought against killers or pedos are not as personal (or as common) as an angry white boy shooting up a school and blaming his parents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings
6/10
S'alright, I can see why king took it out of circulation.
S'alright, I can see why king took it out of circulation.
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I remember the story for 30 years since I read this novel. I remember the San Gabriel and Jackson County High School shootings and their "association" to this novel and the societal outrage that followed, causing Stephen King to let this novel go out of print. But it is still an excellent novel that explores the psychological elements of the mental deterioration of the mentally ill.
The Disturbed Mind of Charlie Decker?
In Charlie Decker's mind, a "storm of rage" brewed, fueled by years of bullying and family dysfunction. His mother over protected him, making him emotionally vulnerable to his father who was consumed with making him a "man". It was his father that caused him to lose faith in humanity especially as Charlie no longer saw adults as caring individuals. When his teacher, Mrs. Underwood, became condescending it upsets Charlie and he has to redirect his attention to calm himself.
"Shall I lend you my thesaurus?" Mrs. Underwood asked, smiling alertly. My stomach began to hurt a little, my breakfast started to move around a little, so I looked back at the squirrel for a while.
He is scarred by years of neglect and violence at home, hurt by every cruel word he has endured leading to a perception of "injustice" and fury against all that he perceived had wronged him.
Bachman writes Charlie's mental deterioration very well, all through the narrative we see multiple identities, the main character, the narrator, the hero, the villain, the protagonist, the antagonist. But unlike previous literary works, there is no ambiguity, Charlie is insane (he is deemed so by the court of law), yet in his own mind he is sane.. But is he?
"Two years ago. To the best of my recollection, that was about the time I started to lose my mind."
Charlie Decker is intelligent but in his own mind he believes there are hidden agendas in the intentions of others (thus why he is fixated on Ted, he can't figure him out). He is an outcast, but he does have an intuitive ability for seeing the world differently to others. He wants to be seen as someone not to be trifled with, wary of crossing his path (the corduroy suit episode). Charlie's skepticism is not born out of cynicism, but rather from a lifetime of being misunderstood and marginalized. It is a defense mechanism, a way to shield himself from the pain.
Maybe, we the readers, see his assumptions as a sign of paranoia, but to Charlie, he sees them as a survival instinct. He sees a world where selfishness and deceit run rampant, so it was essential for him to stay one step ahead. The really sad thing about this novel is that in a way he is the voice for the voiceless, a champion for the marginalized, a beacon of hope for those who felt invisible. In a world where the marginalized are often silenced, Charlie's resonates with those who had long been overlooked.
The disturbed mind of Charlie Decker is no longer content with mere thoughts and fantasies, he takes action. As the situation escalates, Charlie and his classmates reveal their own traumas. Each revelation shows vulnerability, yet there are elements of laughter, and by doing this Bachman shows healing within the destruction. As they share their secrets, a kinship, or a fragile alliance if you prefer, emerges among the captives, a bit of respite from the tension Charlie has created. But as Charlie watches this abnormal therapy session, he realizes the power he wields over his classmates, in a way his presence both unites and divides them.
It is a sobering realization that everyone bears some kind of burden, one that forces him to question his motives and the true extent of his own pain. With this moment of clarity a little glimmer of humanity emerges, his rage has waned, he realized that the path he had chosen may lead to his own downfall.
Stephen King's "Carrie" V Richard Bachman's "Rage"
Bullying is the crux of both stories and today this is a more serious problem with cyberbullying making a person feel shame, hurt, or blatantly disrespected, than it was in 1970's. Both novels remind us of the fragile balance in the teenage psyche. Carrie (Carietta) White was not evil nor was she crazy she just wanted to be accepted. Whereas Charlie Decker is portrayed as a downward spiral into madness due to his inability to become accepted, but is he "evil"? Both were pushed too far by their peers as well as their parents with horrendous outcomes. But the "body count" for Carrie outweighs those of Charlie.
Stephen King has a compact writing style, whereas Richard Bachman is haphazard, with more darkness (which emphasizes the haphazard thoughts of Charlie's disturbed mind). Stephen King's narratives often intertwine horror with glimmers of hope. In contrast, Richard Bachman's works are deeper in the despair element with an absence of redemption. Richard Bachman writes this novel based in the real world, no supernatural/magic elements, no monsters/aliens, no psychological powers, etc., it's more brutal. But therein lies the difference, the "supernatural element" brings a sense of disbelief thus more acceptance, whereas "Rage" is reality.
The history of publication of "Rage" exemplifies how one action can shape societal reactions resulting in passive censorship. When anger is amplified, it dictates the narrative overlooking the complexities of the issue at hand and that issue is bullying. Both novels explore the consequences of ignoring the societal problem and when reality hits it is easier to "blame the book". If Carrie White didn't have telekinetic powers, but instead picked up a gun, would "Carrie" be "censored"? Does gender of the character change society perception of reaction of being "pushed too far"?
Some may think that "Bachman was imitating King". That to me increases the genius element of Stephen King's writing, he never wrote them to keep the publishers off his back, quite the opposite, he wrote them, but his publishers didn't want to flood the market with his "name".
"That's the end. I have to turn off the light now. Good night."
It’s interesting to think that King wrote this while still in high school, considering that school shootings have become more & more prevalent since the 80s, before he wrote this. Super creepy, but keeps you engrossed.
Probably the best Bachman story I’ve ever read and it still wasn’t great. Glad to have gotten my hands on this out-of-print story, but still not a fan of my favorite author’s pseudonym’s works… at all.
I’m a fan of the majority of Stephen King’s work, including his Bachman books, this one is no exception. That being said, I completely understand why SK asked to have this book taken out of print. It doesn’t really age well in regards to the frequency of school shootings occurring nowadays. However, if you’re a fan of King’s work and you’re able to put this into the context of the period it was written in, you’ll enjoy it.
What a disturbing read. You know that kind of book that gets draggy in the middle and suddenly climaxes then leaves you dumbfounded? Like that.
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.