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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of Stephen King's earliest works, written in 1966 under his Richard Bachman pen name (though it was published much later). It's quite hard to find these days, as it was withdrawn from sale after being found in the locker of the teenage perpetrator of a school shooting.
Rage is told from the point of view of a very disturbed teen as he looks back on the events that led to his incarceration when he takes a gun into school and starts shooting. After a history of violence, Charlie is finally expelled from school when he beats a young girl so badly that she is hospitalised. Instead of going straight home after his interview with the headmaster, Charlie walks into his classroom with a gun and shoots the teacher dead. Before he properly realises what he has done, he finds himself in charge of a hostage situation with the power of life and death over his classmates as the police gather outside.
This is a short novel that strangely reminded me of the movie The Breakfast Club, when a group of high school teens find themselves unsupervised together in a classroom and begin to open up to each other about their private lives. Charlie talks about his own difficult home life and we gain an insight into how his mind became so disturbed, but the others in the class also reveal a lot about themselves and form a bond, both with each other and with their captor. We begin to forget all about the murdered teacher and find ourselves rooting for Charlie and wishing that he could somehow escape the terrible situation he's got himself into.
Rage is a book about the darkness within us all, and how easy it is for that darkness to erupt into violence. The ending is quite shocking, brilliantly written and really makes you think. While Rage may not be his best work, it is an intense novel that already bears Stephen King's unique style and shows the beginnings of his huge talent.
Rage is told from the point of view of a very disturbed teen as he looks back on the events that led to his incarceration when he takes a gun into school and starts shooting. After a history of violence, Charlie is finally expelled from school when he beats a young girl so badly that she is hospitalised. Instead of going straight home after his interview with the headmaster, Charlie walks into his classroom with a gun and shoots the teacher dead. Before he properly realises what he has done, he finds himself in charge of a hostage situation with the power of life and death over his classmates as the police gather outside.
This is a short novel that strangely reminded me of the movie The Breakfast Club, when a group of high school teens find themselves unsupervised together in a classroom and begin to open up to each other about their private lives. Charlie talks about his own difficult home life and we gain an insight into how his mind became so disturbed, but the others in the class also reveal a lot about themselves and form a bond, both with each other and with their captor. We begin to forget all about the murdered teacher and find ourselves rooting for Charlie and wishing that he could somehow escape the terrible situation he's got himself into.
Rage is a book about the darkness within us all, and how easy it is for that darkness to erupt into violence. The ending is quite shocking, brilliantly written and really makes you think. While Rage may not be his best work, it is an intense novel that already bears Stephen King's unique style and shows the beginnings of his huge talent.
--- Book 23 of April ---
ইদানীং কন্ট্রোভার্সিয়াল বই দেখলেই পড়ার আগ্রহ হচ্ছে
ইদানীং কন্ট্রোভার্সিয়াল বই দেখলেই পড়ার আগ্রহ হচ্ছে
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
This book is heavy; it’s heavy and it takes a twist I never would have expected given the subject matter. I’m not sure how I feel about this novel, hence the three stars, but I spent years trying to track this baby down and I’m glad I did.
“Rage” is one of the first novels King ever wrote. In fact, I’m fairly certain he wrote it way before “Carrie,” but couldn’t get it published until later. And that’s probably because it’s an exceptionally disturbing read in the fact that what occurs in the pages could actually happen in reality. The Bachman books were sort of King’s outlet for plausible horror rather than supernatural horror. In fact, he was going to publish “Misery” under the Bachman name but his pseudonym was exposed before he could do that. Therefore, if you’re a fan of Misery, pick “Rage” up.
Another thing I loved about “Rage” was seeing King writing at a younger, more inexperienced level. “Rage” feels like a debut novel. The language and character development aren’t quite to the caliber we usually see from King, but that’s because he was basically a teenager when he wrote it. It’s fascinating to see that side of King looking back at his career now.
The more I think about this book the more I want to give it 3.5 stars instead. It’s definitely worth the read and I do highly recommend it to any fan of King.
“Rage” is one of the first novels King ever wrote. In fact, I’m fairly certain he wrote it way before “Carrie,” but couldn’t get it published until later. And that’s probably because it’s an exceptionally disturbing read in the fact that what occurs in the pages could actually happen in reality. The Bachman books were sort of King’s outlet for plausible horror rather than supernatural horror. In fact, he was going to publish “Misery” under the Bachman name but his pseudonym was exposed before he could do that. Therefore, if you’re a fan of Misery, pick “Rage” up.
Another thing I loved about “Rage” was seeing King writing at a younger, more inexperienced level. “Rage” feels like a debut novel. The language and character development aren’t quite to the caliber we usually see from King, but that’s because he was basically a teenager when he wrote it. It’s fascinating to see that side of King looking back at his career now.
The more I think about this book the more I want to give it 3.5 stars instead. It’s definitely worth the read and I do highly recommend it to any fan of King.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well what can I say. It wasn't as bad as people made out. I can understand the mixed reviews and dislike from others but I thought it was ok. Pretty interesting and I enjoyed it. I can see why it would have been pulled out of publication.
Overall I thought it was ok. Not great but ok and a decent quick read. I could read it again.
Overall I thought it was ok. Not great but ok and a decent quick read. I could read it again.
reflective
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
challenging
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
I liked this book but didn’t love it. The story had a dark, psychological tone that reminded me a little of The Breakfast Club if it was dark and violent. The writing itself was strong. I really enjoyed King’s style, his descriptions, and the overall layout of the book.
The pacing kept me hooked, and there were moments of real tension that stood out. But I struggled to connect with the main character and found some of the character behaviour hard to believe. That made parts of the story feel frustrating rather than impactful.
The ending didn’t quite land for me either. I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied, even though I appreciated the intensity of the buildup.
Overall, it’s a well written and decent book, but not one I fully connected with. 3.5/5 and I think this is the first time I've given half a star as I prefer to only use whole numbers in reviews, but this book just isn't quite enough to deserve 4 stars.
The pacing kept me hooked, and there were moments of real tension that stood out. But I struggled to connect with the main character and found some of the character behaviour hard to believe. That made parts of the story feel frustrating rather than impactful.
The ending didn’t quite land for me either. I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied, even though I appreciated the intensity of the buildup.
Overall, it’s a well written and decent book, but not one I fully connected with. 3.5/5 and I think this is the first time I've given half a star as I prefer to only use whole numbers in reviews, but this book just isn't quite enough to deserve 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
So - why is it out of print? It is challenging to read a novel about a school shooting that is less about the problem of gun crime endemic in the US, and more about the psychology of the fictional perpetrator of such violence. It’s the same discomfort that many experienced watching Joker - we are at a crisis point, and understanding what motivates these people is far, far less important than restricting their access to firearms. And I’m sure that is far truer now than it was in 1977.
But if you can compartmentalise that, there is something bewitching here. Some Catcher in the Rye, some of The Breakfast Club, a little bit of If… This is a subversive narrative about the nature of violence, the drive toward disorder, and also a sort of absurdist ode to rationality and abandonment of morality. Most of the time, it really works.
But if you can compartmentalise that, there is something bewitching here. Some Catcher in the Rye, some of The Breakfast Club, a little bit of If… This is a subversive narrative about the nature of violence, the drive toward disorder, and also a sort of absurdist ode to rationality and abandonment of morality. Most of the time, it really works.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence