1.31k reviews for:

Rage

Richard Bachman

3.41 AVERAGE

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

Rage, written by Stephen King under his Richard Bachman pseudonym, is a raw, unsettling novella that dives into the psyche of a troubled high school student, Charlie Decker, who holds his classroom hostage after a violent outburst. Published in 1977, it’s one of King’s earliest works and stands out for its intense, character-driven exploration of alienation, trauma, and rebellion. The story’s strength lies in its unflinching look at the darker corners of adolescence, with King’s knack for dialogue and psychological tension shining through. The classroom dynamics, as students grapple with fear and unexpected empathy, are compelling and thought-provoking, making it a bold, if dated, snapshot of societal issues.However, the AI narrator for the audiobook version is a significant drawback. The delivery feels flat and robotic, failing to capture the emotional weight and nuance of Charlie’s unraveling or the charged interactions among characters. It detracts from the story’s intensity, making it harder to stay immersed. While the novella itself is a gritty, compact read worth checking out for King fans or those interested in psychological drama, the AI narration is a letdown that dulls the experience.
dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A tough read but a great one.
dark lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging dark tense medium-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

Kept waiting for this book to do something. Say something about school shootings or youth or any of those challenging topics. And yet, extensively, it was just about a student who essentially loses his mind, quickly and with no forewarning. 

Which is fine, but I understood Kings desire to have this taken off the shelves, though I am glad to have read it. 

A good early work. Definitely understand Mr. King's decision to take thus out of print. Charlie Decker is a disturbed young man but his classmates reactions more so.
dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings