From a Buick 8

Rating:
Summary: Not his best, but good
Review: Oh, relax. I think King has set the bar so high any little slip by him is seen as a major disappointment. "From A buick 8" ain't his best, but it is good.
This novel is up there with "Night of the Beast" (Shannon) and "Hour Before Dark" (Doug Clegg) as one of my favorites of 2002. A little more of a character study than a horror novel but worth your bucks.

Rating:
Summary: If you like stories without a satisfying ending, buy it!
Review: Of course it is well written BUT King warns you throughout the story that sometimes things in life have no explanation SO the plot points you've been reading page after page to see resolved never get resolved. Ultimately, this is a disappointing read. The story never builds, it just lays there like a flat tire From a Buick 8.

Rating:
Summary: Decent Science Fiction King
Review: I've read just about every Stephen King book. All of them are easy to read and hard to put down. This one kind of follows along the science fiction theme of the Tommyknockers, but is mostly told in a flashback method.

The thing that intrigues me the most about this novel is how King states in his end notes that he decided to keep the characters in his novel in Western PA, since that's where he came up with the initial idea of the story. He said he had to go back to western PA and spend some time with the state troopers to get a feel for what they did. Research? Who'da thunk it? The state of Maine thanks King for this, since if you look at all of his stories that take place in Maine along with the population of Maine, those poor people are experiencing more supernatural terrors per person than any other U.S. state.

Overall, the story is a decent read, the descriptions are both hilarious and horrifying, as is par for King. As for the ending...well, I think it fits the whole gyst of the story - things are just there - there's not always an explanation for everything.

Rating:
Summary: Fun, quick read!
Review: I really enjoyed this book! I'm a die-hard King fan, and was worried that perhaps this novel would be "Christine: Revisited," but my fears were groundless. It's a fast, enjoyable read, and yet it touches on some big themes - e.g. man's obsession with the unknowable, loyalty, and fate. And those of you who have read King's collaborations with Peter Straub ("The Talisman" and "Black House") will pick up on a few connections there... This isn't his deepest book, to be sure, but overall it's a totally worthwhile read!

Rating:
Summary: Endless Tedium
Review: A peculiar car sits in a shed for 20 years. Once in a while it emits a special effect. When it does, some cops stand around and watch.

Are you thrilled yet? Neither was I. The material might have done for a 10-minute Night Gallery episode, but, alas, King is no Rod Serling and he goes on for 350 pages. I made it through 150 of them, sustained mainly by King's trademarked glib (and banal) dialogue, before I gave up and started skipping ahead to see if anything was going to happen. It is possible that I skipped right past a something that happens, but I doubt it. The grand climax seems to be the appearance of a small crack in the Buick's windshield.

Rating:
Summary: Along For The Ride
Review: At first glance, one might want to compare King's latest novel as a cross between 'Christine' and 'The Tommyknockers', with a little of the old B horror film 'The Car' thrown in for good measure. But 'From A Buick 8' is much more than it appears to be. King, while still a master at keeping the nerve-wracking tension, suspense, and chills at high volume, delves deep into the characters emotions; from their endless fascination and curiousity, terror and courage, and their struggle with seemingless endless questions with too few answers. King, proves once again that he is still the Master of the Macabre, while running the gauntlet of human emotions admist a mysterious and alien terror, for one of his very best, intriguing, and page turning novels to date... Gary S. Potter Author/Poet

Rating:
Summary: There are Buicks everywhere
Review: I have generally heard bad reviews of this book, so I was little worried about picking it up. But I did, and decided to read it the other night whether than put it off. Now, there are many things to say about it:

For starters, this is NOT Christine 2. This is not a sequel to the story. This is not a retelling. There are similarities, but the focus of this story is nothing like Christine.

Secondly, this story is rarely in the details. Often, the details are the weak spot. It is when King gets nervous and decides to go back and fill in a few of the blanks that the narrative decreases.

Thirdly, this book has a lot more personal philosophy to impart rather than horror. This is about growing old. This is about mysteries in life. This is about sticking to duty. This is about the chains that we can feel but rarely know.

Finally (for now), what horror IS in this book tends to be strictly the real life stuff: a cop hitting an old woman, a suicide, genitalia ripped off by the force of impact, young children decapitated, abusive relationships, the way that people think you are nuts when you are telling the truth. That sort of thing. The real life horror of the PSP is felt more than the Dunsanian/Lovecraftian terror of the Buick...which tends to be more a catalyst to facing lifes greatest, most beautiful, and extremely disturbing mysteries.

As for the quality of the book: Stephen King's writing has matured quite a bit and he seems to be ready to impart more of himself in the telling. But, on the flipside, like any older person...the maturity they have gained has drawbacks. For one, some aspects seem more tired. There seems to be more repetition. You know all the old tricks, they will not suprise you no matter how much you want them to. The voice telling is more captivating. The story has been polished to a perfect shine...but sometimes you just want a bit of that old Stephen King that would dash out 800 page stories a couple of times a year and not look back.

I will say, though, that the "lack" of narrative that so many complain about is this book's strong point. I mean, when one is faced with questions about "Why would God do such a thing?" or "How could THIS possibly have meaning?", they do not always get back a neat little parable to sum it up. Sometimes, all they get is more life to live and more time to think up answers that might work for them or might not. This story taps really, really well into this...and I recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: I love King but......
Review: this book was really bad. That hurts a lot for me to say b/c I love King, but I have to be honest. Send this one to the scrap heap and sell it for parts.

This is the story of a car, and how it changed the life for some officers and the people around them. I can't say much more, b/c I don't want to give away the plot.

When I was finished with this book, I had a lot of questions. Such as, what happened to a certian officer? Where did the car come from (though I do have an idea)? Who was the driver?

If you want to read it, be my guest, but don't expect this to be vintage King.

Rating:
Summary: More Than I Expected...
Review: Yeah, there's a strange car from Somewhere Else that does some rather odd things at times. But this book isn't necessarily about trying to scare the pants off of you. Of course King can't resist including several supernatural events in this little tale, but look past that and at the actual people in the novel.

Stephen King is an expert at exploring human relationships in the way his characters interact. Read this book and pay attention to the people, not the car, which is mostly just scenery. Will it give you nightmares like Cujo and The Shining? No. But I don't think Mr. King had that sort of thing in mind when he gave us From A Buick 8.

It's one of those books from Stephen King where you have sort of a warm feeling after finishing it. And I think those kind are the best.

Rating:
Summary: You can't miss with great material . . .
Review: . . . unless you've already used it once . . . So let me guess--- King's next book is about a family who work as caretakers at a deserted resort hotel in the mountains that is actually a gateway to another evil dimension. But it won't be the same as The Shining, because this deserted resort hotel in the mountains--- that is actually a gateway to another evil dimension--- where this new family works as caretakers, is in Vermont this time.