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Rating: 
Summary: points off for typos
Review: This is a good effort at a serious exploration of King's first few novels, but I am seriously vexed by the large number of typos. When you spell a character's name two different ways within the span of the same chapter (it's Charlie McGee, not Charlie Magee!), something is seriously amiss. Quite frankly, that sort of thing does not inspire confidence in the author's knowledge of his subject.As for the actual analysis itself, it is hit-or-miss. The author's chapter on "Carrie" largely rehashes Douglas Winter's argument (from the excellent "Stephen King: The Art of Darkness") that "Carrie" is essentially a reworking of the Cinderella legend. Beyond that, Reino has very little to offer on "Carrie," a complex novel that deserves better treatment. On the other hand, Reino does an excellent job with his chapter on "Salem's Lot," wherein he uncovers a good bit of sexual symbolism and metaphor that places the novel even more squarely in line with "Dracula," and he also serves up excellent chapters on both "Night Shift" and "Pet Sematary." Overall, if you are a serious King fan or student, then you should by all means give Reino's book a read. There are a lot of good ideas here.
Rating:
Summary: points off for typos
Review: This is a good effort at a serious exploration of King's first few novels, but I am seriously vexed by the large number of typos. When you spell a character's name two different ways within the span of the same chapter (it's Charlie McGee, not Charlie Magee!), something is seriously amiss. Quite frankly, that sort of thing does not inspire confidence in the author's knowledge of his subject. As for the actual analysis itself, it is hit-or-miss. The author's chapter on "Carrie" largely rehashes Douglas Winter's argument (from the excellent "Stephen King: The Art of Darkness") that "Carrie" is essentially a reworking of the Cinderella legend. Beyond that, Reino has very little to offer on "Carrie," a complex novel that deserves better treatment. On the other hand, Reino does an excellent job with his chapter on "Salem's Lot," wherein he uncovers a good bit of sexual symbolism and metaphor that places the novel even more squarely in line with "Dracula," and he also serves up excellent chapters on both "Night Shift" and "Pet Sematary." Overall, if you are a serious King fan or student, then you should by all means give Reino's book a read. There are a lot of good ideas here.
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