Elevation
Ratings261
Average rating3.5
So, I'm going to rant a little bit. This book is like 146 pages or something like that. The price tag new for the paperback version is $9.99. If that seems like a stretch for as mass market edition of a 146 page story, please consider that this is edited like an 8th grader's 3 page essay. There's a loooooot of blank paper, let's say. The margins are ridiculously big, the font is a tad larger than King's short story collections, there are illustrations, the whole gamut. If this went by word count there would be 5 extra pages of whited out words. It's glaringly obvious that this book was only released as a cash grab. I can't imagine King needs the money, so I'm assuming this was done by the publisher.
Having said all of that, this "novella" (short story is what it really is) should have been released in a collection. It isn't strong by any means. In fact, it's pretty weak. As others have said, it's just such a Boomer story. Ugh. If anyone wants to read an exceptional story with a similar vibe, please do yourself a favor and check out King's son Joe Hill's story "Pop Art."
This was okay. The story's main idea of a man mysteriously losing steady weight without losing mass grabbed my attention, but not much else developed, and the characters were one-dimensional. The ending was also the most basic possible way out of the situation. I did find the couple moments of appreciation for life endearing.
Short for a King book. I am just not the target audience for this book. Feels like it was written for all the people that live near King that he has watched become FOX-ified in an attempt to snap them out of it. But fails at that because it just is too short, you don't invest in the characters and so it just doesn't ring true. Only lost a couple of hours to read it. Definitely would not have pushed through if it was a standard King tome.
It is books like this that make me rethink my choice to never read the back of the book. Going in blind every time.
I hated this book. Would have been a DNF has it been any longer.
I found it boring and a terrible story all around. More political then I could have imagined.
3.5
it was okay, except for sk's usual excessive descriptions/going off subject but oh well
3.5
it was okay, except for sk's usual excessive descriptions/going off subject but oh well
I found this bizarre flight of fancy strangely touching and I don't apologise. This is why I read Stephen King. He is a “horror” writer, but has a humanity many more respected writers lack. Really good.
Una historia super interesante y con un gran mensaje, es rápida y entretenida de leer.
Esperaba más
If you're struggling with a book slump or are wanting to get further in your reading challenge then this is a good read for you
Less sinister than Thinner
Reminded me immediately of King's book “Thinner”, but this was much more upbeat and fantastical. Still kinda “meh” overall though
Elevation was kinda cute and kinda sad but it really wasn't giving any kind of horror vibe (it's horror in the same way as Disney movies are, there are horror elements but the story isn't about the horror and it's treated in an airy sort of way if that makes any sense).
Laurie seemed rather pointless to me, it's just a short story about a man and a dog he didn't want unless I'm missing something (sister dumps dog onto recently widowed brother, dog makes life better for a while then leads to finding neighbor recently killed by a gator the end). Dog walker making a grisly discovery isn't really a horror story it's the start of one and if like me you're not a fan of dog stories you can probably skip this one.
There seems to be quite a wide range of opinions about this short book. I actually really enjoyed it. I was interested from the start and this was maintained until the conclusion.
leave it to king to bring on the odd and weird. Not my favorite but i was intrigued the full way through.
No clear beginning or explanation of the strange occurrence that Scott is going through. Even with the very one dimensional characters I still enjoyed this quick read. Reminded me a tad bit of [b:Thinner 10605 Thinner Richard Bachman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554308961l/10605.SY75.jpg 2791999] and I wonder if Scott ate some pie that he shouldn't have eaten?-POPSUGAR 2021 READING CHALLENGE - A magical realism book • There is clearly something strange going on in Castle Rock.
I have really mixed feelings about this book.
On one hand, it made me really emotional and I even shed a tear at the end, which is definitely something to note (I don't always cry while reading).
But on the other hand, this book just doesn't make sense. The whole “turning point” in this book seemed really weak to me and I had difficulty seeing how a single photo op could change an entire town's mind. Additionally, there was not really a gradual build from one town sentiment to the next. It occurred practically overnight, and they were suddenly fine with everything! Which. Again. Doesn't make sense.
Also, this book has a serious case of a white male savior rescuing the oppressed which just really isn't the vibe anymore (nor was it in 2018 when this was published).
So in short– I have mixed feelings about this, but it's short, so go for it if you're interested.
King's novella Elevation (billed as a novel on the cover, but it's way too short to be a novel) is both a gentle plea for us all to be kinder to each other and a meditation on death. There is a mystical premise where the main character Scott confides in a friend / retired doctor that he is losing pounds by the day but doesn't physically look any thinner. There is a parallel storyline where the town of Castle Rock has disdain for a lesbian couple who own a restaurant as well as two dogs that prefer to crap in Scott's yard. At first, Scott is annoyed with the couple. But once he drops the hate and embraces kindness, he learns they are good people.
King's novellas are some of my favorite of his catalog. The Body and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption are great works of LITERARY fiction. That being said, I looked forward to reading another of his novellas with great interest. But unlike those two novellas, which looked back on a previous era with a nostalgic gaze, Elevation is firmly set in the present. And although there is a mystical element to this story, it takes a backseat to the parallel story of the townsfolk and their dislike of the lesbian couple. King is known for his progressive political leanings and I fit squarely into that camp as well, so he is speaking to the choir concerning his observations about how the town should be kinder to each other. I did enjoy this aspect of the story, but it wasn't revelatory to me by any means. Maybe, King was aiming for the more conservative readers of his work in hopes of turning some hearts.
Once Scott's circle of friends learn of his odd weight loss, they vow not to tell anyone of it, and the narrator must have kept this vow too, because its origin is not revealed to the reader. In this sense, Scott's weight loss is a metaphor for our dying selves, and as his weight plummets toward zero just as the days of our lives do the same, we are left to wonder about what his fate will be, even though we already know.
This was an enjoyable, quick read, although not as mystical as promised, and definitely too short to be described as a novel. If you're looking for great stories and excellent writing, then check out King's The Body and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption in the novella collection titled Different Seasons. I'd give Elevation 3 and ½ stars.
Not your normal Stephen King.
This was an interesting novella. Wasn't exactly what I was expecting at the end, but it ‘made sense' for the story. It didn't read as horror though, although I can see how it could be categorized as that for some people.
actual rating: 2.5 starsthe premise was super interesting but execution kinda fell flat. wondering if maybe i just don't like king's writing style? will still give the man a chance tho
Elevation is proof that Stephen King can write a mediocre novel.
It isn't a bad novella; I don't think Stephen King has ever written anything terrible. But this isn't his best.
The premise of the story follows character Scott Carey of Castle Rock, Maine. A lot of craziness happens in Castle Rock in the King world. It is the nexus for all evil as far as I am concerned. Scott develops a strange problem, reminiscent of King's other novel Thinner. Scott keeps losing weight at a pound or more day. The odd part is Scott looks no different mass wise. He isn't thinner, but he weighs less. Even carry metal chains and fully clothed, he continually is losing weight on the scale.
This is impossible in an ordinary world, but not Castle Rock. Scott starts to see some of the errors in his ways in his life and tries to make amends. The ending is odd and utterly predictable.
I ended this story with a full-body shrug and sigh. It was just a middle of the road story, not much exciting happened, then it stopped.
As far as recommending it, I would recommend it as much as lukewarm tea and a slightly burnt piece of plain toast. Not going to kill you, but all you are going to get out of the experience is some calories.
I loved this book so much! My aunt recommend it too me and I'm glad she did :]
King vuelve a Castle Rock con un mensaje para nuestros tiempos. «La prueba de que un maestro aún puede elevar más su leyenda.»USA Today El cuerpo de Scott Carey sufre un extraño fenómeno: pierde peso sin parar pero no se vuelve más delgado, su báscula le dice que cada día es un poco más ligero,...
Quick read. Loved the story and reading again of characters in Castle Rock. The ending was a great reminder