Stephen King - This is one author who has always pulled me into serious reading. It all started with Misery and Pet Sematary. But for some reason this book was eluding me for quite some time. I never found the right mood to sit with this particular novel of his and I never know why. Finally with lock down in progress, I finally did. When I read two Shirley Jackson novels, i felt I had to sit with this one also. After all, he was the one who pulled me into serious read.
The story happens in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine - the setting for many of King's novels. The story mainly revolves around the Trenton family - Vic, Donna and Tad who recently moved to Castle Rock from the big city on account of Vic's job. Their family is in lighter waters now. Vic being busy with the work as they are in the risk of losing an important customer, Donna hating the place which is in no way similar to the big city life she had and Tad seems to hear voices around him from the closet. On a parallel story, Joe Camber, the mechanic, has a dog named Cujo; a St.Bernard. Cujo is recently bit by rabid bats making him rabid too. The Camber family is caught unaware of the same and Joe gets attacked and killed. While Vic travels out of town on purpose of business, Donna along with Tad takes her car for repairs out to Joe's. Cujo in his full rabid mode attacks them and is held hostage in their own car. As time goes by, will they be able to fight off Cujo and survive his wrath makes the essence of the story.
If you are familiar with Stephen King and his works, you might already be knowing that he is a man of many words. Unlike Shirley Jackson, a person who less words to convey her thoughts, King writes elaborately and in detail on the human mind. As in most of this books, the internal conflicts and thoughts that happens within the person takes main stage here also. The characters though limited are given adequate scope and depth. Since this story is set in his usual fictional land of Maine, I do remember now of a reference of Cujo in Pet Semetary which is a common feature in Stephen King's books set in Maine. The language is very effective in giving us the creeps. The way the things set up after Cujo gets rabid along with the physical and mental turmoil faced by Donna and Tad is sure to send chills down the spine. Very similar to the feel I had while reading 'Misery'. The family equation in the Camber family and Trenton family are well brought out.
The book is a very good read for those who like jump scares and creepy settings. This is not a spook story but mainly a story that leaves you stranded in dire situational settings. Overall a good read and a definitely enjoyable book for Stephen King fans.
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