A rapid dog is out for the kill. Of course, it’s written by Stephen King. Published in 1981, King’s spectacular novel Cujo was created in the midst of his struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction. This progressing to the extent that the author, himself, doesn’t even remember writing a single page of the iconic terror at all. This killer book will terrify you into turning pages night until dawn. Set in a place King named Castle Rock, in an existing place Maine that King grew up in and loves enough to set a large majority of novels in. Castle Rock is a place where a variety of characters are living. From a little boy with something hiding in his closet to a guy who is never sober. The fact that all these characters have their own separate lives yet cunningly all interweave with each other fittingly is very clever, very complex, very King.
Cujo is a grand Saint Bernard who - like any dog - enjoys chasing rabbits and munching on treats. Yet once his paw is down the rabbit hole, the story is anything but a sweet Alice in Wonderland type of fairy-tale. It’s ridden with rapid bats that nibble and chew on Cujo’s fresh skin. And so the transformation begins. He isn’t the Camber family’s friendly dog anymore…
Similar to countless other novels written by King, Cujo builds suspense and tension through the first section of the book. King describes his characters in such depth that you feel as though you know them so well that you distinguish everything about them; you sympathise with the characters. We begin to love Gary’s satiric humour. And we feel protective over young Tad. That’s when the plot thickens. King has slyly done this as when you read that far into the novel, you will not be able to put the book down. You’re involved now. You’re a part of the novel. And you’ll need to know what happens next.
Triumphantly bloodcurdling, King is fully aware of what makes an outstanding novel. ‘Good books don't give up all their secrets at once.’ Stated King. Cujo is a prime example of just that. King almost seems to humanise Cujo’s train of thought throughout the novel such as: ‘It was possible that one of them might call him BADDOG. And at this particular moment, he certainly considered himself to be a BADDOG.’ Making the reader sympathise with a rapid dog. Did you expect that?
The narrator of Cujo is opinionated about all the other characters and talkative to the reader. Yet we don’t truly know who he or she really is. ‘Belasco, who was a prick of the highest order.’ The narrator pretty much hates everyone. On the other hand, they entice you to learn more about their lives and eventually feel distraught for them and their troubled fate with the rapid dog.
We envision the characters’ lives as they go through aspects of life from money trouble to having an affair. With these characters, you are either going to love them or hate them but that’s what is so fascinating about this book. It forces you to have an opinion on each character spiralling in whatever shape or form.
If you have the patience with the slow unravelling beginning of this book then you’re unquestionably going to enjoy this book to its full potential. As it lures you in one page at a time.
Just remember: ‘The monster never dies.’
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