So That's How You Read A Stephen King Book!

image credit: albanykid.com
It’s not the same year as the one in “From a Buick 8″, but pretty close.
 All I could think of when I saw it was “Low men in yellow coats”
 driving big shiny cars.

I'm waiting for Revival.  It's like watching the clock with an hour left the day before school lets out for summer.  Time is moving ever slower.  Ticktock.

In the meantime, I've started my way back through books I never finished the first time.  Wizard and Glass and today the novel From A Buick 8.  I tried From A Buick 8 at least 3 times before -- and no magic.  Sorry.  Is something wrong with me?  What gives? I snapped it up on my way out the door because -- well, it was there on the shelf.  It's hard not  to pick The Stand up again.

As I drove, I listened to From A Buick 8.  I expected nothing; honestly, I've listened to this first CD already.  But as I listened, I forgot about the "plot" and got involved with the characters.  Especially a kid named Ned.  As I got more interested in the book, I realized what my problem has been with this particular novel.  I know there is something up with a  Buick; it's an alien car or something.  And I'm so excited, I think the story is about the Buick.  After all, Ned isn't in the title;  the Buick is!  But the novel isn't really as much about the Buick as it is the human characters.  

When I read From A Buick 8, I want King to tell me early on what's up with that car.  GET TO THE CAR!  But he takes his time with a lot of police jargon and character background.  Impatience has been my downfall.  But as I listened this time, King's magic worked and the characters and plot found a rhythm that worked for me.  I started falling in love with this little book.

So, not to self and the rest of you stuck on a King book -- stop worrying about plot and spaceships and settle into the characters.  As King talks about people, he will start to unravel a pretty awesome plot.

The book is also distracting because it's told from multiple points of view.  And, to make matters worse, it starts with a lady named "Sandy."  Only, Sandy is a guy.  But the opening line just says, "Sandy."  Only when I LISTENED  to the novel did it dawn on me, "OH!  Sandy is a dude!"  How long before I was supposed to pick up on that in print?

There are actually quite a few Stephen King books I never finished.  Do I feel bad about that?  No.  It just means I got impatient with the story telling and lost interest; but I'll be back.  But I do notice that many of the books I find most frustrating come from an era stretching from the mid 90's to early 2000's.  Books like Rose Madder, From A Buick 8, Gerald's Game and Cell.  (I did finish some of these books, they just didn't sweep me away.)  

The most recent story King has written that I failed to complete was Lisey's Story.  Yes, I get impatient with it.  There's a lot of build  up, and I can't figure out what this book is about!  I prefer the likes of 11.22.63 -- which runs hard  on plot early on and then settles into character development mid novel.  But King doesn't always play that game.

Finally, The Talisman is a novel I find difficult to engage with.  Why?  I don't know.  Maybe things feel a little forced to me; Jack Sawyer = Tom Sawyer and I roll my eyes.  The Talisman has one other  thing working against it, and I'll admit right now it's a stupid reason to complain.  I don't like the cover.  It doesn't say to me, "come read me."  It says to me, "If we print King's name big enough, you'll buy the book." 

From A Buick 8 Journal #2

I'm enjoying From A Buick 8.  I do find that it takes more work to read than other King novels.  Surprisingly, the Buick has some elements of Christine.  I guess haunted cars and alien cars share similarities!  In particular, both cars  have the ability to heal themselves.  It is cool that there are first hand witnesses to the car's slow transformation. It is also interesting that both Christine and From A Buick 8 center on a teenage male.

The novel dives into police culture naturally.  I liked the line that in California police have to write "To Protect and Serve" on the police cars, while more noble Maine police just know it in their hearts.  King gives the police a personal touch, discussing how they seldom talk shop at home -- there are some things only other officers understand; things officers are not comfortable discussing with those outside the circle.

There is a lot of sci-fi here.  Purple lights, a trooper sucked into the trunk and sent. .  . somewhere.  Of course, having read 800+ pages of Under The Dome, I remind myself not to get too excited waiting for an answer as to why or how these things happen.  Why was there a Dome?  King wasn't worried about that! Why was the car left in From A Buick 8?  I'm afraid King might not be to worried about that, either!  

A little like Ray Bradbury, King is never as worried about how things work as the story surrounding them -- and even more important than the story is the characters, to King.  

From A Buick 8 Journal #1

I started From A Buick 8 last week.  I was anxious to get to  this book,  partly because I know so little  about it.  It's about. . . a car.  It's not Christine. That's what I knew.

Now, since this is a journal, not a review, I am going to admit that I'm struggling with this book.  That's frustrating, because I so looked forward to it.

The book is told from the first person, with multiple points of view.  This gets a little  bit confusing.  And it's unclear why there are multiple points of view.  In Dolores Claiborne, the reason for the first person account was explained: It was a confession.  In 11/22/63, the first person approach was taken because it was a journal.  Of  course,  first person doesn't always have to have a "purpose" beyond the authors desire to write in first person!  But, when multiple points of view are employed, the reader is left wonder -- why are all these people talking to me?  Is this a scrap book?  Is this testimony?  It is hard to keep up with who is narrating which portion of the story.  There are moments when I'm asking myself, "What's happening?"

None of this is deadly to  the novel.  It just doesn't come out swinging, for me.

That said, the characters are extremely likable.  The story is engaging, and that gives lots of hope.  King gives us dogs and teens, two things we love and King is gifted at giving.  Add to that a really cool car -- a mystery car, and this should be a lot of fun.

I really enjoyed the scene where the police went over the car.  Things just don't make sense with this car.  Of course, it raises the question to the reader: If this is an alien car, why didn't the alien's know more about cars?  They didn't disguise it very well!