Book Review: Pet Sematary by Stephen King
I recently read Stephen Kings novel 'Pet Sematary' (just so you know, I'm quiet obsessed with Stephen King, mostly his horror). I've read 'Salem's Lot', 'IT', 'The Shinning', 'Insomnia', 'The Mist', The Dark Tower Series, 'The Stand', 'Firestarter', Carrie', 'Cell' and now 'Pet Sematary'. These are not in my reading order. Trust me I realize that I haven't read all of his works, he's so prolific! However, I'll get there one day. I've also seen most of the movies that have been adapted as well, i.e. The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile...
But right now I just wanted to get my thoughts out about this book. I watched the 1989 movie adaptation when I was a teenager (it's been awhile), so when I was reading the novel my mind obviously flashed to scenes from the movie.
Movie aside, I love the build up of this book. The heavy handed foreshadowing throughout the novel until the bitter end; Louis's thought process on why he is doing what he is doing, heightening the suspense until the climax of the novel. It's not just the grief, but the power of the Micmac burial grounds and the Wendigo that were driving Louis's sanity, twisting his thoughts, even though he knew better, knew he shouldn't be digging up his son's grave, and had been warned multiple times not to be tempted.
I loved the suspenseful atmosphere of walking up the deadfall, following the old man Jud, seeing something dangerous and wrong in his eye for a split second, and then moving into Little God Swamp. I got shivers as Jud explains about hearing voices or screams, but then telling Louis that it was only the loons and that the sound carries.
King makes it even more unnerving by repeating over and over again certain quotes that at first you kind of glance over and shrug off. But as the book progresses he repeats these quotes so that every time you read them a shudder runs through you.
The connections to "The Dark Tower Series" are incredibly evident as well, which is something else I love about King's books. Finding the connection, knowing exactly what the connections are, is incredibly satisfying as a reader. It's so interesting to me how OZ (from the Wizard of OZ, a nobody of a man that just happens to be proclaimed as a wizard and has to keep that secret or be found out) is a symbol of death in 'Pet Sematary'; The Wizard and Glass: the fourth in Dark Tower, have the character's meet a strange version of OZ, akin to the one in 'Pet Sematary' (not the Frank L. Baum's novel) at the end of this book.
As a writer, I look up to Kings ability to weave together and craft an ominous story. I've always found his writing inspirational.
If you like horror or suspenseful novels I'd high recommend reading 'Pet Sematary'.
But right now I just wanted to get my thoughts out about this book. I watched the 1989 movie adaptation when I was a teenager (it's been awhile), so when I was reading the novel my mind obviously flashed to scenes from the movie.
Movie aside, I love the build up of this book. The heavy handed foreshadowing throughout the novel until the bitter end; Louis's thought process on why he is doing what he is doing, heightening the suspense until the climax of the novel. It's not just the grief, but the power of the Micmac burial grounds and the Wendigo that were driving Louis's sanity, twisting his thoughts, even though he knew better, knew he shouldn't be digging up his son's grave, and had been warned multiple times not to be tempted.
I loved the suspenseful atmosphere of walking up the deadfall, following the old man Jud, seeing something dangerous and wrong in his eye for a split second, and then moving into Little God Swamp. I got shivers as Jud explains about hearing voices or screams, but then telling Louis that it was only the loons and that the sound carries.
King makes it even more unnerving by repeating over and over again certain quotes that at first you kind of glance over and shrug off. But as the book progresses he repeats these quotes so that every time you read them a shudder runs through you.
The connections to "The Dark Tower Series" are incredibly evident as well, which is something else I love about King's books. Finding the connection, knowing exactly what the connections are, is incredibly satisfying as a reader. It's so interesting to me how OZ (from the Wizard of OZ, a nobody of a man that just happens to be proclaimed as a wizard and has to keep that secret or be found out) is a symbol of death in 'Pet Sematary'; The Wizard and Glass: the fourth in Dark Tower, have the character's meet a strange version of OZ, akin to the one in 'Pet Sematary' (not the Frank L. Baum's novel) at the end of this book.
As a writer, I look up to Kings ability to weave together and craft an ominous story. I've always found his writing inspirational.
If you like horror or suspenseful novels I'd high recommend reading 'Pet Sematary'.
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