Pet Sematary

Of the three Stephen King novels I have read so far, Pet Sematary is the least successful. Although set in small town Maine, this heart-breaking story of loss and grief should work. However, it takes far too long to reach the horror elements, although the ancient Micmac burial ground and a revived cat appear by the middle of the story (in addition to a horrifying dream-like sequence involving the burial ground and ominous omens). However, Rachel, Louis Creed's wife, was too subservient, almost like Wendy in The Shining film. Jud Crandall, who becomes a father figure to Louis, whose father passed away when he was young, adds an interesting dimension to the tale since his own experience with the Wendigo or whatever has enchanted the soil near the Pet Sematary initiates the downfall of the Creed family. 

The Creeds, needless to say, are without a creed although the lapsed Jewish and Methodist backgrounds of Rachel and Louis inform to a certain extent their approach to death, funerals, and family structures. Nevertheless, it was difficult to understand what exactly the message of this book might be. There are obviously allusions to the Micmac Indians and land litigation in the region, with Jud Crandall arguing that the land should ultimately return to the Micmacs. There is a corrupting presence of the modern road and its endless traffic of trucks, suggesting perhaps an implicit critique of the forces of modernity on a beautiful New England town. Jud and Norma, who have lived in the region their entire lifes, have witnessed this transformation over the decades. Yet, this element of the novel doesn't seem as prominent as the death of small towns in Salem's Lot. 

One could say the novel's ultimate horror lies in the prehistoric presence that seems to prey on our curiosity, desire to know, and, eventually, transcend our mortal limitations. The wendigo of Native American folklore emerges as the main demonic or evil force here, exerting an influence in Ludlow and, seemingly, beyond to ensure it gets its way. By the novel's conclusion, the terrifying results of Louis's attempts to bring back Church and Gage have not deterred him from continuing his downward spiral. Perhaps one could read a critique of the bourgeois family is implied in terms of the bourgeois family's attempts to reproduce itself by any means possible? 

The Shining

Stephen King's The Shining is my second King novel. Although I have long considered myself a fan of the film, Kubrick's brilliant adaptation which took many liberties with the source material, I now find the novel more enjoyable and, ultimately, more disturbing. Given the constraints of the film medium, the disturbing additional contextual and character background information in the novel add more layers to the complex events at the Overlook. Moreover, I think I prefer the book ending, particularly Hallorann's character succeeding in saving Danny and Wendy. In addition, the Overlook itself as a character is far more terrifying in the novel, with its moving topiary, deceased woman in Room 217, and inescapable weight of history. King's novel is better able to explore the gender dynamics of the American family unit of the 1970s, the dangers of obsession, racism and America's violent past of lynching, and cyclical violence or trauma from familial or social histories. Also, Wendy emerges as a fully-formed character who isn't so servile and obedient to Jack. Wendy appears to be trapped somewhere between trapped housewife and liberated woman, whereas the film's Wendy is servile and grins foolishly while enduring the abuse of Jack. 

Salem's Lot

Finally reading a Stephen King is an enlightening experience. Salem's Lot appears to encapsulate much of what is great in King's work as well as horror fiction, a genre I have not dabbled much with besides Poe and Lovecraft in the distant past. Thus, playing catch up with a classic King tale of vampires in a small New England town was a useful learning activity. King's prose is direct, life-like, and builds its setting through nearly flawless exposition. The masterful use of suspense juxtaposed to seemingly excessive description of Salem's Lot and its residents works excellently to persuade readers to invest themselves emotionally into the characters of Ben, Mark, and others. Nonetheless, as a fan of Castle Rock, this novel excels in its depiction of small town life and its intersecting personalities, families, conflicts, and relationships. There is much more to the narrative than vampires taking over a declining Maine town. Themes of loyalty, sacrifice, courage, corruption, as well as war occupy a central role, as numerous references to Vietnam and other contemporaneous events make clear.