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A review by carissa230
Cujo by Stephen King
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Going into this book I expected a horror book about a dog that murders people. Imagine my surprise when it turns out to be a dog with rabies. The parts written from Cujo's POV were so sad, I wasn't prepared for that as an animal lover.
Tad is a little boy that is scared of his closet. His mom has been having an affair and his father is a marketing exec for a company that just had a major issue come up on one of the projects. When he goes out of town to work on it he has just learned of the affair. The mothers car keeps breaking down and she needs to get it fixed.
Another story line is that of Cujo's owner, Brett. Brett is a little boy that loves Cujo. Cujo was a gift from his alcoholic father. When his mother wins the lotto she gives the father some money to get what he wants so she and Brett can go out of town. Brett's father is a mechanic.
The scene is set. When Tad's mom shows up to get her car fixed she has no idea that there is anything wrong with Cujo. When the car breaks down and they're stuck in the car for days it's the perfect storm for them.
It was a good book, but I wouldn't consider it a horror. I think maybe a thriller or even contemporary novel. It was definitely more sad than scary. The book also concentrates more on the peoples lives than on the fact that the dog is killing people.
Tad is a little boy that is scared of his closet. His mom has been having an affair and his father is a marketing exec for a company that just had a major issue come up on one of the projects. When he goes out of town to work on it he has just learned of the affair. The mothers car keeps breaking down and she needs to get it fixed.
Another story line is that of Cujo's owner, Brett. Brett is a little boy that loves Cujo. Cujo was a gift from his alcoholic father. When his mother wins the lotto she gives the father some money to get what he wants so she and Brett can go out of town. Brett's father is a mechanic.
The scene is set. When Tad's mom shows up to get her car fixed she has no idea that there is anything wrong with Cujo. When the car breaks down and they're stuck in the car for days it's the perfect storm for them.
It was a good book, but I wouldn't consider it a horror. I think maybe a thriller or even contemporary novel. It was definitely more sad than scary. The book also concentrates more on the peoples lives than on the fact that the dog is killing people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Blood, and Alcohol