From a Buick 8

From a Buick 8

This book makes reference to The Dark Tower series. I hated this book. It was booorrriiinnngggg! The ONLY reason I finished reading it was because it was a gift, and I felt guilty if I didn't. In a secret shed behind the barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop D, there's a cherry Buick Roadmaster no one has touched in years -- because there's more power under the hood than anyone can handle...

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

who said 'Oil's fine!' This book needed to identify the original driver of the Buick. I always wonder about that creepy guy. Did I miss something, or was he not explained? The story was ok, very descriptive, made me picture everything in my mind. But it never went anywhere. It could have, but it never did.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's not 'Christine'

This is the 2nd book by SK that's disappointed me. His early work rated 5 everytime. I keep looking for the quality he once gave his readers. I hope he'll slow down and give us great 'characterization' as he did in his early work.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Decent Writing, Horrible Plot

I am a classic King fan, but 'From a Buick 8' seems to signal the end of the creative road for King. In his early days, King frequently over developed his characters, but this worked for him because they were backed up by interesting plots. 'From a Buick 8' is 99% character development, 1% plot. Like the car, the book goes nowhere, and chides you along the way for being impatient. If you are persistent and manage to wade through this one, there is no payoff at the end. The book, like the car, simply falls apart and left me wishing that the author of the Stand and IT were here to cart this wreck off to the shredder.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Having grown up with the old really big Buicks, I loved this sto

Having grown up with the old really big Buicks, I loved this story. I can still smell the leather and feel the luxury of the Buick Special that sat in our garage. Just like in this story always a secret place inside the car. I liked the whole book and have read it a few times.

Well Written & A High Creep Factor...

Another great read filled with a double dose of creepiness. I found the stories near the end unsettling. Well done.

Not what you are thinking

I know the first thought that crosses your mind : "gee - didn't king already write this and call it christine?" I thought it too. But this book has as much to do with that as the eifel tower has to do with an erector set. Nothing in other words.

This is a good book. And, unusual for king, it doesn't wimp out at the end - it stays strong to the last word. One of his better outings and definitely a read!

Loved it

No text was provided for this review.

Disturbingly Intriguing

From a Buick 8 was a creepy and confounded book, exactly what we would expect of Stephen King. One will find themselves itching to continue reading even if they find it disturbing or captivating; they will want to finish the book either out of morbid curiosity or plain interest. In From a Buick 8 the police men from the Pennsylvania Troop From find themselves stuck with a classic model Buick 8, complete with white wall tires and an engine that could never possibly work. At first it seems like a regular car, but as the days drag on they discover that is definitely not the case. When paranormal activity begins to happen from and around the car, the characters find themselves trapped by struggles and what they once considering unreality. Throughout the book you will find yourself in awe at just what this '57 Buick has 'up its trunk.' King used several literary devices in this book, which make it that much more believable, despite how much of a fantasy it truly is. Most apparent are similes, foreshadowing, and tons of descriptive imagery. "He spread his hands with his palms down, then turned them up, like a magician at the end of a good trick." Pg. 69 "The paint sparkled, the windshield sparkled, the chrome side-strike sweeping along the body sparkled, and even before the driver opened the door and got out, and Bradley Roach knew there was something wrong with it." Pgs. 25-26 "The stream was babbling at the top of its lungs, running broad and foamy. " Pg. 31 "Hundreds of black grins swirling and spinning around." Pg. 152 >>!Spoiler! Read at your own risk!<< The best part of the book would have to be how the author describes both the Buick and the oddness happening around, or emerging from, it. These scenes are quite interesting, the details helping you picture the creatures the Buick releases. The author made them up entirely from his own imagination, yet as you read you'll begin to get figments of your own about them, wondering if the giant fish lurks underneath the nearby lake or pond, mistaking a bat for the one in the book. The fact that King could make this so is what makes the book believable, and in turn enjoyable to read. The worst part of the book was the time skip towards the ending. I've never personally liked time-skips; I like to have the story completely wrapped up and presented to me with a pretty bow on top, but this in particular thoroughly bugs me. It occurs right at the climax of the book, basically leaving out the falling action. There was room for the tossed-away time, and I feel that From a Buick 8 would've ended with a better taste in my mouth if it was present. All in all, I would recommend this book to a friend, but only if they were interested in these kinds of stories. This novel is certainly not for everyone, I found myself shaking my head more than a couple times, but those who like the first few chapters will relish in Stephen King's tale of a celestial Buick.

Classic read

GREAT and fast

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Way too long!

I love Stephen King's stories, especially his short ones. By the end of the first page I'm always already engrossed.

Unfortunately, this book is a short story dragged out into a very long and ultimately unfulfilling tale, somewhat akin to ordering a cold soda on a hot thirsty day only to have it arrive, somewhat late, warm and devoid of fizz!

As short story, it would have been pretty satisfying. As a novel, it was a long and tiring journey to nowhere special.

Can't Put This Down

This book was my first Steven King I read. It was awesome. I couldn't put this book down. To me everyone should read this book.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

my favorite book

I dont know if I would really be called a Stephen King fan but I have read lots of his books, mostly the longer ones like bag of bones, the stand, it, the green mile. I would have to say that From a Buick 8 is my favorite and its not to long. I have read the book three times and heard the audio book twice, I just love it but I wish there was more to it. It a short book ( for king) and I just wish he would have went into more detail about where the car came from and where the 'things' were coming from. Overall I love it so I give it five stars.

Weird, But Still Good

I like this book...partly because Stephen King wrote it...mostly because it's sci-fi weirdness at it's best. Okay, maybe 2nd best to [The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy]. I read it over a couple of days while lounging in the comfy chairs and enjoyed it thoroughly. The end was...well, I'm not exactly sure what that was supposed to be. I do know that if you don't mind reading about things that would be found under your bed as a kid...you might like reading this book as much as I did.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Unconventional but certainly enjoyable

Readers looking for another conventional story with a normal plotline told in an ordinary way with an ordinary ending will not enjoy this book. Readers complaining about too much left unexplained are struggling with the same problems that Ned Wilcox, one of the main characters, struggled with. However, those with an open mind will enjoy reading it, just as I did. King is such a great writer and the characters seemed so real and the themes were very intriguing, such as our fascination with the mysterious and how some questions must be left unanswered. Because so much is left for the reader to ponder the story seems all the more real and believable. Do things such as the Buick Roadmaster really exist? I believe they do, but in many different forms. I think everyone will like this book if they keep an open mind going into it.

LINE YOUR BIRD CAGE WITH THIS ONE

Stephen King is my all time favorite author, over the past he has captivated me, held me spellbound, and so many other adjectives I can not ad. I have lost sleep, and skipped meals because I could not put his books down. Mr. King usually has me hooked by the second page, after reading 150 pages of this novel I was only very mildly interested, and only finished the book because it was a King novel. Save your money and time and skip this title!!!

incredible book

This book is the first Stephen King book that I have read. It was really enjoying because it grasped me right from the begining. Also, the genre is my favorite, and has been since I was a little kid. The characters in the story were relatable to me as well. King is such a great author because he incorporates all sorts of feelings into his writing and makes you think. This book is set up so that it goes from past to present. The past always ends in the middle of a sentence right during the action, then cuts to the present. Since you want to get back to the action you will continue reading until you find out what happens. Thats why I like From A Buick 8 by Stephen King.

Very Slow Paced Throughout

I thought the book was very slow. There was alot of pointless conversation that led to nothingness and left me thinking 'What in the world.' It had this aura of leading to something and never quite getting there. I usually read really good books twice, but this book was a one read only! Pretty sad I think. Maybe if they make it into a movie it'll be better. Who knows!!!

One of King's best

Not only is the story carried through in an excellent manner but the dialogue and tension building is fantastic.

Great Story, Bad Plot

For my book review I choose to do a report on a book by my favorite author, Stephan King. The book I read was called From a Buick 8. don't get me wrong, Stephan King is one of the best wrires of his time, but this was by far the worst of his books I've ever read. The book was about a bunch of old sherrifs, who stories of a car to one of the dead sheriifs sons.Between the flashbacks and the confusing plot, I found it boring for a bunch of old guys to talk about a car. I thought this was agreat story with a BAD PLOT. The book has the usual sarcasm of King, the car is setting off fireworks as the book says. When a man gets caught in the light,a nother man expects him to be gone in another universe, polishing Darth Vader's shiny black butt. I don't reccomend this to anybody, but his other books aren't too bad.