Classic King

 Pet Sematary - Stephen King 

                                                               

        Writers always have books they cite as major influences and this one is mine. I was ten when I first read this and suddenly a light bulb clicked on in my head and I wanted to be a writer. I was ten so I wasn't thinking about anyting other than writing. Writing was more than enough and it turns out, I'm pretty good at it despite not making any money from being a published author. Odds are, you've never read anything I've written but if you look up Michael Noe on Amazon, you'll find some of my work. The point is King's novel is dark and sinister and deals with a subject no one likes to talk about. We think about it a lot and even see it on our television screens but we pretend that it can't happen to us. Reading the book now as an adult I can see why this book is so dark. The death of a cat opens a door that should never be opened and a warning from a dying man is quickly forgotten.What's interesting here is the horror is tied into the story. Rachael's sister Zelda is a prime example of just how frightening this novel can be without being gory. You can see Zelda in your mind, and for some, it's in your nightmares. 

        What may drive people insane here is the slow methodical pacing. Not a lot happens here, but when it does it hits you hard. Sematary lacks in action, it more than makes up for it with emotion, and the feeling of loss. To me, this will always be my favorite King novel because of King's writing style. You feel as if you're standing with these characters and feel exactly what they're feeling. When Louis takes Gage out to fly the kite you can almost feel Gage's excitement. This is what makes the last of the book so hard to read. You begin to feel the loss and grief and you can even understand Louis' reason for doing what he's doing. Is the burial ground that's gotten a hold of him or is it the loss he feels that makes him do what he does? The burial ground is just as much of a character as the Creed's and even Judd. You begin to ask yourself what would you do if you were in the same situation and yes, then you begin to see why Micmac burial ground is so powerful. The idea that our loved ones could return from the dead is a powerful thought but would they be the same poeple? Would we be able to love them even if they were changed? When Louis does the unthinkable the novel takes an even darker turn and the pages fly by.  5/5