From legendary master storyteller Stephen King, a riveting story about ”an ordinary man in an extraordinary condition rising above hatred” (The Washington Post) and bringing the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine together–a “joyful, uplifting” (Entertainment Weekly) tale about finding common ground despite deep-rooted differences, “the sign of a master elevating his own legendary game yet … own legendary game yet again” (USA TODAY).
Although Scott Carey doesn’t look any different, he’s been steadily losing weight. There are a couple of other odd things, too. He weighs the same in his clothes and out of them, no matter how heavy they are. Scott doesn’t want to be poked and prodded. He mostly just wants someone else to know, and he trusts Doctor Bob Ellis.
In the small town of Castle Rock, the setting of many of King’s most iconic stories, Scott is engaged in a low grade–but escalating–battle with the lesbians next door whose dog regularly drops his business on Scott’s lawn. One of the women is friendly; the other, cold as ice. Both are trying to launch a new restaurant, but the people of Castle Rock want no part of a gay married couple, and the place is in trouble. When Scott finally understands the prejudices they face–including his own–he tries to help. Unlikely alliances, the annual foot race, and the mystery of Scott’s affliction bring out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.
“Written in masterly Stephen King’s signature translucent…this uncharacteristically glimmering fairy tale calls unabashedly for us to rise above our differences” (Booklist, starred review). Elevation is an antidote to our divisive culture, an “elegant whisper of a story” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), “perfect for any fan of small towns, magic, and the joys and challenges of doing the right thing” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
more
Always a pleasant experience to have a new book released by the King!
Poised outside the realm of King’s usually creepy fare, this speculative novella was an exploration of what it means to be a human creeping toward the end. What does it mean to be a good person? Who are the ones who will stick by you? What kind of control will you choose to take as that time draws closer? Elevation will leave you asking questions of yourself you did not anticipate. A short (yet satisfying) read.
Not King’s best work. I’m so spoiled with his longer books that I was surprised that he’d write something this short. This book seemed like a “I have nothing against lesbians and I’m gonna write a book about it “ story. It’s
something fun to read on a weekend, and didn’t put me to sleep. I love King but this story didn’t do it for me
This short novella was an easy read and more literary fiction than horror. Moments of humor were liberally mixed with the main character’s problem so while the story was dark, not as much as a reader would expect.
An excellent story.
Stephen King does it again! Though a quick read, King finds a way to get you into the story and he doesn’t let go. You find yourself rooting for the characters and sometimes you find yourself crying for them. I just loved this story. Short but sweet, it is.
Once in a while, King takes us by our hand and leads us out of his dark worlds and horror stories of serial killers, murderers, villains, and other creatures and forces with monstrous intentions into a world where humanity and love share their home with ordinary heroes. Elevation is one such story. With each new page it reads faster and warms our heart to elevate higher and higher and higher. I felt love.
Elevation by Stephen King is like no other work I have read by King. Who would have thought that an author who writes mammoth, multi-paged books like The Shining and The Stand would produce what is almost a short story? However, I realize Stephen King has written many short stories as well as his long signature works. Elevation is different because there is almost no horror or weird happening other than the implausible central event. Scott Carey is losing weight. He will continue to lose weight until he is no more. The condition is not a spoiler. The 118-page novel has a central plot leading to a predictable and inevitable ending unless the author introduces a Deus ex machine moment.
Consider the word “elevation” as it relates to a feeling or mood. The second best description in this novel is the mood induced by physical changes that come about with long-distance running. The same mood-changing endorphins can result from other forms of exercise; I am pointing out how it appears in this novel.
As a reader, I experienced three peaks of contentment and happiness that mirrored feelings expressed by protagonist Carey. As Scott weighs himself daily and charts the one to three pounds he loses, Carey comes to a calm acceptance of what is happening to him. He can see the inevitable result and decides to do the best he can for himself, many of the residents of Castle Rock, and Bill D. Cat while he can do.
There are gentle surprises throughout the story, although none are shocking. Spoilers, something I avoid, are possible. I want to include one quote which arrives at a very inspirational and uplifting part of the story. Read the novel to find out why I found it so inspiring. “Scott was amused to see Trever Yount singing and applauding along with everyone else.” (p.89).
Scott Carey had a “condition” in which he lost weight every day. If he wore clothes and put bricks in his pockets, he would weigh the same. His appearance did not change. Muscle mass remained the same. Scott retained a belly that did not classify him as fat but just as a man showing the effects of aging. Readers can think of a man who will eventually achieve the status of an astronaut living in zero gravity. What effects will that have on everything and everyone around him? The answer is the story of this novel.
I could not find this novel on Amazon except in French. I read this on Scribd.
Scribd has a five-star rating system similar to Amazon. To say this is a five-star read is to state the obvious. There might be a scholar somewhere in the world looking for something Stephen King wrote that is NOT a five-star read. I found Elevation a pleasant diversion into realms of acceptance, hope, and good feelings.
I look forward to reading and re-reading Stephen King novels. As a story which should make you feel good, I highly recommend this novel.
A moving and memorable novella that reads like a parable and leaves a lingering feeling of hope. I loved ELEVATION.
Thoughtful and compelling.
This short tale starts out with an intriguing setup that pulls you in and makes you want to know more. The story isn’t terribly complex, but it moves along quickly and does make you wonder what’s going to happen in the end to the main character (and why). Certainly not my top favorite from Stephen King, but definitely worth some of your reading time.
Very “elevating”.
I like the idea of gravity somehow losing its hold on a random person or object. For whatever reason, I enjoy thinking about this concept and its implications. It’s not Stephen King’s best work, but it made me think, and that gives it points in my book.
A man must cope with a peculiar phenomenon which unexpectedly leads to a life lesson only told through struggling relationships. Instinctively allocating oneself in place of the main character is a unique flair King has consistently added to his fictional tales. In conclusion, this Twilight Zone type of experience will not only tug at heart strings but also teach a well deserved lesson in humanity.
another great short story by Stephen King..I read it in one day.
I enjoyed this story very much. Good plot, good characters, interesting premise.
Steven King has got his groove back!
Love the story, was not what I expected and that only made it better. My one I love the best is the Stand but this was great
I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because I was expecting a typical 700-900 page Stephen King book. Instead I got a wee tiny little book I finished in an hour. I really liked the story though. I loved all the characters and of course the “Stephen Kingness” of the whole thing. Brilliant as usual Mr. King, brilliant!!
This is more of a short story compared to most King books. It’s also different that it doesn’t feel like horror. It’s like a curiosity, it feels gentle and good for a quick light read, with some unexpected moments.
I brought this little book home from the library where I work when I noticed it had so few checkouts and the blurb spiked my interest.
I glanced at the ratings and was surprised to see a King novel getting an average nod so I was a little concerned that it may not be worth the read; my ever-growing TBR pile feels like an insurmountable monster at this point.
Thankfully I said “screw the TBR” and read it anyway because I loved it. It’s whimsy meets feel-good with some life lessons and a little tears mixed in.
“Everyone should have this, he thought, and perhaps, at the end, everyone does. Perhaps in their time of dying, everyone rises.”
“Not a wind, not even a high, exactly, but an elevation. A sense that you had gone beyond yourself and could go farther still.”
“Everything leads to this, he thought. To this elevation. If it’s how dying feels, everyone should be glad to go.”