BOOK REVIEW: Elevation by Stephen King

In the well-known King town of Castle Rock Scott Carey is inexplicably losing weight and it’s happening unnaturally fast. Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the author is covering ground he already explored in the book Thinner, which was released under the Richard Bachman pen name, but there are two crucial differences; Scott is not getting thinner, just lighter, and this is far from the horror story of that earlier book as it’s possible to get. However, while it doesn’t have his usual scares it is once more populated with wonderfully developed characters and the author’s seemingly effortless folksy prose style.
 
What King delivers in Elevation is a whimsical, uplifting novella that has more in common with the work of Mitch Albom than Clive Barker. You see, whilst Scott is losing the pounds by the day his outward appearance remains the same, so he doesn’t have to explain his situation to anyone he doesn’t want to, and inwardly he feels great. The only wrinkle in his life when we meet him is his awkward relationship with his married neighbours Deidre McComb and Missy Donaldson. They’ve gotten off on the wrong foot over the conduct of their dogs, and even though Missy seems friendly enough when Scott attempts to reconcile their differences, Deidre remains frosty. It soon becomes apparent that there is more to their struggles than a neighbourly dispute; the restaurant they own is struggling, and it has more to do with reaction to their lifestyle than their gastronomic expertise. Scott, spurred on in part by the knowledge that his days are numbered if his weight-loss continues, sets about bringing the town of Castle Rock together behind its newest restaurateurs.
 
There seems little doubt that this small book, from one of the most recognisable authors in the world, is going to divide opinion. It’s clearly a response to the current political environment in the World in general and the US in particular. If the author’s twitter feed is any indication there are a fair few of his fans who’d rather he kept out of politics and will no doubt grace the likes of Amazon and Goodreads with less than positive reviews littered with the usual yawn-some phrases such as SJWs, Snowflakes and Libtards. Hopefully though, there will also be plenty of people who see it as the antidote to the grimness of reality it is clearly intended to be with its warm message of inclusivity and community spirit. Elevation is unlikely to make any lists of the author’s best works but it’s just what readers need right now, so delve in and treat yourself to a bit of a warm glow in these cold, troubling times. It will raise you up.
 
                                                                                                                               Ross Warren               
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