#36 – Firestarter

Plot

Andy McGee and Vicky Tomlinson were once college students looking to make some extra cash, volunteering as test subjects for an experiment orchestrated by the clandestine government organization known as The Shop. But the outcome unlocked exceptional latent psychic talents for the two of them—manifesting in even more terrifying ways when they fell in love and had a child.

Review

Firestarter does everything right. It builds plot effectively, involves a couple of massive twists, has characters the reader will be invested in, and includes a well-developed main antagonist. Throw in some supernatural abilities, a family torn apart and an epic climax. Firestarter has very few flaws and instead is just a well-paced, interest-holding novel.

I’ve often thought about what book I would recommend for someone who has never read Stephen King. We discussed this briefly when recapping The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, but Firestarter would be the ultimate choice. It efficiently showcases King’s ability to write plot, build suspense and isn’t massively long.

One day I may rank my favorite Stephen King antagonists. If that list ever comes to fruition, expect to see John Rainbird somewhere near the top. He’s a smart, creative and incredibly manipulative villain who has the upper hand throughout – until he doesn’t.

Details

Pages: 564

Dates Read: September – October 2019

Quote: “Life is short and pain is long and we were all put on this earth to help each other.”

Best Part: Everything that happens at the barn – including some Keanu Reeves Matrix bullet sequences.

Hint for #35: One of Jack’s favorite TV shows as a three-year old, involved Monster Machines and this title character.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.