#47 – The Dead Zone

Plot

Waking up from a five-year coma after a car accident, former schoolteacher Johnny Smith discovers that he can see people’s futures and pasts when he touches them. Many consider his talent a gift; Johnny feels cursed. His fiancé married another man during his coma and people clamor for him to solve their problems. When Johnny has a disturbing vision after he shakes the hand of an ambitious and amoral politician, he must decide if he should take drastic action to change the future.

Review

The Dead Zone is one of the few Stephen King books I ever received as a gift – and the only King book ever given to me by a co-worker (as part of our Secret Santa during my time at U.S. Bank). Thank goodness we didn’t do Yankee Swap that year.

My two favorite parts of this book were the initial set-up and then the riveting ending sequences. The middle of this book lacked a character development/plot movement setting. The lack of plot development is likely by design as Johnny comes to grips with his new reality, but because I wasn’t that invested in Johnny upfront, I simply wanted the story to move forward.

Had King focused more on Greg Stillson and provided some more background/details into why he became who he was, this would have skyrocketed up my list. Instead, King decided to talk more about Johnny’s coping with his powers, including a ridiculous premise around a tabloid reporter.

I’ve never seen the movie, but Rotten Tomatoes tells me it has an 88% approval rating, so it must not be horrible (unlike so many other King converted movies).

Details

Pages: 426

Dates Read: Pre-2012

Quote: “Some things were better lost than found.”

Best Part: Stillson decides to get creative for his choice of body armor when ambushed.

Hint for #46: Another automobile novel – but this one has an American car company in the title.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.