#50 – The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

Plot

The brochure promised a “moderate-to-difficult” six-mile hike on the Maine-New Hampshire branch of the Appalachian Trail, where nine-year-old Trisha McFarland was to spend Saturday with her older brother, Pete, and her recently divorced mother. When she wanders off to escape their constant bickering, then tries to catch up by attempting to shortcut through the woods, Trisha strays deeper into a wilderness full of peril and terror. Especially when night falls.

Review

If I somehow stole Doc Brown’s DeLorean and bumped into my 12-year-old self, I would tell him to start his Stephen King journey with The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It’s not overtly horrific but does tell a compact story about something we can all relate to – getting lost in the woods.

Character development lacks a little in this book, but it’s made up for with pinpoint scene construction. You really feel as if you are in the woods with Trisha and completely empathize with her situation. Throw in a little delusional fear and it’s almost impossible not to root for Trisha – even despite her infatuation with the Boston Red Sox.

This book is grounded in reality and expertly told by King. There’s no giant lesson or moral to be learned here nor is there anything wrong with that.

Details

Pages: 224

Dates Read: September 1 – September 6, 2016

Quote: “The world had teeth and it could bite you with them anytime it wanted.”

Best Part: The first night in the woods – filled with terror, confusion, despair – are all expertly captured by King.

Hint for #49: Just when I thought I had finished the entire Dark Tower Series – this novel comes along.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.