Helpful Score: 11
A surprising viewpoint. Great perspective in this book. I never thought I'd sympathize and root for the story's "bad guy", but you really had to. Very, very tense story, because even though you know what's probably going to happen, you feel bad for a guy who's had the deck stacked against him for his entire life. I really enjoyed this book, and my only criticism was that the tension built really strongly, only to have the story end rather abruptly.
Helpful Score: 8
this book was awesome in my opinion. You get sucked in right from the start. At the end of the book is a teaser for the new book "Duma Key" coming out soon.. can't wait!
Helpful Score: 5
Stephen King may be the "master of horror," but with BLAZE he proves that he's also just a plain ole good writer. This story is a mixture of a thriller, a mystery, a police procedural, and a personal struggle to figure out who you are.
Blaze, aka Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., is a dummy, and he knows it. Ever since his father threw him down a flight of stairs (and then hauled him back up and did it a couple of more times), Blaze hasn't had the brains for learning. The dent in his forehead might make him look scary, but we soon learn that Blaze isn't much of a threat -- except when he's really angry. He might look like a giant at 6'7" and nearly 300 pounds, but this man's heart is as soft as his mind.
Blaze has pretty much drifted through life by skirting the law and mostly (with exceptions) avoiding trouble. When he meets George Rackley, Blaze learns the art of the con. The two of them (or, rather, George) have been planning one big job for awhile now. That big job would be kidnapping the baby of a rich couple, collecting the ransom, and living the high-life somewhere with white sandy beaches and lots of sun.
But we soon learn that things aren't going quite the way either man had expected. For one, George is dead, even though he's still helping with the kidnapping plot. For another, Blaze, as we've already learned, isn't the smartest guy around.
What follows is a mixture of present day mystery/thriller as Blaze carries out the kidnapping of little Joey, mixed with the flashbacks of his life that show how Blaze ends up where he's at.
King (aka Bachman..does it really matter the name?) shows great control in the pacing of BLAZE, and expertly weaves the present with the past. You'll also be surprised (and entertained) by the joy that is Blaze, who is a wonderful, fully-developed character.
Blaze, aka Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., is a dummy, and he knows it. Ever since his father threw him down a flight of stairs (and then hauled him back up and did it a couple of more times), Blaze hasn't had the brains for learning. The dent in his forehead might make him look scary, but we soon learn that Blaze isn't much of a threat -- except when he's really angry. He might look like a giant at 6'7" and nearly 300 pounds, but this man's heart is as soft as his mind.
Blaze has pretty much drifted through life by skirting the law and mostly (with exceptions) avoiding trouble. When he meets George Rackley, Blaze learns the art of the con. The two of them (or, rather, George) have been planning one big job for awhile now. That big job would be kidnapping the baby of a rich couple, collecting the ransom, and living the high-life somewhere with white sandy beaches and lots of sun.
But we soon learn that things aren't going quite the way either man had expected. For one, George is dead, even though he's still helping with the kidnapping plot. For another, Blaze, as we've already learned, isn't the smartest guy around.
What follows is a mixture of present day mystery/thriller as Blaze carries out the kidnapping of little Joey, mixed with the flashbacks of his life that show how Blaze ends up where he's at.
King (aka Bachman..does it really matter the name?) shows great control in the pacing of BLAZE, and expertly weaves the present with the past. You'll also be surprised (and entertained) by the joy that is Blaze, who is a wonderful, fully-developed character.
Helpful Score: 3
Definitely original and with a central character who is easy to sympathize with. I guess I still miss the Bachman/King novels of years ago that were so totally engrossing that I couldn't sleep until I found out what happened at the end. This one didn't do that for me but it was a good story and worth the read.
Helpful Score: 3
This is a fabulous novel. If you have never read a Richard Bachman book before, make this your first.
Helpful Score: 3
This is a true Richard Bachman novel - there is hardly a hint of writer Stephen King would become in this book. It was actually written before Carrie. He wanted an almost "true crime" kind of novel, but it ended up not coming out that way.
Blaze is a con man who usually operates as part of a two-man team, but his friend is no longer with him, and he has to find out how to keep his life going. Just a warning to Stephen King lovers: there is little creepiness, freakiness, or simple oddities in this book that is in most of his other books. But it is oddly endearing, and still a page-turner.
Blaze is a con man who usually operates as part of a two-man team, but his friend is no longer with him, and he has to find out how to keep his life going. Just a warning to Stephen King lovers: there is little creepiness, freakiness, or simple oddities in this book that is in most of his other books. But it is oddly endearing, and still a page-turner.
Helpful Score: 2
This is remeniscent of earlier SK aka Richard Bachman. It still doesn't dissappoint. I enjoyed this read, and it almost made you root for the bad guy. Not alot of gore or eerieness, but enought to keep you interested.
Helpful Score: 2
It is amazing to me that Stephen King thought this book was unpublishable - it was fabulous! Very enjoyable read - refreshing perspective and a title character you can't help but like even though he's far from an upstanding citizen.
Helpful Score: 1
I said this in my last, King review, but I love how Stephen King gets to the heart of soul of the 'everyman'. I guess Blaze wasn't really an average guy, but King brought the listener into the mind of Blaze and even though he was a kidnapper I felt sorry for him. King did a good job of portraying him as a sympathetic victim of his upbringing and society.
I really enjoyed this story.
I really enjoyed this story.
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting book. Not what you would expect from Stephen King or Richard Bachman. Not the jump out of your seat kind of story but it does draw you in and make you want to listen.
This book was surprising too me. I guess it lacked some of the twisted and warped detailing that most of his books have. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing because over all I liked the book very much. The story was interesting and kept you reading to find out what was going to happen to this character that you follow through out the book. A good read and interesting as well.
I've always been a S.King fan & will read anything he writes. Although this may not be his best book, I still enjoyed it. Stephen's characters are alive!!!
An easy read that lets the reader walk away with empathy for the perpetrator. Another great King/Bachman story. Lots of angles to view this story from.
this book was pretty good. its not my favorite king book but it was well worth the read.if you've read stephen king before you should be able to get through this one in no time.
The best Stephen King Book I have read. This is one of his first books, but was not published unitl recently. I think this is one of his best.
Stephen King may be the "master of horror," but with BLAZE he proves that he's also just a plain ole good writer. This story is a mixture of a thriller, a mystery, a police procedural, and a personal struggle to figure out who you are.
Blaze, aka Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., is a dummy, and he knows it. Ever since his father threw him down a flight of stairs (and then hauled him back up and did it a couple of more times), Blaze hasn't had the brains for learning. The dent in his forehead might make him look scary, but we soon learn that Blaze isn't much of a threat -- except when he's really angry. He might look like a giant at 6'7" and nearly 300 pounds, but this man's heart is as soft as his mind.
Blaze has pretty much drifted through life by skirting the law and mostly (with exceptions) avoiding trouble. When he meets George Rackley, Blaze learns the art of the con. The two of them (or, rather, George) have been planning one big job for awhile now. That big job would be kidnapping the baby of a rich couple, collecting the ransom, and living the high-life somewhere with white sandy beaches and lots of sun.
But we soon learn that things aren't going quite the way either man had expected. For one, George is dead, even though he's still helping with the kidnapping plot. For another, Blaze, as we've already learned, isn't the smartest guy around.
What follows is a mixture of present day mystery/thriller as Blaze carries out the kidnapping of little Joey, mixed with the flashbacks of his life that show how Blaze ends up where he's at.
King (aka Bachman..does it really matter the name?) shows great control in the pacing of BLAZE, and expertly weaves the present with the past. You'll also be surprised (and entertained) by the joy that is Blaze, who is a wonderful, fully-developed character.
Blaze, aka Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., is a dummy, and he knows it. Ever since his father threw him down a flight of stairs (and then hauled him back up and did it a couple of more times), Blaze hasn't had the brains for learning. The dent in his forehead might make him look scary, but we soon learn that Blaze isn't much of a threat -- except when he's really angry. He might look like a giant at 6'7" and nearly 300 pounds, but this man's heart is as soft as his mind.
Blaze has pretty much drifted through life by skirting the law and mostly (with exceptions) avoiding trouble. When he meets George Rackley, Blaze learns the art of the con. The two of them (or, rather, George) have been planning one big job for awhile now. That big job would be kidnapping the baby of a rich couple, collecting the ransom, and living the high-life somewhere with white sandy beaches and lots of sun.
But we soon learn that things aren't going quite the way either man had expected. For one, George is dead, even though he's still helping with the kidnapping plot. For another, Blaze, as we've already learned, isn't the smartest guy around.
What follows is a mixture of present day mystery/thriller as Blaze carries out the kidnapping of little Joey, mixed with the flashbacks of his life that show how Blaze ends up where he's at.
King (aka Bachman..does it really matter the name?) shows great control in the pacing of BLAZE, and expertly weaves the present with the past. You'll also be surprised (and entertained) by the joy that is Blaze, who is a wonderful, fully-developed character.
If you like early Stephen King you will like this book. The characters and story are good and sometimes you might even find yourself rooting for Blaze.
Really good book, loved it. Worth reading.
This reminded me of the good old days of Stephen King. Excellent storytelling of a convict with a heart. Loved it!
This book was supposed to be like a Stephen King version of "Mice and Men". I found it predictable and fairly boring, and don't really have much else to say on it...the story and the characters both were predictable. *shrug*
Blaze is the last novel from Bachmans period of greatest productivity from 1966-1973. As Stephen King put it, he was two men during this time. King was wrote and sold horror stories to raunchy skim-mags and Bachman wrote novels that didnt sell to anybody. The facts that I just wrote I learned from Kings Full Disclosure at the beginning of Blaze and I also learned many other interesting facts.
I didnt find Blaze a horrible read, just tedious at times. There isnt much in action but just a steady build up to the end. It was worth reading till the end though. Before I even knew it I was sympathizing with Clayton Blaisdell, Jr. aka Blaze and really hoping that he would turn his life around. Unfortunately, the cards are just stacked against him.
Blazes life started with his father throwing him down the stairs causing him brain damage. He then is shipped off to a home for boys where he really starts his life of crime. He does have one chance at having normal life when a family adopts him, but because he defends himself against an attacking dog and kills it, he is sent packing back to the boys home. This truly begins his downward spiral I believe. After meeting up with George he is shown all new cons and is in awe of George. George and he decided to take on the biggest payoff of all, kidnapping a baby. Before this goes down, George is killed. Blaze knows that he must continue with the plan, because that is what George wants and George is still around and telling him what to do. So with Georges help Blaze sets into motion a series of events that lead to the final showdown.
The ending is tragic and heartbreaking. Blaze really is a good guy, he just makes really bad decisions.
I didnt find Blaze a horrible read, just tedious at times. There isnt much in action but just a steady build up to the end. It was worth reading till the end though. Before I even knew it I was sympathizing with Clayton Blaisdell, Jr. aka Blaze and really hoping that he would turn his life around. Unfortunately, the cards are just stacked against him.
Blazes life started with his father throwing him down the stairs causing him brain damage. He then is shipped off to a home for boys where he really starts his life of crime. He does have one chance at having normal life when a family adopts him, but because he defends himself against an attacking dog and kills it, he is sent packing back to the boys home. This truly begins his downward spiral I believe. After meeting up with George he is shown all new cons and is in awe of George. George and he decided to take on the biggest payoff of all, kidnapping a baby. Before this goes down, George is killed. Blaze knows that he must continue with the plan, because that is what George wants and George is still around and telling him what to do. So with Georges help Blaze sets into motion a series of events that lead to the final showdown.
The ending is tragic and heartbreaking. Blaze really is a good guy, he just makes really bad decisions.
Stephen King is my favorite author, but I somehow missed this book! It was a fast, great read. It really made me feel for the main character, even though he was the antagonist. His back story was heart breaking. Not my favorite of Mr. King's, but definitely towards the top!
I felt so much sympathy and sadness for the criminal in this book.
This book again proves that Stephen King is the greatest author of all. I can't blieve he thought of letting this one get away.
This is one of the rare books where you feel bad for the "bad guy" and want it to work out for him. I enjoyed this book, it was a fast read and did not have to put much thought into it, but good.
I loved it!!!!!!! Was great fn reading a Steven King first writing. His "Disclaimer" in the beginning is a great start to a great book. Not a thriller as one may be used to but none-the-less a twist and turn as is custom King. Worth reading just to get a glimpse of the young writer King.
I enjoyed this book. Have read a lot of Stephen King and this is one of his more mild down to earth books from way back but a good read.
Good book. Not the usual spooky, scary Stephen King novel, but still a good rad. In fact, I think I prefer this type of book. About a retarded, but determined, boy who has been mistreated all his life. Even though he's misguided, one can't help but feel empathy for him and wish that somehow things would come out better for him.
This SK book was okay. It is quite haunting, but I could see the ending coming a mile away. 6/10
Not typical Stephen King. More mystery than suspense. Reminded me of a Mice and Men sort of theme.
Good read but i dont think king is the master of horror lol i think richard laymon is better by far its a shame he passed away .
Good story, fast read.
Rating: 2.5/5
Stephen King admits this is one of his "trunk" books, which I guess are manuscripts he's written in the past that weren't good enough to publish until he was famous enough to sell anything he puts out. That being said, if you're a King fan, don't expect too much.
The story is about a semi-retarded fellow who tries to pull off a kidnapping. It is more of a character story than plot driven (few events, lots of reminiscing). It's not really that bad, but if it's not really that good either, it should at least by fun and/or satisfying to read. It's kind of a throw-away, but if you've got nothing else to read, it won't do any permanent damage.
Stephen King admits this is one of his "trunk" books, which I guess are manuscripts he's written in the past that weren't good enough to publish until he was famous enough to sell anything he puts out. That being said, if you're a King fan, don't expect too much.
The story is about a semi-retarded fellow who tries to pull off a kidnapping. It is more of a character story than plot driven (few events, lots of reminiscing). It's not really that bad, but if it's not really that good either, it should at least by fun and/or satisfying to read. It's kind of a throw-away, but if you've got nothing else to read, it won't do any permanent damage.
I enjoyed this book vey much. One of those you can't put down.
Not what I expected. It built up tension near the end, only to have it end too quickly. But I'd like to know what the reference to the birds was about... :/
a book by Stephen wrote by a seudonym
Stephen King!
