'Elevation' by Stephen King Novella Review

Contrary to what the cover of the book will tell you, this is not a novel.  Many a review on Amazon have pointed this out, and it's pretty obvious when you see the book yourself, but it still seems worth noting.  The book is only 150 pages and it's not even that large.  This is a novella that's being billed otherwise for reasons beyond my understanding.

Having some light, fast reading material does have its perks.  If you're a going on a decent length drive or flight, this will help pass the time.  I think the sticking point is the price.  $20 for the hardcover is pretty ridiculous.  Buying a used copy or getting it via e-book or Audible helps mitigate this to a certain extent, but it is something to take into consideration.

With that said, the story itself is...OK.  This was like a watered down version of "Thinner".  The main character is losing mass, but there's no explanation like there was with the aforementioned work.  There are some other tweaks so that it isn't a complete rehash, but it's hard to avoid the similarity.

Oddly enough, it's something of an afterthought.  No explanation is ever given and the main character doesn't really take pains to address it.  It undermines the tension, though it does give the book a way to stand apart from "Thinner".

The plot synopsis had me worried.  I was expecting the same heavy-handed political "commentary" that weakened "Insomnia".  Some reviewers have cited the book as heavy handed and preachy, but it's not nearly as bad in my opinion.  There's one scene where the main character picks a fight with a straw conservative, but that's about it. 

I think the biggest weakness here is the characters themselves.  Scott, the main character, and his doctor are the only two who feel like real people.  Dierdre is bizarrely antagonistic to the point where it doesn't seem natural.  It also undercuts any sympathy I might have for her plight.  Maybe her business is tanking because she's a terrible host? Just a thought.  She falls into that same trap as Hogarth has in Jessica Jones' second season where the character is incredibly unlikable to the point where it's a legitimate detriment.

Even her partner, Missy, doesn't come off much better.  She's a lot nicer, but her meekness gets taken to such an extreme that it doesn't feel natural.

On the flip side, the book isn't without poignancy.  When grudges are settled, the story focuses on Scott basically saying his goodbyes and getting his affairs in order.  It actually does manage to tug on the heartstrings rather effectively.

The ending itself may undercut this for some.  You could view it as symbolic and deep or just silly.  You might even see it as some weird mix of the two. 

This will pass the time well enough.  If you have a reading goal and you're behind schedule because you're busy as hell, this will help you close the gap.  I wouldn't call this a must-read by any stretch, but if you can nab a cheap copy or find one at a library, you could do a lot worse. 

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