Over the years I have thoroughly enjoyed films and series based on the writings of Stephen King, however I have always had people warn me away from the books saying as a writer he pads the novels out by going into too much detail. When I saw this book of a mere 140 pages it seemed a good opportunity to sample the writers work in a bite-size form.
Our protagonist in this story, Scott Carey, Visits a doctor as he is constantly loosing weight. No matter what he's wearing or what he's carrying upon his person he weighs the same and his weight is dropping daily, despite this however his appearance stays the same. He is against getting help for fear of being treated like a test subject so goes about his day to day life living with the problem.
Thinking about it I have not chosen the first book I write about very well, None of the characters in this story have much about them and border on being plain stereotypes.
A lot of this story focuses on Scott's neighbours, who are a lesbian married couple, and the prejudices against them from the population of Castle Rock. To be honest I was disappointed that this was still something worthy of a plot point. Same sex couples are quite familiar in novels in 2018. You just read the partners names are of the same gender, notice, then read on. Yes people who refuse to accept same sex couples need educating or see the damage their hate could fuel, but I can't see this book having a profound effect on those people. The book doesn't really tell us anything we don't already know on this subject.
Before I go further, due to this books short length, me going any further into the story could be classed as spoilers, I will try to keep these as light as possible but if you plan to read this book and don't want anything ruined I'd stop here.
Back to Scott himself, Part of his condition despite still looking unfit and out of shape, he is now a much fitter person with a lot less weight to carry. To the point he even takes part in the towns running event. This is one of the better sections of the story and leads to Scott and his neighbours becoming friendlier with each other.
Scott shares his experience and his every growing problems and becomes good friends with his neighbours and the doctor, and well that's pretty much as much as I can say without making reading the book pointless.
The story was short and sometimes sweet, Certainly not the horror I have seen it listed as. The characters and the way they develop closer is the main content here. Other then that there is not much to see here apart from a bizarre ending which is certainly odd to picture in your head.
Overall I can't really recommend this book as something you should read, I said at the beginning I had never read a Stephen King book and to be honest in a lot of ways I feel like i still haven't.
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