Elevation

Starred review from September 24, 2018
In this surprisingly sweet and quietly melancholy short novel, King (The Outsider) weaves an eerie, charming tale of the ways that strange circumstances can bring people together. Scott Carey is losing weight, but not mass, and there’s no scientific explanation for it. Scales register him as lighter and lighter, though his body remains as potbellied as ever, and the effect is constant regardless of what he’s wearing or holding. Shaken by his untreatable, supernatural ailment, Scott begins to notice the world around him—and particularly becomes aware of the nasty prejudice that other residents of Castle Rock, Maine, are inflicting on his lesbian neighbors, Deirdre and Missy. He sets out to fix the injustice ailing their small town, and maybe make some friends along the way. This is a lilting ode to the ineffable power that crises hold to change and mold those involved into something new. King’s tender story is perfect for any fan of small towns, magic, and the joys and challenges of doing the right thing. Agent: Chuck Verrill, Darhansoff & Verrill.

Listeners expecting another macabre tale from Stephen King may be surprised by this audiobook--but pleasantly so. Though it takes place in his infamously troubled town of Castle Rock, King's latest work is actually a parable of basic human decency, albeit with tinges of melancholy and supernatural weirdness. As the narrator, King enhances the story's good-hearted appeal with this twangy, aw-shucks delivery. He gives a strong portrayal of everyman Scott Carey, whose strange affliction sends him on a quest of self-discovery and neighborly kindness. And King's isn't just a pleasant voice. He crafts a polished aural experience with a keen sense of pacing and fun accents for his motley Maine characters. He also narrates "Laurie," a tender short story about a man and his dog. A.T.N. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine