Although Scott Carey doesn’t look any different, he’s been steadily losing weight. There are a couple of other odd things, too. He weighs the same in his clothes and out of them, no matter how heavy they are. Scott doesn’t want to be poked and prodded. He mostly just wants someone else to know, and he trusts Doctor Bob Ellis.
In the small town of Castle Rock, the setting of many of King’s most iconic stories, Scott is engaged in a low grade – but escalating – battle with the lesbians next door whose dog regularly drops his business on Scott’s lawn. One of the women is friendly; the other, cold as ice. Both are trying to launch a new restaurant, but the people of Castle Rock want no part of a gay married couple, and the place is in trouble. When Scott finally understands the prejudices they face – including his own – he tries to help. Unlikely alliances, the annual foot race, and the mystery of Scott’s affliction bring out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.
First Line: Scott Carey Knocked on the door of the Ellis condo unit and Bob Ellis, everyone in Highland Acres still called him Dr. Bob although he was 5 years retired, let him in.
I always enjoy audiobooks read by their authors. I like to hear the author act out the characters they wrote. I think it makes the audiobook extra special and it adds to the experience. That was definitely the case as I listened to Elevation and the second shorter story, Laurie, which was exclusive to the audio version of the book.
The characters of Elevation were a bit stereotypical and one-dimensional, but I did find the story itself more interesting. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t really care that much about Scott’s feud with his lesbian neighbors. I was most interested in his mysterious weightloss and how it worked. It was a compelling idea and a good one for a shorter novel.
Laurie is a short story about a man named Lloyd. Six months after the death of his wife, his sister comes for a visit and brings a gift: a puppy. Lloyd doesn’t want to keep the puppy, but he names her anyway (spoilers her name is Laurie) and agrees to keep her for a trial run. Not a whole lot happens, but it’s a good story, and it made me feel happy as a dog owner.
I think anyone who is a Stephen King super fan will want to read this because they read all his stuff. Scratch that, they’ve probably read it already. It’s also be good for anyone who isn’t a fan of horror but wants to sample King’s work.
Little Vermo Reviews 