I just finished reading this last night and I must say I enjoyed it immensely. A pulse is sent through the mobile phone network which turns everyone using their phones into gibbering homidical zombie maniacs. Only a handful of "normies" survive and the main character Clay Riddell must make his way back to Maine from Boston to find his son.
I haven't read any of King's stuff since the mid 90s. I read heaps prior to that but I got sick of him. This is King being a little different.
Ash read the book and said he hated it. But I thought it was entertaining. Like Ash, I didn't get emotionally involved with the characters, but I didn't hate them either. I was just an observer. This novel is very simply written, lots of dialogue and descriptive prose without being verbose. The thing that makes this a different kind of King novel is the characters didn't go into endless navel gazing and internal monologues like a lot of King's characters do.
I was satisfied with the ending but it didn't leave me feeling one way or another about the book as a whole. This is literary candy at it's best without being crass or shallow. I think in the right director's hands, it would be an awesome movie. King even dedicates the the book to Richard Matheson and George Romero.
Whilst not exactly an airport novel a la Joan Collins or Jeffrey Archer, this book will keep you interested without sucking the very soul out of you.
I give it 3/5 stars.
I've enjoyed King's recent works . . . . he is more introspective than he once was, but I find his characters engaging. FROM A BUICK 8 was incredible, and LISEY'S STORY was one of the best, and saddest, novels I have ever read.
I read Cell a little while back expecting to fully hate it as the person who I was borrowing it from hated it.
It starts out kind of bumpy but once it gets going I thought that it was actually one of his more enjoyable recent works if far from being one of his best.
Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel Parts 1 & 2) is supposed to be turning it into a movie at some point soon BTW.
That's good news, Torgo.
I think Christopher Smith (Creep, Severance) would do it justice. He's the newest fave director in our house.
I LOVED 'Cell'. I read the book about two years ago or so and I sat down and read the entire thing in a night. I got sick of King a while back after reading most everything that he had written. This book was a nice departure from his norm. I really really enjoyed it.
My favorite portion is at the football stadium. Fantastic stuff. By far one of my favorites from King
Quote from: Skaboi on March 05, 2008, 06:34:48 PM
My favorite portion is at the football stadium. Fantastic stuff.
I have to agree with you there on that section. :thumbup:
This is the last Stephen King novel that I've read, enjoyed it immensely, almost as much as "From a Buick Eight". One thing I must say about him, he can take the most ordinary circumstances and things and make them quite frightening in a way that makes the unbelievably impossible seem to be logical and real.
As I understand it, soon to be a major motion picture, or so I have heard.
Kevin, you are correct. Word in the industry is that Eli Roth of "Cabin Fever" and "Hostel" fame will be directing it.
I loved this book... from a shocking start through the whole story. Post-Dark Tower, I was worried about his books. But this was relly enjoyable. Awesome horror fiction.
-Ed