While Firestarter doesn't quite crack my top King books, it's still a damn fine story.

It's not among King's very best, as it lacks that extra spark (pun very much intended) to truly make it as dear to my heart as many of his other tales.

The concepts of pyrokinesis and telekinesis are fascinating and无疑 a big part of what makes this book so good. However, for me, what really makes this story special is the beautiful relationship between Charlie and her father.

There's an abundance of love and trust there, which is incredibly touching and what makes me love this book.

Still, it's not quite enough to make it a full five-star read, but it's pretty damn close!

I think what's lacking for me is that although I love Charlie and her father's bond, I didn't feel like I got to know them individually.

They're so intertwined that I didn't learn enough about them apart to fall for them as individuals, and I needed that to fully fall in love with this book.

I wanted that individual connection with them because overall the story involves a lot of sitting, separation, and waiting for the action.

Getting to know them as Andy and Charlie, not just as AndyAndCharlie, would have taken it from great to spectacular for me.

I'm a very character-driven reader, so it might just be me, and I've rambled on about it for ages, perhaps to no avail.

Either way, it remains an excellent story that I highly recommend and look forward to revisiting in the years to come.

When some cash-poor college students volunteer for an experiment, they have no inkling of the Pandora's Box they are about to unleash. Years later, one of them, Andy McGee, finds himself on the run from The Shop, accompanied by his daughter, Charlie. The question looms large: can Andy and Charlie evade The Shop before their world is consumed by flames?

First off, for years now, I simply cannot read the title without the Prodigy song of the same name echoing in my mind. Maybe one day he'll pen a book titled Fuel my Fire or Smack My Bitch Up to continue along this vein.

Firestarter is one of those Stephen King books that doesn't get as much attention as some of his other works. Many people are only familiar with it due to the 1980s movie starring Drew Barrymore. However, more people should discover it because it's an excellent read.

A 1960s experiment bestowed psychic powers upon Andy McGee and his wife. It also modified their DNA, resulting in the birth of Charlie, their extraordinarily powerful psychic daughter, whose abilities include pyrokinesis, thus giving the book its title.

For a significant portion of the book, the suspense stems from Andy's attempts to stay one step ahead of The Shop. The remainder of the story follows the two McGees as they strive to break free from The Shop's clutches. The Shop, and John Rainbird in particular, make for outstanding villains as they are not as far-fetched as evil cars and spider-clowns.

Like many of Stephen King's books, the relationships between the characters drive the story forward. John Rainbird turned out to be more complex than the over-the-top villain I initially thought he was. Unlike the protagonists in Doctor Sleep, I was constantly worried for Charlie and Andy.

I had forgotten how brutally vivid King could be in his earlier works. There are certain parts of this book that will stay with me for a long time. Perhaps Stephen King will revisit a character or two from this book before he reaches the end of the path, maybe as part of a Dark Tower story.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a highly underrated King book. I truly have nothing negative to say about it. I give it four out of five stars.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

I have a deep love for Stephen King, yet for some reason, I had never delved into "Firestarter" until now. This was perhaps because I had watched the movie version when I was a child. "Firestarter" possesses all the classic traits of an early King novel. It presents a good, uncomplicated story along with several well-developed characters, especially Charlie and her father.

Unlike his later works, "Firestarter" may not be as intricately layered or nuanced. However, it still holds its own charm and is a worthwhile read. If you have never read a Stephen King novel before, this wouldn't be my top recommendation. Instead, I would suggest either "The Shining" or "The Stand". But if you are a die-hard fan like me who happened to overlook this particular book, then "Firestarter" is definitely worth taking the time to read. It offers a unique glimpse into King's early writing style and the captivating world he creates.

Overall, "Firestarter" may not be King's most profound work, but it is a solid addition to his extensive bibliography and a must-read for any Stephen King enthusiast.

4.0 to 4.5 stars. This book is definitely on my short list for my favorite Stephen King novel, aside from the Dark Tower series which truly stands out far above all of his other books. From the very beginning to the very end, this one was simply great. It not only kept me on the edge of my seat but also introduced the world to one of the truly remarkable "evil" government agencies, "The Shop". This agency would go on to play a significant role in several subsequent King novels, adding an extra layer of depth and intrigue to his fictional universe.

It's no wonder that this novel was a nominee for the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel and also for the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. The recognition it received is a testament to its quality and the impact it had on readers. Stephen King once again proved his mastery in creating captivating stories that blend elements of fantasy, science fiction, and horror in the most engaging way.

I know that I didn't read my Stephen King books in the proper order. In fact, I think I read this particular book second. However, it was truly amazing for me. I had already read Christine, and that's why I felt compelled to carry on with this one.
The story is captivating and full of suspense. It really makes you think about the power that some people possess and how dangerous it can be if misused.
One of the things that I loved about this book was the character development. The author did an excellent job of making the characters come to life and making you care about what happened to them.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller. It's definitely one of Stephen King's best works.

It is a very nice book. If I'm not mistaken, it must be around the 7th or 8th one that King published, and it belongs to those that are not among his "Dracula-like" works, as my neighbor once said. And indeed, this is purely anthropocentric and focuses on a little girl, Charlie. I won't mention any details (there are so many reviews that it's already redundant). I simply note that the story is very beautiful and the only drawback is that it now seems a bit outdated. Obviously, though, it's not King's fault that I was late in reading it for nearly 40 years...

This book takes the reader on a captivating journey through the eyes of Charlie. Her experiences and the events that unfold around her are both thrilling and touching. The characters are well-developed, and the author's writing style keeps you engaged from start to finish. Despite its age, the story still has the power to draw you in and make you care about what happens to the characters.

Overall, it's a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good story. Whether you're a fan of King's work or not, this book is sure to leave an impression on you. So, if you haven't already, give it a try and see for yourself why it's considered a classic.

I absolutely adored this story! I had watched the movie starring Drew Barrymore, but I never got around to reading the book until now. To my surprise, the book and the movie were strikingly similar.

I felt an overwhelming sense of pity for Charlie. The moment when she lost both her parents was truly heart-wrenching. It was so tragic when Andy passed away.

I would highly recommend this book to any die-hard Stephen King fans or those who have a penchant for paranormal tales.

ETA: I still love this story. I'm extremely glad that Charlie managed to survive the harrowing ordeal she endured at the hands of The Shop. Moreover, it was wonderful that she was able to reunite with that loving couple once again.

This story truly has a special place in my heart.

What I liked most about Firestarter was indeed the profound bond between a father and his daughter. In this Stephen King story, the character development is truly solid, especially when considering the relationship of Charlie and Andy McGee.

Perhaps I was drawn to this element of the book because they are the victims, and I have always had a soft spot for rooting for the underdog. Moreover, it is abundantly clear how much Andy loves his daughter. He would毫不犹豫地give his life for her.

A short afterward follows the end of the book. In it, King expresses his gratitude to his own daughter, who must have been around 10 years old at the time, for providing the inspiration for the character of Charlie. That's precisely when I understood why the relationship in the book seemed so incredibly real to me.

It's a government agency that takes on the role of the bad guy, or perhaps a hidden branch of the military of some sort. Those individuals are always in search of the perfect weapon, aren't they? In his younger days, Andy signs up for a study trial in college, simply to earn a quick 200 bucks. Two wonderful things emerge from it: meeting his future wife, and随后the birth of their daughter. The novel is told in the present time, with glimpses into the past,描绘a life on the run - because that's the unfortunate consequence that came out of that seemingly "simple" college experiment. The agency desires what it has produced, no matter the cost. Those可恶的家伙.

Heartbreaking story of a family decimated, chased and persecuted… because they have 'powers'.

This tale is filled with memorable characters such as Cap, Rainbird, the Manders and The Shop. It's some good ol' classic King.

Stephen King invented the now widely used term of pyrokinesis in this book! I used to be annoyed about how little The Shop was used in the Stephen King universe. However, now I accept that King generally has a good idea of how much or little to use his creations.

The Shop is still essentially a one-trick pony (a great pony), no matter how much I like the concept.

Overall, I'd rate this book 9 out of 12.

Buddy Read with Anne

Have you ever pondered what it would be like to have superpowers such as the ability to set things ablaze just by thinking about it? Undoubtedly, you have. Even though pyrokinesis might not be exactly what people envision when they think of superpowers. Just take a moment to imagine: You could stroll through the streets and decimate entire cities; you could burn those who wish ill upon you; you would possess all the power needed to ascend to the very summit of the world. Some might long for such a power, but surely the majority would not want such a perilous ability to fall into just anyone's hands. And now picture this ability in the hands of an eight-year-old girl, a girl who cannot control her powers and leaves destruction in her wake wherever she goes, who can set a man's hair on fire with just a little concentration. A terrifying thought, isn't it?

Stephen King took this idea as the premise for his novel Firestarter. This novel has never achieved the same level of fame as The Shining, IT, or The Stand, but it can still be regarded as fairly respected within the horror genre. According to most people, he managed to create a well-developed and interesting story that kept readers on the edge of their seats and made them eager to turn the pages. However, that wasn't the case for Anne and me, and there are several reasons for this.

First and foremost, the basic concept of the story is captivating, but the execution mainly consists of a) running because the bad guys want to use this ability for their own purposes or b) rambling about how to finally stop running from the bad guys. Option c) would spoil the plot for those who haven't read the book yet, but I can assure you that it's not very different from those two aspects. Stephen King is renowned as one of the best storytellers, and I can definitely concur with this, being a fan of his works myself. I personally consider his books Different Seasons, IT, Dead Zone, and Under the Dome to be among the best I've read so far. But in the end, Stephen King either impresses me or he doesn't, and Firestarter was one of the most tedious, drawn-out, uninteresting, and poorly written novels I've read in a long time. Whenever something remotely interesting occurred, the糟糕的 writing immediately managed to make it dull again. After finally finishing Firestarter and feeling relieved and happy to be able to move on to other books, Anne and I compared the writing in Firestarter with a passage in IT, and it felt like we were reading works by entirely different authors – even though the books were actually published only six years apart.

King can undoubtedly tell a story, and he has proven his writing skills on numerous occasions. However, he's not the best writer, a shortcoming he usually compensates for with his engaging characterizations and well-crafted plots that never progress in a way that contradicts the character motivations. Nevertheless, in this novel, King failed to make me care about any of the protagonists, and the only two characters who even had the potential to be interesting were John Rainbird, the main antagonist, and Irv Manders, a minor character.

In the end, the conclusion of the story was rather satisfying, although it didn't quite make up for the sheer boredom that the first 350 pages could be described as. After turning the last page, only two thoughts crossed my mind: Relief at having finished this, and the almost certain knowledge that even if King had released a sequel to this book (for which the potential is clearly evident), I would never even touch it. Fortunately, I didn't lose my love for King, but for those who have never read anything by him, I would recommend choosing another book instead. However, most people seem to have enjoyed this book much more than I did, so perhaps Anne and I both read it incorrectly, and you, dear reader, would miss out on an amazing book if you trust our negative reviews.

If you have a few more minutes, I urge you to read Anne's review here.

Edit: My loathing for this book has definitely subsided over the past three years since I read it. I should probably reread it one day, but for now, I'll at least raise my rating for this to two stars.

FUCK THE GOVERNMENT!

I have a great affection for this particular work. It was an experience filled with a unique blend of fun and sadness. Having read "The Institute" first, I couldn't help but notice the striking similarities between the two. Stephen King truly possesses an extraordinary talent when it comes to writing about kids in his stories. His portrayal of children is nothing short of remarkable. In fact, I find myself having a preference for his works that center around children. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to watch both the original and the remake. I am certain that they will offer a new perspective and further enhance my appreciation for King's storytelling prowess.

It is important to note that while I may have strong opinions about certain aspects of the government, my focus here is primarily on the literary works of Stephen King and my anticipation for the related adaptations.