This captivating King novel revolves around Charlie McGee.

She is the daughter of two former test subjects who were involved in a government experiment.

Charlie was born with pyrokinesis abilities, which she has gradually managed to control over time.

Now, she and her father Andy have fled from their prison, known as The Shop.

They are on the run, seeking a safe haven and striving to keep Charlie out of evil hands.

However, unbeknownst to them, Shop agents are hot on their trail.

This father-daughter duo will stop at nothing to stay together, even if it means incinerating everything in their path.

It is a suspenseful and thrilling story that delves into the theme of family.

Rather than relying solely on thriller elements, it leans more towards action.

Our young Firestarter is undoubtedly the core of the story, evolving into a fierce protagonist.

She is like a flame that burns brightly throughout the narrative.

A- (91%/Excellent)

An early King novel that I, as a teenager, had unfortunately missed. Oh boy, did I enjoy the hell out of this one! Firestarter has an outstanding main plot, with an equally fascinating flashback skillfully interwoven into it. Both the main plot and the flashback are filled to the brim with ingenious ideas. It's not as if you would favor one over the other.

The main plot revolves around how this father-daughter duo is constantly on the run from a menacing government agency known as the Shop. Both of them possess special powers that the Shop is eager to experiment with. I absolutely adored the parts where they are fleeing across America, taking refuge in motels and the woods, and their interactions with the local country people. Their capture and subsequent incarceration are also highly entertaining.

The flashback delves into how the father and the mother acquired their special powers after participating in a drug experiment. The father's memories of the experiment are truly remarkable. King employs a plethora of vivid images, such as a bloody hand disappearing into a crowd. This book would无疑 be any director's dream to adapt into a movie.

I am rather surprised that King didn't pen a sequel to this book. The ending is quite open to interpretation, leaving room for many possibilities.

Of course, King is not overly subtle. The characters do talk an awful lot. But King himself compared his novels to hamburgers or something similar. And overtly talkative characters are indeed a characteristic hallmark of King's novels.

It's not really a horror novel in the traditional sense. Fans of conspiracy theories would most definitely love this book.

Life is short and pain is long, and we were all put on this earth to help each other.

°•*⁀➷

I read this for Zac Efron, and I'm not even ashamed. I can't wait to see him be a Dad.

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up liking it. The character Zac is going to play, Andy, and his unwavering determination to protect his daughter at all costs. It was truly entertaining to be a part of that story. Audiobooks have made it possible for me to read anything, and I absolutely love exploring such a wide variety of writing styles and types. I used to be solely into young adult romance novels, but look at me now!

- Paige

This was an audio re-read. I last read this probably 15 to 20 years ago. My original remembered review was 3 stars and it will remain the same. I always hope the second time will be better and it will move up to 4 or 5 stars, but that just doesn't always happen.

Can I confidently say why I am not going higher? I give a few examples below, but it is more of a feeling. A feeling that did not break as I worked my way through the book. I kept hoping for moments that would make me wonder why I only remembered it as a 3 star book - there just really were not any. As I have been working my way through re-reading King's books, this is the first one that felt just okay.

Over the course of the story, not much really happens and a lot of plot points are rehashed. The characters are fine, but not as intricate or interesting as a Jack Torrance, Randall Flagg, or Johnny Smith. Charlie McGee feels like a bit of a rehashing of Carrie White. For me, the pursuit in the first half of the book was much better than the second half, which felt just flat after the climatic moments early on in the story.

Many people will ask, “what King do I recommend they start with?” Lots of King readers recommend early King, and Firestarter falls into that category. Also, as it led to a somewhat famous film in the 1980s (at least cult famous), people might think that Firestarter meets all the criteria for a great starting point. I cannot say that I agree. There are much better options – ‘Salems Lot, The Dead Zone, Pet Sematary, The Shining - and, The Stand if you want to jump in feet first and sink up to your neck. King has released around 60 novels, and I don't think Firestarter would even rank in my top 30. I would likely only recommend it if you are trying to work your way through all of King's works.

In conclusion, while Firestarter has its moments, it fails to truly shine compared to some of King's other masterpieces. It lacks the depth and excitement that makes his best works so memorable. If you're new to King, it might be best to explore some of the other options first before coming back to this one. However, if you're a die-hard King fan determined to read everything he's written, then Firestarter is worth a read, but don't expect it to be one of his greatest.

This book has always been a personal favorite of mine. It holds a special place in my heart. What makes it even more interesting is that it is the book where King finally delves into writing about sex.

It's a significant departure for him, adding a new layer to his already diverse body of work. The exploration of this aspect brings a different kind of depth and realism to the story.

If you want to know more about my thoughts on this book and my overall Great Stephen King Reread, you can click on the link Read more over at my Great Stephen King Reread. There, you'll find in-depth analyses and discussions about this and other works by the master of horror.

So, don't miss out on this opportunity to explore the world of Stephen King with me.

Charlie McGee and her father Andy are two individuals constantly on the run.

They are fleeing from a group of heartless government mad doctors from the shop. These doctors have a sinister plan to experiment on Charlie due to her extremely powerful pyrokinesis powers.

The question looms large: can they manage to survive this terrifying pursuit?

Read on and discover the answer for yourself.

This was truly a rather good read. If you have a penchant for Stephen King's books, then by all means, make sure to check this one out at your local library. It can also be found wherever books are sold.

Don't miss out on this thrilling adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

"You're a firestarter honey... just one big Zippo lighter."

    "You're a firestarter, honey... just one big Zippo lighter."

    Andy and Vicky McGee participate in a top-secret government experiment, thereby obtaining psychic powers. Subsequently, they have a daughter named Charlie. Charlie showcases even greater power than her parents, and they must keep her abilities concealed as the government desires to reclaim Charlie.

    Firestarter was among the few "classic" Kings that I had yet to read (I had never watched the movie either), and yet I wasn't overly excited about it. It seemed almost like a Carrie knockoff! When I selected it from my King TBR jar for my October read, I was admittedly a bit disappointed. However, this is one of the very few cases where I'm glad to admit that I was completely wrong. Firestarter is truly amazing!

    King is no novice when it comes to writing about abusive child/parent relationships (such as Jack and Danny Torrance in The Shining, and Bev and her father in IT, to name a few). So, it's a pleasant change when King delves into a sweet and affectionate relationship between the two. The connection and bond between Charlie and her father Andy were truly endearing. Nevertheless, to be honest, I found Andy's psychic abilities more fascinating than Charlie's. Therefore, I really relished those parts where Andy could display what he was capable of (even if it was harmful to his own health - but again, this just superbly illustrates his paternal love for Charlie).

    Many King novels can be slow burners (which I am a fan of), but this one progresses at a non-stop pace from the very first page. It truly demonstrates that while King can sometimes be a bit verbose, he is also capable of writing page-turners with very little filler! I adored how the mental powers of telekinesis and pyrokinesis were utilized in the story. When set against the backdrop of a malicious government attempting to safeguard its secret, Firestarter truly packs a powerful punch!

    I can't help but wonder if this book would have been more effective if it were structured in chronological order, rather than jumping back and forth between the past and the present day. It might have been better if it built up to Charlie and Andy being on the run. But that's just a minor quibble.

    Overall, I was astonished by how much I enjoyed this one. This would be a great starting point for those attempting to get into King - especially if you're a fan of Stranger Things. 4.5 stars.

    Reread May 2024 for #kingfromthebeginning
    I reread my old review thinking "did I just have New England-tainted glasses when I first read this??" It's like reading a review written by someone I don't know. This time around, I felt it dragged, and although I still loved the father/daughter relationship and Charlie is really awesome... it didn't have the same charm for me. I read this back in May, and the only thing that really sticks in my mind is the Farmhouse scene. Now THAT is King at his best. Overall, in my opinion, it's an average King novel. 3 stars.

I vividly remember watching and adoring the Firestarter film during my younger days. That experience led me to eagerly anticipate reading the book. And I'm truly glad to say that I wasn't let down. In my opinion, it might just be one of the closest adaptations.

However, the book! Oh, the book! Once again, Mr King has crafted a world that I completely immersed myself in. The lives of Charlie and her dad felt so genuine that I felt as if I was living through their experiences right alongside them. This is undoubtedly one of my favorites so far in my chronological reading of SK's works.

It's a fabulously written tale of survival against all odds. There's a dreadfully villainous organization and the extreme lengths they go to in order to control an experiment that has gone awry - meddling in something they don't and could never comprehend. There's a deranged man with an insane fixation on the perfect death. A young girl with powers beyond her own understanding. And a father who endured the horror of his wife's death, left with only his young daughter that he must protect at all costs.

This book is like a roller coaster ride. It's high on emotions, filled with desperation, angst, and ultimately, hope.

I absolutely adored it.

Stephen King's "The Running Man" is truly a partly hidden (or at least partly forgotten) gem for me! It has now sailed up amongst my very favorites of this man's books and is the first one that I actually changed the (5-level) rating of following my re-read.

The book begins in the midst of a breathtaking white-knuckle hunt for a man and his daughter. It doesn't stop for as much as a breather during the first third. The action is intense and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

However, the eventual decrease in the furious pace comes with an increase in terror and dread. So, there is no rest for us even then. The characterization in this book is better than ever. We have likable but complex 'heroes' as well as detestable (but equally complex) 'villains'. King manages to develop and detail the story in such a way that he makes a fantasy (sci-fi/supernatural) storyline (including characters' actions and traits) feel both logical and reasonable (or unreasonable in some cases, of course).

I discovered early in the book that much of my remembrance of the story comes from the 80's movie version. If you suspect the same might be true for you, I urge you to dust this off and neatly place it at or near the top of your to-be-read pile. You won't be sorry. This is my first read of the original language text and I believe in this case, this would be the one to prefer over the Swedish translation.

Another well-crafted, patient, powerful story from Mr. King's back catalog.

"Firestarter" is clearly the inspiration for Stephen King's much more recent novel "The Institute." While it may be an exaggeration to say that "Firestarter" paved the way for "The Institute" to succeed, it is fair to say that the latter feels like a more refined, polished, and poetic version of the telekinetic kids story. Despite being longer than its predecessor, "The Institute" seems to have fewer meandering moments.

However, "Firestarter" has a great deal to offer. It contains heart-pounding scenes of intense and vivid action. The characters are extremely well-developed, and the story builds methodically, filled with foreshadowing, symbolism, and other great literary elements. It is a solid novel with a strong anti-government theme at its core. In short, at times this book is truly badass.

Charlie is charming and charismatic, like all the children created by SK. She is smart, sharp, and easy to root for. If the anti-government theme is the heart of the novel, then Charlie is the soul. She represents both innocence and power. Charlie McGee is my hero.

Although there are some awkward, overly long (borderline unnecessary) sections in this book, it is overall a truly awesome novel. The only other notable drawback is some ideas and phrases that are now clearly dated. But anyone picking up a book published in 1980 should approach it with the understanding that it may not be politically correct by modern standards.

I will continue to happily explore this back catalog! It's great fun to discover such books to cherish.

Part of February's #reviewking19 project where I revisit my Goodreads reviews of King books I've read.

Firestarter. This one often goes unnoticed when compared to Stephen King's more famous works like IT, Salem's Lot, The Shining, and Misery, which tend to steal the spotlight.

However, it's King's lesser-known titles that truly stand out as favorites for me.

I read this book in high school and have a particular fondness for it.

To me, it has more of a Science Fiction/Thriller feel rather than being strictly "horror," although there are definitely some horrifying scenes in the story.

The best aspect of this book is how it sustains tension and suspense throughout.

I couldn't put it down and I'm pretty sure I finished it faster than the previous King books I had read. I would love to give it a reread to see if it's still as captivating for me today as it was back then.

King is unrivaled in developing characters. I remember Charlie and her father, Andy McGee, so vividly. Their relationship was easy to become immersed in and invest in.

As they flee from THE SHOP (one of my favorite antagonists in the SK multiverse), you can't help but feel as if you're right there with them.

I had to look up Charlie's father's name and wasn't surprised to find it was "Andy," which is also my 13-year-old son's name. There are two Andy's in King's fictional stories that I adore: Andy McGee in this story and Andy Dufresne from RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.

I'm almost certain that King subconsciously influenced my choice of the name Andy for our third child.

Anyway, THE SHOP and John Rainbird are truly nightmare-inducing. I remember that Rainbird's face was scarred or mutilated. I pictured him looking like the guy in Indiana Jones when the ark of the covenant melts his face off.

I never watched the Drew Barrymore movie adaptation. I heard it was terrible. I would love to see a remake, but a serious one that does justice to the story. I think if done properly, this could make an excellent series. Season 1 could focus on before Charlie is born, her parents' involvement in the government testing that gives them supernatural powers, and then lead up to the death of her mother after she's born. Wouldn't that be great?

This is one of King's most tightly written, character-driven stories. I deducted a star only because it lacked a bit of bite. I don't have any especially memorable scenes to discuss, except perhaps the Farmhouse.