This book right here is precisely the reason why I keep going back to reread the King books that I wasn't a big fan of during my initial read.

I was really dreading having to read Cujo again. However, since it was next on my chronological reread list, I just had to bite the bullet and do it.

Surprisingly, I found that I enjoyed it so much more this time around. The last time I read it, my attention was mainly centered on Cujo himself. I was quite disappointed because he didn't seem to be as prominent in the story as I had hoped.

But this time, I made a conscious effort to focus more on the other characters and the intense emotions that were flying around everywhere. And what a difference it made! It was like having a completely different experience.

I could feel every single emotion that the characters were feeling, as if I myself was right there among them, living through it all. It was such an exciting and thrilling rush.

Don't get me wrong, it's still not one of my absolute all-time favorite King books. But after this second reading, I have definitely walked away with a newfound appreciation for Cujo and the story as a whole.

The text starts with a mysterious whisper. "Te dije que se irían, Tad, le susurró. Siempre lo hacen al final. Y entonces yo puedo volver. Me gusta volver. Tú me gustas, Tad. Ahora volveré todas las noches, creo, y todas las noches me acercaré un poco más a tu cama... y un poco más... hasta que una noche, antes de que puedas llamarles a gritos, oirás algo rugiendo, algo rugiendo justo a tu lado, Tad, y seré yo y me abalanzaré sobre ti y entonces te comeré y estarás en mí." This sets a creepy tone. Then it poses the question, "Alguien me puede decir ¿qué era lo que había en el armario de Tad? En serio, alguien… ¡Díganme!"

It then goes on to talk about the main story. "Cujo" is a beloved Saint Bernard dog, similar to Beethoven. But something terrible happens. Due to an illness, all the kindness and love it once had turns into hatred and a killing frenzy. The first part of the book is rather puzzling as it focuses more on family cases and soap opera-like scenarios rather than the dog. There are descriptions of a woman being beaten by her husband, another cheating on her husband, a man losing his job, someone winning the lottery, and another man not caring about anything.

The reader almost considers putting the book down but then realizes it's a strategy by King. It makes the reader understand how the "ley de Muphy" comes into play and how everything that can go wrong will go wrong, leading the characters to a catastrophic and insurmountable situation of facing a rabid, hairy beast weighing over 100 kilos. Finally, it comes back to the important question, "ALGUIEN ME PUEDE DECIR ¿QUÉ ERA LO QUE HABÍA EN EL ARMARIO DE TAD? ¿SALE EN ALGÚN OTRO LIBRO DE KING? EN SERIO, ALGUIEN… ¡YA DÍGANME!" along with more creepy whispers like "Soy el monstruo, Tad, el viejo monstruo, y muy pronto me apoderaré de ti, Tad. Mira cómo me estoy acercando... y acercando...".

Old, good King. You know, King is always great for his fanatical fans (just like my boss), but here the master managed to write a powerful and thrilling story based on an extremely simple central idea: A huge Saint Bernard dog named Cujo is attacked by the rabies virus from an infected bat (what do you expect when you hunt rabbits and put your head in unknown holes, you dear hunter?). And gradually, it transforms from a friendly dog into an aggressive and deadly machine. What could be simpler, right? But we are talking about the master of horror, so this simple thing turns into something possible and exciting, with elements of social drama, thriller, and horror, and the finale is bloody and rather painful. And here King rambles a bit (I always love his rambling), gives depth to his characters - who are either sympathetic or not, but definitely well-developed - generally, I would say he offers quite a few of the goodies he has accustomed us to, except perhaps for the supernatural element: Yes, don't expect anything supernatural. It may not be to everyone's taste, it may be whatever, but I really liked it, even if I don't give it five stars (objectively, it doesn't deserve it). I had a good time, although I felt a bit sorry for Cujo... and not only.

3.5 Stars!!!

Cujo is widely recognized as the tale of a dog that contracts rabies and embarks on a killing spree. However, this simplistic description fails to do justice to the depth and complexity that the story truly offers.

Cujo stands out as a unique work within King's extensive canon. Unlike most of his other books, it does not have distinct chapters or sections. Instead, the narrative flows continuously, like a powerful current, with the intention of delivering a gut-wrenching impact, which it achieves masterfully. It begins like a fable, immediately subverting the readers' expectations not only about the nature of the story but also its ultimate conclusion. But beware, for Cujo is a fable with a sharp bite.

Throughout the book, a bitter and futile streak runs deep, making it one of King's bleakest works. This is exemplified by the circumstances surrounding Cujo's infection with rabies, which occurs through a scratch from a bat, and the tragic death of four-year-old Tad Trenton, resulting from his mother's car breaking down. Both of these characters are innocent, yet their innocence provides no protection. In contrast to King's usual works, which often offer a glimmer of hope that his characters will prevail through their own strength and ingenuity, Cujo presents a different perspective. It suggests that the world is a harsh and unforgiving place, where bad things can happen to anyone, regardless of their moral character.

This is precisely why Cujo is unjustly regarded as merely a book about a murderous dog. In fact, this aspect does not fully materialize until approximately 150 pages into the story. Prior to that, we are introduced to the lives of various characters, most notably the Trenton family, the Camber family, and Steve Kemp.

The Trenton family is a middle-class unit consisting of Vic, the husband, father, and provider; Donna, the wife, mother, and stay-at-home housewife; and their son Tad. Donna has been involved in an affair with Steve Kemp, a tennis player, poet, and sociopath. We first encounter her as she ends the affair, setting the tone for how the reader perceives her. Despite seemingly having an idyllic life, Donna feels oppressed and unfulfilled. For the remainder of the novel, her affair is seen through the eyes of Vic, who receives a detailed note from the jilted Steve. This occurs at a time when Vic and his partner Roger, who run an advertising company together, are at risk of losing their biggest client and potentially facing the end of their business. Viewing Donna from this perspective makes it difficult for the reader to sympathize with her, especially later in the novel when she repeatedly relies on others to rescue her from her困境. The situation she finds herself in is being trapped in a broken-down Pinto with a rabid Saint Bernard pounding on the walls. Donna is a dependant character in this book, and it is only when she takes matters into her own hands that the reader can begin to empathize with her. One particularly memorable scene is when she exits the Pinto, unaware that Cujo is lurking and waiting at the front.

That dog, Cujo, belongs to the Camber family, a lower-class family of three. Joe Cambers, the husband, father, and provider, works as a local mechanic out of his barn. Charity Cambers is the wife, mother, and housewife, and their son is Brett Cambers. Joe is not a particularly pleasant individual. He is an alcoholic with a mean streak who dominates his family. Despite his flaws, Brett looks up to and admires his father, which poses a dilemma for Charity. She does not want her son to grow up to be a replica of his father. In her determination to show Brett a different way of life, as exemplified by her sister in another state, she overlooks Brett's concerns about Cujo as the dog becomes ill.

These events converge to create a perfect storm or a perfect trap for Donna and Tad Trenton. This brings us back to the uniqueness of Cujo as a book. Based on what has been described above, one might assume that these characters' lives intertwine in a deliberate and calculated manner to create this trap. However, this is not the case. Everything occurs by chance, reinforcing the book's theme that bad things can happen to anyone, regardless of their circumstances.

I truly had a great liking for this story. However, I didn't believe it was on par with Pet Sematery. In general, most of Stephen King's books are accompanied by excellent audiobook readers. But unfortunately, the woman who read this particular one wasn't very suitable for the book. She was an old woman and her voice sounded like that of a witch.

If this book had been centered around old people or witches, perhaps she might have been a better fit. But since it wasn't about either of those, her performance didn't quite work.

Story ****
Audiobook **
Overall ***

I firmly believe that this is one of those books that has achieved such a high level of popularity and is so frequently alluded to that it becomes nearly impossible not to have a basic understanding of the general plot - namely, a rabid dog trapping a woman and her child inside a car. It's truly a brilliant concept. However, there is far more depth and complexity to it than meets the eye. For instance, there is much more happening with Cujo than just the fact that he has contracted rabies. Since this book is set in Castle Rock, it can never be "simply" about rabies.



Just a moment ago, I took a quick look through some reviews, and it appears that quite a number of people feel that there is a significant amount of filler content in this book. Obviously, that is their opinion, and they are entitled to it. But I simply wanted to mention that, for me, the dynamics within the small town, the various marriages, and other such aspects were some of the most captivating elements. I thought that the parts that detailed people's struggles to cope with the overall suffocation of life and circumstances were among the most crucial elements of the book. I can understand why it may not be to everyone's taste, but I found these aspects to be just as tense and uncomfortable as the ongoing standoff with Cujo.



Oh, and poor Cujo - it wasn't his fault that he got rabies. Or that he happened to find himself in a Stephen King novel! Out of all the dog breeds that could potentially go rabid, a St Bernard is almost certainly the most terrifying option. As I stated at the beginning, it truly is a great (albeit terrifying) idea.

I'm not entirely certain if I read Cujo during my exploration of Stephen King's early works in the 1990s. None of the details seemed familiar to me, so I'm inclined to think that I didn't. Additionally, I'm quite sure that I never actually watched the movie adaptation.

Anyway, despite the fact that this book had a rather slow beginning, the terror associated with Cujo gradually crept in and took hold. At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for the poor creature. Overall, the book was just okay. I was somewhat surprised by how short it felt. I suppose that by now, I've become accustomed to King's much lengthier works.

Perhaps I'll give Cujo another chance in the future, both in its written and cinematic forms, to see if my perception of it changes. After all, King's works are often complex and multilayered, and it's possible that I missed something on my initial encounter.

For now, though, I'll continue to explore the rest of his extensive bibliography and see what other literary horrors await me.

This is about so much more than a rabid dog. It's truly a captivating and multi-faceted story.

I really liked it because it takes the concept and expands it in ways that are both unexpected and engaging.

The idea of Frank Dodd from "The Dead Zone" now being the town boogeyman is a brilliant twist.

It adds an element of mystery and fear to the town's atmosphere.

We can imagine the children whispering his name in the dark, and the adults nervously looking over their shoulders.

This transformation of a character from one context to another creates a whole new narrative arc that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

It makes us wonder what other secrets and horrors lurk within the town, and how Frank Dodd's presence will continue to impact the lives of its residents.

Overall, this story has the potential to be a thrilling and unforgettable read.

When a two hundred pound St. Bernard goes rabid, no one is safe!

Who will fall victim to Cujo before the disease he carries ultimately finishes him off?

I'm just going to be blunt. Most of this book strikes me as filler.

I believe King took what could have been an award-winning tale of terror and stuffed it with as much padding as possible until it became one of his shorter novels.

Basically, it's a great short story encased in a soap opera that I couldn't care less about.

That being said, Cujo is truly a powerful book in certain aspects.

Although I didn't have much interest in many of the peripheral elements, the core of the story is quite terrifying and heart-wrenching.

No one wants their beloved family pet to turn on them, and a rabid dog trapping a woman and her child in a car for days is extremely horrifying.

Unlike most of his menaces, Cujo is all too plausible.

The writing is of good quality, and the ending packs a huge punch.

I definitely didn't see that coming.

It was like getting kicked in the balls after already being lying on the ground from being shot in the heart.

While I found that there was a significant amount of fluff in this story, the core was rather good.

Or the marrow, in this case. Three well-deserved stars.

My 10th Stephen King work!

Cujo is, of course, one of his most renowned books. However, it appears to be one of those that the majority of people liked, yet very few claim as their favorite King novel. I must admit that I belong to the same group.

I truly relished the first third of Cujo. King masterfully incorporates a diverse range of random characters, and we know they will somehow converge, usually in ways they would prefer not to. I felt the palpable tension as the storylines were interwoven and the stakes became evident. These characters seemed real and vivid, from the warped and cruel individuals to the children and even the dog himself, Cujo.

One advantage of having a dog as the central character is that King doesn't have to invest much effort in character development to make you emotionally attached. It almost seems like cheating how effortlessly he makes me empathize with Cujo! As soon as he begins to change, I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. Especially when we gain an understanding of his emotions. Regrettably, that was the emotional zenith of the story for me. Once the actual danger materialized and our main characters were embroiled in the terror, it felt protracted and somewhat stale. I was still intrigued by how it would unfold and enjoyed the journey, but it felt far too long, resulting in a significant loss of suspense.

3.5/5 Stars

Equally terrifying and heartbreaking, the situation we are facing is truly alarming.

The events that have unfolded have sent shivers down our spines and tugged at our heartstrings.

The magnitude of the problem is such that it leaves us in a state of shock and disbelief.

We watch helplessly as the world around us seems to crumble, and our hearts ache for the pain and suffering that others are enduring.

It is a time when our courage and compassion are put to the test, and we must find the strength within ourselves to face the challenges head-on.

Despite the darkness that surrounds us, we hold onto hope, believing that together, we can make a difference and bring about a brighter future.

For now, we must remain vigilant and do what we can to ease the pain and offer support to those in need.

What a phenomenal book!

Stephen King truly did an incredible job. He made me care deeply for every single character. Each one carried their own unique fears. As the story gradually unfolded, those fears not only grew but also slowly took on a life of their own. By the time the events reached their peak, those inner anxieties had swelled and twisted into something as real and terrifying as Cujo himself. There was a constant, creeping sense of unease that lingered throughout the entire book. It kept me on edge from the very beginning all the way to the end. The ending was both horrifying and heartbreaking, leaving a lasting impact on me.

What stood out just as much as the horror was how brilliantly King portrayed the relationships between the characters. The unhappy wife, the husband who senses that something is amiss but can't quite put his finger on it, and the children who pick up on that tension in such an honest and innocent way - it all felt incredibly real. And the tragic transformation of a beloved family pet into a violent threat was written with such emotional weight. Every single detail, every dynamic, was handled with the utmost care. This made the horror hit even harder and feel that much more human.

But no matter what, Cujo was a goodboy.