**Re-Read Note 2/12/2025 -- Did audio this time and highly recommend this way. Holter Graham did a superb narration, will have to check out more of his stuff.**

Finally, I have read this one. It's a great book. It almost completely follows the movie, but there is a major difference. While the events are basically the same, the story behind it is altered significantly. I was a bit peeved about Dennis and Leigh, and it was odd with King's point of view. For the first 200 pages or so, he told the story through first-person (Dennis, the friend). Suddenly, he switches to multiple viewpoints until page 350 or so. Then he stays in first person, Dennis only, for the rest of the book. So strange! The very end was well done, and I wish it wasn't over in a way. There's a nifty ensemble of characters, a quick pace, a unique story with various ups and downs, and a sad, bittersweet touch. The main focus is triangles - Arnie, Dennis, and Leigh --- and Arnie, Lebay, and Christine.

Now, the below is my rambling on why I think the book is changed from the movie. In the book, it was Lebay who made Christine alive and was the real power rather than it being an evil powerful car by itself. It's filled with spoilers, so don't read if you haven't read the book.

I just read it and finished it for the first time tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed it and put up a short review. I agree the character of Arnie was sad and he was very likable. I'm also confused about the possession. It seems to me that LeBay made Christine alive somehow rather than how the movie shows it. When the brother is telling Dennis during their first conversation about his brother's obsession with the car, he mentions that Lebay was always hunting for a car and then finally ordered one and had custom things done to it like the paint job. This would indicate to me that he ordered that style of car in the way he wanted, but that he never saw it in person prior, right? So either the car was a normal car and it was supernaturally brought to life with their link, or else the car he just happened to pick was Christine, already inhabited. However, if the second is the truth -- then why would Christine let herself sit in a bodyshop or dealer? And, if she always liked to keep everything the same with her stubborn personality, why did she allow herself to be custom painted and keep that paint? This is what's been nagging me about Christine being alive herself from the start. Additionally, instead of making it about Christine - once LeBay was revealed, it seemed mainly about him for the duration of the book, in control of Christine basically. It would seem because of that that he is the driving force. Even the very end of the book now ends with "His undying fury", rather than hers. King changed it as readers learned more and read further. The other thing I think of is if Christine was alive and changed people's lives and absorbed them, so to speak, then why would she merge LeBray and Arnie? Why would she not leave him as he is and slowly change him into another version of himself? If she just changes people and gets them addicted to her, that would explain Lebray, but it wouldn't explain Arnie merging with Lebray until Lebray was the main driving lifeforce behind the car. Otherwise, a previous owner would also have been merged in Lebray, I think. And it's made clear with backstory that Lebray was always an evil sort of man, way before he met Christine. The last hang-up I have is, why did the car deteriorate so bad under Lebrays watch? I guess it did not have as much power or restoration before being purchased by Arnie? Dennis seems to start finding that out at the end. So, again, that would mean previously Christine - before Arnie and Lebay merged, did not have as much power by itself? And that the merging of the two would make the car as alive as it was, which would again indicate they were the only owners ever of Christine....thus meaning it was Lebray again rather than Christine possessing him at first.

4.5 Stars

I initially had rather low expectations for this book. After all, it's a Stephen King novel, so I thought it would be better than most regular novels.

But then, a haunted car? Really? Okay, Uncle Stevie, since I love you, I'll go along with it.

But really??? Plus, I had already seen the movie, and it was just meh! Of course, by now I should know better than to compare a King novel with its movie counterpart, as the movie rarely lives up to the book.

So, did I like this book? Yes! It was scary, and I never lost interest in the story. If I hadn't been sick and unable to focus, I probably would have read it in one sitting.

Christine is the story of a teenage boy and his first love, which happens to be his car. Christine isn't your average car. She's a 1958 Plymouth Fury, and she's either haunted or possessed.

Either way, she's a bad bitch, and you don't want to get on her bad side because it can be deadly. Obviously, Christine has a ridiculous premise, but through Uncle Stevie's masterful writing, I completely believed that this story could really happen.

I don't know where I would rank Christine among the many King books I've read, but it's definitely in the top 10. I highly recommend Christine.

I'm downgrading Christine from my initial 4-star rating to a 3. There are still some good aspects in it, especially a solid and intense ending. However, the majority of the book... I didn't have much interest in. Stephen King has penned numerous outstanding books, and this one doesn't quite measure up to be among the greats. The story had its moments, but overall, it didn't grip me as much as some of his other works. Maybe it was the pacing or the development of certain characters. Nevertheless, it's not a terrible read, just not one that will go down as a classic in King's extensive bibliography.

I went into this book with the anticipation of giving it a high rating. Given that it was penned by Stephen King, my favorite author, it comes as no surprise that my initial thought was proven correct.

Theoretically, I feel this story could have been told in a significantly fewer number of pages. After all, the premise isn't overly complicated, and it would have been easy to breeze through all the events with the sole purpose of narrating a scary tale. However, as always, Stephen King being Stephen King elevated this entire work to much more than just a simple horror story and added a great deal of depth to it. And that's precisely why he's my favorite writer!

He made me fall in love with all the characters, even those I initially hated. Yes, I'm aware that this may seem like a contradiction, but King develops his characters in such a remarkable way that you can see the positive aspects of even the most malevolent beings. Consequently, I can't bring myself to despise anyone completely. They are all just so incredibly brilliant and fascinating!

Ordinarily, I would find the concept of a murdering car absurd and overly exaggerated. I'm not really into paranormal stuff and such. But once again, I witnessed how King can write about the most unbelievable things in the most believable manner. If there had been a note at the end informing me that all of this had actually occurred, I would have accepted it without asking any questions. That's how talented a storyteller he is!

This is a highly entertaining and suspenseful read, and it's definitely a recommendation!

Solo diré que me alegra mucho volver al King de siempre, al Stephen King que me gusta leer y me hace volverme un adicto a sus libros que no quiere parar de leer.

Este libro en particular ha tenido un impacto especial en mí. Desde el primer capítulo, me cautivó con su intriga y suspenso. La manera en que King construye los personajes y desarrolla la trama es simplemente magistral.

Cada página me llevaba más profundo en una historia que me mantuvo en vilo durante todo el tiempo. Además, su estilo de escritura es tan atractivo y envolvente que no podía dejar de leer.

Porque eso fue lo que hizo este libro. Me hizo recordar por qué amo a Stephen King y por qué sus libros son una parte importante de mi vida literaria. Sin duda, volveré a leerlo muchas veces más en el futuro.

In my opinion, "Christine" by Stephen King is one of the best books I've read by the author, a solid 10/10⭐.

The author has masterfully crafted the characters, their emotions, and the development of their personalities. The mysterious element of the book is written beautifully and logically fits into the plot. The novel keeps the reader in an emotional state of tension that lasts even after finishing the book. The thrilling scenes are described so "vividly" that they are remembered for a long time.

The book raises questions about friendship, the relationships between children and parents, bullying, and its impact on a person's psyche.

After reading the book, I immediately watched the movie. Well, it was kind of meh

I absolutely adored Christine by Stephen King!

This is an incredibly captivating story that delves deep into the themes of possession and obsession. The way King weaves the tale is simply masterful, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller or a story that explores the darker side of human nature.

PS: A huge thank you goes out to MisterJ for not only recommending this amazing book to me but also for reading Stephen King's works with me. It has been such a wonderful experience sharing these stories together.

Eine vorsichtige 4.1/5 - mehr dazu in Bälde

This rating of 4.1 out of 5 indicates a certain level of cautiousness. It implies that there is room for improvement or that there are some aspects that have not been fully explored or evaluated. However, it also shows that there are positive elements present. The statement "mehr dazu in Bälde" suggests that more details or information will be provided soon. This could potentially clarify the reasons behind the cautious rating and give a more comprehensive understanding of the subject. It leaves the reader intrigued and期待着进一步的了解. It also indicates that the evaluation is ongoing and that there may be developments or changes in the future. Overall, the combination of the rating and the promise of more information creates a sense of anticipation and curiosity.

Second time through, this time as an audiobook.

This is the third King book I ever read, and it's been many years. I was amazed, going back, at the sheer power of the descriptions. King seems to find joy in scaring the crap out of everyone, wallowing in the horror without any sense of restraint. The interior monologues often border on hysteria.

Arnie's near possession by an evil spirit (and a 20-year-old Plymouth Fury) is brilliantly drawn. But what most impresses me are the friendship with Dennis (as told by Dennis), the hot, willing, teenage sexiness of Leigh, and the wisdom about parents and teens and life expressed in the meditations and dialogue of all the characters.

There are incredible scenes that won't leave me. I still haven't gotten over Christine fighting her way through that blizzard on her deadly mission, or the closing confrontation that could have been a model for all Hollywood mega battles. I should mention the quality of the narration in the audiobook; it is absolutely pitch perfect.

If you like audiobooks and haven't heard this one, GET IT. I owned a Plymouth Fury once, not as old as Christine, but I know how seductive they can be. Tragically, so many of those great old cars were destroyed in the making of a movie that couldn't measure up to the book. All in all, it's a great experience, except for that last 3-word phrase written by Leigh on the back of a postcard showing a picture of the new Taos center for the performing arts. That really pissed me off.

Audiobook – Narrated by Holter Graham – Excellent narration

As always, Holter Graham does a remarkable job of narrating this story. His voice brings the characters and the plot to life in a truly captivating way. The only minor drawback I found is that the Epilogue was placed at the beginning of the book, which was a bit of a surprise. o.O

***

Ebook:

Excerpt from The Great Stephen King Reread by Grady Hendrix...

“Christine wasn’t just unusual for its location or the terms of its contract, it was also unusual because it was the first book in which King became everything people accused him of being. Cujo may be famous as the book Stephen King wrote in a drunken blackout, but it’s Christine that really feels like the work of a drunk: repetitive, bloated, clumsy, and half-baked, it’s King at his most unstoppable, his most uneditable, and his most vainglorious.”

I seriously wonder if Mr Hendrix actually read Christine thoroughly or just skimmed through it. He claims in his review that Christine was ”Set in Pittsburgh instead of Maine.” However, I could have sworn it was set in Libertyville! Maybe it's a matter of personal perception or different interpretations of the text. Horses for courses…I loved it the first time I read it and I still have a soft spot for it.

I also forgot to mention that Stephen King himself says (in the interview linked at the bottom of this review) that Christine is set in Pittsburgh, which really confuses me. Although Pittsburgh is mentioned, the story seems to be predominantly set in Libertyville.


CONNECTIOS:

Christine:

There was a Plymouth Fury mentioned in Trucks. This shows the interconnectedness of King's fictional universe.

11/22/63 - Lurking in the used car lot is a white over red Plymouth Fury with “impossibly antique” plates. It adds an element of mystery and intrigue.

11/22/63 – In Jodie, Texas, George notices a white over read 1958 Plymouth Fury rolling slowly down the street, but this Fury has an Arkansas plate instead of Maine. The different locations and plate numbers add to the complexity of the story.

11/22/63 – While staying at the Candlewood Bungalows George notices a parked white over red Plymouth Fury. This time the plate was Oklahoma. It seems like the Plymouth Fury is a recurring motif in King's works.

The Stand - On their way back to Boulder, Stu Redman and Tom Cullen find an old Plymouth (Christine?) with the keys dangling from an imitation leather case with the initials AC (Arnie Cunningham?) on it. The speculation and connection to other characters and stories make it even more interesting.

It – After Henry Bowers escapes from Juniper Hill he gets a lift from the dead Belch Huggins who was driving a red over white 1958 Plymouth Fury. The appearance of the Plymouth Fury in different stories creates a sense of continuity.

Horlicks University (The Crate – A short story first published in the July 1979 issue of Gallery)

Moochie Welch – Shares the same first name as Moochie in The Dead Zone. This small detail adds another layer of connection within King's works.

***

Interview: Stephen King on Christine, 1984.

http://www.lofficier.com/christine.htm

I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating story about a supernatural and haunted car. Stephen King, the master storyteller, did an outstanding job of meticulously laying out every aspect. He developed the characters with great depth, provided a detailed backstory, and skillfully delivered the progression of the story. The story centers around a car named Christine, which is purchased by a young and naive teenager. This teen, Arnie, soon becomes completely obsessed with Christine.

As the story unfolds, both Arnie and Christine undergo a remarkable transformation. Arnie, who was initially a nerdy and low self-esteem individual, starts to adopt the personality traits and mannerisms of a 1950s Greaser. Meanwhile, the car, a 1958 Plymouth Fury, which in the beginning was a dilapidated rust bucket that could barely run, has a mysterious ability to repair itself and takes on a dark and sinister persona. Eventually, Arnie and Christine become inseparable, and evil gradually overtakes both of them.

I was truly engrossed in this dark story that combines elements of horror and the supernatural. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and leaves you with a sense of unease. I would highly recommend this story to any Stephen King fan. It is a prime example of his ability to create a world that is both terrifying and fascinating. Thanks!

“I put my hands on the wheel and something happened…Even now, after much thought, I’m not sure exactly what it was. A vision, maybe – but if it was, it sure wasn’t any big deal. It was just that for a moment the torn upholstery seemed to be gone. The seat covers were whole and smelling pleasantly of vinyl…or maybe that smell was real leather. The worn places were gone from the steering wheel; the chrome winked pleasantly in the summer evening light falling through the garage door…Let’s go for a ride, big guy, Christine seemed to whisper in the hot summer silence…Let’s cruise…”

-\\tStephen King, Christine

The realization of Stephen King's genius came to me rather late, but the huge advantage is that I have a vast back catalogue to explore. Without rushing, I've been reading his novels, most of which are classics, at a rate of one or two per year. Even at this leisurely pace, I feel like I've covered the top layer, the very best of King's works. Now, I have to think more carefully about what to read next.

In all honesty, I wasn't in a hurry to open Christine. The story of a killer car possessed by a demonic force didn't appeal to me. In fact, after seeing the film version, I thought the concept was rather silly. I wondered, What's so scary? Just get off the street! (A tactic that the characters in the film didn't seem to follow).

But I've learned to trust King, and even though nothing about Christine really interested me, I decided to give his 1983 tale about a 1958 Plymouth Fury a chance.

Boy, was I wrong!

Despite being 526 pages long (King is known for his sometimes overly long books), this is a stripped-down story. It's a love triangle, of sorts, where boy loves girl, girl loves boy, and boy really loves car, much to the annoyance of the girl.

There are only four main characters: Dennis Guilder, a jock with a sensitive side; Arnie Cunningham, a pizza-faced outcast who is best friends with the loyal Dennis; Leigh Cabot, the pretty new girl at school who, for some reason, takes a shine to Arnie; and the titular Christine, a beat-up red-over-white Fury with a personality of its own.

The story opens with Dennis introducing us to his best friend, Arnie, a smart high-schooler who is bullied and has overbearing parents. He has few friends, aside from Dennis. Within the first few pages, Arnie sees the rusting hulk of a car named Christine and falls hopelessly in love with it.

Or her.

With little thought or logic, Arnie buys the car, starts to fix it up, and slowly becomes obsessed with the vehicle, alienating everyone else in his life. At first, the fixation seems annoying but relatively harmless. Soon, however, strange things start to happen. (It's no spoiler to say that some of these things are deadly. After all, this is Stephen King.) There are hints that Christine has certain powers, both over her own body and over the minds of others.

Christine is divided into three parts. Parts I and III are narrated in the first-person by Dennis, while the middle section is told in the third-person. The prose is classic King, with his love for pop-cultural references on full display, especially his careful selection of rock-and-roll songs that are quoted throughout the book.

However, being classic King isn't always a good thing. If you've followed his career, you know he has a few bad habits that carry over from one book to the next. For example, his tendency to make comments about fat people and incestuous relationships can be off-putting. At a certain point, it starts to feel a bit too much.

King is known for creating his own fictional world in Maine, but Christine is set in Libertyville, Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, he makes the town feel real and his own, with detailed descriptions of every street and highway.

The story is set in 1978, and for me, part of the fun is the nostalgia for a time just before my own birth and childhood. The rock music is edgy, there are brown-sugar sandwiches for dinner, and people drink milk for refreshment (which I find gross). But alongside this Mayberry-like innocence is the shadow of Vietnam, the Arab oil embargo, and a country that is not entirely sure of its place in the world.

Typically, I don't like supernatural stories. But King's novels work for me because he does such a good job of grounding the fantastical in a believable reality. You often forget that there is anything otherworldly going on. And he definitely accomplishes this in Christine.

The best works of art operate on multiple levels, and this is especially true of King's books. For example, his masterpiece, Pet Sematary, is not just a scary story about an Indian burial ground where dead things come back to life. It's also a profound meditation on death and loss.

In Christine, there is plenty of mayhem and violence, as well as a mystery with an evil core. But within these pages, there is also a serious exploration of longing and desire, of growing up and losing yourself.

I was going to be a senior in high school next month, and…when school started again it meant the end of a long, quiet phase of my life. I was getting ready to be a grown-up…And I think I understood…that what really scares people about growing up is that you stop trying on the life-mask and start trying on another one. If being a kid is about learning how to live, then being a grown-up is about learning how to die…

King is the kind of author who we will only fully appreciate once he is gone and we look back at his body of work. It will suddenly occur to literary critics that they can't name three Pulitzer Prize-winners, but they can name ten King novels that they've loved forever.

Christine is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. On the surface, the whole idea of a sentient car is completely implausible and even laughable. But in King's skilled hands, it draws you in and keeps you hooked from start to finish. The goofy central concept, the dated references, and the somewhat contrived ending should have made this a disaster. Instead, it's a work of pure entertainment that you won't soon forget.