The Book Nook
Timeless Tale of Adventure
Stephen King is credited with resurrecting the horror fiction genre in the last century and he can make us afraid not just of monsters, but of cars (“Christine”) or our pets (“Cujo”, “Pet Sematary”). He’s also written novels of suspense, science fiction and fantasy. Published in 2022, “Fairy Tale” falls into that last category, offering an adventure that’s more than just a coming-of-age tale.
The story is told from the point of view of the protagonist – Charlie Reade, a boy who had enjoyed a stable, loving home before tragedy struck. He hates his new life, which is filled with uncertainty and unwanted responsibilities. He prays for God’s help, promising to become a better person in exchange for divine intervention. It isn’t long after his life improves that he has an opportunity to make good on his oath to help others.
When Charlie’s neighbor Mr. Bowditch suffers a serious accident, Charlie volunteers to feed his dog Radar and keep an eye on the house while he’s in the hospital. Once home, the man needs further help and a friendship is formed as they get to know each other. The boy is curious about the older man, who seems odd and is known to be reclusive. After hearing mysterious noises coming from the old man’s shed he voices his curiosity, but is sternly warned to away to avoid inviting an unnamed menace.
An unexpected event forces Mr. Bowditch to share shocking news with Charlie, who finds himself on the brink of an important decision. Staying home is the safest option, but one that comes with a heavy price. His other choice is to risk adventuring into the unknown to help someone he loves without any guarantee of success. Readers can guess which choice he makes, and he finds the courage to venture into the unknown, unaware that his decision will snowball into an epic battle to save the inhabitants of an unknown world.
From here we’re transported from the familiar to a totally alien landscape. Charlie will meet fantastic beings, see unbelievable sites and become part of a place that’s filled with the weird and the wonderful. He’ll also come face-to-face with a myriad of very real dangers on an adventure where good and evil square off against the other. The anticipation of danger combined with the knowledge he may not survive long enough to complete his quest adds to Charlie’s anxiety. This is classic Stephen King complete with monsters, but with a scare factor low enough to prevent worry about sleepless nights.
Two minor complaints gnawed at my enjoyment of this novel, but were outweighed by what I liked. The pacing felt a bit slow in the beginning, which is a characteristic of many King novels. The tone seemed almost apologetic at times, particularly in regard to how Charlie could understand a language he’d never previously heard.
On the up side, I was partial to the characters and their interactions, particularly the protagonist. Charlie lets us know he isn’t perfect yet he’s a likeable lad who tries his best, even when it’s really hard. He will be tested time and time again, and I found it easy to root for him.
King’s dialog seems natural even with unbelievable creatures and situations. His ability to provide wonderfully detailed descriptions make it easy to picture the scene or event. Also enjoyable was how easily the author incorporated elements from other sources. Taking time to ponder why certain characters felt so familiar produced “aha” moments once I recalled the specific reference. The author readily acknowledged the wide-ranging influences on this novel, from Grimm’s fairy tales and H. P. Lovecraft to “The Wizard of Oz” and more. It felt like an homage to writers and others in the past. He also peppered this work with Easter eggs from his own writing that fans will recognize.
Speaking of the past, King gets high marks for the ability to transport readers to a time when they were kids trying to figure out life. He has a remarkable talent for immersing us in other worlds and providing many moments of beautiful writing. The author returns to familiar themes found in his previous works such as alcoholism, and how the life of a small-town resident is ripped apart by unbelievable events.
There are rumors of a movie adaption, which isn’t surprising given the number of movies and television shows his works have spawned. Supposedly King sold the movie rights to British screenwriter/director Paul Greengrass (“Bloody Sunday”, “Captain Phillips” and the Bourne action/thriller series).
When asked why he wrote this particular book he said he thought about what would make him happy during the pandemic and he felt writing a fairy tale would do the trick. It will do the same for readers who enjoy forgoing this world temporarily to be dropped into another one. For me, “Fairy Tale” may not have the same brilliance as other King stories, but it does offer a grand adventure and a creative blend of fairy tale and dark fantasy told by a master storyteller.
