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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “Stephen King may be the "master of horror," but with BLAZE he proves that he's also just a plain ole good writer. This story is a mixture of a thriller, a mystery, a police procedural, and a personal struggle to figure out who you are. |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Well, here's an interesting case that continues to prove that Stephen King's supposed retirement wasn't to be believed. Blaze is billed as one of the "Bachman books" because it was originally drafted back in the early days of his career when he was doing some writing under the pseudonym "Richard...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“fascinating. and with an almost disturbingly charming and moving lead character”
Gus McCrae wrote this review 13 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Stephen King can do horror amazingly well-- we all know that... but did you know that he is an incredible fiction writer as well? I was touched by the character of Blaze... I knew going in that it was not a horror, and knew it was written many years ago, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.”
Dedalus wrote this review Tuesday, April 10, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Clayton Blaisdill Jr. was beaten and abused by his father and grew up in homes for kids. Where he was teased and ridiculed for a large dent in the middle of his forehead from a fall down the stairs when his father threw him down. He meets up with George who gets him into stealing and other scams. George gets killed in a card game and Blaze goes on with a plot devised by George to kidnap baby Joe Gerard. Blaze does that all along keeping in touch with George (who is dead!) Blaze comes to like baby Joe but is killed outside by police while trying to flee with Joe.”
Bonnie Schon wrote this review Thursday, February 23, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a Stephen King tragedy — not a horror story. It's the story of an abused child who can never seem to catch even the slightest break in life. Unloved, alone (and not the sharpest tool in the shed), he turns to petty theft which eventually leads him to make the biggest mistake of his life. Gripping and sad from page one.”
Jared T wrote this review 2 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is one of King's "trunk novels" that he wrote back in 1973. I had heard about this novel a while back because it was always talked about in all of the biographies and "companion" books about King and most people figured it would never see the light of day.
Brad B wrote this review Sunday, December 11, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
King decided to publish this to help the charity he supports: The Haven Foundation. (all proceeds of the novel went to Haven)
Though you can tell that this was an early effort by King and not the regular subject matter you think of with King (therefore, he used the Bachman name), it was still a fairly enjoyable read. It was also quite short by King standards, so it was a quick read as well.”“Interesting older book from King. Not the usual story line from KIng including monsters etc. You find yourself sympathizing with the main character, even if he is the "bad" guy.”
Deanna S. wrote this review Friday, December 9, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book is about a man that has a troubled past. This book goes between the man's crime stricken past, and the present where he is planing the crime of the century. With his dead friend following him around he plans to kidnap a child of a very rich family. The plan was simple, but along the way, he comes into some complications. Will he succeed in his plan to get the $1,000,000 ransom? Read this book to find out.”
colby P wrote this review Thursday, December 1, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The best of the Bachman books, in my opinion. Great heart felt story that made me laugh, cry and curse! I highly recommend this one.”
Shaun Webb wrote this review Sunday, November 13, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“All the folks who whine Stephen King does not deserve a high ranking spot on the list of classic American Authors should read this. Blaze is a great character and the story is engaging, moving and all the other things a good book should be. Also way more compelling than a lot of the dire, dry as dust ‘classics’ those book snobs types insist you should read before you die... if you’re not a fan of King, just pretend Richard Bachman is real and READ IT!”
Jamie R wrote this review Friday, October 14, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The last of the Richard Bachman novels, recently recovered and published for the first time. Stephen King's "dark half" may have saved the best for last.
artsylady wrote this review Monday, September 26, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
A fellow named Richard Bachman wrote Blaze in 1973 on an Olivetti typewriter, then turned the machine over to Stephen King, who used it to write Carrie. Bachman died in 1985 ("cancer of the pseudonym"), but in late 2006 King found the original typescript of Blaze among his papers at the University of Maine's Fogler Library ("How did this get here?!"), and decided that with a little revision it ought to be published.
Blaze is the story of Clayton Blaisdell, Jr. -- of the crimes committed against him and the crimes he commits, including his last, the kidnapping of a baby heir worth millions. Blaze has been a slow thinker since childhood, when his father threw him down the stairs -- and then threw him down again. After escaping an abusive institution for boys when he was a teenager, Blaze hooks up with George, a seasoned criminal who thinks he has all the answers. But then George is killed, and Blaze, though haunted by his partner, is on his own.
He becomes one of the most sympathetic criminals in all of literature. This is a crime story of surprising strength and sadness, with a suspenseful current sustained by the classic workings of fate and character -- as taut and riveting as Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. ”
