Before we start, some quick truths. A: You are actively reading a book review, which likely means that you enjoy reading. B: Anyone who enjoys reading has at least heard of particular heavyweights in the publishing world — Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, those kinds of writers — and as such, you’ve heard of Stephen King. C: Because this review is about Mr. King’s latest book, “Elevation,” it means that you might be a Constant Reader (to use Mr. King’s own name for his fans), or you’ve never read any of his books and you’re wondering if it’s worth picking the newest one up, or maybe you’re just here for the schadenfreude of a bad review. Well, never fear — We’re here to help, whatever your reasons are.
As the novella opens, Scott Carey is recently divorced, working from his home in Castle Rock, Maine, and is a big guy with a unique problem: He’s losing weight, but he’s not getting any thinner. Scott confides in his friend, a retired family physician, that the scale also registers the same number no matter what Scott is wearing or holding, making him a bona fide medical oddity.
By Stephen King
Simon and Schuster ($19.95)
At the same time, Scott is having a conflict with his new neighbors: a married couple, Missy and Deirdre, who have opened a Mexican restaurant in town. Scott’s annoyed that his neighbors are letting their dogs defecate on his lawn, and the majority of the town seems annoyed that the new arrivals are two women who had the gall to marry each other.
As Scott’s dramatic weight loss continues, he finds himself faced with both a new sense of his body as well as a new awareness of his own mortality. Once he realizes the breadth of ostracization that Missy and Deirdre are facing — they’re in serious danger of losing their business due to lack of customers — Scott decides that life is too short for grudges and tries to help.
So, what’s in it for a Constant Reader? The reappearance of Castle Rock as a setting isn’t entirely surprising, considering the release of “Castle Rock” on Hulu, which is a show set in Mr. King’s fictional universe. There are also some sly call-outs to the author’s work — a band calls itself Pennywise and the Clowns, and a character from 1981’s “Cujo” is name-checked. So “Elevation” is a firm part of the world-building that’s been taking place in Mr. King’s stories for the last 40 years.
For those who are new to Mr. King’s oeuvre, however, it’s worth noting that this book is not horror despite its supernatural premise. Instead, “Elevation” is a kind-hearted parable about finding common ground with our neighbors, which is, honestly, a relief in a time when the relentless noise of our 24/7 news cycle hews a bit too close to horror sometimes. The author, an outspoken progressive, makes an effort to portray his characters as imperfect, regardless of their political views, which allows the book to avoid being too ham-fisted with political intent and instead become a gentle reminder of the wonderful things that can happen when we stop being angry with each other.
Now, the bad news: “Elevation,” while sweet, is a mere slip of a book, both physically (at 160 pages, its word count comes in a lot lower than some of the stories in his periodic collections) and in terms of mental effort (both his and yours). It is obvious, from a pretty early point, where the book is going, and the message isn’t particularly subtle. With a list price of $19.99, it seems rather ridiculous to expect readers to shell out that much money for a story so ephemeral, no matter how well-intentioned it is. That being said, its short length means that it may well pop up in a story collection at some point in the future, so if you don’t feel like spending $20 for a fable, the choice is yours.
Ultimately, it’s worth pointing out that Mr. King, who has made quite a living from scaring the wits out of his readers, felt compelled to put the horror genre aside in order to connect with his fans and ask them to consider kindness in an all-too-tense world. It’s not the first time he’s written something meant to inspire, rather than terrify (1996’s serial novel “The Green Mile” for example), but at this political moment, its earnestness is refreshing, if a bit short in length and long on price.
Wendeline O. Wright is a member of the National Book Critics Circle (wendywright@gmail.com).
First Published: October 30, 2018, 12:35 p.m.