FireStarter

[cwalrus]

I'm in the middle of Firestarter right now. I'm up to the point right after Andy and Charlie get captured at Tashmore Pond. It took me a while to get into this story for some reason, but now I'm enjoying it a lot more. I like the interaction between Rainbird and Cap. Rainbird reminds me so much of Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. I really enjoy the angle that SK is giving by showing us with the Shop in this story. He could have just kept the Shop as some faceless villain but he shows that these beaurocrats and agents are real people with flaws and desires just like everyone else. When I first picked up the book, I thought all of the focus would be on Andy and Charlie, and even though the bulk of the story is concentrated on them, my favorite parts are the ones where we see things from The Shop's point of view. I'm not sure what's going to happen between Rainbird and Charlie, but seeing as I'm only halfway through the novel, I'm a little scared to read on because I don't want anything bad to happen to Charlie.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I think it's an excellent book, for all the reasons you mention, and unlike most, I actually like the movie with George C. Scott as Rainbird.

And about Charlie - Finish the book!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Goodlovin]

I think the book gets maligned a bit too much as I totally love it.

Its been way too long since I have read it.

I also love your call of Javier Bardem as Rainbird outside of him not being 7ft call

[BDenbrough]

Firestarter is one of my favorites! It's a great book! I'm not a Rainbird fan at all though!

[ginapenn]

Firestarter is wonderful! It was one of the first books I read by King when I became a fan. I love that he takes us to the Shop here and there so we know what those guys are thinking and planning as Andy and Charlie are on their merry journey. Even though they resist going to the Shop, it is actually good for Charlie in the end. It helps her, in a weird way. Rainbird is a complex character; you can tell he loves Charlie but he keeps her at arm's length. Unfortunately he loves her for selfish reasons but the ending is fantastic. Charlie is one of my favorite characters in literature.

[michal]

If you're concerned for the characters and feel real fear in your heart, I believe at least two of the author's desires have been fulfilled.

Give in to the book

It's a great one

[Srbo]

Great book.

One of the better political thriller books of all times.

And - I don`t see any horror stuff in there at all, or did I miss something ?

[ginapenn]

Great book.

One of the better political thriller books of all times.

And - I don`t see any horror stuff in there at all, or did I miss something ?

Define "horror". I suppose horror would be in the eye of the beholder. :oo:

[mrsbreece]

Rainbird makes the story. Loved the book and the movie.

[cwalrus]

SPOILERS BELOW


Just finished. I liked the ending very much, and the last 100 or so pages goes by very fast. I was surprised that it took so long for Andy to plan an escape but I suppose he had to kick the habbit of the pills that they were giving him. Rainbird proved to be a fascinating and very frightening villain. I suppose anyone who wants to kill an 8 year old girl has problems, but I really hated how he tricked her into betraying his confidence. I was glad to see he got what he deserved. Like I said, I like the fact that we get to see things from the Shop's perspective, and even though I don't like what they did, it's easy to understand why they saw the McGees as a threat and the decisions that they make seem like the decisions that would be made were this taking place in real life. I doubt Charlie's ability would enable her to destroy the world, but that power in the wrong hands would no doubt be very dangerous. It really shows how sometimes in the midst of doing a their job, certain agencies lose sight of the fact that the people they are dealing with are human beings. The story is kind of relevant today when you think about it.

Some quick questions:

1. I'm not sure if Cap died unless I missed something. His reaction to the echo provided the distrac tion that allowed Andy to push Rainbird into falling down, but after that Cap disappears. Did he burn in the fire or did Rainbird shoot cap when he shot Andy. I suppose with the echo running around in his brain he would have gone crazy anyway.

2. I liked the fact that Charlie goes to Rolling Stone in the end, but what do you think will happen to Charlie. Will the government still try to capture her? or will they just leave her alone?

3. Were Irv and Norma Manders punished in any way after hiding Charlie a 2nd time?

4. Wouldn't it have been wiser for the Shop to simply either execute Andy or keep him in a different compound from the beginning? I found it hard to believe that they would have kept Andu and Charlie in the same compund for 6 months when they had no intention of letting them see each other and Andy was unresponsive. Obviously, for the pruposes of the story it was necessary, but I think Cap let the ball drop on that one.

5. How closely does the film follow the book? I'm considering putting Firestarter on my netflix list.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts on the story. It was a very entertaining read and strangely enough the story seemed very plausble consideriung the fact that the government did actually experiment with people without their knowledge in the past and who's to say that it's not going on now. I just realize this book might make me paranoid for a while.

[Srbo]

Define "horror". I suppose horror would be in the eye of the beholder. :oo:
Sure, it is in the eye of the beholder, but Charlie setting a few guys on fire is absolutely nothing compared to what kind of horror Pennywise is up to, lets say.
Besides, I do believe that the goverment really messed with peoples heads(ie fed them who knows what kind of drugs) and still does, so maybe there are people that can do something similar to Charlies abilities.

[ginapenn]

Sure, it is in the eye of the beholder, but Charlie setting a few guys on fire is absolutely nothing compared to what kind of horror Pennywise is up to, lets say.
Besides, I do believe that the goverment really messed with peoples heads(ie fed them who knows what kind of drugs) and still does, so maybe there are people that can do something similar to Charlies abilities.


I just meant that everyone has a different view of horror. You are definitely right about Pennywise being scary; I believe I'm coulrophobic because of him. (and that blasted clown in Poltergeist).

[ginapenn]

Spoiler alert:

CWalrus:

If I remember correctly, Cap dies in the barn. I believe Rainbird shoots him when he starts screaming about the snake but I'd have to grab my book and re-read that part to know for sure. With as many times as I've read that book, I should know this!

Have no idea if the government would learn Charlie alone or punish the Manderses for hiding her out. Charlie going public would mean that she'd be well-known amongst the people. Imagine a modern day celebrity with that type of power going public. It's harder to be "disappeared" if you're on the cover of every magazine. Reporters love a good story.

As far as Andy goes, I think they kept him alive as (SK puts it) a "fire extinguisher". If I remember correctly, it was in one of the memos that's frequently sent between Shop people. When Charlie began being more cooperative toward the end, and with his ability gone (as far as they knew) it was safer to put him on the Maui compound. Of course, Maui could have been a cover; they might have "disappeared" him once he was off the plane.

The film is actually pretty good and follows the book quite well. There are a couple of little things that are off but basically, it's all there. You get to see a young Drew Barrymore play Charlie. In the book, Andy gets terrible headaches when he uses the push but in the movie he gets nosebleeds. I guess because headaches don't show up on screen. Check it out!

[ama_li]

I'm on midway too. After reading all what you guys have said I badly want to finish it soon

[Father Callahan]

I am reading the books prior to 1983's Pet Semetary which until now i have never read (although i have seen some of the movies based on the early books) and i have noticed something odd in the middle of Firestarter.

The 2009 edition i am reading on page 311 where Andy is discussing the most recent NFL season up to that point with Dick Albright. I quote:

"Andy got the man.... to bring him up to date on the previous season - who had made it to the playoffs and how they went, who had won the Super Bowl.
Albright........was up to the lousy reffing that had allowed the Pats to triumph over the Dolphins in the AFC Championship game..."

This novel was released in 1980 and at that point in time the Pats and Dolphins had yet to meet in the AFC Championship game until January 1986 which the Pats DID win but i cant help wandering was this passage in the original edition of Firestarter in 1980 different - if so what was the different passage and if not was it just a made up fantasy of Stephen because he is a Pats fan (which actually came true in January 1986) or what?

I would love have this little mystery cleared up for me. :grinning:

[Father Callahan]

i cant believe its been 4 days and still no-one has answered my questions about firestarter. I thought you were Stephen King nuts like me? :down:

[wally wonder]

hi father. i'll try to answer. you don't want to torque sk off. weird $hit comes true. alas, too bad he isn't a cleveland browns fan!

[Father Callahan]

Thanks for your responce to my query about Firestarter. Did you manage to find out what i asked?

[Father Callahan]

Still waiting... :glare:

[ginapenn]

I am reading the books prior to 1983's Pet Semetary which until now i have never read (although i have seen some of the movies based on the early books) and i have noticed something odd in the middle of Firestarter.

The 2009 edition i am reading on page 311 where Andy is discussing the most recent NFL season up to that point with Dick Albright. I quote:

"Andy got the man.... to bring him up to date on the previous season - who had made it to the playoffs and how they went, who had won the Super Bowl.
Albright........was up to the lousy reffing that had allowed the Pats to triumph over the Dolphins in the AFC Championship game..."

This novel was released in 1980 and at that point in time the Pats and Dolphins had yet to meet in the AFC Championship game until January 1986 which the Pats DID win but i cant help wandering was this passage in the original edition of Firestarter in 1980 different - if so what was the different passage and if not was it just a made up fantasy of Stephen because he is a Pats fan (which actually came true in January 1986) or what?

I would love have this little mystery cleared up for me. :grinning:

What edition do you have? That's one I've never heard of, for Firestarter...My page 311 is a scene between Andy and Cap. Of course, my 311 is from a very old, well-loved and yellowing copy of Firestarter.

[Father Callahan]

My 2009 edition/copy of Firestarter is from the collection of SK books published by BCA (in the UK) by arrangement with Hodder these numbers appear on the flyleaf CN 159684 not sure are they the bar code or 000001 596847.

[ginapenn]

My 2009 edition/copy of Firestarter is from the collection of SK books published by BCA (in the UK) by arrangement with Hodder these numbers appear on the flyleaf CN 159684 not sure are they the bar code or 000001 596847.

Absolutely NOTHING like that is in my copy. The UK's must be different.

[Drawn to Ka-tet]

I have found this in my copy of Firestarter. Page 232-233, Dick Albright the volunteer is bringing Andy up to speed on the playoffs and how they went, who went to the Super Bowl. After 20 minutes, Albright gets up to the "lousy reffing that had allowed the Pats to triumph over the Dolphins in the AFC championship.'

My copy is dated 1980, Viking Press- hardcover. Now, I can't say I was a big Pats fan in 1980, but I do know that the Pats had nothing but bad luck until about 1984-85, when the local mantra was Squish the Fish (yes I know a dolphin is a mammal not a fish, but squish the mammal has no poetry for the fans)!
A little internet research shows that in 1980, the Pats finished 2nd in the AFC East Division with a record of 10-6-0. The Buffalo Bills were first with a record of 11-5-0, and guess who was third? Yes the Miami Dolphins were third, their record was 8-8-0 !
I would have to guess that the book was finished after the end of the season- or Mr King is a prophet!

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/1980.htm?redir

Long days and pleasant nights.

[Dishsoaps]

Just finished firestarter and have got to say it was a very good book! Like you said if it wasn't for irv and Norma were would Charlie and Andy end up? Amazing ending which Andy tells Charlie it's a war! And boy did she make it one! Will read again someday, but up next is danse macabre since I am reading sk book in order!

[celia]

I like the way u talk about this book, it´s also one of my favorites. I think just because when u think that girl has nothing to do against those people, she finds a way to attack them. We dont really know what´s gonna happen with that girl after all, but at least, she´s not alone anymore, and that´s the think that makes this book so special to me.
Anyway, i have to say that all Stephen King´s books I have in my collection are in Spanish, so I´m a bit sad that I miss some things with the translation, so I hope u forgive me if my comments are nonsense sometimes.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

There's a thread in Chattery Teeth called 'I Didn't Catch You (again)' started by Gelata (from Spain) where the more obscure words and phrases are discussed and explained that might prove interesting, celia.

Long days and pleasant nights

[ginapenn]

I am reading the books prior to 1983's Pet Semetary which until now i have never read (although i have seen some of the movies based on the early books) and i have noticed something odd in the middle of Firestarter.

The 2009 edition i am reading on page 311 where Andy is discussing the most recent NFL season up to that point with Dick Albright. I quote:

"Andy got the man.... to bring him up to date on the previous season - who had made it to the playoffs and how they went, who had won the Super Bowl.
Albright........was up to the lousy reffing that had allowed the Pats to triumph over the Dolphins in the AFC Championship game..."

This novel was released in 1980 and at that point in time the Pats and Dolphins had yet to meet in the AFC Championship game until January 1986 which the Pats DID win but i cant help wandering was this passage in the original edition of Firestarter in 1980 different - if so what was the different passage and if not was it just a made up fantasy of Stephen because he is a Pats fan (which actually came true in January 1986) or what?

I would love have this little mystery cleared up for me. :grinning:

Wait-are you referring to when Andy was trying to "push" the volunteer?

[baller52]

Great book.

One of the better political thriller books of all times.

And - I don`t see any horror stuff in there at all, or did I miss something ?

YES! the big brother theme was a great part of this whole book! really made it come alive to me

[deepc185]

I have to say, after reading this book as a young teenager, I have always had an aversion to putting my hand into a garbage disposal! Probably not a bad thing, but anytime something falls down there, my mind flashes to this novel!

[John Joyce]

I've just finished Firestarter and it has shot up into my top 5 King books -- not an easy feat! I had a good chuckle trying to arrive at a top 5 - there is so much competition for those top spots! The strength of King is his ability to make things so real. So many people stereotype him as a horror writer and although there is enough horror to go round his real strength is delving into the relationships with people, especially children. In firestarter it is the strength of the bond between Andy and Charlie that brings it together for me!
My top 5 novels:
Green mile
Firestarter
Needful things
IT
Christine

What is your top 5?

I am only halfway through reading all of his novels and look forward to reading the rest.

[ginapenn]

That's a great list!

There are too many great ones. Firestarter is one of my faves but I'd have to say Christine and Rose Madder are a little above those (for some reason, the internal dialogue of Norman Daniels cracks me up and gets funnier no matter how many times I read it) but I really enjoy SK's The Shining, Dead Zone and and his short story collections.

The great thing about his prolific career is that once you get through his books, you can start over again.

Please don't ever stop writing, Mr. King!

[RichardX]

I've started re-reading this one after about 30 years. What strikes me is that the writing is a lot less polished than more recent stuff (no surprise) but also some prior stuff like The Shining and Dead Zone. Not that it is bad but just streaming. Almost like SK sat down and wrote the whole thing out in a couple of marathon sessions and there was little editing. I could be completely wrong, but that's how it strikes me. I know he had some problems with drugs and alcohol. Reading the Keith Richards book about how the Stones had these drug fueled three and four day recording sessions. Maybe something along those lines or maybe the editing is just tighter on some books than others.