What gives?

**Mr Nobody** · July 16th, 2009

I can't help but wonder why people seem to dislike/ignore From a Buick 8. I know SK fans away from the board (though I try to point them in this direction) and noses start wrinkling when I say I actually like this book. Just the basic premise - the car and the 'man' - is enough to get me wondering. The story that unwinds after that...well, IMO it's got a lot of carry, the characters are pretty vivid, and the writing itself shows SK becoming more the sort of writer able to produce Lisey's Story and Duma Key in the way they were presented (at least, that's my take).

I just don't get why people aren't that into it. It's likely that my experiences so far have been unrepresentational, and more people actually like this story than dislike it, but the lack of threads and posts (relative to other works) seems to point out that it's a book a lot of people are happy to read and forget.
If that's so, why? Is it because the riddle remains somewhat open, or what?

**kjyoung** · July 16th, 2009

I enjoyed From a Buick 8 as well, loving the characters and the shifts in time. The only thing I can think of that might be a turn-off to some is the similarity there is to Christine. (You know, car-with-a-mind-of-its-own type of story.) That said, I read Christine ages ago and never had the inclination to re-read it...whereas I know I will re-read Buick.

-k

**sam peebles** · July 16th, 2009

I too enjoyed From a Buick 8, probably more than I did Christine. This novel, along with Hearts in Atlantis and Cell, are my favorites from Kings more recent ventures. I did not enjoy Duma Key, Liseys Story, or Bag of Bones (as well as the three final Dark Towers books) as much as most people on the SKMB seemed to have.

That being said, I can't wait for Under the Dome.

**jchanic** · July 17th, 2009

My main objection to From a Buick 8 is that it doesn't REALLY have any type of resolution--the reader is left without knowing just what the "car" really is, where it came from, how it got here, etc. I personally don't have any strong feelings about this myself, but I can understand why some people don't like it that much. I do enjoy the characterizations, etc. very much also.

John

**Jojo87** · July 17th, 2009

Buick 8 was a really good book. Dosen't remember much of it. I think I'll read it again here soon.

**michal** · July 27th, 2009

Didn't enjoy it very much, didn't suffer either, but being a girlie girl I have to say it was very "Boyish" to me, or masculine, and I couldn't relate to the characters quite as much as I usually do with Mr. King's characters.

**Violet** · July 28th, 2009

I was hesitant to read From a Buick 8 because I had heard it wasn't that good. I finally read it about 2 months ago and was pleasantly surprised.
I think it was a great book. I liked it even better than Christine.

**wally wonder** · July 30th, 2009

good question. cruising the brd, novels, in particular, trying to come up with an idea what to re-read next. was thinkin christine maybe, a favorite of mine, from a buick 8. christine. from a buick 8. i drive an unwashed pontiac. hmmmm. decisions. decisions. i was leaning toward christine. great story. arnie. all those meatheads. from a buick 8. more recent. there's more action in christine. from a buick 8, they're sitting around, telling tales. not bad. but not as exciting as christine. an easy read, though, buick 8. i could read buick 8 first, quickly, then move on to christine. could go visit the booktstore, too, pick up something else. but the bookstore isn't open right now and my shelves are in the other room....i'm thinkin i'm gonna pick christine off the shelf and read that first.

**wally wonder** · August 3rd, 2009

ended up picking 'the hellfire club' off the shelf. go figure. i think the sideview got to me. peter straub. below that, 'the hellfire club'. and in between are these yellow eyes in a pale face, so i took that off the shelf to give it a re-read. pretty good story. ought to check it out. sorry, off track i guess. so spank me.

**DogMom** · August 10th, 2009

I am one of those that really, really disliked From a Buick 8. It just seemed pointless. I couldn't even finish it, which has never happened to me. I finish every book I read. This one just bored me.