A gripping read - couldn't put it down! (Blaze - Richard Bachman)

Member Name: bigh11

Product:	Blaze - Richard Bachman
Date:	02/06/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great character, interesting story

Disadvantages: I personally can't think of any

Somebody gave this book to my boyfriend over a year ago and it's just been lying around ever since. I was bored one day and had nothing to read so thought I'd give it ago. I'm so very glad that I did.

I can't understand why some people have given it a low rating and why King himself says it's not that great. I was absolutely hooked; I read it in about 7 hours straight and was desperate to know what happened next. Each to their own I guess!

I haven't read many of Stephen Kings other books so I can't really compare the writing style but I found this really easy to read once I got past the first chapter.

What's the story about?

Blaze AKA Clayton Blaisdells Jnr was a bright young boy until his abusive father threw him down the stairs leaving him with a dent in his forehead and ever since then he was known as a "dummy." He was a huge man, over 6 foot tall and weighed over 200 pounds but he was gentle with it.

He and his friend George are trying to pull the ultimate con, kidnapping a baby in order to demand ransom money from his wealthy family. The only problem is George is dead and he was the brains behind the operation. Can Blaze pull it off on his own?

The story flicks between the present and Blaze growing up. It flows very well and I enjoyed reading about his past as it made you understand what he's all about and why he leads a life of crime.

I had a lot of empathy for Blaze, I really warmed to his character and I was rooting for him all the way through the book.

The story with George was really interesting, he was dead yet Blaze continued to have conversations with him so it made you wonder if he really was dead or if Blaze was just insane.

Seeing Blaze bond with the baby was very heart warming and made you realise despite the fact that he is a criminal he isn't a bad person, he just got lost and had a lot of bad breaks.

Overall I found the book gripping and well written. I found the ending a little predictable but I don't think that took anything away from it. Well worth a read.

Summary: A great little story that had me hooked til the end