Arnie Cunningham is a social outcast whose life shifts when he buys a rusted 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine. As Arnie spends his time restoring the car, his personality begins to warp, mimicking the aggressive and possessive traits of the vehicle’s previous owner. The car possesses a supernatural consciousness, healing its own metallic damage while seeking lethal revenge on Arnie’s bullies. This creates a rift between Arnie and his only friend, Dennis, who watches as the car exerts a physical and mental grip on its teenage owner.
Fans of supernatural thrillers and classic Americana read this for its portrayal of obsessive relationships and suburban isolation. The story connects the freedom of car culture with the violence of adolescent jealousy and masculine rage. Readers take away a cynical view of nostalgia and a specific look at how an inanimate object can dismantle a person’s identity. It serves as a study of small-town dynamics and the technical details of vintage automotive restoration used as a backdrop for high-tension horror.
Clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1983
- Language
- EN
Quotes by Stephen King
More →Books are a uniquely portable magic.
On Writing
The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.
The Body
