Just Read "The Mist"

Here Is a very formal review of the Mist. Be sure to catch The Mist in a film adapted version November 21, 2007.

Stephen King brings the reader into a new dimension of apocalyptic futures within the pages of The Mist. King originally published this novella as a portion of a collection of stories in The Skeleton Crew. This story about the trapped shoppers is now published as a single book, because of the theatrical release of The Mist in theatres this November. A good story exists when you feel for the characters, the environment, and situation. The story takes you within a small town near the coast of Maine during a horrendous heat wave. After a devastating storm a thick mist approaches ominously. The story is written in the first person of David Drayton, a local husband and father, who finds himself trapped in a convenience store with the son he loves and neighbor he despises. The mist consumes the store in an impenetrable thickness. The entire store must join together in order to survive the unknown beings in the mist.
The book takes a different look upon how people both ban together and separate in times of desperation. Analyzing the inner thoughts of David gives the reader a perspective of trust that almost anyone can relate to. King is capable of developing the characters in a way that makes you either love or loathe them. King introduces each character with the past interactions they’ve had with David. You develop your own bias towards them just from the little information David grants you into their lives. Since you’re trapped with the viewpoint of David only, you learn to live with his decisions, opinions, and attitudes. Overall I enjoy how King creates characters that you care about or wish unfortunate events on them.
The environment grants the characters an opportunity to interact with each other in distinctive ways unlike most stories. The majority of the novel leaves you ensnared within an ordinary store that is familiar to almost any reader. Having recognizable environment gives the reader an opportunity to create very vivid and picturesque mental images. King is very descriptive with his metaphors and similes. This makes probably the most impressive portion of this book with the ability to visual the environment and characters. Encased in the environment of the story is what people have become accustomed too. You can use and feel every sense used throughout this story.
The situation in this novel permits the characters to act in a sense of desperation and survival. They dig deep within themselves and pull out the best and worst characteristics. The whole situation with being forced to remain in closed quarters with people you care for or absolutely hate adds an interesting chance to analyze and observe the human interactions of distressed people. An interpretation of King’s message may be that people are more dangerous and evil than an unknown evil mist. King makes a point that people force themselves to create their own hostilities against each other rather than banning together until the end. Although this is a relatively short book, this offers a very unique addition to any type of survival thriller. The Mist is a nice comfortable read and a recommendation for anyone who enjoys Stephen King’s work. The book is also a great way to become introduced into any of the writings of Stephen King. This is the shortest publication under King’s name and works as a good sample if interested in some of his larger works. It will be very interesting to see how a book set in 1980 will translate into a modern movie. Purchase and read the book before seeing the film adaptation.