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‘It was a dirty world, and the longer you lived, the dirtier you got.��

Blaze is a hauntingly tragic novel that showcases Stephen King’s ability to craft compelling character driven narratives, even when he steps outside the supernatural realm. Written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, the book is a departure from King’s usual fare, focusing instead on the inner turmoil of a man whose life has been shaped by tragedy and abuse.

The protagonist, Clayton “Blaze�� Blaisdell, is a large, mentally impaired man whose tragic backstory unfolds alongside a present day crime scheme. However, the real heart of the novel lies not in the crime itself but in Blaze’s internal world, a man whose misfortunes have left him in the margins of society, yearning for connection and grappling with loneliness.

King does a masterful job of portraying Blaze as a deeply sympathetic figure, despite his involvement in the crime. His backstory is riddled with heartbreak. The plot flips between past and present, offering a fuller picture of Blaze’s life and how his innocence was slowly chipped away by a cruel world.

The pacing is tight, with King maintaining a sense of tension throughout, but unlike many of his other works, Blaze is more introspective than action packed. The crime element is secondary to the psychological and emotional exploration of the protagonist.

What makes Blaze particularly striking is its humanity. King allows the reader to sit with the uncomfortable reality that Blaze is both victim and perpetrator. There’s a sadness woven into the narrative that lingers long after the book is closed, especially as it becomes clear that Blaze’s aspirations for a better life are as unattainable as his grasp on reality.

Blaze may not be as widely celebrated as some of King’s other novels, but it’s a quietly powerful entry in his bibliography. It’s a story about loneliness, the impact of trauma, and the small tragedies that accumulate over a lifetime.

If you’re looking for something more introspective and emotionally resonant from King, this book delivers in spades.

I Highly Recommend.