Very early on in my life, I believe that Christine was one of the first horror movies I ever saw. Not the first, as I remember which movie that was, but it still belongs to one of my earliest horror memories. It was great to finally read the original novel, and I loved it.

One of the things I enjoy about Stephen King's writing is how it seems like he'll base a story around something personal to himself but then find a way to also make it into something warped and suspenseful.

This story is a perfect example: Ever since the greasers in the 1950s, it's been a staple in society that some teenagers are very enthusiastic about their first car. It's a thing of pride, almost like a sign of their coming of age, and it can be a way to be cooler, become more popular, and gain some social status. The way most of the chapters in this book start with quotes from different songs about men and their cars speaks to this, and there are even more examples, such as Queen's song I'm in Love With My Car.

It's just that King is a master of looking at these well-known aspects of life and going: “But what if we make it scary?” He turns the old notion of a boy being overly obsessed with his car into a scenario of a boy literally possessed by his car, and what is usually a mildly unhealthy addiction in real life becomes something incredibly dangerous in this story.

His stories are both literal and symbolic at the same time in that respect. Don't get me wrong, I fully believe that King writes these novels with the intention of creating genuinely suspenseful stories, but I think there is still some room for interpretation. Arnie's development from being a harmless and unpopular geek to what he later becomes is probably how it feels for many parents when they think that their own children are starting to stay out for too long every night, possibly dabbling with drugs and getting themselves in trouble. Then there are other elements like love triangles and jealousies among teenagers who are becoming interested in sex and dating. Again, King just takes that a step further and turns it into something genuinely evil.

The writing is prime King. Not to say anything about his later novels, but I feel like Christine was published around the time he couldn't even accidentally bump into his typewriter with an elbow without writing a bestseller. He is great at establishing these characters, giving them three dimensions, and making you emotionally invested in them. He's amazing at setting up an intense moment and drawing out the suspense. He is the master of establishing suburban life where it often feels like there are no clear main characters, just very fleshed-out supporting characters, and some of them are a tad more involved in the main plot. (I exaggerate a little bit, of course)

In terms of movie adaptations, in the sense that there have been some hits and misses, it makes absolute sense to me that this was not only a very logical story to adapt but also that it became a fairly successful one at that.

As a side note to that, I thought it was strangely ironic that not only did King dedicate this novel to George A. Romero (with whom he made the Creepshow and who also directed The Dark Half) and George's wife, but also named the car after said wife, and then John Carpenter became one to direct the adaptation.

A great read – or, if you will, a fun ride!