Sometimes a story isn’t really about what it seems…
Sure, Cujo is the dog’s name. So there is indeed a dog. And yes, the dog is the “monster” in this horror story, even though he was a sweet dog initially (and for most of his life).
But is the dog the only monster? There’s a lot to be scared about. And the dog is one of these things, not even the scariest thing.
Do you remember being a child, afraid of that monster in your closet? Or perhaps your monster used to live under the bed? Did you ever need the lights on all night long so you could sleep in peace?
The thing is, we grow up. And sometimes, we aren’t scared of monsters anymore. We think we know better. But the world is full of monsters.
“The world was full of monsters, and they were all allowed to bite the innocent and the unwary.”
And these scary monsters don’t discriminate, they’re out to get you.
One of the most unsettling feelings for an adult is when one of the things you’re certain about isn’t certain at all. You know it to be a particular way, but really, you’re just plain wrong.
A good dog would never bite.
A good wife would never cheat.
A successful advertising account would never be in trouble.
A countryside mechanic is always at home.
Monsters aren’t real.
You’re safe, and nothing can get you.
All those certainties… all that control. All gone. All non-existent.
Cujo is one of those books that can easily be called a page-turner. Even though this wasn’t my first reading of Cujo, I couldn’t help myself. I knew what would happen (although I must confess, I could not remember all the details), and still, I couldn’t stop reading.
And I couldn’t stop hoping that things would go differently. They didn’t. The book was still the same, and the ending was still the same.
I’m a good decade (or a bit more) older, though. I’m in a different season of my life. So the story hit somewhat differently. That’s the power of re-reading a book. If you’ve never done it yourself, I can’t recommend it enough. It even works (sometimes) with books that you didn’t like in the past. But beware, it can also mean completely changing your view of a book you used to love.
Cujo is a thrilling, compelling, and all-encompassing story. You’ll find yourself praying for the gods of destiny to make things just so and turning the page to see if your prayers were answered.
Do I like Stephen King because he writes scary stories? Yes, I do. Let’s be real here: I love a scary story. And King is the guy to go to for your dose of thriller and horror.
But the main reason I like him is because he writes about you, me, our neighbour, and ordinary people. He writes about characters you can love, despise and everything in between. He makes it possible for you to care about the people in the story, about what happens to them. And that’s really what pulls the reader into the story and keeps you there until you hit that last page. Sometimes, looking for more and thirsty for more. Cujo is one of these books.
Get your copy on Amazon US or Amazon UK (affiliate links).
Do you like the stories you see on Medium?
Become a Medium Member today and get full access to every story on Medium — no limits! Your membership fee directly supports the writers you read.