My Thoughts on 'Pet Sematary' - A Chilling Read

I still remember overhearing my classmates talking about horror books in school, and one title that stuck with me was 'Pet Sematary'. They said it was so scary that they couldn't even read it during the day, let alone at night. I made a mental note to read it someday.

Fast forward to about a year ago, I finally bought the book at 'Chayka-gorod' and read it. But it's taken me this long to write my review. So, let's get started! The story revolves around a family - Rachel and Louis Creed (they have two kids: a toddler named Gage and a preschooler named Ellie) who move from the hustle and bustle of Chicago to a small town in Maine called Ludlow. Louis gets a job as a doctor at the local college's medical center and starts to settle into the community. He befriends an elderly neighbor named Jud, who often shares local stories with Louis and eventually shows him the infamous 'Pet Sematary' - a cemetery for pets (if I'm being precise, it's actually spelled as 'Pet Sematary' with a slight misspelling, which is consistent with the original book and its closest translation, which, coincidentally, is the one I bought).

The book starts with a preface, epilogue, and is divided into three parts, which you can see in the photos above. We've got classic King here, the same guy who wrote 'Salem's Lot and loves to drag out his stories, getting into detailed descriptions of everyday life and emotions, like the joy of buying a new sweater. The first part was a total snooze-fest, with weird, completely out-of-place, and not scary attempts at suspense. The second part was way better, but I wasn't scared at all. It was a bit creepy reading the third part, but I never felt genuine fear while reading those moments. I guess some people find this book scary because of the triggering theme of death and the possibility of coming back from the other side. But that stuff doesn't scare me, so for me, this story isn't scary at all. Now, let's talk about the characters in the novel. The main guy's a typical doctor type - sometimes he's repulsive, sometimes he's relatable, and sometimes he's just a regular dude who's gotten himself into a crazy situation. His wife's a pretty normal homemaker and mom of two, and their kids - a little boy named Gage and a curious girl named Ellie - are just your average kids. Then there's his buddy, Jude, who lives with his wife, Mrs. Crandall, in Ludlow. Jude's a local who's been living there his whole life, so he's got a ton of stories about the town. All the characters are pretty ordinary, but they're well-developed. The author does a great job of getting inside their heads and showing their fears, traumas, and anxieties. The characters feel real and authentic, like they're actual people.

I have to say, the writing style in this book is eerily familiar - it's like getting sucked into a Stephen King novel, where you're bogged down in descriptions of everyday life with just a few misplaced suspenseful moments thrown in. I've only read three of King's books so far: this one, 'Pet Sematary', and 'Carrie'. The last one was a total departure from the others - 'Carrie' has a super fast-paced writing style and a plot that unfolds quickly, it's like a completely different author wrote it. In contrast, 'Pet Sematary' and 'Rose' have a nice writing style, but it's just too slow and sleepy for my taste.

I have to say, this book really makes you think about the big questions in life. Stephen King dives into the relationship between life and death, and how they're connected, yet also polar opposites. It's a tough one to wrap your head around - how do you live with the knowledge that your life, or someone close to you, could be cut short at any moment? What do you do when you can't accept the loss of a loved one? King tries to find some answers, and let's just say he comes up with some pretty unexpected conclusions (you'll have to read the book to find out what they are). There are a ton of tough social and philosophical issues raised in 'The Cemetery', and I think everyone will find something that resonates with them. For me, it's a reminder that sometimes our curiosity can be a bad thing - if we're not careful, it can lead us down a path that's not good for us. At least, that's the lesson I took away from this book.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who's struggling to come to terms with someone's death. This story might just help you process your loss - and let's be honest, the alternative to death is even scarier in this novel. Plus, this book is an incredibly immersive experience that drops you right into the middle of a small, dark town with secrets lurking beneath the surface. At first glance, it's just a typical American town in a typical American state - nothing out of the ordinary. But scratch beneath the surface, and you might uncover stories that'll leave you feeling a little spooked. To be clear, the book didn't scare me, but there were some seriously unsettling moments that were more impressive because of the atmosphere they created.

Image 1 Image 2 What really stood out to me was how cozy this novel is. The 'Cemetery' is full of descriptions of everyday life, a regular family's simple existence. At the same time, these descriptions both charmed and irritated me: on one hand, I wanted to get to the plot, the 'most terrifying and disgusting' part, but on the other hand, there were times when I wanted to slow down my reading and enjoy the atmosphere of everyday life and the quiet rhythm of the family's life. Family picnics, dinners, outings, meetings with friends - it's all there in 'Cemetery'. The plot, though a bit dragged out, is generally well-structured, the characters are well-developed, and the ending, though open, is still conclusive.

I've gotta say, the supernatural elements in this mystery novel are top-notch. It's not your run-of-the-mill fantasy that requires a PhD in world-building, but the author still manages to weave in some serious mythology. He draws heavily from Native American folklore, which adds a layer of depth and atmosphere to the story. The result is a creepy, immersive read that's hard to put down.

One thing that's worth mentioning is the print edition of the book. I paid around 350 rubles for it, and to be honest, that's a bit steep for a book with such thin, yellowed paper. I only bought it for the translation, which is supposed to be the most accurate one out there. If I'm being honest, I wish I'd ordered it from a cheaper source because 350 rubles for a book with this quality of paper is just daylight robbery. That being said, the print edition is actually pretty cool, and I like the cover and overall design.

I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars because it dragged on a bit and wasn't scary enough for my taste. I mean, I was hoping for a proper horror story, but it was more like a good mystery novel with some spooky elements. I'd still recommend it, but not as a horror book.

Thanks for reading, folks! If you liked this review, please give it a like and check out my other book reviews: For fans of cozy, atmospheric books: 'Chocolat' by Joanne Harris

For those who enjoy light, mystical, and eerie stories: 'In the Web of the Ladder', Anna Chai

For thriller fans: 'The Stepford Wives', Ira Levin