Road Work

by Stephen King

Genres: Horror, Fiction

Unknown Binding

About the author

Stephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.

Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.

He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.

Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.

Reviews

[Keeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book, it didn’t grip as much as previous Bachmann books.

But in saying that, the realism of how the Fred and George interactions were written, the fight between logical thought and emotional response was incredible. (I’m also believing for the rest of time Fred and George in this book inspired JK Rowling for Harry Potter)

I enjoyed the ending, how one person’s fight can seem so paramount throughout the entire book, only for it to be forgotten by others so soon… very poignant and very well written.

[Caleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was pretty sad. It plays out like the fantasy of a guy digging in his heels and refusing to let go of the past to the point of self annihilation. Brutal, pathetic, and somehow you can’t help but just kind of “get it”. Also it’s clear that between this book and Fire Starter that King started to do psychedelics right around this time.

[RaChelle Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Downloaded from my public library, I was looking for something to take my mind off the pandemic. This was not your regular "horror" offering, but it was horrific in a more quiet, sophisticated sense. Very sad, and, as usual, frightening in the respect that it easily could be a true slice of life.

[Reagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot had a good idea in there somewhere, but had no real stakes for me. I did not feel that the problem mattered that much, because nothing was fully explored. The concept being good was all this had going for it. I did not care about the characters at all. These characters are not interesting or motivated by anything in particular. When there is a shootout in a book, I would like to know why. If a character is crazy, I'm going to need to see that instead of reading "Wow, he sure is crazy". The setting had potential, but was not utilized well. The isolation of the suburbs could have been cool if anything was done with it but it remained unexamined. The writing was good at times, but was confusing, disjointed and boring. Definitely did not feel like a King book. The ending was not unexpected but felt like it was dragging out a story I wanted to end 100 pages ago. It was not exciting and Dawes is not a hero, so it does not feel like a satisfying ending. It is an unstable man harming innocent people. Final Rating- 1 out of 5 stars 

[Brad Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second time reading this novel (the first time was 15 years ago approximately), so it's always good to read with new insight. I'm not going to touch too much on the Bachman/King facts, so I'll just jump into the story & review without spoiling much.

This book is short but very intense. It starts off with our protagonist going into a gun store to buy guns, for reasons which are unknown to us yet. The state plans to build a highway extension through his home. The rest of the book is mostly him making and going through with his plans to make a statement. That's about all I'm going to say as far as the plot goes.

I particularly enjoyed this one quite a lot, based on the intensity and the plotline not slowing down. The only reason why I gave it four stars instead of five is because of the intensity that might not sit well with some modern readers today. I'd still recommend this one, though, as the uneasy tones it gives just keep you wanting more.

-Brad

[E.T. Rook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Stephen Kings sense of humor. So right on about everything. And Road Work is written with a broad humor, and you know from the beginning that Barton Dawes is going down. but you're not totally sure, and that's the suspense Mr. King so carefully and fully creates, leaving the reader suspecting, and expecting with every turn of the page. Only criticism is the book is a bit long, at times, borderline tedious, but enough of a thriller to capture attention and sustain it. I think we can all relate to losing something or someone we cherish, and have worked for our whole lives. For the comedic character development, and the pure compassion in the story so suspensefully drawn, would recommend this read.

[Reeree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was okay I didn't really enjoy the tone but it's not his usual tone he's writing under a synonym the story is about a man who cannot adjust to change in his life I'm not saying this is not a good story it is a great story about a man who cannot adjust to changing of time and many elderly people now.days can you change the tones of the story I like the supporting characters in this story I do not like the main character though he's quite an asshole but that's kind of the point

[Mariah scary · Rating 1 out of 5]

A weird story set in the '70s about a middle-aged white man and his decline into crazyville because the city wants to take his house so that a highway extension can be built. I did like the part about olivia, the transient hitchhiker on her way to vegas. She gives him some great a mescaline that he takes at a New Year's party in trips balls.

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

One can see the earliest style of writing & characterization of an as yet nascent Stephen King in this novel. Creative & interesting as it is, the text lacks the subtle & deft writing style for which King has become known. A must read for any die hard fans (myself included) but for casual readers, don't worry if you don't read it

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Listened to audiobook*

Not a typical scary horror book in the way you think. A man basically loses everything, at least in his mind, and takes matters into his own hands. Can't say it's a new favorite, but it's still Stephen King.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

MANN I loved this book. I’m not sure why it’s so underrated and no one talks about it much but in my opinion it’s one of the best books king has wrote. Liked it more than most of his popular ones despite it not being really horror atleast not in a fantasy way but it’s a true life horror.

[Joshua Sprinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a teenager, and, at the time, it was probably my least favorite of The Bachman Books collection (sure wish I'd held onto that). Hits differently as an old man. That said, I do wish there were half stars here.

[Patrick Jett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't read unless you're in a good place. Kind of depressing examination of a mid life crisis. Good but not enjoyable if that makes sense. I'd rank 3.5 but definitely not 4. Well written. Just sad and I didn't really need sad right now.

[Keion · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Stephen King, but he truly writes differently when he writes as Bachman. I found this book to just drag on and on... I wind up abandoning it.

[Travis Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say other than i enjoyed it for what it was. Which is a good book about a man that has taken too much in life.

[Connor Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, it was a good book just not my favorite from king.

[Jason Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

As king fan I am kind of biased, and am currently working on a reread of all kings books in publication order. I would recommend this book regardless, I really enjoyed it.

[Thebookiemonster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Stephen King. I loved the atmosphere, the emotion, and the small-town vibes. Short and sweet...no real negatives for me.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a stand + Insanity

[Steph Calvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got completely sucked into this story of the mental downward spiral as a 40 year old begins to lose it all.

[Noen Nguyen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to give this book a second chance but it's just too boring and tedious. This is not one of his good works.

[twisted_illustrator · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I could think half way through this book is how pathetic Dawes is. I understood his feeling of having lost the good ole days, but in wanting to grasp at the past he detonated his present life.

[Michael Rebar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring, but a unique story.