Who is the perpetrator of the crime?
A dim-witted giant, Clay Blaisdell – aka Blaze – makes a living by petty theft. His life changes when he meets George Rackley, who treats the hero only as a tool to achieve his goals, but also provides him with company (which suits these two very well, at least for a while). Together, they implement a plan to kidnap the six-month-old heir to a great fortune. However, the carefully planned action quickly becomes complicated. George dies, and Blaze, realizing his handicaps, starts looking for an accomplice. Undoubtedly, he is unable to cope on his own. To the reader’s surprise, Blaze receives help from a deceased friend… Stephen King, on behalf of Richard Bachman, opens the book with an “introduction” that masterfully reveals the story of the novel (and more). At first contact, the reader is also delighted with the hardcover edition, the unusual graphic design of the cover by Mariusz Banachowicz and the translation by Michał Juszkiewicz. Importantly, an e-book and an audiobook are also available (read by Leszek Filipowicz), for which the Albatros publishing house deserves huge applause! Readers who don’t have a lot of shelf space will definitely appreciate these conveniences!
Through the reviewer’s eye
When you hold Blaze in your hands , keep in mind that this is first and foremost a detective story. King leads the reader through plot meanders in a characteristic way, sparing no details and flashbacks. I especially liked the portrayal of the main character and his tragicomic story. Emotions that accompany the reader while reading can be varied: from curiosity, through grief and sadness, to laughter. Blaze is a bit of a detective story, a bit of a vice, a bit of a guide and a bit of … King. However, there are a few downsides to note. blazeIt keeps you in suspense for a short time, sometimes a bit boring, sometimes funny. I’m guessing that the work was primarily intended to evoke sympathy (among others, King mentions this in the introduction). Unfortunately, this was not entirely successful. And next. I am not a fan of flashbacks – they often confuse the reader who, looking for the source of aggression/sadness/anger/euphoria of the heroine, gets lost in the presented events. In Blazeoften these flashbacks seem to be forced – following the protagonist, being involved in a certain action, feeling the tension, we suddenly return to the past and … learn about the story, the course of which could (!) have an impact on the further fate of the protagonist. Memoirs resemble biographical notes and in the end – I think you will agree with me – they can be considered redundant. At the same time, one should not forget that King forgot about this book for almost 30 years (this is how long, according to the author’s words, the manuscript was at the bottom of the drawer), which probably influenced its final version (the author’s workshop, I suppose, evolved over time).
Welcome to this world, newcomer!
Reading Blaze stays in the reader forever. Clay’s story quickly sinks into the memory, and the emotions aroused while reading cannot be suppressed. King plays a guessing game with the viewer, the rules of which only he knows: if you want to know the finale of the story, you have to be patient – the best comes at the end: we find out whether Blaze’s plan was successful and whether it was worth reading a book over three hundred pages to find out know the solution. The novel will not appeal to readers thirsty for crazy chases, twists and plot masquerades. It is a story that encourages individual reflection. So Blaze isn’t for everyone. I do not recommend the book, especially to those who want to start their adventure with King’s literature from it.
