Elevation
Written by Stephen King
Narrated by Stephen King
4/5
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About this audiobook
From legendary master storyteller Stephen King, a riveting story about “an ordinary man in an extraordinary condition rising above hatred” (The Washington Post) and bringing the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine together—a “joyful, uplifting” (Entertainment Weekly) tale about finding common ground despite deep-rooted differences, “the sign of a master elevating his own legendary game yet again” (USA TODAY).
Although Scott Carey doesn’t look any different, he’s been steadily losing weight. There are a couple of other odd things, too. He weighs the same in his clothes and out of them, no matter how heavy they are. Scott doesn’t want to be poked and prodded. He mostly just wants someone else to know, and he trusts Doctor Bob Ellis.
In the small town of Castle Rock, the setting of many of King’s most iconic stories, Scott is engaged in a low grade—but escalating—battle with the lesbians next door whose dog regularly drops his business on Scott’s lawn. One of the women is friendly; the other, cold as ice. Both are trying to launch a new restaurant, but the people of Castle Rock want no part of a gay married couple, and the place is in trouble. When Scott finally understands the prejudices they face—including his own—he tries to help. Unlikely alliances, the annual foot race, and the mystery of Scott’s affliction bring out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.
“Written in masterly Stephen King’s signature translucent…this uncharacteristically glimmering fairy tale calls unabashedly for us to rise above our differences” (Booklist, starred review). Elevation is an antidote to our divisive culture, an “elegant whisper of a story” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), “perfect for any fan of small towns, magic, and the joys and challenges of doing the right thing” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
Editor's Note
Timely, upbeat, and eerie…
After decades being one of the biggest writers of our time, King continues to tread new ground in this surprisingly slim, uplifting novel. Filled with more hope than horror, it’s a melancholic, supernatural story about rising above differences and divides.
Stephen King
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
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Reviews for Elevation
1,610 ratings111 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Two stories had nothing to do with each other. Disappointed.
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A charming tale of humanity, no real horror here, just regular people in unusual circumstances. King’s narration was top-notch. I enjoyed this.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Very light and fluffy. Not bad, but I had a hard time seeing the point of “Elevation.” A cute conceit, but that was all. As for “Laurie”...again, hard to see this as anything but average.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stephen King is my all-time favorite author. And Elevation is one of his epic works. I really enjoyed reading it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5ok story... it felt very rushed. I kept expecting it to build up to something and then it just ended...
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Typical and classic King . Brilliant book .never disappoints. KING RULES.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When I first heard this book I was surprised that it was a Stephen King book. I'm so use to his horrors and instead I got a whole different sense. It was uplifting and nice. I would have thought he wasn't the real author not his style but the book is never the less pretty awesome! I liked it and enjoyed hearing it from King himself.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love when King reads his own work. You can feel the characters.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good discussion. I just couldn't get enough of the narration. and the ending though a
but unexpected, was satisfying.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ambas historias estuvieron interesantes, pero le faltó a Laurie un poco de contenido.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I liked the sorties but found Stephen King's voice a little monotonous
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5These stories fell flat for me. The concept of Elevation was interesting and sort of reminded me of something Joe Hill might have come up with (thinking Strange Weather here). Unfortunately it felt very rushed in terms of how relationships evolved and didn't go very deep into Scott's experiences.
Laurie was an ok little short but not my cup of tea.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The first story was okay. Why the second one? Pointless.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Elevation was good but I absolutely loved the bonus short Laurie!!!! Wonderful surprise
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5maybe i wasnt paying attention, but theres 2 stories to this audio book. elevation is light hearted story about a dark situation and Laurie is sweet. I enjoyed both very much, though not what i was expecting going in.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5the book was very interesting, kept me hooked for hours.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This audiobook contains 2 stories, Elevation and Laurie. I was happy to listen to it because it was narrated by Stephen King himself.
Elevation reminded me of a book King wrote years ago, Thinner. In both stories, an overweight man loses a great deal of weight. In Thinner, the weight loss was retribution for an insult, while in Elevation there was no explanation for the condition. I have to admit that Thinner had a more interesting plot than Elevation. Thinner also had a delishisly evil ending while Elevation was entirely character-driven. And, as Forrest Gump would say, that`s all I have to say about that.
Laurie is about the relationship between an old widower and a puppy. There is an adventure with an alligator. I`m not entirely sure what the point was about this story, except possibly how the relationship between a dog and a man can add meaning to a life that has become meaningless. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great stories wonderfully read by our very own SK.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5As with nearly every King book, I loved it. This one actually had some horror to it, which always earns a rave review!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5disappointed in this - I am glad it was short or I would not have finished it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Both stories weren't bad, if you want an easy light read this will do it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stephen King reading Stephen King always makes it feel more authentic. I love his short stories and these are no exceptions. Well told little bon mots that leave you wanting more. A great book for a short drive or a cool winter’s evening.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Left me wondering...what exactly was the point of all that? Very boring book to me in comparison with other masterpieces I've read.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I am a Stephen King fan, but this was truly not worth the time.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautiful little story! Enjoyed this different genre from Stephen King.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very clever, a fun listen with a sparkling ending. Bonus material was good too
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very good bite size novella by Stephen King. I always enjoy hearing him read his own work. Well worth a listen
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great! As usual he writes, I read, I enjoy! Bonus second story
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The first story was slow going, but the second was a little better. I have always been a Stephen king fan, and seeing how this was my first audiobook it was good.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The ending of elevation was expected but still surprising to say the least.