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    Elevation
    Elevation
    Elevation
    Audiobook3 hours

    Elevation

    Written by Stephen King

    Narrated by Stephen King

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Winner of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateOct 30, 2018
    ISBN9781508260486
    Author

    Stephen King

    Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Never Flinch, the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), 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

    4/5

    1,748 ratings119 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a mix of opinions. Some readers were disappointed and found the book boring, while others enjoyed the different genre and uplifting nature of the stories. Many readers appreciated Stephen King's narration and storytelling skills. Some readers felt that the book lacked the usual horror elements they expect from King's works. Overall, readers found the book to be a decent read, with a mix of feel-good stories and unexpected endings.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      Two stories had nothing to do with each other. Disappointed.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A 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

    • 3/5
      Very 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

    • 4/5
      Stephen 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

    • 3/5
      ok story... it felt very rushed. I kept expecting it to build up to something and then it just ended...

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Typical and classic King . Brilliant book .never disappoints. KING RULES.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      When 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

    • 5/5
      I love when King reads his own work. You can feel the characters.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Good discussion. I just couldn't get enough of the narration. and the ending though a
      but unexpected, was satisfying.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I liked the sorties but found Stephen King's voice a little monotonous

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      These 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

    • 1/5
      The first story was okay. Why the second one? Pointless.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Elevation was good but I absolutely loved the bonus short Laurie!!!! Wonderful surprise

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      maybe 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

    • 4/5
      This was a fun new book by Stephen King. I pre-ordered it on Audible, and I was lucky enough to have just finished my last audiobook when this became available! It was read by King, himself. That's always fun, having the author read his or her own work, because they know exactly how the story should sound. I enjoy listening to King, because he's not a trained voice actor, and his voice is actually not one of those you'd really CRAVE to listen to.... but he was better than respectable, doing a very nice job of keeping the various characters' voices straight. I was impressed!
      The story itself was not what some would consider "typical" Stephen King stuff... that is, it wasn't a horror or thriller novel, in the traditional sense. However, what was happening to the main character, Scott Carey, was, in my opinion, spooky. It was a good read, and I really enjoyed it!
      I think the reason I'm not giving it a full 5 stars is because it was a little on the short side. I've gotten so used to reading epic novels by King, that when something of his doesn't take me more than a couple of days, I almost feel cheated. (That is, of course, unless it's a novella or short story, and I know that going into it.... then I'm ready for a 'quickie' from him. But in this case, I think I was hoping for more....) Still, I'd definitely recommend it!
    • 4/5
      Engaging story as per usual with King, but my god, he does not know how running races work at all
    • 4/5
      This novella is a very easy and quick read, with almost no conflict that is usually found in Stephen King books. In fact, it's kind of nice. The weird thing that happens to the main character Scott doesn't seem bad, in fact, he even mentions that it should happen to more people. I found it to be a very positive and touching story that was kind of reduced to its bare elements, but I am glad I did not pay full price for it.
    • 5/5
      A lovely meditation on life... and death. At times the message is a bit forced, but a great read. Thank you, Mr. King
    • 4/5
      I actually read this over this weekend, it just languished in my reading like for weeks, ignored.

      I liked this story, and these characters. It's short and a bit poignant. King has that gift for giving you a slow burn to enevitability, even in a very short story.
    • 4/5
      Funny story, I was all excited to recommend this to people at work who were wondering what they hype was about Stephen King.

      No monsters
      Nothing scary
      Important life lessons
      Good ol' Stephen King prose
      Oatmeal for brains got eaten by an alligator

      Well, there goes that plan.

      Seriously Stephen there were 5 minutes left, we could just be vague. *sigh*

      However the first story revolves around acceptance of a lesbian couple and magic weight loss. 100% does not feel like virtue signaling. I was a little murky on why becoming BFFs was super important to the MC, but it felt very earned as the story brings its resolution.

      I'm totally going to go fill the holes in my Stephen King reading. brb.
    • 5/5
      An amazing novella!! Very quirky, whimsical.....and more than aliitle sad. A very quick read.....this would be a good choice for a short flight.
    • 5/5
      I liked this story alot, love it that he narrated it himself
    • 5/5
      the book was very interesting, kept me hooked for hours.
    • 3/5
      This 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.
    • 5/5
      Great stories wonderfully read by our very own SK.
    • 5/5
      As with nearly every King book, I loved it. This one actually had some horror to it, which always earns a rave review!
    • 2/5
      disappointed in this - I am glad it was short or I would not have finished it.
    • 5/5
      Both stories weren't bad, if you want an easy light read this will do it.
    • 4/5
      Stephen 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.
    • 2/5
      Left me wondering...what exactly was the point of all that? Very boring book to me in comparison with other masterpieces I've read.