Castle Rock is a small town, where word gets around quickly. That's why Scott Carey wants to confide only in his friend Doctor Bob Ellis about his strange condition: he's losing weight, without getting thinner, and the scales register the same when he is in his clothes or out of them, however heavy they are.
Castle Rock is a small town, where word gets around quickly. That's why Scott Carey wants to confide only in his friend Doctor Bob Ellis about his strange condition: he's losing weight, without getting thinner, and the scales register the same when he is in his clothes or out of them, however heavy they are.
Scott also has new neighbours, who have opened a 'fine dining experience' in town, although it's an experience being shunned by the locals; Deirdre McComb and her wife Missy Donaldson don't exactly fit in with the community's expectations. And now Scott seems trapped in a feud with the couple over their dogs dropping their business on his lawn. Missy may be friendly, but Deirdre is cold as ice.
As the town prepares for its annual Thanksgiving 12k run, Scott starts to understand the prejudices his neighbor's face and he tries to help. Unlikely alliances form and the mystery of Scott's affliction bring out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.
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[SCOTT CAREY KNOCKED ON the door of the Ellis condo unit, and Bob Ellis (everyone in Highland Acres still called him Doctor Bob, though he was five years retired) let him in]***
(Hodder & Stoughton, 31 October 2018, 132 pages, hardback, #popsugarreadingchallenge 2019, your favourite prompt from a past popsugar reading challenge (a book that's under 150 pages), bought from Amazon)
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Elevation is a cracking read. I loved it. King is one of my favourite writers so I am a little biased. This short novel tackles homophobia, small town prejudices and post-Trump America, a bold move which King pulls off perfectly. The core of the story is Scott's strange and incredibly sad story. How can he weight less and less and not get any thinner? King doesn't provide answers but I really felt for Scott. I loved the way Scott sets out to befriend his lesbian neighbours when he realises they are being shunned by the locals and their business is set to fail. It's a bit twee how Scott manages to turn everything around but I love a bit of twee now and then. Elevation impressed me and the ending is heart-breaking.
