Rating: 
Summary: The best for last
Review: If this really is King's last real novel (the forthcoming Dark Tower books don't quite count), then he's going out with style and grace. "From A Buick 8" is a wonderfully gripping read, full of the creepy crawlies, but mostly it's a moving, melancholy meditation on time and loss, more "Green Mile" than "Christine". His command of character and flow are wondrous at times. You believe in these people; you can see them, you know them. I've always thought that was his great gift and the real secret to his popularity--his people live in the same world we do. In them, we recognize ourselves (and our landscapes), and somehow that provides solace, as if we're finally being seen and understood. (It's similar to what Springsteen does.) The scary stuff was always secondary. Anyway, this one's awfully fine. It kept me up nights--and there's really nothing better in the world than a book that keeps you up nights. (It's like having a secret power source, and is almost as rare.) There are more subtle writers in the world, but there's not another who's given me more pure pleasure. I always feel wide awake when I'm reading Stephen King, as if I'm reading with my whole self. Being one of his Constant Readers has been one of the best relationships of my life. We sort of grew up together. I think he really means it about not publishing anything else, and that's a loss destined to be as resonant for me as the ones he details so beautifully in this last, best book.
Rating:
Summary: No '54' Buicks In The Near Future For Me!
Review: The premise in "From A Buick 8" by (the true master of this genre), Stephen King, is one of life filled with Buick/Crazy 8's; phenomena that confuse us, mysterious happenings that we don't understand. "From A Buick 8" provides the reader with an interesting portrayal of police ways and subplots; (ie:loyalty, family and forming unbreakable bonds.) Loved the story, but have to say, I foresee no '54' Red Buicks in the immediate future for me! (jusk kidding!)
Rating: 
Summary: A volatile ride in a garaged car
Review: Stephen King is a great storyteller. When he creates a character like Ned Wilcox, you can feel the depth of pain and emotion in a teenager trying to cope with the sudden loss of his father. Then he uses the same extraordinary writing talent to present us with a 1954 Buick Roadmaster that's not a car but a machine from another dimension. You know it can't be real, but when the three state cops from Troop D start to dissect the bat-like think that comes out of the Buick's trunk, your stomach muscles will tighten as if it was actually happening.King also evokes great memories for a child of the 50s. A dog named Mister Dillon, the old sarge named Shoendienst, Arkey the big Swede who sounds just like Lawrence Welk and the Buick 8 itself take you right back to the Eisenhower era even though the story starts in 1979. When Brian the low life torments his arresting officer with an insult from their high school days, the chant of "Fat Eddie Jack You Boys" will stick in your head for days. In contrast to "Hearts in Atlantis", however, the Buick 8 isn't quite as interesting as the 50s non-cars that came for Ted Brautigan. This story spends a lot more time on the car than the lives of those affected by it, slowing it down a bit in the middle. When Sandy Dearborn, "the new sarge", is sitting in an old diner, looking at the countertop jukebox selector and listening to obscure rock 'n roll tunes like Johnny Ace's "Pledging My Love", he tells us that "life in Statler PA bears Christly little resemblance to the Hallmark Hall of Fame." Right, but did we need the supernatural Buick parked in Shed B for twenty-two years to reach that conclusion? Probably not, but King still makes you glad you came along for the ride.
Rating:
Summary: King still has it!
Review: After reading Dreamcatcher, King's last novel which i felt was pretty cool but a little bloated at times, I was looking forward to reading this book the minute I heard about it, and believe me I couldn't wait to get started. I am visually impaired, so I am very pleased that Simon and Schuster Audio produced this book unabridged on cd and casette. I found the packaging of the cds to be quite confusing at first, but I'm here to talk about the book, so i'll stick to that. I'll not waste everyone's time giving you an outline of what the book is about since I'm willing to bet you've probably already seen the book description. This book is *not* another Christine. Yes, it's about an evil car or what perports to be a car, but that's where the similarities end here. The audio version of this book was quite nice. It was different because usually, one person reads the entire book from start to finish, but in this case, there were 5 different narators, one even read 2 different character's parts. They all did a great job of portraying their characters and after a while, you knew exactly who was talking when. My only real gripe with this story is that King has this real thing with the dark tower universe. In every story he writes now, there is always some sort of element of it in there. From the Tommyknockers to Rose Matter, that "other world" thing is getting to be a bit old, but somehow, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I thought it might bother me more, but it didn't. Overall, I would say give this book a read, and if you've never tried reading it on casette or cd before, it's worth the extra bucks. Definitely a gripping read, especially near the end. It does take a while to get into the characters, but if you stick with it, i think you will be rewarded. There are also a few very unexpected twists and turns I found refreshing in a story like this. In short, buy it. You'll like it. Especially if you liked King's other books.
Rating: 
Summary: Why a car?
Review: I have read the book, and the story was not too bad, but like Hearts In Atlantis he (King) does not quite manage to bring the story anywhere, and this occures to you just after reading the first chapters. It is a bit "out there", and off course it is ment to be, but did it have to be a car?? Could it not instead have been some "alien"-thing found, something really NOT of this world? Something no one had ever seen before, like the "droppings" of the car, perhaps. I finnished the book, off course, because you get a little curious, and you want to know what this "car" turns out to be the gateway to -which, off course again, you do not. King gives you a hint, but nothing rememberable. So, if you are a King-fan, this one might disappoint you a little. Not that it is bad written, it is simply just missing the usual touch one expects from King, and I really got the impression he has done it a little too easy for himself this time. This book has an end that does not reveal much, if amything at all...
Rating:
Summary: ...Satisfaction brought her back...
Review: From a Buick 8 finds Stephen King returning to the horror genre again. It was after the publication of this book that King announced his "retirement" - he feels that he's begun to copy himself, writing ANOTHER EVIL CAR story. Well, even so, From a Buick 8 is pretty good. It isn't so much an "evil car story" as it is about State Police Troopers and the lives they lead. One day, twenty years ago, someone (an alien) abandons what seems to be a Buick at a gas station in western Pennsylvania. The police confiscate it and soon discover that it isn't a car at all. The central conceit of the book is how the police (unforgivably, if you ask me) keep an alien machine to themselves, despite how dangerous it is. King has mellowed with age. His characters are older and more sedate. The story itself is fairly laid-back, although terrible things do happen. However, it doesn't have the kinetic energy of King's early work, and I think that is what the negative reviews are responding to. It is still a good, scary book however. King has not lost his touch for characterization or creating a richly detailed and researched world - you feel you know what it is like to be a State Trooper at the end of this. If you are a Stephen King fan, you will enjoy this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I've read a ton of books, but interestingly enough I had never read a Stephen King until this past month. I saw this at a local store and thought it looked interesting, especially because I drive an older car myself.
This book drew me in from the start. I thought the characters were very well-developed and I felt connected to them in a way. When this happens to me you know it's a good book.
Once I finish the book I'm reading now I'm definitely getting another King. This one got me hooked for life.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Good At All
Review: I love Stephen King.....at least I used to. I have read a lot of King's works and loved most all of them. But, recently it seems that his novels are starting out well and captivating the reader, but by midway through it leaves you wondering why you are reading this. This book is no exception. It doesn't hold the reader enough to make them want to finish the book. Unlike King's earlier works that the reader simply cannot put down or the reader has ngihtmares about! This is not one of those books.
If you are reading King for the first time...DO NOT read this one. Try Dolores Claiborne, Carrie, or Everything's Eventual instead. The last is the best sample of true King works.
I gave it 2 stars, but if it weren't King writing it would have gotten less than 1. Sorry Stevie, I love ya, but we need to get back to the good stuff!
Rating:
Summary: King has written much better, but also much worse
Review: I've had this book since it was published a few years ago and finally got around to reading it. The cause for my delay -- bad word of mouth from reviews and friends. I was very glad to discover that most of it was not correct -- although, it wasn't totally incorrect.
The story revolves around a mysterious car held in a shack behind a police station in a small quiet town. The story is told in flashbacks through the eyes of several characters in the novel. After the first half of the book is over, you realize that you feel as if you're reading about watching a slide show. Each episode lasts a chapter or two and the following chapters have little to do with what happened previously other than the fact that the book still revolves around the car.
Unfortunately, I have to give a warning that if you're expecting classic King, you'll have to search elsewhere. I'm not kidding when I say that very little happens in this novel. It is nearly 100% character development and very little plot. In the hands of someone not as skilled as King, this novel would probably have gotten 1 star. The intriguing narrative and King's amazing ability to flesh out characters and keep their speech mannerisms consistent is the only strength of this novel.
If you haven't read anything, by Stephen King, I suggest you do not start with this book -- try Christine or 'Salem's Lot. From a Buick 8 would prove to be a very poor introduction to a great author. If you're a Stephen King fan, you won't be disappointed, yet I'd be hard-pressed to imagine you every wanting to pick it up again for a re-read as a lot of fans do with King's earlier works.
Rating:
Summary: Somethings to think about, life, death, etc.
Review: A story without a goal really, more of a thinking exercise, in lessor hands this novel would probably have been a failure. It's hard to have a strong novel when so much of it is told in the past tense, by several different viewpoints, with no strong antagonist (or protagonist either, really) and seemingly no present danger. Near the end, there is some present action and danger, but it comes late, almost too late, and is quickly resolved.
Normally a story moves along with the protagonist getting into trouble as he travels towards a goal of some sort. Finding the killer, figuring out a mystery, blowing up a bridge, getting the girl, that sort of thing.
King decides to tackle some unanswerable questions about life and that becomes the strength of the book, however, if your looking for a scary story or lots of tension and worse, for a strong resolution, you're going to be disappointed. With that warning, I'm not saying I don't recommend this book, however, be forewarned, it's a bit slow and doesn't really have a totally satisfying ending.
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