Madeline
When ending Elevation, I could only image that Stephen King was trying to get to something. There were the obvious themes, but this is a comment on something deeper. This is not just a scary clown or a large shark, this is something that cannot be placed. A fear that is internal. A fear that a doctor cannot diagnose.
Premise of Elevation
One day Scott weighs himself for the first time in a long time and he notices something odd. After a few days he shows up at the house of his retired doctor to explain the oddness that is occurring. Scott is losing weight gradually day after day and anything that touches him does not contribute to his weight. He weighs the same with his boots, jacket, and quarters in his pocket as he does in his boxers. This is a condition the doctor has never seen before nor can explain.
As the story progresses, there is a clear ending: the day he reaches zero pounds. The story is about his relationship with those around him. How he helps these people. And coming to terms with his never seen condition of getting lighter but not thinner. He is unable to do daily activities such as eating, which makes this a near impossible condition to live with.
The Meaning of This Book
There is clearly a comment that Stephen King is trying to explain but for me, I am just not able to put my finger on it. From what I read, it pokes fun at politics, philosophy, and social climate. But explain to me how. All stories that are used as metaphors do this. Is it about being a good human to those around you? That is the obvious theme here, but it must be deeper than that.
Final Thoughts
The Goodreads rating for this book is lower than most that I allow myself to read. That being said, I am glad I did not look at the ratings before choosing to read it. I now know that I enjoyed it more than most on Goodreads. It was quick and easy to read with a real heaviness to the plot.
