Author: Louis Kennedy
In 1974, Gwendy is a 12-year-old girl who is desperate to lose weight. She meets a strange man who gives her a box (hence the name) with buttons and levers inside. One lever releases chocolate candies, regulates her appetite, and gradually makes her prettier and faster. Another lever summons precious ancient coins. The buttons correspond to the seven continents, and there is also a red button and a black button; both of which cause death and destruction if she chooses to use them. As she grows, the box changes her life, both for good and for terrible reasons.
The book was written by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. Graveyard Dance Magazine. Honestly, I can’t discern the influence of Chizma. King’s other collaborations, like those with Peter Straub or Stuart O’Nan, are clearly the work of two authors. But King’s voice and style dominate. Not to mention that this novella takes place in Castle Rock, pays homage to his other works, including “Black Piece Lake” and the appearance of Sheriff George Bannerman. Most notable is the box’s holder, Richard Farris (aka the Man in Black from the “Dark Tower” series, aka Randall Flagg from “The Stand,” etc.), who tells Gwendy, “We ought to talk, you and me.”
I found this book fascinating. King is such a great storyteller that even when his work seems like a rip-off of his previous work (ahem, From the Buick 8), it’s still very entertaining. The book is very original yet resonates with what he’s already written. Themes like wondering if you want to change the future or that with great power comes great responsibility are very consistent. I was thinking of The Dead Zone and his story All Is Necessary, and trying to remember which books Sheriff Bannerman was in. But I was hooked. I started reading this book shortly before I had to leave for work, and I kept promising myself to read for another ten minutes…
Gwendy is a lovable, fascinating character. Faris gives her a box and asks her to take good care of it and not use it for selfish purposes. We can’t help but wonder when she will use it and what will happen when she is done with it. She must deal with the fear of what will happen if someone finds the box and resist the temptation to let the possessiveness of the box control her life. She wonders, “How much of her life is her creation, and how much is created by this box full of treats and buttons?”
The book is short, even for a novella. The hardcover version has 161 pages, including illustrations and generous margins between chapters. It took me about two hours to read it, and I even took notes.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s a classic from King (and Chizmar!) that will please fans old and new alike.
Rating: 5/5
