Christine (King novel)

Did You Know?

• King got the inspiration for the story after seeing his car's odometer go from 9999.9 to 10,000, leading to the idea of an odometer that ran backwards.
• The American Library Association named Christine the 95th most banned and challenged book in the United States between 1990 and 1999.
• Kirkus Reviews described the novel as over-long but 'popcorn-readable'.

Synopsis

In the fictional Pittsburgh suburb of Libertyville, Pennsylvania, in 1978, nerdy teen Arnold "Arnie" Cunningham and his friend Dennis Guilder notice a dilapidated 1958 Plymouth Fury for sale. The owner, Roland D. LeBay, a bitter old man with a back brace, calls the car Christine. While Arnie finishes paperwork, Dennis sits inside and experiences a psychic glimpse into its past, deciding he dislikes the car. Arnie brings Christine to a do-it-yourself garage run by small-time criminal Will Darnell.

As Arnie works on the car, his personality changes: he grows confident, his acne disappears, but he becomes withdrawn, humorless, and cynical—traits connected to LeBay. After LeBay's death, Dennis learns from LeBay's brother George that LeBay's young daughter choked to death in Christine and his wife later committed suicide by carbon monoxide in its front seat. Arnie takes on LeBay's personality and dresses like a 1950s greaser, becoming close to Darnell. He dates new student Leigh Cabot. His parents force him to keep Christine in an airport parking lot.

Adaptations

Eight months after the novel's release, a film adaptation directed by John Carpenter was released in December. It received generally positive reviews and grossed $21 million at the box office, later becoming a cult classic. In 2003, Stephen King expressed dissatisfaction with the film, calling it "sort of boring." In June 2021, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Blumhouse Productions announced a remake with Bryan Fuller set to write and direct, and Jason Blum, Vincenzo Natali, and Steve Hoban producing.