Thinner (by Stephen King)

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Written By Natalie

Thinner by Stephen King is the July selection for my Constant Reader book club. This was a reread for me. I'd seen the movie several times when it aired on television, most often during Halloween season. I like the movie, though I can't promise I've ever watched it start to finish in one sitting. I first read the book in 2020 and liked it well enough, but I wasn't particularly excited to revisit it.

Originally published in 1984 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, Thinner follows Billy Halleck, a successful but overweight lawyer who accidentally kills an elderly Romani woman with his car. Using his connections, he avoids serious consequences—until her father curses him with a single word: "Thinner." Billy begins losing weight rapidly and uncontrollably, no matter how much he eats. As the pounds vanish and his health deteriorates, he desperately searches for a way to break the curse, leading to a dark and escalating confrontation with the man who placed it.

Thinner was good, but not great—and not a book I'd choose to reread on my own. The central premise still works: a curse that forces Billy to lose weight regardless of how much he eats remains unusual and compelling. I also liked how the consequences ripple outward to the others involved in covering up the accident, and the ending was suspenseful and shocking.

What wore on me was Billy's constant blaming of his wife and his stubborn refusal to take any real responsibility. That particular character note got old fast. The story also diverged a bit from the movie version I remembered.

I'm sure my lack of enthusiasm for revisiting the book clouded this second reading a bit. In the end, it was a solid but uneven King/Bachman story that didn't quite stick with me.

Here's the movie trailer for Thinner, for your entertainment.

Feel free to explore my reviews of other Stephen King books below.

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I'm loving how these morning glories are climbing the trellises I added to the greenhouse area. This variety, Star of Yelta, has such a bold, striking pattern and coloring.

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Natalie
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Remain (by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan)