Christine

Published: 1983

Christine (1983) tells the story of Arnie Cunningham, a nerdy, unpopular teenager who buys a 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine that's rusting in a local yard. As Arnie restores the car, he undergoes a disturbing transformation—becoming more confident but also colder and more aggressive. His friend Dennis watches in horror as Christine reveals her supernatural nature, killing anyone who wrongs Arnie and gradually possessing him. The car has a malevolent consciousness and the ability to repair itself after any damage. Written during a prolific period in King's career, Christine explores themes of obsession, American car culture, and the dark side of teenage transformation. King, a car enthusiast himself, created in Christine one of his most memorable supernatural antagonists—an object imbued with evil rather than a traditional monster. The novel received mixed critical reaction upon release, with some finding it derivative of King's earlier work, while others praised its exploration of teenage alienation and America's love affair with automobiles. Published during King's commercial peak, the book became an immediate bestseller. John Carpenter's film adaptation, released the same year as the novel, helped cement Christine's place in popular culture despite condensing and altering elements of the story. King has noted that the book reflects his own love-hate relationship with technology and material possessions. For many readers, Christine represents a perfect fusion of King's supernatural horror with coming-of-age themes, utilizing the possessed car as a metaphor for the frightening changes of adolescence. Over time, the novel has gained appreciation for its examination of toxic relationships and obsession, with the car representing addiction and self-destructive impulses.

Themes

• Haunted objects
• Obsession
• Transformation
• Coming-of-age
• Revenge

Adaptations

• 1983 film directed by John Carpenter

Collector Notes

First editions with unclipped jackets are popular. A cult classic in both book and film circles.