12. Human darkness

If you were to ask “What did you think about this Stephen King book?” I would have nothing to compare it to. Yep, this is my first. It might sound crazy, given that Stephen King is an extremely popular writer. Although I heard of him while living and breathing on the same planet, I was being busy with other things and reading other genres. So I read Holly by Stephen King, his latest published work. A captivating story, a beloved character - I learn. In a note at the end of the book, the author talks about his affection and interest in Holly Gibney, the character. After reading this book, a story born from the toxic fumes of decomposing human character, broken minds and souls, I can see why she is easy to like. She is a woman, doing a “man’s” job, coming from a broken family, a difficult relationship with the mother and with herself. The latest pandemic plays a role as well, better said, it's effects. The story is set in a normal city, lived by rather normal people having rather normal lives and preoccupations, as most horrific stories of abuse and darkness do. Hidden behind the curtains of normality, evil wanders free. It spreads and grows in the fertile soil of fear, deceit, egoism, narcissism… I enjoyed the story, the little details giving life and credibility to the characters, but most of all I liked being a witness. The fight between darkness and light, good and evil, the never-ending struggle taking place in the human minds and consciousness rings a bell 🔔 It’s not that we don’t know that bad, crazy things happen all around us. We all know that. It's the proximity of a killing, suicide, mass shooting, depression and the realization of all the circumstances which had to be true for such horrible things to have happened that make us cry, fear, run away, or value what we have and welcome whatever gimps of light we might be given. It was the possibility to see behind the curtain that kept me immersed in Holly’s world. Ever since I remember myself, I had an interest in that part of humanity which religion is trying hard to purify and make disappear. I don’t know if that’s possible. It might be that by doing so, “we” cut away a limb or part of “ourselves”, since we all share the same human framework. Until we find a way to go though the darkness and not turn on each other or ourselves, we will keep writing stories and make movies about it.