Books

Principal character Larry Ott is portrayed throughout the narrative as a hungry, even voracious reader, particularly of books by best-selling horror writer Stephen King. There is a sense that they are, for him, both an escape (from a horrible childhood and an equally horrible adulthood) and his only friend.

Guns

Throughout the narrative, various guns represent the attitudes of the different characters towards violence. Early in the book, for example, narration makes a pointed comment about how Silas never uses a gun, while also early in the narrative, Larry's father lets him use one of his rifles, an event that has multiple layers of significance as outlined below.

Carl's Rifle

Of all the guns that appear and/or are used throughout the narrative, Carl's rifle is perhaps the most significant. For Larry, when Carl gives him permission to borrow it, it represents at least a glimpse...