Bracket #5: The Tommyknockers (1987)

[Jean]

The Tommyknockers, 1987
http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/510/medium/The_Tommyknockers_red_face.jpg

Please vote for The Tommyknockers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tommyknockers) using the following scale:

5: I loved it
4: It was good
3: Average
2: Only so-so
1: I didn't like it

If you haven't read this book yet, please vote Never Read. Feel free to discuss your votes in this thread.

[Jean]

wow!! someone else has "loved it"!!! last year there were 8 such freaks - besides bears

[Garrell]

Gets a 4 because the ending seemed rushed:)

[skyofcrack]

I ranked this average. My least favorite of his novel up to this point in time.

[divemaster]

Big fat "1" for me. The Tommyknockers is firmly entrenched in the bottom 5 for King books. As usual I actually liked the characterizations but the story was just too (stupid? ridiculous? boring? -- pick your pejorative) for me. I've actually read it twice and no, it didn't get better the second time around.

[Heather19]

4 It's been so long since I read it, but I remember really enjoying it. I need to give it a reread sometime soon.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

Got a 4 from me.

[Shannon]

Neve read it, but apparently some people don't like it that much, lol. Can anyone give me a non-spoilerized synopsis?

[blavigne]

Sorry Bears, I usually agree with your impeccably good taste but I did not like this one at all. Aliens and D cell batteries............sheesh! Although this is one of my sisters favorites.

[mae]

A misunderstood, underappreciated, underrated novel. A four from me.

[frik]

Average. One of the few King novels I couldn't really get into.
Time for a re-read, I guess.

sk

[Jean]

Sorry Bears, I usually agree with your impeccably good taste but I did not like this one at all. Aliens and D cell batteries............sheesh! Although this is one of my sisters favorites.you certainly understand that bears do not give a flying intercourse about aliens or D cell batteries. What they cared deeply about were the kids, and the grandfather, and the wretched poet, and the dog, and the horror of the New and Improved as a concept... It makes me so sad that in people's minds it is an Aliens story, why it is so - more than almost any other - poignantly human.

(and Barbara - bears are not known for good taste... unless we're talking donuts... )

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gif

[candy]

A misunderstood, underappreciated, underrated novel. A four from me.

I agree, I loved this book and really don't understand the bashing it gets? The characters in this book, put a lot of his recent rushed novels to shame!!



Sorry Bears, I usually agree with your impeccably good taste but I did not like this one at all. Aliens and D cell batteries............sheesh! Although this is one of my sisters favorites.you certainly understand that bears do not give a flying intercourse about aliens or D cell batteries. What they cared deeply about were the kids, and the grandfather, and the wretched poet, and the dog, and the horror of the New and Improved as a concept... It makes me so sad that in people's minds it is an Aliens story, why it is so - more than almost any other - poignantly human

yes, yes and thrice yes Sir Bear. Most excellently putthe dog:cry:

[pathoftheturtle]

The characters in the story reflect on what a stupid story it is. Wow, life is so absurd; I wouldn't believe things like this could happen if they weren't happening to me, etc. That kind of technique doesn't always work, but here I thought that it was kind of cool, especially given the warping of normal reality happening everywhere in it, what with group-mind telepathy, precognition, and so on. Remember, the Tommyknockers were making some of the people's bad dreams come to life. Basically, the science is not to be taken seriously.

[candy]

A lot of Kings books ask you to not take science/characters seriously - or in the case of some more seriously than is warranted, look at IT - one of his more popular books. The characters and situations here could be classed as prety silly ( silly being the take on Tommy Knockers in some posts above) A bunch of kids get to defeat a nasty clown and they beat him good and proper - by have sex (not just normal sex but a gang bang!!!) but oh no look he has come back, we will have to revert to the child inside to defeat the nast clown. Oh and lets not forget the floating turtle!!!!

I'm not gunning for an arguement, far from it - Its just a puzzle to me that the particular book get slated so much, when to me personally I can't see a huge difference as to why?

[pathoftheturtle]

It's clear that you're replying to me, pathoftheturtle, and then you can't forget to insult
... the floating turtle!!!! and I'm still supposed to believe that you're not gunning for an argument?

Well, I'll admit that The Tommyknockers really is somewhat spotty, but before It came up for comment in this contest, I had not realized just how many tdt.org members fail to appreciate true art. Hmph.

[Iwritecode]

Big fat "1" for me. The Tommyknockers is firmly entrenched in the bottom 5 for King books. As usual I actually liked the characterizations but the story was just too (stupid? ridiculous? boring? -- pick your pejorative) for me. I've actually read it twice and no, it didn't get better the second time around.

^^^ This.

[Laurar]

Love the Tommyknockers

[Odetta]

This was the fastest King book I ever read. I gave it a 4

[blavigne]

Sorry Bears, I usually agree with your impeccably good taste but I did not like this one at all. Aliens and D cell batteries............sheesh! Although this is one of my sisters favorites.you certainly understand that bears do not give a flying intercourse about aliens or D cell batteries. What they cared deeply about were the kids, and the grandfather, and the wretched poet, and the dog, and the horror of the New and Improved as a concept... It makes me so sad that in people's minds it is an Aliens story, why it is so - more than almost any other - poignantly human.

(and Barbara - bears are not known for good taste... unless we're talking donuts... )

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gif

This is why I adore bears.......and I beg to differ, you have impeccable taste :) As a matter of fact you have convinced me to reread this book

[Jean]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearmood_inlove.gif

[Jean]

Last chance to vote! the poll is closing!

[Patrick]

I read this book so long ago I can't remember a thing about it.

[Jean]

time to re-read?

[pathoftheturtle]

Not if he's never read It, Misery, or Dolores Claiborne. I say put off a Tommyknockers re-read until later.

[Jean]

yes, right...

[mae]

The poll has closed. The Tommyknockers has earned a FAS (final average score) of 3.560000000 or 71.20%, placing 5th (last) in this bracket. It will not be moving on to Round 2.

[Jean]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_sad.gif

[mae]

Definitely unjust... :cry:

[Jean]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_sad.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_sad.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_sad.gif

[pathoftheturtle]

Oh, that's just more hatin' on EotD. Come on, now. They can't all win.

[Patrick]

Not if he's never read It, Misery, or Dolores Claiborne. I say put off a Tommyknockers re-read until later.

yes, right...
Looks like I have my work cut out for me!

[Jon]

The imagination required of this book is why I love it so.