For me I think my least favorites were Dolores Claiborne and Rose Madder I just never really felt like I bonded with any of the characters. I never realized so many people disliked Tommyknockers. I have to agree, not his best work, but I think it's okay...just okay.
Donna
I recently re-read Tommyknockers, and quite unexpectedly for myself found it great.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember liking Tommyknockers better the second time I read it, too. It's been a while, mabe I need to read it again. Maybe it's one of those stories that grows on you. Of course I'll have to go to the library to get a copy. One of my kids tore out the LAST page on my paperback copy.
Donna
I really didn't care for Tommyknockers and have never finished it. Black House I forced myself to read due to DT connections, but struggled with. The story was good, but the way that parts (most parts) were written made it a hard read for me. I guess I was expecting more of The Talisman feel to the book, and it just wasn't there for me. I probably will get thrown out of this forum for saying this, but I was REALLY disappointed with the way The Dark Tower ended. After such a fantastic journey through book after book of fabulous writing to have it end in such a way, well, I was disappointed. Maybe I missed the point, but this ending has stopped me from ever rereading the DT series. Please don't throw flaming daggers at me ok?
I struggled slightly with Rose Madder and have never gone back to re-read it.
The Tommyknockers I loved first time out, and have reread it a couple of times with glee since.
The Talisman and Black House. I have a theory about those two, Talisman feels more King than Straub, and Black House feels more Straub than King. To enjoy Black House, read a few Peter Straub books first. His prose is more tangled than King (who always seems to favour clear and direct storytelling) ... and more rambling. Straub loves his locations, he can breathe life into a place by giving you cinematic flybys (you hardly get this long shot pan ins with King). Scrat through Black House and there are more Straubisms in there.
Originally Posted by Rider_of_Discordia
hmmmmmThe Talisman and Black House. I have a theory about those two, Talisman feels more King than Straub, and Black House feels more Straub than King. To enjoy Black House, read a few Peter Straub books first. His prose is more tangled than King (who always seems to favour clear and direct storytelling) ... and more rambling. Straub loves his locations, he can breathe life into a place by giving you cinematic flybys (you hardly get this long shot pan ins with King). Scrat through Black House and there are more Straubisms in there.
I read two Straub books - or I should say one and a half, because I never finished the second (Mystery); also, I struggled very hard to finish Julia which seemed to me boring and somehow pointless. Black House, on the other hand, is one of my very favorite books ever, I love every word of it, and from the point of view of writing I find it outstandingly good, eclipsing anything else King has written (writing, not story - King almost always has superb stories); maybe it's just was that happy moment when two authors get into resonance and produce something truly miraculous.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I did not like Rose Madder back when it was published, and never re-read it for years.
Then I re-read it just last year - & thought it actually pretty good.
I really didn't care for Tommyknockers and have never finished it. Black House I forced myself to read due to DT connections, but struggled with. The story was good, but the way that parts (most parts) were written made it a hard read for me. I guess I was expecting more of The Talisman feel to the book, and it just wasn't there for me. I probably will get thrown out of this forum for saying this, but I was REALLY disappointed with the way The Dark Tower ended. After such a fantastic journey through book after book of fabulous writing to have it end in such a way, well, I was disappointed. Maybe I missed the point, but this ending has stopped me from ever rereading the DT series. Please don't throw flaming daggers at me ok?
Noone's gonna' throw anything at you for that, I don't think.Lots of people had issues with the ending. Many feel better about it on subsequent rereads, so maybe you should reconsider your decision with regards to that.
Noone's gonna' throw anything at you for that, I don't think.
Thanks, I thought that I was the only one who had issues with this. Maybe I will do a reread of the series. I really enjoy this forum, lots of stuff to do. I am glad I stumbled in here.
Jean wroteYes, I agree. Funny how working together can sometimes up the game of both authors. Certainly worked with Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom in THE JESUS INCIDENT ... have you ever read PARTNERS IN WONDER by Harlan Ellison? Its a collection of short fiction collaborations between Harlan and fantastic selection of writers. As well as some first rate short stories there is also some interesting stuff on how he worked with the different writers.hmmmmm
I read two Straub books - or I should say one and a half, because I never finished the second (Mystery); also, I struggled very hard to finish Julia which seemed to me boring and somehow pointless. Black House, on the other hand, is one of my very favorite books ever, I love every word of it, and from the point of view of writing I find it outstandingly good, eclipsing anything else King has written (writing, not story - King almost always has superb stories); maybe it's just was that happy moment when two authors get into resonance and produce something truly miraculous.
Peter Straub: took me sometime to get into his books. I bought a couple of them one year on Holiday (Ghost Story and Shadowland) back in the 80's. I couldn't get very far through either at the time ... shelved them for a few years and then returned later and enjoyed both greatly. Could just be a case of finding the right time/mood to approach his writing.
The Stand.
Both versions of the Stand?
What don't you like about it?
This collecting stuff is a sickness! ~Patrick
Awesome.
shutup ryan.
Idk its really boring in places. And its called The Stand right, and there isnt even a "Stand" People debated on weather Stu and all of them goin to confront Randall was the Stand. But if people have to debate on weather or not this was or wasnt a "Stand" it deffinetly shud not have that title.
Couldn't agree more, but we're definitely the minority.
Hahah its all good
I'm glad to see the minority that doesn't like the Stand is growing
Still, I have to choose Bag of Bones as my least favourite.
I find it astonishing that you found Julia pointless. I actually loved the fact that even when you finish the book, you're still not sure whether everything that's been told has really happened or if Julia's so mad she imagined it all. You can guess I really liked it although I'm not into horror stuff usually (Stephen King just has a way to get you hooked on a story, whatever the plot! well, almost every story...)
hmmmmmThe Talisman and Black House. I have a theory about those two, Talisman feels more King than Straub, and Black House feels more Straub than King. To enjoy Black House, read a few Peter Straub books first. His prose is more tangled than King (who always seems to favour clear and direct storytelling) ... and more rambling. Straub loves his locations, he can breathe life into a place by giving you cinematic flybys (you hardly get this long shot pan ins with King). Scrat through Black House and there are more Straubisms in there.
I read two Straub books - or I should say one and a half, because I never finished the second (Mystery); also, I struggled very hard to finish Julia which seemed to me boring and somehow pointless. Black House, on the other hand, is one of my very favorite books ever, I love every word of it, and from the point of view of writing I find it outstandingly good, eclipsing anything else King has written (writing, not story - King almost always has superb stories); maybe it's just was that happy moment when two authors get into resonance and produce something truly miraculous.
I don't know if I am the only one but every book that i have read ( start to finish) I like. Usually if by the first fifty to a hundred pages I don't connect with the story or am just reading to get to the next page I put the book down.
If I had to pick a book by SK that i was the least enthralled with it would have to be Thinner, I still enjoyed the story it told though. Maybe another one would be Pet Semetary, although i never read the book only saw the movie but judgeing by the movie i dont think I would enjoy the book.
For the few post I scimmed over regarding The Stand I would say that the "Stand" was the choice people took over what side to stand with, Mother Abagail or Flagg's. ( great book by the way )
"It's not your bullets I fear, Roland. It's your idea of answers that scares me.
I found it pointless because I didn't find anything of any interest there. It goes on an on, page after page, without bringing any development either to the plot, that all consists of (rather nicely written - I do not deny it) quotations from someone else's ghost stories, or, more important, the characters that were not much to begin with. It has - well - atmosphere, but I personally can't put up with 300 pages of mere atmosphere. The only episode worth mentioning is the one that is evoked by King in Dance Macabre, but if someone expected the whole book would be like that, he would be bitterly disappointed.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I disliked Rose Madder when it came out and haven't revisited it. I wonder if my opinion would change about it like MoW's did.
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