I'm currently reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and enjoying it quite a bit so far.
I'm currently reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and enjoying it quite a bit so far.
My most recent re-reading of The Shining a few years ago was the least enjoyable as the overriding impression I got was just how angry and miserable SK was when he wrote it. There is a Bachman vibe to the writing and at times it appears to be autobiographical; definitely working out some issues. A nasty piece of work.
I ran across your ranking of SK books yesterday and noticed how low you rated most of SK's books. When you read these do you just force yourself to finish them? Also what are you looking for in the book? So far looking through the rankings you were the only one who was not afraid to give a lot of low scores on a lot of famous novels. I really did not care for the DT either so I'm curious what makes you not like these books?Originally Posted by Ben Mears
Not that I can read SK's mind, but I see The Shining as an expression of anxiety over the ability to support, and continue to support, a wife and child(ren) (maintaining a level of success); it adds to my enjoyment of it. I didn't consider it an angry work (although I certainly see how one could), as I see the anger as just an offshoot of the novel's events.
Ben Mears - I take it you're a Salem's Lot guy? One of his best, I think.
In the village all the children running home
- they sing hymns that haunt them when they're all alone.
Like giving a listen to anything recorded by my favorite bands I'm always willing to read SK's output. While not a fan of science fiction or fantasy I have slogged through King's brushes with those genres but have no desire to return to those novels; once was enough. Had they not been King books I never would have even considered them. Conversely when he gets it right I'm inclined to re-read those books multiple times over the years.I ran across your ranking of SK books yesterday and noticed how low you rated most of SK's books. When you read these do you just force yourself to finish them? Also what are you looking for in the book? So far looking through the rankings you were the only one who was not afraid to give a lot of low scores on a lot of famous novels. I really did not care for the DT either so I'm curious what makes you not like these books?
As for what I'm looking for in a book it comes down to entertainment and pleasure. I read (and listen) a lot and really enjoy becoming engrossed in a well written story be it horror, mystery, historical, thrillers etc. I read a fair amount of non-fiction as well. I don't consider myself a sophisticated reader; just someone who derives satisfaction from the process.
You make a good point about SK's anxiety fingerprints on The Shining. Clearly he had some things on his mind while he was writing it and those concerns came across in the novel. I plan to do another re-read when the Cemetery Dance limited is published. I'm looking forward to the bonus material.Not that I can read SK's mind, but I see The Shining as an expression of anxiety over the ability to support, and continue to support, a wife and child(ren) (maintaining a level of success); it adds to my enjoyment of it. I didn't consider it an angry work (although I certainly see how one could), as I see the anger as just an offshoot of the novel's events.
Ben Mears - I take it you're a Salem's Lot guy? One of his best, I think.
As for 'Salem's Lot, I'm definitely a big fan.
Dickens always fulfills my expectations. I love his characters.
*
Moby Dick is the only book I didn't finish reading.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
Wow, I thought I was the only one here that didn't enjoy the DT books. I'm pretty much the same as you. I listened to all the audiobooks to see what all the fuss was about, plus it is Stephen King, but I was really bored by them. Just not my types of books.
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
I think my problem was the characters. Roland was cool and all but his lack of emotion was annoying to me. Detta was just obnoxious. Jake I liked and Eddie I liked after breaking his addictions. The ending was just a let down as well. The Crimson King... meh. He is played up to be such a baddie and nothing. Honestly I enjoyed book 4 and book 4.5 the most. They had the most interesting story lines to me.Wow, I thought I was the only one here that didn't enjoy the DT books. I'm pretty much the same as you. I listened to all the audiobooks to see what all the fuss was about, plus it is Stephen King, but I was really bored by them. Just not my types of books.
The only thing I enjoyed about the DT books was the 'Salem's Lot references and coda.I think my problem was the characters. Roland was cool and all but his lack of emotion was annoying to me. Detta was just obnoxious. Jake I liked and Eddie I liked after breaking his addictions. The ending was just a let down as well. The Crimson King... meh. He is played up to be such a baddie and nothing. Honestly I enjoyed book 4 and book 4.5 the most. They had the most interesting story lines to me.Wow, I thought I was the only one here that didn't enjoy the DT books. I'm pretty much the same as you. I listened to all the audiobooks to see what all the fuss was about, plus it is Stephen King, but I was really bored by them. Just not my types of books.
After reading the following, I feel that I can kind of come out of the closet on the issue of the DT series:
I'm not seeking to piss fans off or to pretend I'm cool because my taste differs, but I've been reluctant to air out my general view that DT is a cross between the best thing I've ever read (it has an incredibly broad scope (even for an "epic"), a wildly diverse group of characters, and some genuinely gripping and tense moments (various gunfights, things in 4 and 6 particularly, the end of 6, the (potential) fate of Black 13) and the worst (things that feel random (telling riddles to survive, the whole "19" thing), dead ends/unexplored tangents, long segments that are either flashbacks (4) or just feel like diversions (5), unsatisfying resolutions to long build-ups (Crimson King and the series' end itself)).I think my problem was the characters. Roland was cool and all but his lack of emotion was annoying to me. Detta was just obnoxious...The ending was just a let down as well. The Crimson King... meh. He is played up to be such a baddie and nothing.Wow, I thought I was the only one here that didn't enjoy the DT books. I'm pretty much the same as you...
I think King’s professed style of working without outlines manifested its worst case scenario in DT. I believe this method succeeds in his conventional novels because the narrative proceeds and concludes within a self-contained logical world containing finite and defined characters and locations, and is edited as a single unified entity within a contiguous time period, all before reaching readers. DT, on the other hand, received inconstant work over a period of decades and has a narrative in which literally everything is open for use (characters from his other works, characters from other authors’ works, events in reality, every type of character that can be imagined) with no commitment to tying up loose ends. (Of course, you could say these things enable the things that made it great to you.)
But then, he's a heck of a story teller, and this satisfied millions, so what can I say?
In the village all the children running home
- they sing hymns that haunt them when they're all alone.
which is, verbatim, what I already opened my mouth to say
moreover, most of these things are the things that made it great to me, come to think of it
that feeling of... randomness and haphazardness... of an unspeakable reality too big for concepts and human logic, looming behind what actually was spoken... I fully realize that this way I seem to be advocating sloppy wriitng, but I don't, normally; only in this particular (unique) case
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The thing is, I totally get what you're saying; this is part of the reason why I have to admit that I am enjoying/will enjoy my DT re-read (which will literally take years, as I'm reading all of SK's things in order, and DT is woven throughout - I read DT1 last year, will begin #2 maybe next week, but DT3 maybe not until next year).
In the village all the children running home
- they sing hymns that haunt them when they're all alone.
Picked up Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series from the library the other day along with The Sandman: Overture. Is the Overture to be read before or after I complete the series? Thanks!
You don't know my kind.....You don't my mind.....Dark necessities are part of my design.....
I started The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao last night and Captain Trips is mentioned in the first chapter.
After. It has many references to the original series and story points which depend on familiarity.
Absolutely. I loved the "tangents and diversions." Book 4 was my favorite. I loved the riddles with Blaine and all the ties to this world that aren't (and don't have to be) explained. I mean, Roland's world has the Jesus-Man and Hey Jude and Sneetches. I'm glad King didn't go out of his way to explain all that. It just IS.which is, verbatim, what I already opened my mouth to say
moreover, most of these things are the things that made it great to me, come to think of it
that feeling of... randomness and haphazardness... of an unspeakable reality too big for concepts and human logic, looming behind what actually was spoken... I fully realize that this way I seem to be advocating sloppy wriitng, but I don't, normally; only in this particular (unique) case
And I loved the ending. Absolutely perfect. Much better than battling a giant sewer spider and defeating it with, well, kiddie sex. Yes, there were a couple of misses and let-downs in Book VII. You mentioned one. And the whole Detta/Odetta/Susannah/Mia thing got old real fast. But I can forgive even that, given the overall arc.
Hey! That's what this forum is for. Never feel shy to render an opinion on a book or story. Some people's top favorites I did not like at all. For example, Insomnia (hated it) and The Talisman (a total drudge to get through--I blame Straub LOL).
Thanks!After. It has many references to the original series and story points which depend on familiarity.
You don't know my kind.....You don't my mind.....Dark necessities are part of my design.....
Thanks.
I have to say, part of the reason I keep quiet is because I feel like I'm not doing any good by crapping on something - if a book makes someone happy, that book is successful, and I'm glad that happiness entered the world. Still, I guess it's nice to know I have some common ground as a King fan who occasionally goesor
.
I have mighty low opinions of some non-King works mentioned on TDT, but I hold my tongue because I know that some out there may first learn of these works here and I might turn someone off to something they'd quite like before they even try it - and that sucks.
Ah, yes - The Talisman. I first read this as a teenager, loved it, and then for many years recalled it fondly as one of SK's greatest triumphs. There, I would think as I gazed upon it, sitting on my bookshelf - is one hell of a book, and one day I shall read it again. When I finally got around to re-reading it in 2011 (age 42)...yikes! Suffice it to say: it's no longer on the shelf. But, it's still nice to know that for many out there, that magic still works.
Bah! Insomnia is great!Of course, I do need to re-read it...
In the village all the children running home
- they sing hymns that haunt them when they're all alone.
Thanks.
I have to say, part of the reason I keep quiet is because I feel like I'm not doing any good by crapping on something - if a book makes someone happy, that book is successful, and I'm glad that happiness entered the world. Still, I guess it's nice to know I have some common ground as a King fan who occasionally goes
I have mighty low opinions of some non-King works mentioned on TDT, but I hold my tongue because I know that some out there may first learn of these works here and I might turn someone off to something they'd quite like before they even try it - and that sucks.
On the other hand you may have saved somebody a lot of wasted time and hair pulling! I'm not afraid to voice a negative opinion of something I do not like, nor am I afraid to back that opinion up. That said I always qualify that is my opinion and everyone's opinion is formed by their experiences and their paradigm. It is not objective fact, despite how much I may claim it to be sometimes!
Yes to Horns. It's a great book.Agreed. I loved that book.I vote Horns. It was my favorite!!!20th Century Ghosts
I just started Blake Crouch's Dark Matter last night.
It's about timeYes to Horns. It's a great book.Agreed. I loved that book.I vote Horns. It was my favorite!!!20th Century Ghosts
I just started Blake Crouch's Dark Matter last night.
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
Sorry, didn't see this response. They talk a little about the science and it's all current technology, it could happen tomorrow. I'm notI noticed these books a year or so ago, haven't read them yet, but intend to. I've heard the basics of how EMPs work, but I could use a better grasp on the underlying science - any recommendations on that front?
the scientist, I just love a good story!
100% Blake is the man. I REALLY hope for more good stuff from himIt's about timeYes to Horns. It's a great book.Agreed. I loved that book.I vote Horns. It was my favorite!!!20th Century Ghosts
I just started Blake Crouch's Dark Matter last night.
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
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