King's worst novel?

[Randall Flagg]

I enjoyed Desperation, but perhaps because I knew a little of the back story for how King thought of the novel, as well as having myself been to desolate parts of the Nevada desert.

In 1994 King took a cross country ride on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He combined the ride with appearances at small booksellers stores to promote his new novel Insomnia, as well as bring attention and revenue to independant booksellers.
King had someone in a "chase" vehicle following him in case of breakdown etc.
At some point King became separated from the chase vehicle and stopped in some desolate ghost town in the middle of nowhere off of Highway 50 in Nevada. The incident helped plant the seed in King's mind for Desperation/The Regulators.

When King arrived in Northen California, a friend and I saw went to a reading and speach he did in Santa Cruz.

[fernandito]

Impressive.

[ZoNeSeeK]

I didnt mind Lisey's Story either, i thought he did a pretty good job when the substance of the book was based on the strength of a marriage.

Not sure what I would state as his "worst" book ..

[ATG]

Roadwork also comes to mind.

[Daghain]

Really? I liked Roadwork. Not his best, I'll admit, but still good.

[ATG]

It was just so...uninteresting. Unlike The Long Walk.

Pure raw genius.

[Randall Flagg]

Roadwork also comes to mind.

King himself feels that Roadwork was the weakest of the Bachman Books.

[jayson]

I like Roadwork, but besides Thinner, it could be my least fav Bachman project. It's really a matter of liking the others more, than it is disliking Roadwork.

[obscurejude]

I can take or leave most of the Bachman stuff. I think the reasons behind the pseudonym are interesting though, and appreciate why King did it.

[MonteGss]

Insomina ... ironically titled because the first 3/4 of the book is the cure for the disease named on the cover.

Finally! Someone who agrees with me! I've never tried so hard to finish a book. Crap, complete crap.

[obscurejude]

Insomina ... ironically titled because the first 3/4 of the book is the cure for the disease named on the cover.

Finally! Someone who agrees with me! I've never tried so hard to finish a book. Crap, complete crap.

You take that back you SOB! Oh wait, I'm sorry. A little carried away. I love that book. Legally changed my name to Ralph. Married a woman who is fifty years older than me. Started doing cocaine so I wouldn't fall asleep in hopes of seeing the world in dazzling auras. I also once ran over a midget with my car because I thought the bastard was part of the random. Turns out it was a kid dressed up like ET for halloween.

[Matt]

Insomina ... ironically titled because the first 3/4 of the book is the cure for the disease named on the cover.

Finally! Someone who agrees with me! I've never tried so hard to finish a book. Crap, complete crap.

I have to agree here, it was hard to get through on audio.

Almost drove off the road.

But I LOVED the Roland parts, we were so starved then. I read the whole thing just for those.

[Wuducynn]

[
I have to agree here, it was hard to get through on audio.

Almost drove off the road.

But I LOVED the Roland parts, we were so starved then. I read the whole thing just for those.

The audio recording was awful. The actor they used was awful. I wish they would re-record it with a new person.

[Darkthoughts]

Insomina ... ironically titled because the first 3/4 of the book is the cure for the disease named on the cover.

Finally! Someone who agrees with me! I've never tried so hard to finish a book. Crap, complete crap.

You take that back you SOB! Oh wait, I'm sorry. A little carried away. I love that book. Legally changed my name to Ralph. Married a woman who is fifty years older than me. Started doing cocaine so I wouldn't fall asleep in hopes of seeing the world in dazzling auras. I also once ran over a midget with my car because I thought the bastard was part of the random. Turns out it was a kid dressed up like ET for halloween.

Yeah, you take it back Monte, or I'll...I'll...I'm telling my MUM!!!

[TerribleT]

I remember it being really difficult to get through this book, but then as I got towards the end, it ended up being pretty good.

[Heather19]

I agree about Insomnia as well. I struggled thru the whole book, and even now don't know why I bothered so hard to finish it. It just didn't interest me at all.

[Darkthoughts]

Noooo, Heather - not you too?

[sarah]

The ending of Insomnia is where it's all at. Yes the book is long and at times a bit slow, but if you stick it out, it is worth it in the end.

[Matt]

I totally agree with that, very well ended.

[Darkthoughts]

I liked the whole thing, but I prefer my King slow and rambling - books where he gets straight to it like Dreamcatcher and Cell, I don't find so appealing

[Heather19]

I'm guess I'm the opposite. I loved both of those stories. The thing I liked alot about Cell was that it started off with a bang, and it drew you right in.

[Darkthoughts]

Yep, thats the rub right there then! I remember reading Cell and thinking, "Whoa...I don't know these people yet!! Backstory! Backstory!!"

[obscurejude]

I believe that Insomnia is the greatest book ever produced in the history of creation. It is my personal talisman, with me wherever I go. I used a hardback copy as the capstone to the foundation for my new house (it does lean a little to the left though). When I become discouraged about the human condition and acts of gratuitous violence, I gaze upon the cover of Insomnia (the artwork is amazing) and remind myself that yes, humanity is capable of good, even divine things.

[MonteGss]

The ending of Insomnia is where it's all at. Yes the book is long and at times a bit slow, but if you stick it out, it is worth it in the end.

The end was good, I don't deny it. The book is crap though, imo. A good ending is not enough to make a book good.

[Wuducynn]

The ending of Insomnia is where it's all at. Yes the book is long and at times a bit slow, but if you stick it out, it is worth it in the end.

There's that "slow" issue again