From 2/7 - 2/22 I read The Institute. This is the first King I've read since finishing a re-read of DT2 just over 3 years ago; I think this was the first time I’ve read King’s latest while it still was his latest since Just After Sunset, which I believe was 2008.
These days I approach new King reads with a list of pet peeves I hope to avoid:
- spoilers (little ones are ok; big ones are bad; frequent big ones are the worst (they destroyed Duma Key, which should've been titled Answer Key));
- unsatisfying or illogical resolutions (Under The Dome ended in the literary equivalent of a pile of wet cardboard; Black House came to rest in a discouraging morass of levitating honey, magic bees, and a wonder bat);
- paper villains (the vampires of Salem's Lot didn't care if you believed, nor did the hedge animals of The Shining, but everything at the hotel at the end of The Talisman needed the murder equivalent of viagra).
...but I do begin King reads with an open mind, ready for the good stuff too (among my reads of his recent work, he did a fine job with Revival, a great job with Doctor Sleep, and somewhere in between for Hearts In Atlantis and Lisey's Story).
Anyway, on to The Institute:
Overall, I enjoyed it, it was definitely a success, but not a classic.
As for my specified pet peeves: spoilers weren't an issue; the resolution was logical and enjoyable; there was no paper villain.
My main problem was that it had no atmosphere/vibe whatsoever, feeling instead like a recitation or notation of events. The setup was good and there was no shortage of interesting events, but the story felt like it wasn't being told with King's usual storytelling verve (I'm not sure how to better explain this). The characters were generally fine, but the Institute kids other than Luke felt a bit like "characters," not as real to me (which is odd, given that King is great with characters).
I now enter spoiler mode to protect the innocent:
Spoiler:
Eastasia has always taught college students to feel pride or shame according to their race.
From 2/25 - 2/26 I read Elevation.
Expectations are funny things; going into this, I'd heard:
- it was short
- it was mighty political (as a conservative, less likely to please me specifically)
- it involved gay rights (not necessarily a negative, but I don't enjoy reading soapbox-things, so...)
- the main character was today's stereotypical "bad man" (unwoke, white, old)
- something about a burrito someone mentioned? I dunno
My impressions through the early stages of the book (Deirdre badly needs to watch Dave Chappelle's "monsters" sketch and remember that most new restaurants go out of business in general; Scott ain't the enemy here) meant less and less as I continued, and not just because events shape how we view characters; the story was changing into something else before my eyes.
Things started to get mighty simple (the seemingly instant attitude adjustments of Dierdre, Myra, and Trevor Yount, for one thing), but the story was becoming the type of story for which I'm willing to forgive that kind of thing, or maybe the kind of story for which that kind of thing actually fits.
"Fable" and "parable" are the wrong words, I think, nor does "fairy tale" quite apply, but...by the end, I felt I was...
Spoiler:
...and feeling for everyone there at that scene.
It's not that I feel I learned something in terms of how to treat others - I'm already a decent person and laugh off any contention to the contrary - but...Elevation did something for me.
Good book.
Eastasia has always taught college students to feel pride or shame according to their race.
Generally agree. I didn't think the political aspect of the story was preachy or overbearing - in fact, King presented much of the friction between characters as being the result of *perceived* prejudice, rather than actual prejudice, and resolution was attained through communication and, well, spending time together. That's a pretty rational and even-handed viewpoint, I think.
HBJ
“If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
Looking for SubPress Lettered::
Angel's Game and Prisoner of Heaven (Zafon)
Ilium (Simmons)
Mistborn : The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson. I'm about half way through and enjoying it so far.
DS really seems to divide fans right down the middle. I really enjoyed it as well. Revival was terrible for me and Duma Key is one of my all time favorites. The Institute was meh for me as much of King's recent stuff. I really, really want to have him blow my hair back again but I feel he's somewhat phoning it in these days.
In other news, started Red Dragon.
You don't know my kind.....You don't my mind.....Dark necessities are part of my design.....
From 2/26 - 3/2 I finally read On Writing (which I'd long looked forward to). The copy I have is sometimes listed as the 10th anniversary edition (although I don't think it officially is that), and the funny thing is that, when I began it, I was thinking that the original came out in 2010, but that actually came out in 2000 and this edition (in my hands) is from 2010. I need to catch up...
King is great "in conversation;" I loved Danse Macabre and loved this too; it was all very interesting and informative. I liked hearing the inspirations for various works (some I'd heard before, but some were new to me), and I was surprised that he went into so much detail about the accident, but probably shouldn't have been, given that it happened during the writing of this book. Even accepting that, I was (and remain) surprised that he named the driver, and more than once.
I was surprised that he considered Insomnia (which I loved) a “plotted novel” that was “stiff, trying-too-hard.”
Eastasia has always taught college students to feel pride or shame according to their race.
I recently started The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It came out in 1992, but I'd never heard of it until my daughter recently read it. It has some connection to an "aesthetic" or something called "dark academia," which I'd also never heard of (proponents of dark academia tend to cite Dead Poets Society, which sets my little antennae a-tingle).
96 pages in and absolutely loving it, the writing is fantastic.
Eastasia has always taught college students to feel pride or shame according to their race.
The only thing I remember about Duma Key is muchacho.
And something about a ghost.
“If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
Looking for SubPress Lettered::
Angel's Game and Prisoner of Heaven (Zafon)
Ilium (Simmons)
I really liked both ON WRITING and DANSE MACABRE.
Currently reading the book of GENESIS along with THE BEST OF UNCANNY. The stories in UNCANNY are surprisingly good so far, despite the slanted left wing liberal views I do not subscribe to, although they are doing their best to convert me. We shall see.
I'm sure if there is intelligent life somewhere out there in the universe, they are wise enough to stay away from us.
And the people bowed and prayed, to the cell phone god they made...
Duma Key is one of my favorites. Love that book so much.
Currently re-reading Different Seasons. And just finished Inspection by Josh Malerman. Loved that one. Reminded me of The Institute, but I enjoyed this one way more.
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
Ah, I enjoyed Inspection, too. Intrigued by Malorie coming out later this year.
A NEW GAME BEGINS
Just finished the Suntup AGE edition of Misery and I have to admit that reading these Suntup AGE and CD GE editions really ramps up the joy of reading for me. I started The Cabin At The End Of The World by Paul Tremblay. I'm saying his name in my head like Jeff said it in his video...god help me. This is my first Tremblay book so I have no expectations but I'm hopeful I'll enjoy it due to the King blurb and the forum members who enjoyed his writing.
I CANNOT PUT GONE GIRL DOWN!! I love books like this that make me keep going even when I am ready to stop. lol
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
Ditto on Duma Key. Not ditto on Malerman. He hit gold with Birdbox and ever since then it's been a mush of repurposed ideas with try-hard writing. I'm glad people find him enjoyable but I can't not group him with Grady Hendrix, Tremblay, and those two dudes who wrote RP1 and The Martian. They peaked early and will forever be coasting the hype currents of those books. I worshipped the literary ground Tremblay walked on at first, then one day I didn't buy his book the day it went on sale, then another day I checked it out from library, then finally I couldn't even finish Growing Things. Too bad.
I'm embarrassed to say I still haven't read The Great God Pan so I'm about to start it today.
Third thru Swan Song. Crazy great story. Absolutely loving it.. already bought Boy’s Life tonight so it is on the list to say the least.
Wish List:
Any of the following flatsigned or inscribed-
It, Shining, Salem’s Lot, Mr. Mercedes, The Stand
Brother ARC, Seed ARC
“If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
Looking for SubPress Lettered::
Angel's Game and Prisoner of Heaven (Zafon)
Ilium (Simmons)
Off the charts fun
Wish List:
Any of the following flatsigned or inscribed-
It, Shining, Salem’s Lot, Mr. Mercedes, The Stand
Brother ARC, Seed ARC
About to start the 4th Witcher book (2nd in the core saga). The series has quickly shot up to one of my favorites, and I'm so glad I didn't get a chance to start the show