It took me about 10 years of reading SK books before I finally read The Dark Tower series.
But, it definitely changes everything SK you read after it. You notice every little thing in a different light, almost. TDT puts a magnifying glass on everything you read in SK'S books.
Originally Posted by Heather19
Well, at least you enjoyed my favorite one.
This is something that I've noticed too. And I'm not totally sure why. Maybe because the publication of the books was so spaced out? Or not heavily promoted?
That sounds right to me.
Oh no.
A NEW GAME BEGINS
Sorry, Ricky.
Duma Key was horrible. Wireman was one of the most annoying side characters ever. One of King's most anti climatic too. Blech.
I should caveat this by saying I loved Lisey's Story, and thought it was a really touching and spooky ode to love.Yeah, Duma Key was a welcome return of King back to his old form. One of the best things he has written in the last 15 years. Everything about it is just so good. Plot, story, character, language. Just an all-around great tale.
But to each his own. I would be interested to know exactly why cowboy_ed did not like it.
Duma Key, on the other hand, is at least 180 pages too long. The dialogue is excruciating; Wireman says the word muchacho SEVENTY times throughout the entire thing. No-one says one word, no matter what it is, that often.
It was kind to the painting world, but the constant paint-get hungry-eat thing got old really quickly, and the ending was way too close to the DT7 ending, which wasn't any good to begin with.
That said, this is just one boy's opinion, so all the more power to you if you enjoyed it. I couldn't wait for it to end.
I haven't read it, but I also think that I'll probably never read Under the Dome, at least until SK is long gone and there's nothing else left to read. Can't really get into the idea (seriously, did no-one tell him about the Simpsons movie?) and the ending sounds... well, silly. But we'll see. I'd much rather talk positivity than negativity.
I don't agree that it was horrible, but do agree that the conclusion of Wireman's story was anticlimactic. It was like,Spoiler:
A NEW GAME BEGINS
Tommyknockers...Tommyknockers...Tommyknockers! Lisey's Story is right up there as well.
Is there a thread here of any contemporary reaction to Lisey's Story?
Tommyknockers.
both DK and BH are in bears' top fiveWhen I think of SK's 'worst novels', all I can really name are the ones that either didn't keep my interest (meaning I wasn't completely and utterly obsessed with them, which is an odd feeling while reading SK), or ones that I have no desire to re-read after finishing.
A few that come to mind are:
Duma Key
The Regulators - Desperation is my favorite SK book, apart from TDT series. I was so excited to read The Regulators, but was sorely disappointed.
Insomnia
Black House - Again, I was excited to read this since I love The Talisman sooo much. I don't plan to re-read it again.
The Talisman is one of my top 5 SK books. It makes me sad to see how hated it is by a lot of people.
grrrr...
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's true. King often makes the same mistake. I try to overlook it when a book is truly great (like Duma Key)
That's, paradoxically, what impressed me real deep.I don't agree that it was horrible, but do agree that the conclusion of Wireman's story was anticlimactic. It was like,Spoiler:
My personal bottom five:
Storm of a Century
Dr.Sleep
Rage
The Eyes of the Dragon
Lisey's Story
I am also very unimpressed by:
the Kennedy novel
The Green Mile
Hearts in Atlantis
Bag of Bones
Thinner
The Running Man
Regulators
which reminds me:
let's not forget this thread
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just curious, Jean, but is there any reason why you always refer to 11/22/63 as "the Kennedy novel"?
because I can never remember the figures and which comes first, and before I started calling it so, I had to google and copypaste every time
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 love Eyes of the Dragon.
Wireman was the greatest supporting character since Henry Leyden. That's not the trouble. (Repetitous cliches aside.) I found many problems about Duma Key, but lots of bright spots, as well, and the argument that it was a triumph holds up in some respects, I think. It's true the main climax flopped, (the central plot, after all being the conflict with Perse, all of which was mostly pretty weak) but the book made up for that by the way the character arc concluded in that intense secondary ending.
Feeve, I didn't know you were with it in the Desperation love. That's great! I so much agree with all your points.
I've long known that many are indifferent to TDT, but though I sometimes feel disgrunted with various aspects myself, I still can't really imagine being someone who can just blow it off altogether.
Jean, as always, too hard on EotD, and I so wish I could explain what you missed in HiA and (ouch) Bag of Bones.
this.
You’re like the 3rd person I’ve ever heard say they love Lisey’s Story and certainly one of the few I’ve heard to say they hate Duma Key.
I don’t see this at all?
FWIW, King had the idea long before the Simpsons did. Yes the ending kinda sucked but the rest of the book was pretty good IMHO.
Hearts are tough, she said, most times hearts don't break, and I'm sure that's right . . . but what about then? What about who we were then? What about hearts in Atlantis?
These are two of my most favorite books. They are so heart-breaking and bittersweet. I think that’s one of the things I love about them.
Hearts are tough, she said, most times hearts don't break, and I'm sure that's right . . . but what about then? What about who we were then? What about hearts in Atlantis?
I agree, the book overall was good but the explanation for the Dome was lackluster. I'd prefer no explanation over one that fizzles out. Maybe if The Shop had somehow been behind it I'd like the end better.
I probably am. It's because I am very partial to kids' literature, and judge it by higher standards than adults'.
And so wish you would! I've already tried to re-read Bag of Bones (not Hearts, that would be too much) with you in mind, trying to see what you see - and failed. Every time mother and daughter appeared, I wanted to strangle both, and the rest of the time I was just bored.and I so wish I could explain what you missed in HiA and (ouch) Bag of Bones.
Well, at least we both love Desperation! I'll do the reread in a couple of weeks, we have unfinished discussion about it.
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 love Eyes of the Dragon.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, that counts for something!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In terms of the Patrick Danville drawing things to affect real life idea that is basically the crux of DT7, it felt way too familiar.
I don’t see this at all?
I know that, but surely there was a duty of care from someone at his office or at his publishing house to tell him that the movie - which came out six months before he started writing the novel - existed, and that it made 500 million dollars at the box-office and that this:
was a thing he would have to deal with.
He's probably about right. Although I wonder if it's a bit less.
Wow, someone else that doesn't care for The Drawing.... Everyone cringes when I say that. It was so boring, and could have been condensed down to a few chapters in a larger book.
I really enjoyed all of these
Sorry, we can no longer be friends
My least favorites are Lisey's Story, Insomnia, and DT series. Also tried to read The Talisman but couldn't get into it at all. I still need to try to give Black House a go since it's so well loved (started it a few times but don't think I got off the first chapter). But I fear it might be similar to Talisman.
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
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