Amph Dear Constant Reader...The Stephen King Discussion

I can't believe all the Gunslinger hating going on on page 1. From the moment I picked it up, I was sucked in. The book was strong, and I adore it. If anything, the subsequent couple of books were a significant decline, though I'm now about halfway through Wizard and Glass and it may be giving The Gunslinger a run for its money. I suppose it's possible that if you don't like Gunslinger you might be sold by one of the subsequent ones (though The Drawing of the Three is without question the weakest of the four so far), but if you aren't sold by Gunslinger, I am clearly not going to understand your tastes.

Incidently, I had always had this idea that King was probably not an especially good author. Probably a kind of literary snobbishness based on his popularity. So I'd never read any, until The Shining was assigned for a class on Gothic literature. When I actually read it, I was completely amazed. I hadn't expected anything of that depth or thoughtfulness or literary ability. I was so impressed by what I read that I decided to go through The Dark Tower (I adore the Browning poem, so the idea of a seven-book fantasia on it was quite intriguing to me), and have not been disappointed so far. I will probably keep going with King after I finish; The Stand may be my next stop.

-Paul

 

I will probably keep going with King after I finish; The Stand may be my next stop.

a great epic.

also check out hearts in atlantis .

 

Hostel flatly sucked.

Haven't read Cell yet, myself. Last King book I read was The Talisman which (imo at least) is one of his best.

 

Dead Zone is an absolute masterpiece; should be required reading.

 

Dead Zone is depressing as hell. I spent most of that day wandering around in a numbed daze

 

I read "Cell" about a month ago and thought it was amazing. A very well written and scary novel.

However, I also read "It" and thought it stunk to high heaven.

 

What? It was great.

 

"What was?"

"It."

"I know it, but what's the name of the book?"

"You know It?"

"Yeah, I know it, but what's the name of the book?"

"Well, if you know It, why do I have to tell you?"

"Just tell me what's the name of the book!"

"No, no, What is not the name of the book!"

"I know it. But what is?"

"What?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"What about It?"

"Are you going to tell me what it is?"

"Yes, that's it exactly. It is It."

"I know that, but . . ."

"No, no, not That! It!"

"Yes, that's what I'm talking about: that one. But what's the name of it?!"

 

If you were to recommend one Stephen book to a newcomer, what would it be?

 

My favorite is Pet Sematary or The Dead Zone, but I've only read about six of his books to date, so someone else can probably give you a better idea.

 

With Pet Cemetary King takes personal and psychological nihilism to a whole 'nother level. None of his books or stories that Ive read end on a completely happy note, but Jesus.......

 

Pet Sematary was actually my introduction to the man's writing, which may have something to do with why it's my favorite thus far.

But I thought it really had the truth about grief. There were moments of such honesty about what it's like to grieve that I just literally wept. I think it's right up there with the great tragedies, really.

Of course, King himself thought he'd gone too far with that one; reportedly wouldn't publish it for quite some time.

 

I'd recommend The Stand, but if you get intimidated by the page count you can't go wrong with a fun little devilish tale called Needfulful Things.

 

The longer the book, the better. Authors can't hurl their hard work at you so fast for myriad reasons, so what's wrong with a longer read? That impatient to finish? I prolonged Memories of Ice's 1200 pages for a month to saviour my best enjoyed read as long as I could.

 

If that's your attitude, then I think you and King will be a good fit for each other. Might try Different Seasons, for an introduction to King as an author, as opposed to a horror author. It's not perfect (The Breathing Method has a great premise and execution, but not much of a story and Shawshank is better on film), but it's a great book in it's own way.

 

I just finished Carrie and it was very good. I'm now working on The Stand.

 

If you were to recommend one Stephen book to a newcomer, what would it be?


the dead zone. classic king.

 

That was my first King book. It was good but very, very sad.

 

Hmm...Eyes of the Dragon, maybe, or It for a guy who reads as voraciously as you.

 

Do NOT read It, especially you, Ex. You would shred it apart.

 

Id read them in order.

 

I agree with darth_paul about The Gunslinger, and it is personally my favorite King book. It's best to read it without much Tower knowledge. Reading the first time shocked me at how strong it is, how different it is from King's other novels, and just the plain gonzo factor of it. Since you're a big anti-fantasy cliche person look no farther than the tale of the last gunslinger.

 

Anybody pick up Stephen King's latest,Lisey's Story, yet? I picked it up saturday and I'm enjoying is so far (Pg 155).

 

I just picked this up last week and have been reading it during my lunch breaks. It's a bit of familiar territory (Bag of Bones meets the Dark Tower) but I am enjoying it so far. I don't know which scares me for Lisey more, the real-world stranger on the phone, or that thing "with the piebold side" from her husbands imagination (?). Whatever he may say, the Dark Tower still clearly has a hold on him. You can feel it in the Todash spaces between the pages.

 

Not that this is a very hopping thread, but I finished Lisey's Story last night. It was really well written and one of the better King books I've read in a while.

There were lots of Dark Tower hints Like a local Township called Gilead, and mention of many worlds linked together but if I were to link any storyline to this one, it would be the Talisman. It's similar in that Scott is able to jump from one world to this other and there are mentions of "Jack liting out for the territories.