Stephen King

[StephenKingman]

It is funny how we all differ. I loved Insomnia I actually read it twice. I like the Talisman but could not finish Black House to save my life, it bored the crap out of me for some reason. Another book I couldn't finish was IT which most SK fans rave about. I am actually going to try again when I get a chance.

Still in my opinion none of his books comes close to the genius of The Stand.

All I know is when his next book comes out I am going to the book signing since I missed the Full Dark, No Stars one. It nice that I live only about 10-12 hours away from him. Well worth the drive to me.

Well at least we agree on the genius of The Stand! Its strange how much King fans debate his best and worst. Insomnia was painful for me to read, it seemed like King was jumping from sci-fi to horror in the space of a page at times and the result was less than the sum of its parts. I adored Black House and rate it as one of King's best work (albeit as half an author!).

IT? I thought it was a great book but not my fave ever, that remains The Stand, he also has some very, very under-rated books like Needful Things and Gerards Game. I saw the outside of Stephen King's house on a tv show here in Ireland and it looks exactly like the kind of house a horror author lives in, very much like a dwelling from one of his Maine-set horrors, i can see from scanning the town he lives in just where the common factors of his books come from-small town folk, drug store, gas station etc.

Apparently he is a very private man and does not welcome fanatics or interviews (unless he is on a publicity campaign). I would love to go to one of his book signings, i wonder is he coming to Waterford any time soon...

[BookWorm617]

I meant that I was going to go to one of his book signings. He had one for Full Dark, No Stars in New Hampshire but I didn't know about it til afterwards. I would have made the drive out there just to meet him.

I also love The Long Walk which you don't hear many people talk about. Did you read the Gunslinger Series? I knew about it for years but wasn't to interested in it. But then one day I was in Barnes & Noble (I had a gift certificate) so I picked up the first one. I immediatly fell in love with it, I think I read all seven of them in about a month and a half. I think this is another one of his works that doesn't get enough recognition.

[Gannon]

I meant that I was going to go to one of his book signings. He had one for Full Dark, No Stars in New Hampshire but I didn't know about it til afterwards. I would have made the drive out there just to meet him.

I also love The Long Walk which you don't hear many people talk about. Did you read the Gunslinger Series? I knew about it for years but wasn't to interested in it. But then one day I was in Barnes & Noble (I had a gift certificate) so I picked up the first one. I immediatly fell in love with it, I think I read all seven of them in about a month and a half. I think this is another one of his works that doesn't get enough recognition.

"The Long Walk", one of my favourites. I love it, however I still cannot find my copy of "The Bachman Books". AHHHHHHHrrrrr

[BookWorm617]

I meant that I was going to go to one of his book signings. He had one for Full Dark, No Stars in New Hampshire but I didn't know about it til afterwards. I would have made the drive out there just to meet him.

I also love The Long Walk which you don't hear many people talk about. Did you read the Gunslinger Series? I knew about it for years but wasn't to interested in it. But then one day I was in Barnes & Noble (I had a gift certificate) so I picked up the first one. I immediatly fell in love with it, I think I read all seven of them in about a month and a half. I think this is another one of his works that doesn't get enough recognition.

"The Long Walk", one of my favourites. I love it, however I still cannot find my copy of "The Bachman Books". AHHHHHHHrrrrr

I have a copy of The Long Walk published by itself. I just recieved my copy of The Bachman Books from Abebooks.com for $3.95. The book cost $1.00 + $2.95 for shipping. I bought it so I could read Rage.

[StephenKingman]

I meant that I was going to go to one of his book signings. He had one for Full Dark, No Stars in New Hampshire but I didn't know about it til afterwards. I would have made the drive out there just to meet him.

I also love The Long Walk which you don't hear many people talk about. Did you read the Gunslinger Series? I knew about it for years but wasn't to interested in it. But then one day I was in Barnes & Noble (I had a gift certificate) so I picked up the first one. I immediatly fell in love with it, I think I read all seven of them in about a month and a half. I think this is another one of his works that doesn't get enough recognition.

Ah, i see, thanks for clarifying. As for Gunslinger. yes i have read them and they are quite good books but not his best in my view, he excels stronger at slow-burning thrillers than overt sci-fi fantasy books..

[Scottbuda]

I loved The Green Mile, great storyline.

[BookWorm617]

OK..just finished reading Rage. I thought it was good. However I don't really understand why he took it off the shelves after Columbine. His story is nothing like what those boys did or the ones after them.

Anyone else out there read this? Thoughts?

[Sophius]

I don't believe it was columbine that inspired him to take Rage out of print but two other shootings, in addition to the fact that school shootings were becoming a serious political issue. In one of the shootings, the friends of the shooter claimed that the shooter loved Rage and reread it multiple times, while in the other, the shooter was found to have Rage in his backpack.

[StephenKingman]

OK..just finished reading Rage. I thought it was good. However I don't really understand why he took it off the shelves after Columbine. His story is nothing like what those boys did or the ones after them.

Anyone else out there read this? Thoughts?

It was a knee jerk reaction in my opinion and one which completely ignores the bigger issue of gun laws and responsibility. Yes, Rage did have similar themes to the tragedy but thats like taking all violent movies off the shelf following a murder. If they concentrated on the law which states that people in America cant have a drop of alcohol until they hit 21 but are apparently responsible enough to own a gun at 17 then that would go a long way towards preventing these almost daily shootings. Dont blame the author, its a cop-out..

[BookWorm617]

OK..just finished reading Rage. I thought it was good. However I don't really understand why he took it off the shelves after Columbine. His story is nothing like what those boys did or the ones after them.

Anyone else out there read this? Thoughts?

It was a knee jerk reaction in my opinion and one which completely ignores the bigger issue of gun laws and responsibility. Yes, Rage did have similar themes to the tragedy but thats like taking all violent movies off the shelf following a murder. If they concentrated on the law which states that people in America cant have a drop of alcohol until they hit 21 but are apparently responsible enough to own a gun at 17 then that would go a long way towards preventing these almost daily shootings. Dont blame the author, its a cop-out..

I agree with the knee jerk reaction. How many crazies out their were caught with Catcher in the Rye on them. They didn't remove that book from the shelves. SK definitly made a premature decision. In the end it's just a book and if someone emulates what they have read like Rage they were crazy to begin with.

[That Book Nerd]

I'm not really a big Stephen King fan, but I actually really liked Cell. It's one of his more criticized books, so maybe I'm just one of those people that likes to be contradictory about things.

But... I mean... zombies. You really can't go wrong.

[ShipOfFools]

I'm not really a big Stephen King fan, but I actually really liked Cell. It's one of his more criticized books, so maybe I'm just one of those people that likes to be contradictory about things.

But... I mean... zombies. You really can't go wrong.

I agree. Cell was a masterpiece. I was on the end of my chair from beginning till end.

I've tried several times, unsuccessfully, to get into Hearts In Atlantis. Maybe I should give it a shot again? I heard the movie was good, but the book was better (if so, maybe it'll pick up mid story?)

[Sophius]

I honestly didn't care for Cell all that much. I liked it, just not nearly as much as some of his other stuff. Of course, one of my favorites are The Tommyknockers, so my opinion probably doesn't count for much.

[StephenKingman]

I honestly didn't care for Cell all that much. I liked it, just not nearly as much as some of his other stuff. Of course, one of my favorites are The Tommyknockers, so my opinion probably doesn't count for much.

All opinions on King count, i do like to read the reasons why some people did or didnt like a King novel even if i disagree it makes for interesting debate

[RHCPfan]

The only King book I have read so far is "The Stand". It was a very good read. I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. how does this book compare to his other works?


oh, and my library has insomnia, duma key, cell, carrie and pet semetary. any comments on those?