Book Question!!

Long, long, long ago, I used to love a good Stephen King book. I'm not sure if my ceasing to read Stephen King came with my growing out of it or if he had lost the magic. There's something about this summer that has put me back in the mood for a good Stephen King read, but I don't know if that's possible anymore...

I ran across this one the other day. Has anyone read Under the Dome?? The fact that he started writing it long, long ago, gives me hope, but not enough to pony up. No, it's not even the moola. I can go to the library. I don't want to waste the time. I don't want to get to page 573 and regret it. I don't want to be hoping for an It, or The Stand, or The Shining, only to get The Langoliers or Tommyknockers... or even Insomnia. While I enjoyed reading Insomnia (the last Stephen King I think I read, before I had lamblets), I was disappointed by the ending. Is it possible to still be scared by Stephen King? Is it possible to still be surprised? I'm kind of hoping so.

Anyhow... if anyone has read Under the Dome... speak up!

Comments

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

I still like King. I thought Cell was really good, it had zombies.

I read Under The Dome when we went out to Vegas, and really enjoyed it. even though I felt the dome was kind of a contrived device (my son and I talked about how most King stories involve taking a group of people, isolating them and then putting them under stress so all their personal issues come to the fore in horrible, horrible ways) The characters were pretty good. No zombies though, so YMMV.

It is a long one, but it seemed to go pretty fast.

[Brando]

Haven't read it, but if you're looking for a quality read in that vein, TLB is giving two thumbs up to Justin Cronin's The Passage (which Stephen King also heavily endorsed). It's vampires, but in a good way.

I read a lot of King when I was younger but stopped after The Dark Half. I do think his classics like The Stand and The Shining are great horror stories, but after a while his work had a been there, done that feel to it to me. I think it's extremely hard to write that many books and stay fresh.

[Jennifer]

ZRM- I don't want a The Stand wannabe. Did it feel like that?

Brando- I was looking at The Passage just yesterday. I may have to go with that one. I know what you mean about the "been there, done that". I don't want that. I guess I just want the feeling of one of those books, but don't want a repeat.

Thank you, both of you (and TLB)!

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

I don't want a The Stand wannabe. Did it feel like that?

No, it's not as apocalyptic. It has the same kind of large cast of characters, but the rest of the world doesn't have to die.

It's definitely a King book though.

I think it's extremely hard to write that many books and stay fresh.

Yeah, you see him trying everything to stop repeating himself. Movies, serials, comic books, nonfiction....

[Brando]

He's actually very good at coming up with the new versions on tried-and-true horror set-ups. The issue I have is style and character -- no matter what his plots are, his characters and especially writing style tend to feel rather familiar. That's not a problem over a few books, but over dozens it gets to be too repetitive, at least for me.

[Jennifer]

no matter what his plots are, his characters and especially writing style tend to feel rather familiar

Yes, and that's good and bad. I don't want something that feels like the names and locale (another location in Maine) have been changed, but the plot is more or less the same... but I want that creeped out feeling I got from so many of his books. I'm also wondering if I'm too old. I read most of his books in my late teens to mid-twenties.

Hey ZRM... you mentioned,

my son and I talked about how most King stories involve taking a group of people, isolating them and then putting them under stress so all their personal issues come to the fore in horrible, horrible ways

Sounds like the blogosphere!

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

it's not a creepy book. It's a study of people under extreme pressure. In a little town in Maine.

I thought the denouement was a little forced too.

I still enjoyed it, and I agree with Brando about the writing style feeling very familiar, but I like that. I also like his crazy religious characters.

[Jennifer]

I always liked the ones of his that had some creepy combined with studies of the human condition... I think Different Seasons was still one of my favorites. I think he was still writing under Richard Bachman at that point.

Also... I don't like a forced denouement...

[ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©]

I remember reading all the King books, too.

Then the internet and work grabbed hold of my life.
~

[Pinko Punko]

Stephen King is the Rush of literature. That isn't actually true but kind of is.

[Jennifer]

LOL!

I will now step back, while the zombie steps in...

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

you rang?

I guess it's not too surprising that Pinko steps in to bust my chops for insufficiently high-minded reading habits. I have been re-reading my Kurt Vonnegut books lately- does that help?

[Jennifer]

While on earth should people only have to read high-minded stuff?? Does Pinko only eat organic? Does Pinko only eat gourmet cuisine? No, the man obviously enjoys the occasional crap, as do we all. Thank gawd for variety, whether in reading, eating, listening, etc, etc!

[herr doktor bimler]

No, the man obviously enjoys the occasional crap, as do we all.

Just wait for the next post at Riddled.

[Jennifer]

You know what I meant... Of course, when I first read the comment, in email, sans italics, I'm thinking, why on earth is hdb talking about the occasional crap?! My memory was then refreshed...

Oh well, you know the old saying... but I'm not going to say it. I do have some remaining manners.

[Another Kiwi]

I don't like Stephen King's work meself. Too yucko and I don't like his writing style.
I've been re-reading Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds which is great. Check it out if you can ifnd it.light and funny with enough dark to keep it interesting.

[Jennifer]

I'll trust an AK recommendation any day. Although... The Great Root of Power sounds like another setup for a Riddled post, complete with vapors-inducing artwork.

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

Well, I listen to Rush, so what do I know? Might as well read teh Stephen King too.

[Jennifer]

Pinko's just fighting back because I took a jab at his beloved Kenny G. :)

[herr doktor bimler]

And here I was believing myself to be the only NZ fan of "Bridge of Birds".
Expect more Kai Lung blogging too.

[Karla]

I am going to second the two thumbs up for The Passage. Read it in two days - devoured it - and when I read the last sentence, was ready for the next one. Four years ago when Cronin was a only local boy, we invited him to talk to our bookclub and he told us this book was coming. Inspired by his then 9 year old daughter who told him, 'Daddy, you write boring books.' 'Well, then, what should I write about?' he asked. She said, 'I think you should write a story about a girl who saves the world.' In the next year, they would talk about the story together while he was running and she was riding her bike. While many of the ideas from those talks didn't make it into the book, I love it that he did his first thinking aloud about this book with his daughter. Two more books to come and a movie of book one is in the works. Ridley Scott, I believe.

And, if you want beautiful writing but not the scare factor, I recommend his 'The Summer Guest' and 'Mary and O'Neil'.

[Jennifer]

Duh! I knew that name sounded familiar for other reasons, but totally spaced.

[Von]

I have read "Under the Dome"!! I got it for Christmas and read it immediately. I highly recommend it. HIGHLY. We're talking "The Stand" quality work here. I cried for the last three chapters. Such a great book.
READ IT NOW
Then we can discuss.....

[Von]

Read Under the Dome first. Then the Passage.
I want to read The Passage too, but the three piles of books in my room are preventing me from getting any new ones.
Alas, I must wait til the piles go down.....
but if anyone wants to loan me a copy eventually, that would be good..

[Dan Leo]

I think I'm one of the last people on earth who's never read a Stephen King novel, although I did read most of one of his story collections once (I found it in the trash, ha ha), the one with the kids who find the dead body and the other one about the guy who escapes from prison. I have to admit I'm impressed though by the way this guy churns out another 600-page book every six months or so. Which novel is the best one to start with? I'm pretty sure I have a copy of The Shining around here somewhere (trashpicked that one, too!)

So what's the best one for an open-minded latecomer to the party?

[Jennifer]

Not everyone can be as literarily pure as you, Mr. Leo!!

You would be referring to Different Seasons... the one I mentioned above. The Body (Stand By Me) was in there, as well as Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.

Hmmm, which to start with... The Stand is good for a messed up week of dreams. Don't get the unabridged. He needed his editors and the edited one is plenty lengthy. The Shining scared the pants off of me in college. MUCH BETTER than the movie which was farcical. I also liked It. It's summer... The Shining will take the edge off of the heatwave.

And speaking of someone churning out page after page after page of writing... I need to see what Arnold is up to.

Von- I'm reading something else right now. I'll see what I can do.

[Dan Leo]

Hey, thanks for the tips, Jen!

By the way, speaking of books and tips, if you're looking for a hilarious TV show to watch, I just discovered a British series that ran for 12 episodes in 2002-3, called The Book Group -- I love it, and it's available free on Hulu. (PS: Not Lamblet-Friendly, unless you wanna do a lot of 'splainin'!)

[Jennifer]

You'll have to let me know if they gave you the creeps at all. I have often wondered if some are best read earlier in one's life.

I'll check our The Book Group. And I'm all for Not Lamblet-Friendly!!! I live around too many people who sterilize the interesting right out of their lives after having kids. It's not Disney 24/7 for me!!@!!

[scribbler50]

Not being a fan of the horror genre I never got into Stephen King in his heyday. But one day, wandering through Barnes & Noble, I saw a table of discounted books one of which was The Green Mile. So I picked it up to read the first few pages (to see how he lures his readers in), and a clerk walking buy said, "It's great, you really should read it." Well I not only stood there and read twenty some pages but I bought the book and thought it was absolutely terrific! Didn't want it to end. I don't know enough about his overall work but this book certainly got me to thinking... when someone sells millions of books they tend to be not taken seriously as a writer. Whatever "seriously" means. Judging by The Green Mile, I just can't buy that.

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

Misery is great, also.

For a non-horror creepy, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

In his later work, Blaze is terrific also.

And Night Shift. Something about forcing himself to work in the short form makes it particularly effective.

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

No, the man obviously enjoys the occasional crap, as do we all. Thank gawd for variety, whether in reading, eating, listening, etc, etc!

doesn't explain why he makes us all eat Chocolate Skittles.

[Jennifer]

scribbler- I had forgotten about The Green Mile. Also a good one! I always liked the ones that combined the human condition with a little otherworldly stuff.

ZRM- I had forgotten about Misery! That was a good one. And you're right, the shorter does seem to bring something out that is maybe lost in some of the epic ones.

As for Chocolate Skittles... I believe your BFF fish was the one who started that. Of course, fish has cleansed his site so there is no comment trail... perhaps there is still a trail at 3B's. Yes, I believe your mentor and idol, fish, was the one who started that.

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

fish did not force me to eat chocolate skittles.

[Jennifer]

If you follow the chocolate poop skittle trail, you'll see it ultimately ends up connected to a fish. Pinko may have been a step in the process, but we know where the evil began...

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

Genocide didn't begin with Hitler either, but he was still a monster.

Yes, I not only Godwinned a book thread, but compared Pinko Punko to Hitler. Zombie can haz wingnut welfare nao?

[Jennifer]

I not only Godwinned a book thread, but compared Pinko Punko to Hitler

It was only a matter of time. :)

You'll be burning book threads next...

[Kathleen]

WORLD WAR Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also:
The passage : a novel / Justin Cronin.
25 of 73 holds
http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/

[Brando]

I think The Stand is King's best book and The Shining his scariest. The Green Mile was also quite good. It and Pet Semetary will never be mistaken for great literature, but damn if they didn't scare me pretty well when I was in high school.

Kathleen, I can't wait to read World War Z when I'm on vacation next week.

[ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©]

I think The Stand is King's best book and The Shining his scariest.

Yes! It's been so long I couldn't remember all my King reading.

And lettuce not forget Jerusalem's Lot.
~

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

Did you read Duma Key, Jennifer? I liked that one quite a bit.

[Snag]

If you're looking for something in the key of The Stand, which is, by the way, King's best book, and I want to hear no nonsense to the contrary, I'd recommend Armageddon Rag by George R. R. Martin. A horror/fantasy/rock and roll novel so good it'll raise the dead.

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

I have to respect a writer who BEGINS a book by killing off 99.4% of humanity....

[Kathleen in Oakland]

I'd recommend Armageddon Rag by George R. R. Martin

did he finish writing it?

[Kathleen in Oakland]

PREVIEW IS FOR SUCKERS