Stephen King Fans discussion

H wrote: "I'll never surrender my BA books for a e-reader or audio, for some ppl it works & I'm happy for them. As for myself, I'm a renaissance girl, I get so much pleasure from an actual book. It's weight,..."

Thanks H. If this vampire book works (I really wasn't sure it did) maybe the world is ready for my WITCH books!! But that's another story. Meanwhile, I'm fighting to finish How Evan Broke His Head by Garth Stein, the guy who wrote The Art of Racing In the Rain... while I wait for the delivery of the paperback version of The Stranger Beside Me. Evan is really emotionally draining for me... not sure why, but I guess I'll figure it out and write a review. Not sure it was very successful... it's so damn painful.

H wrote: "I'll never surrender my BA books for a e-reader or audio, for some ppl it works & I'm happy for them. As for myself, I'm a renaissance girl, I get so much pleasure from an actual book. It's weight,..."

I resisted an e-reader for so long and swore I'd never give up my lovely, physical books. Then I got one as a gift, slowly started using it for more than games and magazines (which seems so much better for the world than all that paper every month!)and kind of fell in love with it.

Good thing because I've been having some trouble with my eyes and haven't been able to read anything that isn't large print in a few months so having the backlight of the screen and the ability to change fonts and sizes has saved my life! I'd be lost if I couldn't read.

Just finished 11/22/63.....wow! I absolutely loved it

Kandice wrote: "H wrote: "I'll never surrender my BA books for a e-reader or audio, for some ppl it works & I'm happy for them. As for myself, I'm a renaissance girl, I get so much pleasure from an actual book. It..."

I hear you Kandice. My Mom was an avid reader all her life... lived for books... but she developed macular degeneration and had trouble reading. We got her a Kindle and she sailed along through all kinds of wonderful books. It was the ability to enlarge the type that saved her. I've read a lot of books on my phone. The type is enormous, lots of page turning, but I've made it through over 50 books on my iPhone and a lot of them were thousand pagers. Bottom line... if you're resisting e-books, but you're having trouble with your eyes, get one, you'll be amazed. Oh, and read UR by Mr. King.

I also read eBooks on my Samsung Galaxy SIII. I have a Microsoft Surface tablet as well, but it just seems a little big to be reading on. The handy part of reading on my phone is that I always have twenty books in my pocket. On an unrelated note, Nick recommended I read Bag of Bones for my next King venture after Under the Dome. I have never read IT... should that be next. I must say, I am not a huge King horror fan as I love his more literary novels better if that makes sense.

TheLongWait wrote: "I also read eBooks on my Samsung Galaxy SIII. I have a Microsoft Surface tablet as well, but it just seems a little big to be reading on. The handy part of reading on my phone is that I always have..."

Bag of Bones and It are both horror novels with literary components. IT is generally more popular and considered a better book. Of the two Bag of Bones may be a little less horrible. Tough choice.

Thanks for the feedback. Guess we will see lol

Just starting The Elephant Vanishes . Short stories are not my thing, but Murakami is a genius, I will read anything he writes!

finished Vampire Academy now I'm reading Lisey story.

Alice wrote: "finished Vampire Academy now I'm reading Lisey story."

I love Lisey's Story. I've read it about 10 times. I hope you like it.

I'm looking at finishing Wizard and Glass this weekend. Have no idea what I might read next. For the first time in along time I don't have something planned ahead. All I know is that I'm taking a break from Dark Tower.

Michael wrote: "I'm looking at finishing Wizard and Glass this weekend. Have no idea what I might read next. For the first time in along time I don't have something planned ahead. All I know is that I'm taking ..."

Isn't it weird not having a plan for what to read next? I just finished a book I won in a giveaway and have no clue where I want to go next. I have plenty to choose from at home but nothing that's really screaming my name at the moment!

Malina wrote: "Just finished 11/22/63.....wow! I absolutely loved it"

Glad you liked it. It really was a fun read. Being a Doctor Who fan I'm a sucker for time travel stories. Especially when they're well done like 11/22/63.

The girl with the dragon tattoo - Steig Larsson

I just finished the amazing Stoner, and I think I'm gonna start reading Savage season by Joe R. Lansdale. My cousin is a long time lobbying for me to start reading Lansdale, and I decided to finally give in!

I thought 11/22/63 was one of King's best in terms of pure writing. The prose is balanced but never overbearing. And it has a tremendous ending. Hoping Under the Dome is similar in quality.

I finished The Eye of the World and now I'm reading The Waste Lands.

Steve wrote: "The girl with the dragon tattoo - Steig Larsson"

What a great book! The first few chapters are hard to get through IMO, but after that it's all great. Lisbeth is such an amazing character. Enjoy!

finally got around to starting "The Strain" it's got me hooked so far.

Finally got the audio book for The Stranger Beside Me... starting that today; also picked up the paperback so that I can check over some of the passages as I go through it. In the evenings concentrating on The Shadow Queen by Bertrice Small. A romance novel and a real life thriller... seems like a pretty good balance to me.

Malina wrote: "Steve wrote: "The girl with the dragon tattoo - Steig Larsson"

What a great book! The first few chapters are hard to get through IMO, but after that it's all great. Lisbeth is such an amazing char..."

Loved the whole series, you won't be able to stop with just one book... mesmerizing!

I', reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, very soon after finishing Sharp Objects.

Seems a bit silly not to be sure almost two books in, but I can't decide if I really like her writing. Her characters make me uncomfortable. That's what I'm finding difficult. There is not a single character I can actually relate to so far.

Callum wrote: "I'm nearly halfway through King's Dreamcatcher, which is a surprisingly fantastic read as I'm not usually one for aliens (but it is a Stephen King book, so it's no wonder I'm hooked). I'm also usin..."

The Hitler Book sounds great Callum, I'll add it to my list.

Kandice wrote: "I', reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, very soon after finishing Sharp Objects.

Seems a bit silly not to be sure almost two books in, but I can't decide if I really ..."

I've read Gone Girl and the only character that I liked was Go, the sister.

The House, Bentley Little, 5th time***

Kathryn, a lot of people I know have raved and raved about these books and no one else has mentioned not liking the characters, so I'm glad I'm not the only one. ;)

Kathryn wrote: "Kandice wrote: "I', reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, very soon after finishing Sharp Objects.

Seems a bit silly not to be sure almost two books in, but I can't dec..."

Just to chime in here, I thought Gone Girl was great. Granted the characters were twisted, and as a result the story was pretty weird. But the narrative style was amazing. Guess it's possible to like a book just for the way it's written.

Nick, I agree wholeheartedly! I've read many, many books that I've rated 5 stars for the writing alone, even though I didn't enjoy the story.

Cormac McCarthy pops to mind immediately. The stories he tells would cause me to put a book down unfinished by most authors, but his style is so striking, and even beautiful at times. It feels wrong to apply the word beautiful to a book like The Road, but to me, despite the apocalyptic nature of the book, the real story was the devotion, loyalty and love between the man and the boy.

There are quite a few King novels where I simply don’t care for the plot or story line, but I still read, an d often as not, re-read for his style alone.

Haruki Marukami is another great example. I can read him over and over, but when I try to explain what one of his books is about it just sounds...hopelessly awful! I think it’s a bit like trying to explain the show Seinfeld to someone who has never seen it.

Kandice wrote: "Nick, I agree wholeheartedly! I've read many, many books that I've rated 5 stars for the writing alone, even though I didn't enjoy the story.

Cormac McCarthy pops to mind immediately. The stories ..."

You nailed it!
Especially with Murakami, I've never been able to explain what his books are about when someone asks me, they are all great though!

Malina wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Nick, I agree wholeheartedly! I've read many, many books that I've rated 5 stars for the writing alone, even though I didn't enjoy the story.

Cormac McCarthy pops to mind immediate..."

I like Cormac McCarthy... will have to try Murakami.

Nick wrote: "Malina wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Nick, I agree wholeheartedly! I've read many, many books that I've rated 5 stars for the writing alone, even though I didn't enjoy the story.

Cormac McCarthy pops to..."

I'm sure you will love him! The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, 1Q84 are all great, he has some shorter books that you could try as well

Malina wrote: "Nick wrote: "Malina wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Nick, I agree wholeheartedly! I've read many, many books that I've rated 5 stars for the writing alone, even though I didn't enjoy the story.

Cormac McC..."

Thanks, Malina, I'll give him a try.

Right now I'm ready Fifty Shades Freed and after that I plan on reading Goethe's Faust and then Dante's Divine Comedy

Quite the change of genre, going from the fifty shade franchise to Dante!

anyway, I also started Pantera by Stefano Benni, a great satyrical writer

Andrea wrote: "Quite the change of genre, going from the fifty shade franchise to Dante!

anyway, I also started Pantera by Stefano Benni, a great satyrical writer"


Right, Andrea, but they're all about TEMPTATION! Good for you Samantha. Be sure you get good translations.

Andrea wrote: "Quite the change of genre, going from the fifty shade franchise to Dante!

anyway, I also started Pantera by Stefano Benni, a great satyrical writer"

Yeah. I tend to jump around a bit. I'm going from more modern day writers (Fifty Shades and Stephen King) to more classical.

Done with Horns. Starting The Scarlet Letter next.

Gavin wrote: "Done with Horns. Starting The Scarlet Letter next."

The Scarlet Letter is my all time, forever, favorite book! Yes, I know I am in the minority.

Horns is also amazing. :)

Good choices!

I just finished Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saawadi (I'm not going to be forgetting that book for a long time) and I'll start Flush by Virginia Woolf tomorrow, since I need something happier to read now.

I still have about 6 new King books sitting at home waiting for me too...

I reading "Remembering Sarah" by Chris Mooney. And it's great.

Hey gang!

I'm having a good summer reading.

What I am reading now is JOYLAND.

I'm only four chapters in and so far so good.

TOODLE OO!

Debra

Debra wrote: "Hey gang!

I'm having a good summer reading.

What I am reading now is JOYLAND.

I'm only four chapters in and so far so good.

TOODLE OO!

Debra"

I don't think this was universally well received but I really enjoyed it. I hope you find the end satisfying. ;)

Lisey's Story

props to Liseys Story,

As of right now, I am reading 100 years of solitude, White Noise, and Infinite Jest. Next is Under the Dome, and next will be either It, Bag of Bones, Liseys Story, Needful Things, or Mr Mercedes. Nick has recommended It or Bag of Bones. Thoughts?

I would recommend It as well.

I have read "IT" almost 200 times since I was a teenager, I consider it 2B King's (A MASTER) most definitive work, along with The Stand. King was first on so many points with his incomparable body of work, none can touch his genius, that's why he has so many haters. IT is a story that you will never forget, it's narrative & nuances are spot on, IT will color your life & haunt your dreams. IT stands @ the pinnacle of modern horror, & literature in my opinion, reading IT will put you through alot of tragic emotions but in the end you'll remember what it's like to be free...

Wow H! That's a pretty ringing endorsement. I am that way with the Stand, though I generally only read it every other summer.

H wrote: "I have read "IT" almost 200 times since I was a teenager, I consider it 2B King's (A MASTER) most definitive work, along with The Stand. King was first on so many points with his incomparable body ..."

WOW! H... You're scaring me, great review!... powerful use of superlatives in a very good cause. As soon as I get through my current reads (very well into THE STRANGER BESIDE ME, and loving it) I'll have to reread IT... it's been a very long time.