Horror Aficionados discussion

The Mist won 1st place!

This is the place to discuss this month's group read.

Percentages or page numbers are helpful when referencing a certain passage.

Please be polite and use spoiler tags when necessary.

Enjoy the read

I'm joining this one too. I've never read it and have only seen bits & pieces of the movie but not enough to give it away.

I was having a hard time finding this on my library's website then I saw Mouthy Jenn's review. I found the skeleton crew & that's the way I got it. they didn't have it by itself.

I read this story many years ago but thinking about it now makes me glad I live on the desert 'cause we don't see fog here.

This is probably my favorite Stephen King short story (novella?) of all time, great choice!

I haven't read this in a long time.

Just ordered a copy, hopefully i'll receive it on time =)

So excited about this group read! Ready to bring on Halloween with this awesome book!

I read this one and loved it years before I saw the movie. Got my library ebook; I'm in!

Oh, excellent, I was meaning to read this soon for HA's yearly reading challenge anyway! Totally joining in.

John wrote: "Just got the audio book of Skeleton Crew in which "The Mist" was originally published. ;)

Years ago, I had the audio cassette of The Mist in 3d but someone broke into my car and stole..."

whoa! I hate to hear that John. i bet it was awesome. i got the audio book as well, the skeleton crew.

I saw the movie years ago but I just bought Skeleton Crew where this story is in, cant wait to dig in, nice pick :)

I just discovered that my library's Overdrive has this. I read it years ago, so I think it's time for a re-read! I almost never re-read books, but I loved this when I last read it, and I'd like to re-visit it:-).

I've had a hard time reading anything lately, but I loved the movie, so maybe this will help me get back on track.

I have to read this story again this week anyway for an online horror writing course so, good timing--I'm in!

I got my copy of just this book from thriftbooks today along with the other book to read for the month of Oct! Woot! I also found my Skeleton Crew book to read later :-D

That's great Melissa! Yay Phillip!

:-D

Philip wrote: "I have to read this story again this week anyway for an online horror writing course so, good timing--I'm in!"

Oooh, what online horror writing course is that? Just curious. Sounds super fun.

I've already read The Mist so I'll be trying to do the other challenge, but checking in here - I actually cannot remember how the book ends, only the movie.

So I finished The Mist today. I haven't read it in years so re-reading it was somewhat of a treat. For a short story it's an enjoyable read. Normally I do not read short stories though. It seems that I finish the story with more questions than when I started. In this case: what created the mist or where did it come from? What were those creatures? What happened to David, Billy, Amanda, and Mrs. Reppler? Same with the people left in the store. I could go on but I will leave it at that. Short stories just seem to leave me hanging I guess.

I'm listening to the audiobook so I'm going to post my comments under the group listen but I'm going to lurk over here too. I accidently started it today and oh my!! I freakin love what I'm hearing! someone come do the happy dance with me!

No I haven't read it or seen the movie.

I just started, and I am amazed how different the style is from Stephen King's normal work. It's a very workmanlike prose, not feeling like his novel voice at all. I know his short stories are wonderfully short and to the point, but this feels even more streamlined. I'm not complaining though; the man still knows how to write.

I haven't read this in a looooong time. What year did Skeleton Crew come out? LOL

I need to get this out and re-read it.

Yep, I pulled the book off the shelf and I have a hardcover published in 1985.

yay!! the year my sister was born.

Ohhhhh bloody hell. The pharmacy

I was holding off until October 1st to start this one -- but it looks like others are starting the reading & discussion now, so I assume it's OK to start even if we're not in October yet?

Will be joining in on this read. Looking forward to it!

Latasha wrote: "Ohhhhh bloody hell. The pharmacy"

I loved the pharmacy...Racing Stripes!

Quentin wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Ohhhhh bloody hell. The pharmacy"

I loved the pharmacy...Racing Stripes!"

no. no. no. no bad mr. king! very, very bad.

I finished this today and oh my lord! how I do love it. I stated in the audio thread I wanted to be friends with ms. carmedy, or crazy ralph if you prefer, but i no longer want to be her friend. this was the first time I'd read this story and i haven't seen the movie. i really, really liked it. i bought the audio book, skeleton crew, but I'm willing to buy in print too. I'm going to finish listening to the other stories. but this story was so great, it deserves a hug. i hope everyone else likes it too.

Julie wrote: "I was holding off until October 1st to start this one -- but it looks like others are starting the reading & discussion now, so I assume it's OK to start even if we're not in October yet?"

it's ok. i didn't mean to start it yet. i bought the skeleton crew audiobook and wouldn't ya know?! it was the first story :( it's ok if u start now, though.

John wrote: "Latasha wrote: "I finished this today and oh my lord! how I do love it. I stated in the audio thread I wanted to be friends with ms. carmedy, or crazy ralph if you prefer, but i no longer want to b..."

I'm right there with ya ;)

It's October 1st and my mail man just delivered my copy of Skeleton Crew, most excellent timing. Hoping back to bed and starting now.

Just downloaded Skeleton Crew.

I have never read this book, or this novella - so a first time for me.

Looking forward to sharing in this read with everyone here.

Oh dear lord o mighty! I rented the movie and I'm currently watching it. The pharmacy! I closed my eyes trough most of that. That is some shit I don't or want to see.

I liked the movie very much!

I liked the movie ending better actually.

Now I'm doubting myself! (view spoiler)[ I like that in the book they may very well be the last people left alive but I like the movie ending because we see David being so strong and finally giving up, the break down of a person so I like that ending from that perspective. (hide spoiler)]

Latasha wrote: "Now I'm doubting myself! [spoilers removed]"

That movie ending (view spoiler)[ literally left me speechless. I'd have to say that I prefered the book version "better", but the movie was so powerful, it's almost difficult to put one before the other in this case. (hide spoiler)]

Latasha wrote: "Ohhhhh bloody hell. The pharmacy"

Creepy scene.

Just read the line right before they go off to the supermarket. Damn.

What was it?

Latasha wrote: "What was it?"

"I tapped the horn twice, lightly, and she raised the hand holding the clippers in answer. We pulled out. (view spoiler)[ I haven't seen my wife since. (hide spoiler)]

Kasia wrote: "Latasha wrote: "What was it?"

"I tapped the horn twice, lightly, and she raised the hand holding the clippers in answer. We pulled out. [spoilers removed]"

yeah :(

Kimberly wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Now I'm doubting myself! [spoilers removed]"

That movie ending [spoilers removed]"

I agree, there is things I like about each one. after thinking about it, it is a tough call.

I'm yet to receive my book....hopefully it'll arrive in time to join in!

I meant to do more regular comments along the way, but The Mist is so short & so eminently readable that I blew through and finished in a day!

The quote before the supermarket: Yeah, that one's a doozy. There's a few more examples of that dramatic foreshadowing along the way, which I love dearly. From the other books I've read of his, King really seems to like toying with that technique, dropping hints of the omniscient "well this is gonna end badly" in order to ratchet up the suspense. SO GREAT.

I loooooved the first... 2/3? 3/4? of the novella and was completely tense and anxious throughout, but for some reason I felt like the suspense actually drained away a bit once they reached the pharmacy. (view spoiler)[The claustrophobia and not seeing the monsters (or barely seeing them) is what frightens me the most, so the battle with the spiders kinda robbed the tension for me? (hide spoiler)]

Movie vs. book ending: I love that we can debate this! Often book-to-movie adaptations are so terrible, but from what I recall, this one was pretty strong.

(view spoiler)[One of my best friends, who read the novella first, strongly STRONGLY prefers it and hates how utterly, soul-rendingly bleak the movie ending is.

Me, I do think I prefer the movie ending? I need to rewatch (I saw it years ago & never read the novella until now), but it was such a punch to the gut that it lingered in my memory for like 9 years. It was so ballsy and unique, and the final twist of the knife in the viewer's spine was seeing the woman who ran away at the start of the story, sitting safe and sound in the truck. I still remember that.

Whereas in the book, King/David even outright apologise for the (possible weakness of the) ending, which also reminds me of his afterword to The Dark Tower, in which he kinda addresses his antipathy towards endings (not a spoiler):
"I hope you came to hear the tale, and not just munch your way through the pages to the ending. For an ending, you only have to turn to the last page and see what is there writ upon. But endings are heartless. An ending is a closed door no man (or Manni) can open. I've written many, but most only for the same reason that I pull on my pants in the morning before leaving the bedroom--because it is the custom of the country." (hide spoiler)]