Steve announces trilogy on Twitter account

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GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
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Cambridge, Ohio
I think GNT was just being funny.
And yes, different opinions are what make the world go 'round. I for one am not a huge fan of The Stand (gasp!) and truth be told, I think my least favorite SK book to date is Doctor Sleep.
...I was wise-cracking yes, but as much as he didn't like me jumping on his opinion-I don't like self-declared critics who casually toss off a portion of someone's life's work before said work has even been published....it's OK and mighty fine with me if you don't care for it AFTER you've read it, but this poo-pooing of work that's not even done yet?...c'mon!...
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
...I was wise-cracking yes, but as much as he didn't like me jumping on his opinion-I don't like self-declared critics who casually toss off a portion of someone's life's work before said work has even been published....it's OK and mighty fine with me if you don't care for it AFTER you've read it, but this poo-pooing of work that's not even done yet?...c'mon!...
Oooh, you said... :a24:
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
I don't hate it, per se, Tommyknockers was the only book of his I actually hated. It was simply average for me. It didn't grab me like I thought. I'm glad others like it, but it felt far too padded. This could have been a really taut novella, instead of a plodding novel.

This is why I don't put a lot of credit into reviews--no offense intended. More often than not reviews have much more to do with the reader's personal opinions than whether or not a book is actually "good" or well-written. Even poorly written ones *cough Twilight...50 Shades...* have become mega best-sellers because they appealed to an audience. This one didn't resonate for you and I don't have any problem with that--chances are not every book will. I still don't understand why so many people thought Joyland was a hit but I recognize that even though I liked it but it wasn't a top 10 for me, that's about my personal opinion and doesn't make the book any better or worse for others. I loved Mr. Mercedes and was very excited when Steve told me he was writing more because it was never a plodding novel--I couldn't get through it fast enough. I've also heard more than once that a particular novel didn't appeal to a reader on their first time through but when they read it maybe years later, it affected them in a totally different way and they changed their opinion. That might not happen for you with Mr. Mercedes if you should ever give it another go but what I'm saying is that it might be the space you were in personally when you read it this time around.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
This is why I don't put a lot of credit into reviews--no offense intended. More often than not reviews have much more to do with the reader's personal opinions than whether or not a book is actually "good" or well-written. Even poorly written ones *cough Twilight...50 Shades...* have become mega best-sellers because they appealed to an audience. This one didn't resonate for you and I don't have any problem with that--chances are not every book will. I still don't understand why so many people thought Joyland was a hit but I recognize that even though I liked it but it wasn't a top 10 for me, that's about my personal opinion and doesn't make the book any better or worse for others. I loved Mr. Mercedes and was very excited when Steve told me he was writing more because it was never a plodding novel--I couldn't get through it fast enough. I've also heard more than once that a particular novel didn't appeal to a reader on their first time through but when they read it maybe years later, it affected them in a totally different way and they changed their opinion. That might not happen for you with Mr. Mercedes if you should ever give it another go but what I'm saying is that it might be the space you were in personally when you read it this time around.
...not only is this a well written story, but it emphasizes how "easy'" Steve makes it look to rise above the genre that he has been resigned to by so many...you don't have to like it, but man you gotta respect it...
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I think GNT was just being funny.
And yes, different opinions are what make the world go 'round. I for one am not a huge fan of The Stand (gasp!) and truth be told, I think my least favorite SK book to date is Doctor Sleep.

Yup. Different strokes & all that. For my part, the alien books leave me shrugging and I actively despise The Regulators, but Mr. King is still my favorite author. (My daughter was just laughing at me yesterday as I made an urgent speech about integrity as a writer & realized I was hugging FDNS as I did it *smdh*) I'll even give a series a try based on what I know of his writing (lol). There is an incredible amount of pressure to produce series in the publishing world right now--they are the 'thing'. Having a continuing story with familiar characters (given that the author can catch an audience out of the gate) makes things easier on stripped down PR departments--half of the job is done for them. Of course, I can't know if that played any part in Mr. King's decision, and I'm sure he wouldn't have to bow down anyway unless he had a good idea, but it's a modern publishing reality.
 

RichardX

Well-Known Member
Sep 26, 2006
1,737
4,434
There are so many serial detective novels on the current market - many of which are very good - that it's hard to get excited about King joining that crowded genre. I can read just about anything King writes and enjoy it including these books, but would have preferred a couple of original novels over detective sequels. And you really have to suspend disbelief at some point to buy that one retired detective and his teenage sidekick can solve so many major crimes while the police cannot. I can do that up to a certain point, but then it becomes somewhat absurd even in a fictional context. I'll read them though!
 
M

mjs9153

Guest
I hear you Richard,my favorites in that genre are the Prey series,by John Sandford..but I really liked this book,and the reason is SK adds his own literary twist to the standard detecto-thriller..and the main character,Hodges,is several steps ahead of his former cronies in his understanding of criminal behavior and motivations,which does happen,there are people in law enforcement that are simply better than anyone else at their jobs due to natural gifts..interested to see if the villain is all done,or if he can rebound from a bad brain injury..
 

Shasta

On his shell he holds the earth.
I hear you Richard,my favorites in that genre are the Prey series,by John Sandford..but I really liked this book,and the reason is SK adds his own literary twist to the standard detecto-thriller..and the main character,Hodges,is several steps ahead of his former cronies in his understanding of criminal behavior and motivations,which does happen,there are people in law enforcement that are simply better than anyone else at their jobs due to natural gifts..interested to see if the villain is all done,or if he can rebound from a bad brain injury..
Thank you for that spoiler.
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
60
Kentucky
:) Crowe would be perfect, too--Chubby him up (like he was in Body of Proof), put some grey in his hair... He's got that world-weariness down, and him
taking out the punks that were trying to rob the 10 year old
would be totally believable.
If I could just get past his horrible singing when he played my favorite Les Miserables character, Javert!
Aye -yi -yi!