A Game Gone Horribly Wrong

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Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
This book tends to be polarizing, at least in my own experience, I had a girlfriend once who wasn't a very big horror fan, who decided to read this book one day out of boredom and loved it, and on the other hand my mother was always a huge King fan and I think this might be the only book she disliked so much she didn't finish.

"Different strokes for different folks" as they say.

I always liked it, but I haven't read it in a while. I remember it having this sort of "Outlaw" vibe for me though, from the time I was young my family was pretty open minded about letting me read or watch whatever I wanted (more or less) but I remember being told specifically not to take this one off the shelf (I was around 11-12 at the time)...... so naturally I did. I would read it either when I was home by myself or people were asleep, and write down what page I was on on a scrap piece of paper to avoid bending a page, using a bookmark or leaving any other sign that I had touched it lol

Yet another I should put on my "Read again" list.
That's funny - by banning it, they made it more desirable for you at that age! (sort of a reverse psychology kind of thing)
gerald_s_game_by_headdl-d57p64m.jpg

I recall reading this book a long time ago. I think it was the last Stephen King book I read and then took a long hiatus (no real reason for it) until I read a review of 11/22/63.

(I think that may have been how I discovered the SKMB in May of 2012??)

I see it was published November 2011 so I wonder why it took until December to get reviewed in Winnipeg? That was back in the days when I ordered books from the library rather than buying them :big_money:
 

SutterKane

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2014
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That's funny - by banning it, they made it more desirable for you at that age! (sort of a reverse psychology kind of thing)
gerald_s_game_by_headdl-d57p64m.jpg

I recall reading this book a long time ago. I think it was the last Stephen King book I read and then took a long hiatus (no real reason for it) until I read a review of 11/22/63.

(I think that may have been how I discovered the SKMB in May of 2012??)

I see it was published November 2011 so I wonder why it took until December to get reviewed in Winnipeg? That was back in the days when I ordered books from the library rather than buying them :big_money:

That was generally my mentality back then, and more or less still is. The surest way to get me to do something is to tell me not to lol
 
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krwhiting

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Jan 5, 2015
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I just finished this book. I admit, I didn't like the premise. And the long pages of her being trapped in the cuffs and trying to get free and suffering a variety of physical ailments and frights was exhausting. But I always finish a book I've started, and, more importantly, with King, I've found that giving up anywhere would be giving up too soon. Always read to the end. The Joubert piece at the end made the entire book for me. I admit, his first appearance also lit the book up, but the end is what really made the book work for me. It went from being an exhausting grind to a fascinating story in the last 25 pages.

Plus, I've seen a couple people like Mr. Joubert (and some that were more 'designedly' evil) in my practice. So it also made it more concrete for me. As always, well done, Mr. King.

Kelly
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I just finished this book. I admit, I didn't like the premise. And the long pages of her being trapped in the cuffs and trying to get free and suffering a variety of physical ailments and frights was exhausting. But I always finish a book I've started, and, more importantly, with King, I've found that giving up anywhere would be giving up too soon. Always read to the end. The Joubert piece at the end made the entire book for me. I admit, his first appearance also lit the book up, but the end is what really made the book work for me. It went from being an exhausting grind to a fascinating story in the last 25 pages.

Plus, I've seen a couple people like Mr. Joubert (and some that were more 'designedly' evil) in my practice. So it also made it more concrete for me. As always, well done, Mr. King.

Kelly
I am glad you persevered - I felt that way about Lisey's Story at the beginning but just kept plugging along and it eventually became very good!
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I just finished this book. I admit, I didn't like the premise. And the long pages of her being trapped in the cuffs and trying to get free and suffering a variety of physical ailments and frights was exhausting. But I always finish a book I've started, and, more importantly, with King, I've found that giving up anywhere would be giving up too soon. Always read to the end. The Joubert piece at the end made the entire book for me. I admit, his first appearance also lit the book up, but the end is what really made the book work for me. It went from being an exhausting grind to a fascinating story in the last 25 pages.

Plus, I've seen a couple people like Mr. Joubert (and some that were more 'designedly' evil) in my practice. So it also made it more concrete for me. As always, well done, Mr. King.

Kelly

I liked Gerald's Game but I haven't re-read it. I have noticed that it's probably the Stephen King book that is most often mentioned with "but I couldn't finish it" when I talk to readers.

I think people don't want others to know that they are reading not only a Stephen King book but one about bondage, sex etc.! Well (maybe years ago that would be what they thought but hopefully we are more broad minded now).
 

krwhiting

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2015
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I think people don't want others to know that they are reading not only a Stephen King book but one about bondage, sex etc.! Well (maybe years ago that would be what they thought but hopefully we are more broad minded now).

It's not about that though, is it? I mean, I didn't see it that way. First off, the couple are married and what a married couple do is their business. Second, no sex actually happens. Third, the bondage was play between them and only goes wrong because of the well, incident (and Gerald's attitude coming out there). Fourth, Jessie didn't like it and wanted it to stop. Seems more like an anti-bondage book.

I saw it as dealing more with the horror of the situation and how it affected Jessie's mind and how her will manifested itself in freeing her. A bondage book would be more like that recent Shades of Gray thing or Anne Rice's Beauty books.

Kelly
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
It's not about that though, is it? I mean, I didn't see it that way. First off, the couple are married and what a married couple do is their business. Second, no sex actually happens. Third, the bondage was play between them and only goes wrong because of the well, incident (and Gerald's attitude coming out there). Fourth, Jessie didn't like it and wanted it to stop. Seems more like an anti-bondage book.

I saw it as dealing more with the horror of the situation and how it affected Jessie's mind and how her will manifested itself in freeing her. A bondage book would be more like that recent Shades of Gray thing or Anne Rice's Beauty books.

Kelly
I agree! I think you got it 'spot on'. It is just the usual stereotypical attitude people still have whenever you mention the name Stephen King. They say that ignorance is bliss so there must be many blissful people out there.

I hope eventually he will be recognized by all as so much more than just a 'horror writer'.
 

krwhiting

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2015
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A friend of mine in town, another defense attorney, borrowed Gerald's Game from me to read. I'm interested in hearing what he thinks when he's done.

Because it's been a while since I'd read King, I hadn't talked much about his books with folks. But since I started re-reading him I have and he's amazingly popular among my reading circles. And very well-regarded. Folks here definitely view him as more than just a horror writer. One guy said he was like the modern Mark Twain (that wasn't me, it was a friend). Our used book store has an enormous collection of his books. I don't know about critics, don't much care, but among readers he's extremely popular.

Kelly
 

sallyfromthealley

New Member
Sep 19, 2015
4
17
I loved this book. Everything about it.

There were a couple of pages I couldn't read but the book as a whole, I feel, was fantastic.

The best female character SK has written in my opinion. Keep in mind I've still got many books of his to read =)
 
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Sliced Bread

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Jan 6, 2011
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From Scotland, live in Ireland
I enjoyed reading it but I do think it's one of his weaker books. I found her quite an annoying character, and although of course I didn't wish her further harm (!) I do think the story would have had a bit more tension if she'd been trapped there longer. It was over too quickly for me.
 
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Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
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I loved this book. As I've said in a previous post my most horrific King moment is when she is looking into the blackness in the corner wondering if there is anybody there.

Well . . . it's the very essence of horror, isn't it?

That thing you can almost see in the dark . . . and the noises that might or might not be there.

It's all in your head.

Until it isn't.

; )