Awesome book, one small criticism

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Doc Wilson

Well-Known Member
May 29, 2009
2,223
155
on the Bayou
I loved it, don't get me wrong.

But he didn't
kill any darlings. King's ruthlessness with his characters is a big part of what makes him my favorite author. Just like in real life, good people die in a King novel. Because of this, when a favorite character is put in peril, I can know that the peril is real and experience real fear for them.

I can live with it, we're still BFFs. Can't wait for next year's offerings.
 

baggy

Well-Known Member
Jan 10, 2012
82
205
Brisbane, Australia
I think for a writer the term 'killing your darlings' doesn't always refer to a character. Sometimes it can be a piece of narrative or dialogue that the author thinks is wonderful, but unfortunately it doesn't move the story along. A great piece of writing can be a darling that has to go pffft...

Well that's my opinion, for what it's worth :watermelon:
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
Kill_Your_Darlings_poster.jpg
 
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Lina

Committed member
Jun 24, 2009
3,356
6,024
Russia
I loved it, don't get me wrong.

But he didn't
kill any darlings. King's ruthlessness with his characters is a big part of what makes him my favorite author. Just like in real life, good people die in a King novel. Because of this, when a favorite character is put in peril, I can know that the peril is real and experience real fear for them.

I can live with it, we're still BFFs. Can't wait for next year's offerings.
Honestly, I was afraid
Dan would die in the end, either from that fight with Rose The Hat, or from a disease. I am glad it did not happen... I can't imagine how hard I would be crying in this case.
 

prufrock21

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2011
2,956
12,657
The Caribbean
I loved it, don't get me wrong.

But he didn't
kill any darlings. King's ruthlessness with his characters is a big part of what makes him my favorite author. Just like in real life, good people die in a King novel. Because of this, when a favorite character is put in peril, I can know that the peril is real and experience real fear for them.

I can live with it, we're still BFFs. Can't wait for next year's offerings.
Not to worry. He will
kill 'em next time
 

Angelo Bottigliero

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
764
3,103
Rotterdam
I'm Italian and I found her to be annoying and stereotypical. There was no reason for her to be Italian.
What part are you from? :) My family is from Napoli. Well... The book would have been just as good had she not been Italian, but she did sound a lot like my own Italian aunts. Perhaps my family is just more stereotypical than yours :D
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
What part are you from? :) My family is from Napoli. Well... The book would have been just as good had she not been Italian, but she did sound a lot like my own Italian aunts. Perhaps my family is just more stereotypical than yours :D
Napoli area as well. Hmmmm... When I said stereotypical, I misspoke. When I really think about it, what I am trying to say is that her character seemed very forced. It's as if SK was challenging himself to write an ethnic character and it just didn't work. As if he felt he had to pepper her dialogue with every stock Italian phrase there is. Her character did not seem natural. Just my opinion though.
Now this makes me think: what other ethnic characters has SK written? Not just a small part, but supporting character, as this one was. I'm having a mental block thinking of one.
 

Angelo Bottigliero

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
764
3,103
Rotterdam
Napoli area as well. Hmmmm... When I said stereotypical, I misspoke. When I really think about it, what I am trying to say is that her character seemed very forced. It's as if SK was challenging himself to write an ethnic character and it just didn't work. As if he felt he had to pepper her dialogue with every stock Italian phrase there is. Her character did not seem natural. Just my opinion though.
Now this makes me think: what other ethnic characters has SK written? Not just a small part, but supporting character, as this one was. I'm having a mental block thinking of one.
It didn't bother me in this book. Balazar in the Dark Tower however, makes me cringe every time I read his awful 'Italian' dialogue...

Edit: Perhaps I have just gotten use to it. Every Italian I see on tv is either a maffioso or makes pizza's :D