Controversial SK Opinions/Confessions

[do1you9love?]

You know bugged me in Insomnia? Ed's music choices. They were too old for his age in the book. I was Ed's age, and the stuff Mr. King had him listening to was stuff my mom (Mr. King's age, more or less) would have listened to. I know it's a tiny thing in a book that I enjoyed, on the whole, but every time music came up, I cringed and was yanked right out of the story. Atropos was a creepy little guy in that one, though!

Yeppers, this is one thing that really bugged me while reading it. I mean, really, a man of Ralph's age listening to/knowing the lyrics to Pearl Jam? Really?

I think we've had this conversation before. I believe that we're close in age (I'm early forties) and I had all of the music that Ed was playing. Go Ask Alice was my "go-to" song when I wanted to shut down and just stop thinking about things. My parents raised me to appreciate all types and genres of music and I do the same. I still listen to the oldies (50s-70s), the new oldies (80s-90s) and all the newer stuff, country to pop to alternative. I promise you when I am Ralph's age, I will be able to quote new music lyrics.

Point being, I get what you guys are saying but I didn't have the same reaction. Goes back to the different strokes thing!

 

[fljoe0]

Thanks for that. My controversial SK opinion is not specific to SK, but this is the example that most comes to mind. I can't help thinking that if you're prepared to sell the rights to something you've written, and you're prepared to take the money for it, then you should also be prepared to keep your opinion to yourself if you don't like the end result.

As it was, my first exposure to The Shining was the Mad magazine adaptation, and that is absolutely, hands down the best version of the story there is. I was too young for the movie or the book back in 1980, but my folks figured Mad was just a comic, so that was okay. But discounting that version, I did read the book before the film, and I thought it was awesome, obviously. But the fact that the film even existed had already coloured my view. I had seen posters, I had seen trailers on TV, I had friends who had seen the film on video. I remember being thrown for a loop by the fact that Wendy Torrance was described as having blonde hair. How could that be? I seen pictures. I knew she was a brunette.

When I did finally see Kubrick's movie, I thought that was awesome as well, and the fact that it wasn't the same as the book was one of the most awesome things about it.

I've cooled on the movie as I've got older, but this is still soemthing that sits uncomfortably with me. It feels a bit like selling you house to the highest bidder and then coming back a year later and complaining about their choice of decoration.

SK is usually pretty quiet about the movies from his work and I don't think he was ever vicious about The Shining. I think the problem is that he didn't like it and it is the movie that is most talked about so there's no way he can really avoid giving his opinion because someone is always bringing it up.

 

[not_nadine]

. Trust me, I'm much too lazy to pull any such pranks.

It's ok. I got what you were saying.

So, we don't get to tar and feather?

 

[Moderator]

So, we don't get to tar and feather?

Not this time.

 

[AchtungBaby]

Ok, we'll get controversial here: now, bear in mind, this is just a silly idea of mine, one of many that swirl around inside my cracked eggshell-- this isn't meant to spark any heated debates about morality, mortality, responsibility, nothin...( most of what I say is said in jest, especially if I sound mean and evil)...ready? Ok.

I'd like to lock King in a room with about a pound of cocain and an old Underwood typewriter and say, "get to work, old man." Heh heh heh--sorta like a Gonzo Annie Wilkes. Oh, that sounds cruel and crazy, but think of the BOOK he'd write!

Now, I don't like cocain, never have--and I realize the man was killing himself back in his coke head days...but GOD, those books were great.

Okay, poor the tar...I'll find my own feathers to roll in.

I get what you're saying (and I've, honestly, thought something similar before) but I wouldn't want him to harm himself and at his age that would most likely kill him.

The cocaine gave his books a certain forward thrust, a certain rock and roll vibe.... But in recent years we've gotten his most nuanced, mature work yet. Beauties like Duma Key and 11/22/63 couldn't have happened on heavy drugs, methinks.

 

[skimom2]

I think we've had this conversation before. I believe that we're close in age (I'm early forties) and I had all of the music that Ed was playing. Go Ask Alice was my "go-to" song when I wanted to shut down and just stop thinking about things. My parents raised me to appreciate all types and genres of music and I do the same. I still listen to the oldies (50s-70s), the new oldies (80s-90s) and all the newer stuff, country to pop to alternative. I promise you when I am Ralph's age, I will be able to quote new music lyrics.

Point being, I get what you guys are saying but I didn't have the same reaction. Goes back to the different strokes thing!

I get you. I have always listened to a huge variety of music, but Ed's fixation on music from the psychedelic 60s didn't ring true to me with the character as written. No biggie I still liked the book very much!

 

[Senor_Biggles]

SK is usually pretty quiet about the movies from his work and I don't think he was ever vicious about The Shining. I think the problem is that he didn't like it and it is the movie that is most talked about so there's no way he can really avoid giving his opinion because someone is always bringing it up.

I don't know if I agree with that. It dosen't quite seem to jibe with this:

One of the conditions for reacquiring the rights was that King had to stop bashing Kubrick’s film. “For a long time I hewed that line,” King told CBS. “And then Kubrick died. So now I figure, what the hell. I’ve gone back to saying mean things about it.”

 

[Anduan Pirate Princess]

Ooh, ok, I have one opinion that I can't let go of no matter how many facts you throw at me to show me I'm wrong: I don't think that Flagg from The Eyes of the Dragon is necessarily the same entity as Randall Flagg. Mostly because I don't want him to be. Flagg from Eyes is my absolute favorite character ever! I could go on and on about this ad nauseam (and maybe I will sometime, lol), but that's my small rebellion against the King universe.

 

[not_nadine]

Not this time.

I never get to have any fun.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...his kitchen sucks.....that is all....

 

[HollyGolightly]

I'm impressed with the details you all remember - the music tastes of Ed and Ralph - I'd have to be hypnotized to remember those details. I can tell you if I liked them or not. Most of them I loved, a few I just liked, a couple have not grabbed me: Tommyknockers, From a Buick 8 & Desperation - I didn't finish them. I loved some of them that many of you didn't - I couldn't put Insomnia or Under the Dome down, loved them. Loved The Dark Half. Eyes of the Dragon, amazing. I can't find anything controversial or bad to say. I am quite fond of the man, his works, his family. He's just great.

 

[summer_sky]

<snip>Most of them I loved, a few I just liked, a couple have not grabbed me: Tommyknockers, From a Buick 8 & Desperation - I didn't finish them. I loved some of them that many of you didn't - I couldn't put Insomnia or Under the Dome down, loved them. Loved The Dark Half. Eyes of the Dragon, amazing. <snip>

I'm reading The Dark Half now.

 

[not_nadine]

I have not read Eyes of the Dragon.

 

[Neesy]

I've seen threads like this on a few other forum-type thingies, where people will express their unpopular or divisive opinions about whatever the subject of the forum is, in this case, Sai King.

For example, I prefer the Shining movie, to the Shining book. Not saying it's better, but I do find it more to my tastes (we'll see if I change my mind when I finish this read through).

(I fully expect to get banned for saying that. )

Let's see 'em folks.

Lisey's Story

Perhaps because it was so personal (apparently about his relationship with Tabby and her sisters, etc.)

I did find my mind wandering at first, but after a while I did start to enjoy it quite a bit. This must be one book that I should try reading again, as I have heard others say it is better the second time.
(Gee - why did that just come out like a sexual innuendo?)

 

[Neesy]

I have not read Eyes of the Dragon.

It is really good! (very much like a fairy tale, yet I read it when I was far from being a child) - it is a lovely story.

 

[Neesy]

Insomnia was my favorite.....takes all kinds, eh?

Yup - I liked it too! (and I had never read any Dark Towers books yet at the time I read Insomnia).

 

[Neesy]

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the "loser" King novels -- based on general consensus i.e. What I've observed -- seem to be:
Tommyknockers
Gerald's Game
Insomnia
From a Buick 8
Lisey's Story

....keep in mind I love all five of these novels-- just saying what I've observed.

Gerald's Game! What?! - hang on while I get my cuffs...

 

[AchtungBaby]

Gerald's Game! What?! - hang on while I get my cuffs...

I like it....but I know a lot of fans who don't.

 

[kingricefan]

I have not read Eyes of the Dragon.

Oh, Nottie, you must read this book. It is a wonderful story and will make you feel good about life. Trust me.

 

[SusanNorton]

I supposed it may be controversial to say that I really liked "Tommyknockers," to the point that I feel a little miffed when SK talks about it being rubbish.

I tend to like his books in waves. I feel sometimes like he'll write a couple that seem "meh" to me, then he'll write two or three that I like, and then he'll write one that knocks me out. This is where re-reading comes in handy, because a lot of times I'll realize it wasn't so much the book that was "meh," but my frame of mind when I read it.

I do remember a time (early or mid-'90s, I think) when I lost interest in much of what he was writing, and then "Bag of Bones" tore my face off, it was so good.