Everything all right tonight Hammarstrom? (I'm not really seeing the above post as overly critical.)Did SK change his style?
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Everything all right tonight Hammarstrom? (I'm not really seeing the above post as overly critical.)
No I don't think so, Rrty has been a member here for years.
Funny, I didn't think I said anything controversial. Me? I'm in Dirty Harry mode. I thought it said that I'm allowed to talk politics and other stuff without censure, as long as I didn't annoy too many people. What's the point of having a website if all you talk banal?
I was just questioning the snark, that's all. (As the post you'd commented on, didn't seem that it had warranted it, so I was confused.)
On the TV show "Real Time with Bill Maher" sK states that his work since becoming sober is superior to his previous work.
My all time favorite poster.
Sorry Hammarstrom, but I agree with Flake. And when Flake questioned your post she wasn't censuring you, or she would've edited it. "Dirty Harry mode" needs self censure. (Of course, I'm not forgetting my own unnecessary snark posts.)
Truth is, he let Joe and Owen write his later books while he published as Joe Hill.
I have thought that in Lisey's Story is Tabitha's hand...
Excellent explanation!
As for the actual writing in Lisey's Story--or any of his books--it's only Steve who is doing it but he does take into consideration suggestions and feedback he gets from Tabby after she's read his story, as well as any others who read them prior to publication. If he thinks their ideas make sense, then he is the one who does the rewriting. The only books or stories that have another author co-writing them are the ones that are clearly acknowledged as being co-written, i.e. the ones with Peter Straub and his son, Joe. One of his gifts as a person that translates to his skill as a writer is his observation of human behavior and being able to capture that to create characters and themes that ring true regardless of whether the character is a man or a woman. I think a lot of people believe that because he is a man he can't possibly write from the POV of a woman or a child so it must be someone else (usually Tabby is mentioned most often) writing those parts, but he is the one who does it time and again.I have thought that in Lisey's Story is Tabitha's hand...
Excellent explanation!
I think it has matured, to be honest. My mom had me read the Shining back in 1995 when i was in 5th grade. i just started Mr Mercedes and it is alright so far....Doctor Sleep BLEW ME AWAY, however. In my opinion, that is the best writing he has done since the 80's. Very intense psychologically and the story was so well written i would completely forget the outside world whilst reading the book. Styles of artists should constantly evolve. Keeps us scream freaks happy. 
I have thought that in Lisey's Story is Tabitha's hand...
Well you know, I was only joking. I don't actually believe that any of Stephen's (or Joe's, come to that) books have been 'ghosted' by someone else, either inside or outside the family.
"BIG MAN can't be a little girl, obviously Tabitha used her feminist powers to force Stephen to let her publish her book under his name"
This is what I hear every time The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, appears in a, what Stephen King have you read, discussion.
as if it makes any sense for an author to publish under another authors name.
Some times when I hear people say stuff like this about a writer or band or filmmaker that's been around a long time, I tend to think it's a little deeper then just the artist. When you have been in the audience for such a long time, it becomes harder to impress you. You see this often in Hard Rock bands. Many a person will say a band like Metallica is "Softer" now then they were in the 80's. I disagree. If you took their latest album, "Death Magnetic" to a kid who has never heard them before, there gonna think that album is dark and heavy. The whole album is songs about Suicide, Murder, Depression, etc etc. They haven't gotten any softer by a long shot. It's just impossible to hit a fan the same way when said fan began listening in the 1980's as a teenager and is now in his mid 40's. He's been hearing songs from you that dark for a long time now, so it lacks the shock factor that it once held.
Same applies here. People have said that King's work lacks the Gross-out factor now, but honestly, the most disgusting story he ever wrote was "A Very Tight Place" and that wasn't very long ago. They say it's not as Dark, but "Fair Extension" was one of the most cynical, cold blooded, dark stories he's ever written, where he takes a nice character and drags his entire family into hell with no happy ending.
So on and so on.
Just my opinion though.
Same applies here. People have said that King's work lacks the Gross-out factor now, but honestly, the most disgusting story he ever wrote was "A Very Tight Place" and that wasn't very long ago. They say it's not as Dark, but "Fair Extension" was one of the most cynical, cold blooded, dark stories he's ever written, where he takes a nice character and drags his entire family into hell with no happy ending.
So on and so on.
Just my opinion though.
I think his writing has grown and changed with him, as it would for any artist. The craft and he see closer to eye to eye than ever before, though I doubt it ever possible for anyone to see exactly eye to eye with the craft, or the story. Those of you who are writers no doubt understand what I mean.
Another post I want to hug. Thank you, Ms. Mod.
King has definitely changed as a writer, and I applaud him for it. One reason I love reading him is because he isn't afraid to tackle any style. If I want to be scared, I read The Shining, Cujo, 'Salem's Lot, IT, etc. If I want beautiful prose (all of his books have this, but some stand out more--ya know?) I read Bag of Bones, Lisey's Story, Duma Key, 11/22/63. If I want a taut thriller, I read Dolores Claiborne, Misery, Mr. Mercedes. If I want a book that inspires me, I read Shawshank, Dark Tower, The Green Mile, The Body. The list goes on and on -- you guys get my point. He's changed, but he's constantly changing. And I salute him for it.
@ Chuggs: Yeah, I think I get you. You can have a great understanding of the craft or story, but the craft/story itself is like that wily kid you used to play with in the schoolyard: you know this kid well, you know all their tricks, but just when you think you're going to 'tag' them or get a solid grip they sidle away and leave you clutching (mostly) at fresh air. Meanwhile the kid's off and laughing so you think 'Yeah, next time'...and of course next time works out exactly the same.
@ AchtungBaby: As you say, all of his books have at least some brilliant and/or beautiful prose in them. For me, though, it's not so much evidence of a change in writing style as it is a sign of growth and maturity in the man - which isn't to say his writing style hasn't evolved alongside that, of course it has, but it's like he reached a point where he had more confidence in his ability and felt able to risk stretching his wings a bit. Maybe that was down to success, maybe not. My own pet theory is that he might have pushed the envelope a little earlier, but at that point, with a young family to provide for, success actually acted as an inhibitor, locking him into a certain mode or method, and it was only later, with financial security and the kids growing up, that he felt able to really do what he liked as opposed to what expectation required.
Whether that's accurate or not, he clearly always had the range - if not the confidence, as a younger man, to fully express it, though it clearly isn't to everyone's taste.
I guess you can compare it to a political activist. When young, the mind is there but the method of expression and voice is raw, impassioned, angry. In later years, a lot of that energy has gone. The anger isn't quite as intense, the fire still burns but not as fiercely as before. All that shows in the voice, which is richer, more measured, perhaps even a little weary after a lifetime of argument. Both can be (and are) effective. You just won't have carried all your initial followers along (because they still want 'urine' and vinegar). Instead, you'll have picked up new ones and they'll complete the journey with you...and in the meantime, 'old you' continues to pick up new devotees.
I guess if you're in that position, it's all good.
(I had a point somewhere, there. I promise.)
@ AchtungBaby: As you say, all of his books have at least some brilliant and/or beautiful prose in them. For me, though, it's not so much evidence of a change in writing style as it is a sign of growth and maturity in the man - which isn't to say his writing style hasn't evolved alongside that, of course it has, but it's like he reached a point where he had more confidence in his ability and felt able to risk stretching his wings a bit. Maybe that was down to success, maybe not. My own pet theory is that he might have pushed the envelope a little earlier, but at that point, with a young family to provide for, success actually acted as an inhibitor, locking him into a certain mode or method, and it was only later, with financial security and the kids growing up, that he felt able to really do what he liked as opposed to what expectation required.
Whether that's accurate or not, he clearly always had the range - if not the confidence, as a younger man, to fully express it, though it clearly isn't to everyone's taste.
I guess you can compare it to a political activist. When young, the mind is there but the method of expression and voice is raw, impassioned, angry. In later years, a lot of that energy has gone. The anger isn't quite as intense, the fire still burns but not as fiercely as before. All that shows in the voice, which is richer, more measured, perhaps even a little weary after a lifetime of argument. Both can be (and are) effective. You just won't have carried all your initial followers along (because they still want 'urine' and vinegar). Instead, you'll have picked up new ones and they'll complete the journey with you...and in the meantime, 'old you' continues to pick up new devotees.
I guess if you're in that position, it's all good.
(I had a point somewhere, there. I promise.)
I was fully serious. When I have read Lisey's Story I subconsciously associated Scott Landon with SK. ( Sometimes, of course.
) Lisey Landon praises her husband abundantly. So I have had doubts... can SK praise himself so much?