Exceeding Expectations

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Grant87

Grant87

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As I'm starting in on Roadwork, I've been thinking about the expectations I've had going in to each novel. With almost every novel, King has delivered, and many times surpassed, the already high expectations I had before reading. I'll admit, my expectations aren't incredibly high for Roadwork. It seems to be one of the least talked about novels in the entire King catalog, which is quite intriguing for me, to be honest.

That being said, which novel(s) most exceeded the expectations you had going in?
 
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80sFan

80sFan

Just one more chapter...
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I didn't expect to like "Finders Keepers". The first time I read "Mr. Mercedes" I just thought it was okay, so when "Finders Keepers" became available I didn't even preordered it. Then, I reread "Mr. Mercedes", liked it more than the first time I read it and purchased "Finders Keepers" as soon as I finished. "Finders Keepers" exceeded my expectations by far and is one of my favorites.
 
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Pucker

Pucker

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I try not to go in with any expectations at all (which is much easier to say than it is to do), but the one that leaped to mind when I opened this thread was Gerald's Game. I had been noticeably underwhelmed by Dolores Claiborne (although I came to like it much better upon subsequent reading) and was prepared not to like Gerald's Game very much.

Sometimes I enjoy being wrong. (But then again, I would almost have to, as often as I am)

Beyond the sheer terror of Jessie's helplessness, I like the minimalist approach. There are very few distractions -- for lack of a better word -- in this story. It's mostly just us and her, and I like the idea of the interior struggle more than any invented "monster." Even if this particular story is not one of your personal favorites, it seems to me that we can all get down with the idea that at least some of the things that scare us live quite comfortably right inside our own heads.
 
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Grant87

Grant87

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Pucker said:
I try not to go in with any expectations at all (which is much easier to say than it is to do), but the one that leaped to mind when I opened this thread was Gerald's Game. I had been noticeably underwhelmed by Dolores Claiborne (although I came to like it much better upon subsequent reading) and was prepared not to like Gerald's Game very much.

Sometimes I enjoy being wrong. (But then again, I would almost have to, as often as I am)

Beyond the sheer terror of Jessie's helplessness, I like the minimalist approach. There are very few distractions -- for lack of a better word -- in this story. It's mostly just us and her, and I like the idea of the interior struggle more than any invented "monster." Even if this particular story is not one of your personal favorites, it seems to me that we can all get down with the idea that at least some of the things that scare us live quite comfortably right inside our own heads.
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Good stuff. I haven't read Gerald's Game yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Opinions seem to be pretty divided on it, but the premise of the story has my interest piqued. And I wholeheartedly agree with your statement about internal monsters being scarier than others.
 
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prufrock21

prufrock21

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Grant87 said:
Good stuff. I haven't read Gerald's Game yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Opinions seem to be pretty divided on it, but the premise of the story has my interest piqued. And I wholeheartedly agree with your statement about internal monsters being scarier than others.
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Gerald's Game is underrated, in my opinion. It has one of the
creepiest scenes
in a book not necessarily about horror.
If you like your Stephen King with a little kink, you'll love it. The book should also come with
handcuffs
 
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muskrat

muskrat

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Interesting little noodle scratcher there, Grant87. Can't really think of any King books exceeding expectations, as I go into each one expecting something great. Sometimes the opposite happens, but we aren't worried about that right now. Hmm.

Maybe MISERY, seeings how I was pretty young at the time, and the concept didn't really appeal to my juvenile sensibilties--some crazy lady with an axe? Bah, gimme werewolves, gimme vampires--and yet, of course, the book blew my young head off. First book I ever read in one sitting, I remember that. Could NOT put that sucker down till it was done.
 
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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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The Eyes of the Dragon. I'm not a big fantasy lover but was knocked over by this book. It emboldened me to try another King perennial, The Talisman, which was equally mesmerizing. One day I will dip my toe into the Tolkien universe. No...I have never read The Lord of the Rings books. Hahaha.
 
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blunthead

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From a Buick 8. I just didn't know what to expect so I presumed; I projected an assumption on it, something about just another evil car. It was this assumption which had prevented me from reading it for so long. The I finally did read it I really liked it a lot.

And, Grant 87, I loved Roadwork, which somehow now holds a very special place in my heart. I hope it ends up doing so for you, too.
 
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blunthead

blunthead

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Pucker said:
I try not to go in with any expectations at all (which is much easier to say than it is to do), but the one that leaped to mind when I opened this thread was Gerald's Game. I had been noticeably underwhelmed by Dolores Claiborne (although I came to like it much better upon subsequent reading) and was prepared not to like Gerald's Game very much.

Sometimes I enjoy being wrong. (But then again, I would almost have to, as often as I am)

Beyond the sheer terror of Jessie's helplessness, I like the minimalist approach. There are very few distractions -- for lack of a better word -- in this story. It's mostly just us and her, and I like the idea of the interior struggle more than any invented "monster." Even if this particular story is not one of your personal favorites, it seems to me that we can all get down with the idea that at least some of the things that scare us live quite comfortably right inside our own heads.
Click to expand...
In an interview sK described his stories as falling into two categories, Innies and Outies, and goes on to say that Gerald's Game is his "inniest Innie". He says that Innies are about an individual person, what happens to him, and what it means him, while Outies are about a group of individuals. For instance Roadwork, Misery, and especially Gerald's Game are examples of Innies; The Stand, IT, and UTD examples of Outies.
 
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Grant87

Grant87

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blunthead said:
From a Buick 8. I just didn't know what to expect so I presumed; I projected an assumption on it, something about just another evil car. It was this assumption which had prevented me from reading it for so long. The I finally did read it I really liked it a lot.

And, Grant 87, I loved Roadwork, which somehow now holds a very special place in my heart. I hope it ends up doing so for you, too.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I'm about a hundred pages into Roadwork now. So far, so good. Definitely an "innie", as you mentioned above.
 
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GNTLGNT

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
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blunthead said:
In an interview sK described his stories as falling into two categories, Innies and Outies, and goes on to say that Gerald's Game is his "inniest Innie". He says that Innies are about an individual person, what happens to him, and what it means him, while Outies are about a group of individuals. For instance Roadwork, Misery, and especially Gerald's Game are examples of Innies; The Stand, IT, and UTD examples of Outies.
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...so much for my "bellybutton theory" dammit!......
 
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@PM

@PM

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The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon springs to mind. A little girl who adores some baseball player I've never heard of... mèh (also remember baseball isn't as big here in Europe as it is in the States).

But I just couldn't put it away, I think I finished the book the same evening I started it.
 
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