Hello from Minnesnowda!

[Van Blaricum]

Hi there, my name is Van Blaricum. I have been reading novels by Stephen King since I stole off with my mother's copy of " It " in 1990. The rest of my youth was spent trying to make off with the rest of her books, and then finally one day I had even found and read all SK books that she didn't have. I really like all the old short stories, and my fav novels are The Stand and It. I like Duma Key so far as the new ones go, as well as the one with the Date for a title, re: Time Travel.

I also like to buy whenever I see them on the shelf, dvd's of every Stephen King movie. I used to cut class in junior high to stay home and watch the IT t.v. miniseries.

No matter how many times I have moved or where I have gone to, I have always taken my SK collection with me, some of the books I've had twenty years. Everything else is expendable! When I'm bored I read the same SK books over and over again, there's always something new in them.

Anyways, just checkin' in. I'm an experienced message board user and used to moderate one, so I know the rules on how to behave (mostly)

I'm pleased to be reading and meeting you all.
Good day.

 

[blunthead]

Welcome to the SKMB!

 

[Van Blaricum]

Thanks for the welcoming reply, blunthead!

 

[ghost19]

Welcome ma'am. Have you read the Dark Tower series?

 

[FlakeNoir]

Welcome to the site, good to have you here.

 

[Spideyman]

 

[Van Blaricum]

Hello Ghost, Flake, and Spidey.

Ghost, I know I'm going to gather a lot of flack for saying this, but The Dark Tower series disappointed me, I bought the first few books and started to read them and I just found myself really sort of turned off by one of the characters. I also find The Dark Tower series way too sprawling and self indulgent or " fan indulgent. " I like the Gunslinger himself, and the Wastelands and the concept, but the black wheelchair lady's personality was really nails on a chalkboard for me. I found myself grimacing each time I came to her dialogue.

I know it's everyone epic favorite, but for some reason it's truly the only one I dislike. I also disliked the ending to The Dome, but thought that overall the book it's self was good. I guess it's a win some lose some kind of situation we can't all like every book.

 

[FlakeNoir]

Hello Ghost, Flake, and Spidey.

Ghost, I know I'm going to gather a lot of flack for saying this, but The Dark Tower series disappointed me, I bought the first few books and started to read them and I just found myself really sort of turned off by one of the characters. I also find The Dark Tower series way too sprawling and self indulgent or " fan indulgent. " I like the Gunslinger himself, and the Wastelands and the concept, but the black wheelchair lady's personality was really nails on a chalkboard for me. I found myself grimacing each time I came to her dialogue.

I know it's everyone epic favorite, but for some reason it's truly the only one I dislike. I also disliked the ending to The Dome, but thought that overall the book it's self was good. I guess it's a win some lose some kind of situation we can't all like every book.

No need to worry, we all have different preferences when it comes to stories and characters. I liked Susannah, she was quite pivotal to the whole series for me.

 

[Van Blaricum]

Although, I can't say that I won't decide to come back and try the Dark Tower series again sometime in the future...I sent all the books to my mother to have, because she has always wanted to finish the series, but I'm OCD so I can totes see myself buying them again in some distant future to " complete my collection "

 

[Riot87]

Welcome to the skmb its great to have you here

Lol i like the older short stories as well. what are your favorite ones?

 

[Van Blaricum]

Hi Riot, thanks for the greetings!

I love the Skeleton Crew stories the most, that scary monkey with the cymbals haunts my dreams. The Bachman books made my blood run with a cold chill and I'm all about the Different Seasons book. There's this one story that sticks out in my mind about a kid with a magic camera taking pictures of a terrifying dog?! Lol. Four Past Midnight? I also remember this one about a lady and her car, Mrs Todd? I loved that one.

Forgive me, I have a neurological disorder that causes cognitive problems, primarily with memory, so I have problems remembering specifics at the moment...book titles, story titles. The upside is I can read a book or story or watch a movie over and over again and always be amused.

I have read nearly every short story book by SK and I particularly am fond of the old school ones, not that they are necessarily better, I am just attached to them because I read them as a kid and when you're young some stuff is way scarier.

Short stories are like little jewels to me.

 

[skimom2]

Hello

 

[Van Blaricum]

Hi Skimom, very cool user name.

 

[king family fan]

Welcome! Glad you are joining us.

 

[Van Blaricum]

Thanks, King Fam Fan, just curious, aside from the work of SK and Joe Hill, what other King family members are there for patrons of the arts to be-fan? I did once read that his wife is an author as well, have you read any of her works?

 

[Riot87]

Hi Riot, thanks for the greetings!

I love the Skeleton Crew stories the most, that scary monkey with the cymbals haunts my dreams. The Bachman books made my blood run with a cold chill and I'm all about the Different Seasons book. There's this one story that sticks out in my mind about a kid with a magic camera taking pictures of a terrifying dog?! Lol. Four Past Midnight? I also remember this one about a lady and her car, Mrs Todd? I loved that one.

Forgive me, I have a neurological disorder that causes cognitive problems, primarily with memory, so I have problems remembering specifics at the moment...book titles, story titles. The upside is I can read a book or story or watch a movie over and over again and always be amused.

I have read nearly every short story book by SK and I particularly am fond of the old school ones, not that they are necessarily better, I am just attached to them because I read them as a kid and when you're young some stuff is way scarier.

Short stories are like little jewels to me.

Awesome.

Have you read Night Shift as well?

 

[Van Blaricum]

Oh, yes, I have read Night Shift. I think it had the Dead Zone in it. A favorite of mine. I have read everything by SK except for a few of the more recent books here and there, I had a rough few years these last five years and fell off the planet! I walked into B&N for the first time in two years a few weeks ago and was surprised to see a book called Mr. Mercedes. I bought that and read it and it was pretty darn decent for a " ret. " police procedural.

But when I was oohing and aaahing over it the clerk stunned me by telling me about a book called Revival fast approaching. The last time I bought a more recent short story book it was called Full Dark, No Stars. I think. And I bought one a few years back with an orange cover I dont remember the name or what was in it.

I have so many Stephen King books I even have a little tiny one about a baseball player! I find he is always sneaking something in on me, like Joyland, I just stumbled on it in a used bookstore one day. Also this great DVD series about Kingdom Hospital.

One day I even found an old movie about like a scary little troll or something in a little girls bedroom at night. I was tickled by that one. Tickled!

Sometimes when I stumble across a SK book I didn't know about I get grouchy. I'm a super fan, but not a totes crazed one so I don't keep up as much as when I was a teen.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...Hey good lookin'!...to answer your query...his son Owen also writes, Owen's wife is an author and yes, Tabitha is a published scribbler...each have their own styles...and whaddya mean, you know how to behave?...WTH???...what is this behave word you so casually toss about?.....

 

[Van Blaricum]

Wow, I didn't realise Owen writes as well, and I def didn't know about Owens wife. That's all good to know. I find talent often runs in packs, like families of wolves.

Well I said I know how to behave but I didn't say what kind of behaviors I am capable of displaying

 

[Lily Sawyer]

Howdy from Nashville. Welcome to Kingland. Lots to do and read around here...sans wood chippers.

Those show up only if you annoy your partner-in-crime and argue over who gets to keep the (stolen) car.