N.

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César Hernández-Meraz

Wants to be Nick, ends up as Larry
May 19, 2015
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Aguascalientes, Mexico
I was somewhat disappointed by the intrusion of supernatural. SK could have avoided that and focused on reality alone. There is enough magic around us, no need to come up with fairy tales monsters.

I actually loved how the supernatural seems to have caused the obsession on these people who would otherwise not have been afflicted by it.

It also makes me think perhaps people with OCD can see things in this universe (and parallel ones) that not everyone can easily see (unless they are in a field where the barriers are very weak).

But I think you can even choose to see the "supernatural" as only in the mind of the people with OCD. Since they are the only ones who mention these things, we can still think of them as part of their condition. So the story could still be focused on reality, just a reality as seen through the eyes of these characters.
 

jeremy1357

Member
Oct 11, 2015
8
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Just finished N. So far I like it the best in Just After Sunset, though He'll cat was good. I like the reference to jullia Shumway too. Under the Dome was great.
 
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Dr V

Active Member
Nov 1, 2015
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Many people do associate it with Lovecraft. Stephen was thinking of another piece, Arthur Machen's The Great God Pan, when he wrote "N." He was also influenced by Charlotte Perkins Gilman's story "The Yellow Wallpaper".
Thanks for the info, Ms Mod. I just went and read The Yellow Wallpaper. Have yet to read The Great God Pan. I found N particularly scary because it's not a case of OCD confined to the main character. It's transmissible...
 

Senecca

New Member
Oct 26, 2016
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I am reading "Just After Sunset" and have just finished the story "N.". Something in it is bothering me. The second letter from C. to Charlie is dated June 8, 2008, the obituary is from a newspaper dated June 1, 2008 and the letter from Charlie to Chrissy is dated June 5, 2008. If June 8 is the date that C. wrote the letter, she couldn't have died before June 1. If June 8 is not the day she wrote it but the day that Charlie read it, how did he know to tell Chrissy on the 5th that he was going to Maine? I've read this several times thinking that I am losing my mind(maybe the whole point?) but can not figure it out.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
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Cambridge, Ohio
I am reading "Just After Sunset" and have just finished the story "N.". Something in it is bothering me. The second letter from C. to Charlie is dated June 8, 2008, the obituary is from a newspaper dated June 1, 2008 and the letter from Charlie to Chrissy is dated June 5, 2008. If June 8 is the date that C. wrote the letter, she couldn't have died before June 1. If June 8 is not the day she wrote it but the day that Charlie read it, how did he know to tell Chrissy on the 5th that he was going to Maine? I've read this several times thinking that I am losing my mind(maybe the whole point?) but can not figure it out.
...it's the stones, what's warping yer brain....before you completely lose your tether on reality, allow me to welcome you to the Board....
 
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