Oh dear, I think I just hit a problem (Rage by Bachman)

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Speedygi81

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2007
813
291
This is merely my opinion. It may be violent, offensive, and raw, but Rage is not garbage or unpolished. Not to be rude but I loathe censorship and anyone who advocates censoring art, literature, or film doesn't appreciate freedom. IMO: to impede another's personal expression is a crime against human rights. I am just glad I live in a free society that protects the first amendment.

Anyway, to assume that King was glorifying the situation in Rage is like saying he is against clean air or promotes killer clowns that eats babies. I don't know the guy, but I seriously doubt he promotes gun violence, dirty water, child labor and if he does, so what, it is his opinion and doesn't affect anyone so get over it. As Americans we can think, feel, and express how we choose to. If the man wants to write a story about a fifty foot raver chick who rapes circus freaks before she coves them with spicy muster...then great...even if it does offend tall raver chicks.

Okay, that's my rant for the day.

It's interesting you say that, because Rage feels like King really got pissed and drunk one day (no offense to Mr. King whom I am a big fan off). It read like the ravings of someone who was wasted basically. Not art, not Literature...

But Under the Dome and The Stand were art, something about Rage felt like a raving, but that's just me.
 

Chuggs

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2012
3,777
6,426
Arkansas
It's interesting you say that, because Rage feels like King really got pissed and drunk one day (no offense to Mr. King whom I am a big fan off). It read like the ravings of someone who was wasted basically. Not art, not Literature...

But Under the Dome and The Stand were art, something about Rage felt like a raving, but that's just me.
I wasn't crazy about it, but to say that it is not art or literature...that's wrong in my opinion. Of course you have your opinions and I have mine. Just because we might not like something doesn't mean its not art or literature. Kinda like saying that you don't like smart cars, so they are not cars. IMO

For having been written by a very young man, it is quite good for what it is. I just didn't care for it. Now The Long Walk, I absolutely love!

:)
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
It's interesting you say that, because Rage feels like King really got pissed and drunk one day (no offense to Mr. King whom I am a big fan off). It read like the ravings of someone who was wasted basically. Not art, not Literature...

But Under the Dome and The Stand were art, something about Rage felt like a raving, but that's just me.
He was a high school student writing about a high school student. :)
Under the Dome and The Stand were written at a time when he'd had a lot more life under his belt.
 

mustangclaire

There's petrol runnin' through my veins.
Jun 15, 2010
2,956
12,726
51
East Sussex, UK
I'm up to page 99 on a re-read. And am loving it. I've not read it for many many years. It reminds me a bit of Lord of the Flies. And am constantly thinking "he was HOW old when he wrote this????" I'm not going to get wrapped up in the "should/shouldn't" have written it. It's a story. That's it. And a mighty fine one at that.
 

Shoe

Ka 'n' stuff
Nov 7, 2011
503
777
Phobos
This is merely my opinion. It may be violent, offensive, and raw, but Rage is not garbage or unpolished. Not to be rude but I loathe censorship and anyone who advocates censoring art, literature, or film doesn't appreciate freedom. IMO: to impede another's personal expression is a crime against human rights. I am just glad I live in a free society that protects the first amendment.

Anyway, to assume that King was glorifying the situation in Rage is like saying he is against clean air or promotes killer clowns that eats babies. I don't know the guy, but I seriously doubt he promotes gun violence, dirty water, child labor and if he does, so what, it is his opinion and doesn't affect anyone so get over it. As Americans we can think, feel, and express how we choose to. If the man wants to write a story about a fifty foot raver chick who rapes circus freaks before she coves them with spicy muster...then great...even if it does offend tall raver chicks.

Okay, that's my rant for the day.


I like you style. I know SK does not take story ideas from the board but I hope he picks up the thread you dropped and weaves us a good yarn.
 

Shoe

Ka 'n' stuff
Nov 7, 2011
503
777
Phobos
It's interesting you say that, because Rage feels like King really got pissed and drunk one day (no offense to Mr. King whom I am a big fan off). It read like the ravings of someone who was wasted basically. Not art, not Literature...

But Under the Dome and The Stand were art, something about Rage felt like a raving, but that's just me.


Just a suggestion but put some thought towards what Ms. Mod said about SK's age at the time of writing. Not only was he a high schooler himself and seeing the world the way we do as high schoolers. But his high school years were in the early to mid 1960's.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I just started reading the Bachman Books, and I thought Rage was absolutely rubbish?

It was unpolished, rude, offensive and yet tense at the same time, and I have no idea what to make of it. It made me feel ashamed that I liked a writer who wrote such appalling stuff. It was as if he flung loads of moral garbage into a book and got it published.

My goodness..

I think that's the kind of visceral reaction to this story that any writer would love! Ugly story about an ugly event--it works in that way. I kind of saw APT PUPIL as a more mature story about the same sort of feelings--does it seem that way to you?