Well Now!

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SpazzTheBassPlayer

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2014
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Just finished this one and I cant believe I somehow missed it over the years

Did I like it? Well, it was good....buuuut......... If SK reads these forums, I hope he doesnt take offense to my criticism (Hell, he may not like my bass playing :) ) but its only because the book seemed to be "Hi. I'm Stephen King and I'm gonna write a Steinbeck!"......Without the Lowmen and the tons of SK Universe Easter Eggs, I feel like this book (Yes, I understand that it is a collection of separate stories but it comes across as a complete book!) is almost an intention of will to write that memorable book that will be required college reading; that "Great 20th Century American Novel". Its very much like Steinbeck (whos mentioned in the book) with liberal dabs of Waller, Thompson, Wolfe, and just about everyone else with the exception of maybe Joseph Heller thrown in :D....Yes, its goood..Its great writing...but it doesn't feel like King to me.

I dunno -- maybe I'm over analyzing it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Stephen King IS a great and influential American author, so - when I pick up a King book -- I want to read King.......If I had wanted to read Steinbeck, I'd pick up a Steinbeck :)

Sorry for my rant but its also a compliment
 
Last edited:

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
Just finished this one and I cant believe I somehow missed it over the years

Did I like it? Well, it was good....buuuut......... If SK reads these forums, I hope he doesnt take offense to my criticism (Hell, he may not like my bass playing :) ) but its only because the book seemed to be "Hi. I'm Stephen King and I'm gonna write a Steinbeck!"......Without the Lowmen and the tons of SK Universe Easter Eggs, I feel like this book (Yes, I understand that it is a collection of separate stories but it comes across as a complete book!) is almost an intention of will to write that memorable book that will be required college reading; that "Great 20th Century American Novel". Its very much like Steinbeck (whos mentioned in the book) with liberal dabs of Waller, Thompson, Wolfe, and just about everyone else with the exception of maybe Joseph Heller thrown in :D....Yes, its goood..Its great writing...but it doesn't feel like King to me.

I dunno -- maybe I'm over analyzing it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Stephen King IS a great and influential American author, so - when I pick up a King book -- I want to read King.......If I had wanted to read Steinbeck, I'd pick up a Steinbeck :)

Sorry for my rant but its also a compliment
I'm not sure what happened there, but somewhere in between reading your post in the moderation queue and approving your post, the software seems to think that I edited your message. (I didn't actually edit anything)
So I have tried to revert to your last edit, but I'm not sure if it has taken. If the piece isn't reading as you intended, please let me know and I will be able to make changes.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
You need to go to your room and think about what you've done. ;;D Just kidding! Have you read Different Seasons? That's another one where King writes 'mainstream' stories (except for the last one, it's got some ooga-booga in it!). I wish King would write a straight-on mainstream novel. He's so good with creating characters (or maybe it's channeling them?) that I think he could definately write a 'great American novel'.
 

SpazzTheBassPlayer

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2014
296
1,156
58
You need to go to your room and think about what you've done. ;;D Just kidding! Have you read Different Seasons? That's another one where King writes 'mainstream' stories (except for the last one, it's got some ooga-booga in it!). I wish King would write a straight-on mainstream novel. He's so good with creating characters (or maybe it's channeling them?) that I think he could definately write a 'great American novel'.

His books are all Great American Novels to me but, if I had to pick just that one that should be required reading in Literature Classes, it would have to be "The Stand" :) (even though its a BIG book :) )
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
You need to go to your room and think about what you've done. ;;D Just kidding! Have you read Different Seasons? That's another one where King writes 'mainstream' stories (except for the last one, it's got some ooga-booga in it!). I wish King would write a straight-on mainstream novel. He's so good with creating characters (or maybe it's channeling them?) that I think he could definately write a 'great American novel'.

As usual, you've given me another good chuckle.

I only recently started making all these "connections" so when I read Hearts in Atlantis I just appreciated it as a good story.
His books are all Great American Novels to me but, if I had to pick just that one that should be required reading in Literature Classes, it would have to be "The Stand" :) (even though its a BIG book :) )


Oh my - there's a co-inky-dink (as Ellen Degeneres calls it) - I am currently reading the unedited (original version) of The Stand that he re-released in 89 - I guess by that point he was successful enough and popular, therefore having more money to do what he wanted.

It's a very good story as well - I am only about 1/4 of the way in so far.
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
As usual, you've given me another good chuckle.

I only recently started making all these "connections" so when I read Hearts in Atlantis I just appreciated it as a good story.



Oh my - there's a co-inky-dink (as Ellen Degeneres calls it) - I am currently reading the unedited (original version) of The Stand that he re-released in 89 - I guess by that point he was successful enough and popular, therefore having more money to do what he wanted.

It's a very good story as well - I am only about 1/4 of the way in so far.
He was kind of 'strong-armed' into cutting out a large portion of The Stand the first time around and he was never happy about having to do that, so I think once he had the freedom to go back to it like you say--it would have felt very satisfying.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
Well.jpg
NOW!.....
 

SpazzTheBassPlayer

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2014
296
1,156
58
He was kind of 'strong-armed' into cutting out a large portion of The Stand the first time around and he was never happy about having to do that, so I think once he had the freedom to go back to it like you say--it would have felt very satisfying.

I dont always agree with Mr. King about editing choices (For example - I still think the original 1980 movie "The Shining" was far better than the second one, even though the Kubrick version had omissions) but I agree with Mr. King about his resolve to publish the unedited version of "The Stand"........Its the only version that I've read and I don't see how anything could have been left out without drastically changing its tone
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
As usual, you've given me another good chuckle.

I only recently started making all these "connections" so when I read Hearts in Atlantis I just appreciated it as a good story.



Oh my - there's a co-inky-dink (as Ellen Degeneres calls it) - I am currently reading the unedited (original version) of The Stand that he re-released in 89 - I guess by that point he was successful enough and popular, therefore having more money to do what he wanted.

It's a very good story as well - I am only about 1/4 of the way in so far.
Wait till you get to the part with The Kid......:O_O: