What Are You Reading?

[80sFan]

That "backstory" issue would bother me too. Just like finding out at the end of the book that it's the first in a series.
The Woods sounds good, though.

Yes, other than that issue, it is good so far. I've read other stand alone books he's written and mostly enjoyed them, so I'll keep on with it.

First time. I knew the first sentence by heart and much of the pop culture references and figured I needed to read it.

Same here, I liked it enough when I read it a couple years back, but felt it didn't live up to its iconic status.

 

[danie]

Just put the damn coffee down and go talk to your partner.

 

[AchtungBaby]

Okay. All finished It's an interesting collection of stories. Some numbers:

5 that I think are amongst the finest stories he's written in any collection
2 with the strangest (and that's saying a lot with Mr. King) matching deaths I've read
2 narrative poems that work better as narrative than poetry, but I liked them anyway
2 that made me cry
2 that I was disappointed that I didn't like more--they're popular here, but didn't ring as better than average in my noggin.
1 I thoroughly disliked--absolute bottom of all Mr. King's SS, to me
1 that is, to my mind, the finest SS he's ever published

I'll be interested to see if I think the same after a re-read

*is curious which ones are which*

 

[Grant87]

*is curious which ones are which*

Same here...

 

[skimom2]

*is curious which ones are which*

HAHA!

My top 5:
Herman Wouk is Still Alive
Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
A Death
Summer Thunder
Morality

Strange Death (not going to say which one, but it's oddly specific to be included in 2 stories)
Blockade Billy
Obits

2 that made me cry:
Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
Summer Thunder

2 that disappointed me (not bad stories; just not as involving as I anticipated):
The Dune
Bad Little Kid

1 I thoroughly disliked:
Premium Harmony

1 I consider the finest SS he's ever published:
Herman Wouk is Still Alive

Just my opinions, of course. Best thing about Mr. King is that there's something in the goodie box for every taste.

 

[morgan]

1984

I started rereading this last year but didn't finish.

 

[skimom2]

I started rereading this last year but didn't finish.

For an older dystopia, I liked Brave New World better.

 

[Doc Creed]

HAHA!

My top 5:
Herman Wouk is Still Alive
Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
A Death
Summer Thunder
Morality

Strange Death (not going to say which one, but it's oddly specific to be included in 2 stories)
Blockade Billy
Obits

2 that made me cry:
Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
Summer Thunder

2 that disappointed me (not bad stories; just not as involving as I anticipated):
The Dune
Bad Little Kid

1 I thoroughly disliked:
Premium Harmony

1 I consider the finest SS he's ever published:
Herman Wouk is Still Alive

Just my opinions, of course. Best thing about Mr. King is that there's something in the goodie box for every taste.

This was nearly identical to my assesment. Dune, to me, wasn't as clever as I think he hoped it would be. I loved the premise and I felt let down by the ending (which I saw a mile away).
I actually liked Premium Harmony and didn't like Morality.
I enjoyed all of them, though.

 

[skimom2]

This was nearly identical to my assesment. Dune, to me, wasn't as clever as I think he hoped it would be. I loved the premise and I felt let down by the ending (which I saw a mile away).
I actually liked Premium Harmony and didn't like Morality.
I enjoyed all of them, though.

Same, with the exception of Premium Harmony On second assessment (see? second guessing myself already--lol), I'd exchange Blockade Billy for Morality. It really is a wonderful story--I think maybe the punch was lessened because I've read it a couple of times before.

 

[AchtungBaby]

I enjoyed every story, save for "Blockade Billy"

 

[morgan]

I enjoyed every story, save for "Blockade Billy"

That's the one SS I'm not going to reread. Not a baseball fan, so didn't appreciate it as much as other fans did. I take it back, I've read Premium Harmony twice and definitely won't read that one again.

 

[skimom2]

That's the one SS I'm not going to reread. Not a baseball fan, so didn't appreciate it as much as other fans did. I take it back, I've read Premium Harmony twice and definitely won't read that one again.

I liked the colloquial speech. I don't know baseball that well, either, but the rhythms of his speech made me think of Delores Claiborne, and that's one of my favorite King books. Mr. King has a good ear for natural speech--it's really a gift.

 

[muskrat]

I enjoyed every story, save for "Blockade Billy"

Oh, Blockade Billy wasn't that bad. Worth reading once--which I'd already done when I got the nifty little Hard Back version, so I skipped it in the Bazarr. Didn't really think it was necessary to include that one, IMO. Shoulda kept that out and stuck in a rare oldie like The Crate or something, you know?

 

[morgan]

Finally finished Koontz's Tick Tock last night. After I got into it and a few more characters were introduced, it was a fun read. Reread Shirley Jackson's The Lottery this morning. Hadn't read it in many years - one of the most powerful, very short stories ever!

Started Kelly Braffet's Last Seen Leaving. It started out with quite a bang! First book of hers that I've read.

 

[skimom2]

Started a new review book, another historical fiction, this one about the Empress Elisabeth of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Very well done, so far! I'm enjoying it a lot.

 

[Spideyman]

That's the one SS I'm not going to reread. Not a baseball fan, so didn't appreciate it as much as other fans did. I take it back, I've read Premium Harmony twice and definitely won't read that one again.

Oh, please give Blockade Billy a try. I am not into baseball. It has a good pace and a nice twist.
Also. let us know how you felt about Braffet's book once you are finished.

 

[morgan]

Oh, please give Blockade Billy a try. I am not into baseball. It has a good pace and a nice twist.
Also. let us know how you felt about Braffet's book once you are finished.

I have read BB once, just not ready for a reread.
I will definitely let you know about Braffet's book - I'm very excited!

 

[Doc Creed]

Stephen King can spin a great baseball yarn. I'm not a huge baseball fan but I liked Blockade Billy and even Heads Down. W.P. Kinsella is probably the only writer that interests me when it comes to baseball. I loved Shoeless Joe. Keep in mind I haven't read The Natural, which I hear is a classic worth cracking. I perused a little of the book King wrote with O'Nan but was mostly disinterested. Blockade brought to mind Dolores Claiborne and The Green Mile.

 

[skimom2]

Stephen King can spin a great baseball yarn. I'm not a huge baseball fan but I liked Blockade Billy and even Heads Down. W.P. Kinsella is probably the only writer that interests me when it comes to baseball. I loved Shoeless Joe. Keep in mind I haven't read The Natural, which I hear is a classic worth cracking. I perused a little of the book King wrote with O'Nan but was mostly disinterested. Blockade brought to mind Dolores Claiborne and The Green Mile.

I found the movie of The Natural better than the book (one of a handful of these, for me). The movie had better pacing than the book. I'm not much oaf a baseball fan, either, but I agree that Kinsella spins a good yarn.

 

[Grant87]

Stephen King can spin a great baseball yarn. I'm not a huge baseball fan but I liked Blockade Billy and even Heads Down. W.P. Kinsella is probably the only writer that interests me when it comes to baseball. I loved Shoeless Joe. Keep in mind I haven't read The Natural, which I hear is a classic worth cracking. I perused a little of the book King wrote with O'Nan but was mostly disinterested. Blockade brought to mind Dolores Claiborne and The Green Mile.

Baseball is my first love, so I enjoyed Blockade Billy. I'd love to be able to sit down and talk baseball with SK.