What did you guys think of "Bag of Bones"?

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booklover72

very strange person
Jan 12, 2014
731
2,995
51
Dublin
You are so right about a physical book being better for your mind. Even the glare from an E-book affects you negatively. That is why for people who have trouble sleeping it is recommended not to use a computer, smartphone, tablet or even an E-Reader because of the light coming from the screen. A good old fashioned book is the way to go. I like to read a (real) book every night before bed as it actually helps me sleep better.
To be honest Neesy, you should technically only spend 40-45 minutes in front of a computer screen with Glasses because of the glare. It is a EU law, I don't know if you have one in Canada. Spending too much time in front of a screen(Computer/e-book) will eventually damage your eyes.

I read on the sofa, just can't read in bed. hmm.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
To be honest Neesy, you should technically only spend 40-45 minutes in front of a computer screen with Glasses because of the glare. It is a EU law, I don't know if you have one in Canada. Spending too much time in front of a screen(Computer/e-book) will eventually damage your eyes.

I read on the sofa, just can't read in bed. hmm.
Oh great - first I read that "sitting is the new smoking" and now I find this out. I type for a living - I am a medical transcriptionist so that is what I do for 7.5 hours per day (that is what they pay us for as the half hour lunch break is unpaid). We get one 20 minute break in the morning and one 20 minute break in the afternoon and my shift is 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. - No wonder my health has been suffering lately and I thought it was just because everything goes downhill once you hit 50! ::P
 

morgan

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2010
29,353
104,579
North Dakota
Because it's more of a 'mainstream' novel with some supernatural elements thrown in, like Bag Of Bones, but less so. And it's a love story! I think your Mom would enjoy it alot.
Thanks KRF! I'll have to hunt down a used copy for her (as I did with 11/22/63). That woman completely destroys books!! ;-D Unlike me who carries around my $5 paperbacks in plastic baggies so they don't get worn out so fast! ;;D
 

raspberry2012

Active Member
Jul 21, 2014
26
125
60
NYC
I could see someone like Jack Lemmon playing him (except for the inconvenient fact that Lemmon is dead).

Me too! I always tend to "cast" SK movies in my mind while I'm reading his books, and Jack Lemmon was the first person I thought of for Ralph while I read that.

That said, I LOVED "Bag of Bones"! Probably the first SK novel that made me cry since "The Stand."
 
Nov 14, 2014
23
110
49
New Orleans
So I've always had this book in my book shelf but never got around to reading it because I had so many other SK books to catch up on. I hadn't heard much about the book or rave reviews, but I started 2 days ago and I could not put it down. I absolutely loved it, definitely one of my favorites! I'm mad it took me so long to read it. I can't stop thinking about the characters, loved them haha. :p

What did you guys think of it??

It's one of my very favorites, and one of his very best. Utterly immersive and completely heartbreaking. In fact, it's the only work of his that left me deeply saddened for days afterward. Few books have had that power. It also contains what I happen to think is the scariest scene he's ever written*. Like Lisey's Story, Bag of Bones is damned near perfect. One day, I'm gonna re-read them, back-to-back.

*This is highly debatable, of course.
 

taylor29

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2014
103
391
It's one of my very favorites, and one of his very best. Utterly immersive and completely heartbreaking. In fact, it's the only work of his that left me deeply saddened for days afterward. Few books have had that power. It also contains what I happen to think is the scariest scene he's ever written*. Like Lisey's Story, Bag of Bones is damned near perfect. One day, I'm gonna re-read them, back-to-back.

*This is highly debatable, of course.

Bag of Bones was one of the first SK novels I had read and certainly the first one that produced a deep emotional response from me. Usually, the endings are a let down in a lot of SK novels simply because he creates such atmosphere in his work that that's what stays with me. I had to overcome that with this novel, too, but it was an incredible read.

And, let's face it, that book contains some scary [insert whatever word you think best here]. I now have an owl to watch over my house...just in case.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I've read it three times and still haven't really figured out what was going on. I got the basic gist but my wires must have been crossed.
It was produced as a 2 or 3 part miniseries for TV - maybe you could find it on-line somewhere. Watch that and perhaps it will help.
I did not find it hard to interpret - try reading it again! (but if you are not enjoying it don't bother). I just thought it was quite good.
 

Aija

Active Member
Nov 7, 2007
25
77
Norway
Bag of Bones is one of my favorites, as is Duma Key and Lisey's Story.
Have read all of them several times.

As audiobooks; i do not really care for Mr.King reading, sorry. He is the author, and obviously knows his characters and how he meant them to react in any given situation, but unfortunatly don't have the voice or talent, to do his own writing, books and characters justice.
I have all his books as audiobooks aswell, and can recommend Lisey's Story, read by Mare Winningham, as The Best! Second best is Duma Key, read by John Slattery.

Well, back to BOB. As said, one of my favorites. Mr.King descripes Mikes loss of loved one, trying to get his life back on track again and finding new purpose in life, and his quest to find meaning in Jos death, quite brilliantly. for me it is like i'm reading about real people, their life and feelings.

I was quite happy when i found out that BOB is going to be filmed. And a little bit afraid that they can't do it right. And, suprise suprise, the film sucks! Why og why do they have to butcher these brilliant stories?! I think casting wasn't right. Both actors, as Mike and Jo, were too old. These are actors in their 50's, and in the story they were in their 30's. I don't remember who the actress who plays Jo is or her name, but to get pregnant in their 50's, didn't buy it. I know, i know, can obviously belive in evil spirits but in late pregnancy, no way ;-) I do have to confess, that i didn't watch the whole movie. When Jo died by beeing run over, that was it for me!
How Jo died in the book has a meaning. Something that has such big consequences in so many lives goes first unnoticed. And up to that point i really tried to watch it and bare all the "wrongs".

Well, thats my little contribution to this discussion. And if you read it all, I applaude You
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Bag of Bones is one of my favorites, as is Duma Key and Lisey's Story.
Have read all of them several times.

As audiobooks; i do not really care for Mr.King reading, sorry. He is the author, and obviously knows his characters and how he meant them to react in any given situation, but unfortunatly don't have the voice or talent, to do his own writing, books and characters justice.
I have all his books as audiobooks aswell, and can recommend Lisey's Story, read by Mare Winningham, as The Best! Second best is Duma Key, read by John Slattery.

Well, back to BOB. As said, one of my favorites. Mr.King descripes Mikes loss of loved one, trying to get his life back on track again and finding new purpose in life, and his quest to find meaning in Jos death, quite brilliantly. for me it is like i'm reading about real people, their life and feelings.

I was quite happy when i found out that BOB is going to be filmed. And a little bit afraid that they can't do it right. And, suprise suprise, the film sucks! Why og why do they have to butcher these brilliant stories?! I think casting wasn't right. Both actors, as Mike and Jo, were too old. These are actors in their 50's, and in the story they were in their 30's. I don't remember who the actress who plays Jo is or her name, but to get pregnant in their 50's, didn't buy it. I know, i know, can obviously belive in evil spirits but in late pregnancy, no way ;-) I do have to confess, that i didn't watch the whole movie. When Jo died by beeing run over, that was it for me!
How Jo died in the book has a meaning. Something that has such big consequences in so many lives goes first unnoticed. And up to that point i really tried to watch it and bare all the "wrongs".

Well, thats my little contribution to this discussion. And if you read it all, I applaude You

droppedImage_6.jpg


but to get pregnant in their 50's, didn't buy it - yup that would be a horror story for sure!
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
So I've always had this book in my book shelf but never got around to reading it because I had so many other SK books to catch up on. I hadn't heard much about the book or rave reviews, but I started 2 days ago and I could not put it down. I absolutely loved it, definitely one of my favorites! I'm mad it took me so long to read it. I can't stop thinking about the characters, loved them haha. :p

What did you guys think of it??
I was a noob when I decided that Bag of Bones would be my next after The Shining (my very first) and Misery (my second). BoB took me by surprise because it differed so from the first two. I think it showed me a deeper, scarier as well as more brilliant side of sK. I felt I was reading someone on a free run of his imagination which he didn't interrupt because he was capable of such literary confidence. One thing fiction writers do which I enjoy is the creation of dream sequences, and in Bag of Bones I knew I was reading the best I'd ever read. I still can hardly believe what sK did at one point...
...when the protagonist was finding he finally could write again, and then saw the message from his dead wife in what he'd written...
Fiction just can't get any better than that.