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chief4db

When it doubt, run!
Feb 11, 2015
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Great book. I spent the first 3 years of my marriage on the Gulf coast. Man I he made me feel I was there. It's different from the ocean and other coasts. Hard to explain. Big pink was perfect. Never really understand the origin of perse. And why she ended up in a China doll. Has she just always been?
 

the_last_gunslinger

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Nov 21, 2008
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If u haven't read 11/22/63 yet I feel of the 28 books I have read of his I would rank this 2nd. Definitely check it out. By 5he end of 1st chapter I was hooked. Not a slow start. Plus even though it's fiction he did a ton of research. So a lot of accuracy to the book.

I agree with you about 11/22/63. For such a lengthy novel, it was a real page turner. I breezed through that one in no time. If I were to fathom a complaint about it, I'd probably say that I was disappointed that King spent less time elaborating on how changing the past changes the future, and more time spent on abstract concepts like the unraveling of the space/time continuum. Still good, though.

If you don't mind my asking, what would you rank as your first favorite King novel, and where would Duma Key rank?
 

chief4db

When it doubt, run!
Feb 11, 2015
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Here are my ranking of the 27 or 8 that I have read, but I want to mention that even the books toward the bottom I didn't hate. Except for Tommyknockers. The 1st part was awesome and the last 40 or 50 pages. Part 2 and 3 kinda awful.

If u ever get bored read my 1st post on how I started reading king at such a later age at 39 or 40.

1. The stand. 2. 11/22/63 3. Dark tower 2 dott. 4. Doctor sleep. 5. Under the dome. 6. Salem's lot. 7. Mr. Mercedes 8. Thinner 9. Desperation 10. Finders keepers 11. Full dark, no stars 12. Dark tower 1 Gunslinger 13. The shining 14. Duma key ( I forgot, Dead Zone would go here ) 15. Needful things 16. The long walk 17. Blockade billy 18. Revival 19. Joyland 20. From a buick 8 21 Cycle of the werewolves 22. Quitters 23. 1408 24. The Talisman 25. Rage 26 The dark man 27. The Tommyknockers

This is just one readers opinion. I'm sure some people will totally disagree. But there it is. After I finish reading Defending Jacob ( which so far is superb) going to get into Dark Tower 3 wastelands. I can't wait. I'm actually reading dj as much as possible so I can get back into the dt.
 
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the_last_gunslinger

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Nov 21, 2008
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Wow, you have so many more good reads ahead of you. Some of the ones I think are King's greatest, you haven't even read yet. My top King book is It. Simply masterful. I hope you get the chance to read that in the future.

I think you'll also like Dark Tower III: The Wastelands. That's easily my favorite Dark Tower book.
 

chief4db

When it doubt, run!
Feb 11, 2015
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Wow, you have so many more good reads ahead of you. Some of the ones I think are King's greatest, you haven't even read yet. My top King book is It. Simply masterful. I hope you get the chance to read that in the future.

I think you'll also like Dark Tower III: The Wastelands. That's easily my favorite Dark Tower book.

if you have any recommendations that would enhance my reading of king in which order I should read his works I more than welcome your expertise. I here from others that a lot of his works tie into each other. like for instance I was going to read insomnia but then I read somewhere. cant remember. that I shouldn't read that until after all the dark tower books. no clue why. I think I have like 40 books to go of his. I have been a reader for a long time but didn't start reading king until a couple of years ago. so the 40 will take me some time bc of the other authors I follow. going to read dt III next. then probally 3 or 4 books in between the next dt book.
 

the_last_gunslinger

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Nov 21, 2008
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Always happy to help whenever I am asked.

Much of Stephen King's work does tie into one another. Holding off on Insomnia until you are familiar with the Dark Tower mythos is good advice as there are specific references to the Dark Tower series. However, I don't think you should read all the Dark Tower books before reading Insomnia. I think you'd be fine reading it now; I can't remember any reference off hand that you wouldn't be familiar with. What Insomnia does, though, is introduce an antagonist that will play a major role in the later Dark Tower novels. There is also a supporting character in Insomnia that you might want to know about before reading DT VII.

Some of the connections are purely incidental and are not required to read in order. For example, the protagonist of The Dark Half is mentioned in Bag of Bones (another great read that you should get to), but you don't need to read the Dark Half to understand BoB in any way other than to say that you understood that reference.

I would recommend putting off "Hearts in Atlantis" until you're further into the Dark Tower series, though, otherwise some parts might be a bit confusing. Do you have King's collection entitled "Everything's Eventual?" It features a novella called "Little Sisters of Eluria," a prequel of sorts to "The Gunslinger."
 
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doowopgirl

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Aug 7, 2009
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Duma Key took me a couple of reads to really get. I think Perse was always there. Just IMO. One thing it immediatly made me want to do is visit some of the smaller keys. Genuinely scary.
 
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doowopgirl

very avid fan
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Always happy to help whenever I am asked.

Much of Stephen King's work does tie into one another. Holding off on Insomnia until you are familiar with the Dark Tower mythos is good advice as there are specific references to the Dark Tower series. However, I don't think you should read all the Dark Tower books before reading Insomnia. I think you'd be fine reading it now; I can't remember any reference off hand that you wouldn't be familiar with. What Insomnia does, though, is introduce an antagonist that will play a major role in the later Dark Tower novels. There is also a supporting character in Insomnia that you might want to know about before reading DT VII.

Some of the connections are purely incidental and are not required to read in order. For example, the protagonist of The Dark Half is mentioned in Bag of Bones (another great read that you should get to), but you don't need to read the Dark Half to understand BoB in any way other than to say that you understood that reference.

I would recommend putting off "Hearts in Atlantis" until you're further into the Dark Tower series, though, otherwise some parts might be a bit confusing. Do you have King's collection entitled "Everything's Eventual?" It features a novel called "Little Sisters of Eluria," a prequel of sorts to "The Gunslinger."
I have to disagree with holding off on certain reads until you've read some of the DT series. I am a late comer to DT and IMO all the previous reading I'd done made the actual DT series seem more familiar.
 

the_last_gunslinger

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Nov 21, 2008
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I have to disagree with holding off on certain reads until you've read some of the DT series. I am a late comer to DT and IMO all the previous reading I'd done made the actual DT series seem more familiar.

Also a valid strategy. You could read Insomnia before the Dark Tower series and still be fine. It's not like the DT is absolutely required first in order to understand; most of King's books aren't designed that way unless they are direct sequels. I just prefer my stories in linear fashion. I think I appreciate literary allusions more if I am familiar with their origin.
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
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Also a valid strategy. You could read Insomnia before the Dark Tower series and still be fine. It's not like the DT is absolutely required first in order to understand; most of King's books aren't designed that way unless they are direct sequels. I just prefer my stories in linear fashion. I think I appreciate literary allusions more if I am familiar with their origin.
Fair enough. Whatever works for you is fine.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
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if you have any recommendations that would enhance my reading of king in which order I should read his works I more than welcome your expertise. I here from others that a lot of his works tie into each other. like for instance I was going to read insomnia but then I read somewhere. cant remember. that I shouldn't read that until after all the dark tower books. no clue why. I think I have like 40 books to go of his. I have been a reader for a long time but didn't start reading king until a couple of years ago. so the 40 will take me some time bc of the other authors I follow. going to read dt III next. then probally 3 or 4 books in between the next dt book.
I read Insomnia before I had even heard of The Dark Tower and I still enjoyed it, so I would say don't limit yourself by making it a requirement to read one before the other.

I even read The Wind Through the Keyhole which some say is like a Dark Tower 4.5 book, before I had read "The Gunslinger". There is no hard and fast rule - just read whatever strikes your fancy.
 

chief4db

When it doubt, run!
Feb 11, 2015
733
2,676
whatsamatteru. usa
Always happy to help whenever I am asked.

Much of Stephen King's work does tie into one another. Holding off on Insomnia until you are familiar with the Dark Tower mythos is good advice as there are specific references to the Dark Tower series. However, I don't think you should read all the Dark Tower books before reading Insomnia. I think you'd be fine reading it now; I can't remember any reference off hand that you wouldn't be familiar with. What Insomnia does, though, is introduce an antagonist that will play a major role in the later Dark Tower novels. There is also a supporting character in Insomnia that you might want to know about before reading DT VII.

Some of the connections are purely incidental and are not required to read in order. For example, the protagonist of The Dark Half is mentioned in Bag of Bones (another great read that you should get to), but you don't need to read the Dark Half to understand BoB in any way other than to say that you understood that reference.

I would recommend putting off "Hearts in Atlantis" until you're further into the Dark Tower series, though, otherwise some parts might be a bit confusing. Do you have King's collection entitled "Everything's Eventual?" It features a novella called "Little Sisters of Eluria," a prequel of sorts to "The Gunslinger."
so cool about a prequel to the gunslinger. that has me extremely intriqued right now. I have that book. maybe I will read that short story this week. one question. I know im an idiot when it comes to some of this online code words. but what does IMO mean. I see it quite a bit.
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
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so cool about a prequel to the gunslinger. that has me extremely intriqued right now. I have that book. maybe I will read that short story this week. one question. I know im an idiot when it comes to some of this online code words. but what does IMO mean. I see it quite a bit.

In my opinion. :) I like that you're not afraid to ask. A member or two here have their own in-house code words that I've been trying to decipher for a time now. I look at the code, give it some thought, move on...then I see it again. Others seem to know the scoop. Like there was this once, had gotten out of the service, had been out for a time even...three four five years. I'm walking around in big-bell blue jeans...they were "in" when I went in and they were a part of our work uniform...if you wore seafarers instead of the utilities I think that two-tone leisure suit they gave us in boot, utilities I think they called them. Anyway...one of those light bulb moments, all these people scurrying about and I come to a full-stop in the middle of the Plaza of the Americas...look down at my pant legs...look around. It's not like I rushed out to the mall to get current...maybe I put "new pants" on my Christmas wish list, got a box in the mail, cookies and pants. Life was good again.
 

the_last_gunslinger

Well-Known Member
Nov 21, 2008
904
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so cool about a prequel to the gunslinger. that has me extremely intriqued right now. I have that book. maybe I will read that short story this week. one question. I know im an idiot when it comes to some of this online code words. but what does IMO mean. I see it quite a bit.

I'll admit that I'm not much for internet speak. I was an English major, after all. And though I've never used IMO in any conversation I've ever undertaken, I feel relatively certain that it stands for In My Opinion.
 
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Owenk

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Nov 13, 2014
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I just started this and I am struggling a little bit. I didn't immediately engage with the main character which is unlike any other King book I hVe read. Will I suddenly click here