Painfully Detailed

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Dec 19, 2017
22
104
35
Just a little rant-ish thing. As I think it every time I open the book. (PLEASE NO SPOILERS!)

Mr. King, God love him, has a way with narration. (I think) We can all agree that he loves to spin a yarn between plot points his novels. I love this about the man's work. He has a Hemmingway-esque nature to his "wordiness." His prolonged way of describing simple actions or transitioning between "scenes" may not add to the plot, but adds an essence of real-ness, a way for the reader to feel like this story could be happening anywhere to anyone, to a character we all know.

That being said. I am on page 226 of Black House (please no spoilers!) and it has been like pulling teeth. When the plot moves, I'm into it. I want to know what happens. But sometimes I have to reread whole paragraphs because I have no idea what I just read. Then it turns out it was only describing someone getting out of a car or walking down the hall. I might sound like a crazy person, but did/does anyone else feel like this while reading?

The Talisman was a rough start for me, but once Jack met Speedy I was more or less on board with the exception of some (imo) boring spots. Black House, however, is just dragging for me. I've been trying for like a month now and I still have to force myself to get through the words.

Does this get better? Is it worth it to keep trying? As a rule I try to finish every book I start. I'm enjoying the plot, but the writing.... Can I blame it on Straub? :rolleyes:
 
Dec 19, 2017
22
104
35
The plod shall remain blameless then :p I've been working my through his whole library, so nothing but King for about the last year and a half. I was just contemplating if maybe the difference I am not liking is the combo of their styles. I've never read anything by Straub before
 
Dec 19, 2017
22
104
35
It's worth it to keep going. Black House is in my top 5. I see what you mean by the excessive descriptions/narrations however. It was a slow start for me but, on the second read, I was easily able to follow the crow and move through the introductions. Great book! I cannot wait for the third one from King and Straub (although I have been).

Ah! I didn't know they were writing a third. Despite helpful social media, I'm not as on top of King-news as I should be haha. That is even more motivation to keep going!