2015, The Year I re-read Stephen King

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mstay

Older than most, not as old as some.
Oct 13, 2007
6,022
5,554
Utah
THE TOMMYKNOCKERS!!! Yes, I finally "read" a stephen king book for my own damn thread! lol.

Actually, I listened to the audio read by Edward Hermann, he was very good. This was one I had never finished. The first go round, I made it to a kid doing a magic act in his yard. I don't know why, but it just lost me.

At one point in my life, I felt this was Stephen's worst book. I don't think that anymore. I actually felt there were some good moments in this story. My only real complaint would be that there were a gaggle of darlings that needed to be killed. But hell, if I wrote like stephen king, I'd want to keep writing too. This book could have been so much better had it been tightened up, and I'm actually kind of surprised that his editors didn't do it or suggest it. Or maybe they did.

I have revamped my list of stephen's books. CELL now takes over the bottom spot. Or wait, maybe The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

I own the movie too, a 5 dollar Walmart acquisition. I've never watched it but I will now.

Although I really like Jimmy Smits and Marg Helgenberger I have to warn you not to expect too much from the TV movie. :biggrin2:
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA

Susan Hood Parker

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2015
50
188
Okay, Mary Donovan, a new member, inspired me to try to read everything I possibly could get my hands on by Stephen in a year as my 2015 resolution.

If anyone would care to join me, feel free. Read what you want, in whatever order you want, as fast as you want. Post here as you go.

January 1st, I will be starting with Carrie.

Late June, but I'll give it a go. I need (not want, not like, NEED) to read more than 1 author at a time. I just finished '11/22/63' & currently in the middle of 'Stephen King on Writing', which is excellent. Was 'Stephen King'd out for a bit after the handcuff'd thing. I'm baaack. In addition to King, currently, am slightly obsessed w/ Lee Child's 'Jack Reacher' series, have read about 1/2, not in any order. Have the library ladies getting me the ones I haven't read. A surprisingly fast read. Enjoying all.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
Late June, but I'll give it a go. I need (not want, not like, NEED) to read more than 1 author at a time. I just finished '11/22/63' & currently in the middle of 'Stephen King on Writing', which is excellent. Was 'Stephen King'd out for a bit after the handcuff'd thing. I'm baaack. In addition to King, currently, am slightly obsessed w/ Lee Child's 'Jack Reacher' series, have read about 1/2, not in any order. Have the library ladies getting me the ones I haven't read. A surprisingly fast read. Enjoying all.
I'm not doing so good Susan. cough cough. We won't discuss my progress.;;D
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Admission: I don't like the Bachman books much, with the exception of Blaze. I stalled out on them. I think I'm modifying my challenge: skip Bachman (lol) and move on. That way I MIGHT finish reading them all this year. There are a few I've only read once (TWTTK, Doctor Sleep, UtD, the three newest ones, Just Before Sunset) , so it should be interesting to see if they're like new books to me now :)
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
Admission: I don't like the Bachman books much, with the exception of Blaze. I stalled out on them. I think I'm modifying my challenge: skip Bachman (lol) and move on. That way I MIGHT finish reading them all this year. There are a few I've only read once (TWTTK, Doctor Sleep, UtD, the three newest ones, Just Before Sunset) , so it should be interesting to see if they're like new books to me now :)
You don't even like The Long Walk?
 

Haunted

This is my favorite place
Mar 26, 2008
17,059
29,421
The woods are lovely dark and deep
Admission: I don't like the Bachman books much, with the exception of Blaze. I stalled out on them. I think I'm modifying my challenge: skip Bachman (lol) and move on. That way I MIGHT finish reading them all this year. There are a few I've only read once (TWTTK, Doctor Sleep, UtD, the three newest ones, Just Before Sunset) , so it should be interesting to see if they're like new books to me now :)
I never cared for the Bachman books either. Read one and tried another before it was disclosed that Bachman was another voice belonging to our gracious host . I still wonder why I did not like the B books. I've also noticed with the Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers Mr. King's voice is very different, but this one I like.
 

Susan Hood Parker

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2015
50
188
Late June, but I'll give it a go. I need (not want, not like, NEED) to read more than 1 author at a time. I just finished '11/22/63' & currently in the middle of 'Stephen King on Writing', which is excellent. Was 'Stephen King'd out for a bit after the handcuff'd thing. I'm baaack. In addition to King, currently, am slightly obsessed w/ Lee Child's 'Jack Reacher' series, have read about 1/2, not in any order. Have the library ladies getting me the ones I haven't read. A surprisingly fast read. Enjoying all.
I'm not doing so good Susan. cough cough. We won't discuss my progress.;;D

Just finished '11/22/63' (love it) & 'Stephen King On Writing' which is helpful. Re-read 'The Stand' early this year. Think I'm in good shape in the read-off. Thanks Stephen for being there just when needed. Read about 50 other books. Watched the new version of 'Carrie'. Reading is my favorite hobby, (delete, 'has always been'). Movies are my next favorite. Big parts of my life. Now, have a what-if idea. Shhh, 1st draft time. (See I did read it all & am sorry to hear of the accident. Hope you are doing better). /fibro hugs (they are mental)
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
59
sweden
Finished Dreamcatcher.... Not a fan of this one. The writing is, i think, unfocused. Spins away in different directions many times. Also, since he makes transitions in his tale from now to a past time several times, the jumps in time don't work as smoothly as in, say IT, or others. The characters are fuzzier at the edges. And the crazy colonel is more of a stereotype than a character even if he is used well. I sense that there actually is a good story buried here but that somehow the excavation of it was painful and not handled as good as usual. I am not saying this because of its subject, Aliens, UFOs etc which i don't mind but because how it is put together. Easily on the bottom 5 list in my opinion.
That said it is still good to read. I'm comparing it to his other work which is why it sounds so bad. If you start comparing to others.... then it would be much milder in tone. And King has a very valid excuse for being unfocused and drift off sometimes. He was loaded up with Oxycontin, the painkiller, which shows. I doubt i could have spelled my name correctly and he wrote a friggin book about 850 pages long. This is not Stephen King writing a new novel for us, this is the novel Stephen King needed to write so he could remember how to write again. It is in this light we ought to see it. As a learning experience for King to keep his writing skills alive while he was recuperating from his accident. As such it is good, as a novel not so good.
 

Opopanax

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2014
53
263
I started in October, with Revival. I've done:

Revival
Duma Key
DT 1
DT 2
DT 3
DT 4
It
DT 5
DT 6
DT 7
Wind Through the Keyhole
Salem's Lot
Everything's Eventual
Hearts in Atlantis
The Stand
Cell
Joyland
Skeleton Crew
Different Seasons
Insomnia
Roadwork
Needful Things
The Dark Half
Rose Madder
Desperation
The Regulators
Dolores Claiborne
Lisey's Story
Pet Sematary
The Colorado Kid
The Shining
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Dreamcatcher
Bag of Bones
Gerald's Game

Add, to date:

Tommyknockers
Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Four Past Midnight
The Green Mile
Thinner
Christine
Finders Keepers
The Dead Zone
Firestarter
From a Buick 8
The Long Walk
The Talisman
Black House
11/22/63
Full Dark, No Stars
Mr. Mercedes


I was going to try to get through his entire works without reading anything else, but I'm taking a little Harry Potter break, just for a change of pace.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
59
sweden
Started Blaze, Kings Steinbeck homage (plus it gave him a chance to raise Bachman from his crypt) Was not in a good place when i read it the first time so this will almost be like a first time. And, as you all know, The first time is magical and forever.....
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
Started Blaze, Kings Steinbeck homage (plus it gave him a chance to raise Bachman from his crypt) Was not in a good place when i read it the first time so this will almost be like a first time. And, as you all know, The first time is magical and forever.....
I found this one hard going, (story content) but a very good read.
 

stacy270

Keep On Floatin' On
Aug 2, 2006
1,013
7,848
Maine
I am at Danse Macabre on my reread journey.I have to admit......I wasn't looking forward to it like I do all other King books.I didn't remember a damn thing about it but still wasn't thrilled to get to it.HOWEVER! I am loving it! It is kind of reminding me of Jean Sheapards (sp?) writing style.I admit that I have always been a fan of horror ( not a hard core type ) and maybe that helps.I keep finding myself cracking up and it feels very much like Stephen King is in the room doing a live discussion.Weird and disconcerting but awesome:) Recently I gave audiobooks another whirl.I think it was Blood and Smoke(?) and for me the best part of the whole shebang was the intro given by Mr.King.