I’m hoping to hear your thoughts on a subject I’m studying. I have just started training as a bibliotherapist/biblio-coach and as part of my training I need to present and discuss a selection of texts which I personally find would “hold elements resulting in psychological catharsis and rational insight towards a solution to any given problematic “.
I’m planning to base my presentation on Stephen King’s work as it’s the work I feel the strongest connection to. So that brought up many questions, I’ve been trying decipher the mechanics of why Stephen King is the only writer I can and want to read when I’m feeling depressed.
Although it’s hard to articulate the magic, I think part of it is the sense of belonging which his books provide. I know I always loved the links and references from one story to another, the fact that the characters are often related and familiar names pop up here and there in the background for example, it makes me feel like I’m in the know. It creates a palpable world that I feel part of, a constant refuge when reality becomes hard to digest.
But more than that I think it’s the voice, that same humble and honest voice which inhabits his book and forewords especially. It’s friendly and it considerately leads you into the story. You know each time you open a new Stephen King book that you’re off for a bumpy ride but you’re never alone. The Constant Reader’s experience in itself is therapeutic I find but I would need to find stand-alone titles which in themselves could be considered as healing for the reader facing any sort of difficulties.
I have thought of Carrie to begin with ,for anyone suffering from bullying or from feeling alienated, although I’m not too sure because Carrie ends up using violent ways (if supernatural) to settle the score with her bullies, and even if it’s utterly satisfying, it may not be that constructive. Anyway I will have to revisit most of his stories in the therapeutic angle to find excerpts that I can present but I would be really grateful if you could share with me which SK book have helped you through a particular hardship or circumstances and how. I know it’s closely related to a recent thread posted by Cody Briscoe (it’s been a really helpful thread actually) but I’m really interested in the how, what was it that made you connect strongly enough with that story that you could say it has helped you? Was it the identification to a particular character, not necessarily the main one, or the structure of the narration, etc…
Any thoughts would be really welcome
I’m planning to base my presentation on Stephen King’s work as it’s the work I feel the strongest connection to. So that brought up many questions, I’ve been trying decipher the mechanics of why Stephen King is the only writer I can and want to read when I’m feeling depressed.
Although it’s hard to articulate the magic, I think part of it is the sense of belonging which his books provide. I know I always loved the links and references from one story to another, the fact that the characters are often related and familiar names pop up here and there in the background for example, it makes me feel like I’m in the know. It creates a palpable world that I feel part of, a constant refuge when reality becomes hard to digest.
But more than that I think it’s the voice, that same humble and honest voice which inhabits his book and forewords especially. It’s friendly and it considerately leads you into the story. You know each time you open a new Stephen King book that you’re off for a bumpy ride but you’re never alone. The Constant Reader’s experience in itself is therapeutic I find but I would need to find stand-alone titles which in themselves could be considered as healing for the reader facing any sort of difficulties.
I have thought of Carrie to begin with ,for anyone suffering from bullying or from feeling alienated, although I’m not too sure because Carrie ends up using violent ways (if supernatural) to settle the score with her bullies, and even if it’s utterly satisfying, it may not be that constructive. Anyway I will have to revisit most of his stories in the therapeutic angle to find excerpts that I can present but I would be really grateful if you could share with me which SK book have helped you through a particular hardship or circumstances and how. I know it’s closely related to a recent thread posted by Cody Briscoe (it’s been a really helpful thread actually) but I’m really interested in the how, what was it that made you connect strongly enough with that story that you could say it has helped you? Was it the identification to a particular character, not necessarily the main one, or the structure of the narration, etc…
Any thoughts would be really welcome