Can Someone Please Convince me to Read this Book?

[the_last_gunslinger]

I don't know why, but Mr. Mercedes isn't really calling out to me. From what I understand, it is not in any way supernatural and is more along the lines of a police procedural/detective book, a genre I'm not overtly fond of. And the plot seems so overdone: retired police chief haunted by the one guy he couldn't get, but comes out of retirement when he the criminal resurfaces. I don't watch many legal dramas or cop shows, but this plot has featured in nearly every one I've seen.

I guess I'm wanting to know if this book is worth it, if King is able to do anything revolutionary with the plot. An overused narrative can still be useful if given a fresh voice or new twist. I've kind of been away from King and his works for a while, but would like to start in again.

So, to you, what would be the most compelling reason for picking up this particular novel?

 

[carrie's younger brother]

I'll be quite honest and say I don't think SK did anything new here, but I liked it better than his last two major novels: Doctor Sleep and Revival. I must say that I have been able to disconnect "SK and the supernatural" for many years now; I don't think of him in that way any longer. So if you are looking for that type of story, then skip Mr. Mercedes. If you do love SK for his ability to tap into pop culture and write characters convincingly, then read Mr. Mercedes. But be forewarned: it is definitely a "police procedural/detective book."

 

[no bounce no play]

I liked Mr Mercedes. It's tons better than any of the books I've read by James Patterson. The most compelling reason I can think of to read it would be that SK's characters are always so interesting. And y'know SK isn't going follow standard mystery/detective story formulas lol. It was fun seeing the story develop

 

[blunthead]

Can Someone Please Convince me to Read this Book?

Can someone?

 

[Terry B]

I don't know why, but Mr. Mercedes isn't really calling out to me. From what I understand, it is not in any way supernatural and is more along the lines of a police procedural/detective book, a genre I'm not overtly fond of. And the plot seems so overdone: retired police chief haunted by the one guy he couldn't get, but comes out of retirement when he the criminal resurfaces. I don't watch many legal dramas or cop shows, but this plot has featured in nearly every one I've seen.

I guess I'm wanting to know if this book is worth it, if King is able to do anything revolutionary with the plot. An overused narrative can still be useful if given a fresh voice or new twist. I've kind of been away from King and his works for a while, but would like to start in again.

So, to you, what would be the most compelling reason for picking up this particular novel?

I'll give you one very good reason to read Mr. Mercedes...you can't say you read them all unless you actually read them all. Mr. Mercedes is a great read. Try it.

 

[mstay]

I agree with what others have said here. I liked it because of the characters. It was a different type of story from SK but then many of them are. Which is part of what makes him so good I think. While it wasn't a favorite for me I did enjoy it.

I say try it!

 

[staropeace]

I love this genre...you may not. Thing is, you will not know unless you read it. The characters are wonderful. The plot is great. There were some very tense moments in this story. Kept me on the edge of my seat. What is it gonna hurt if you read it?

 

[Walter Oobleck]

I'm reminded of a day back in '06, sniffing books at a mall in Rapid City, the wife and I headed west...hootin' and hollerin'. Naw...but I at least was in a cow-pokin mode...visited Cody Wyoming and the Buffalo Bill Museum there...Devil's Tower...Deadwood. Wasn't there a famous or infamous outlaw or sheriff who was shot there, playing cards? Anyway, so when I picked up a copy of The Gunslinger and sniffed it, read the first line, wondered 'what did he do with this one?' Thinkin, Stephen King...what do you think he did with this one? Fanned the pages...sniffed it again...looked at the cover, a gunslinger...the man in black so forth so on. I think it's a hoot when I read someone who checks in, announces to all they don't favor westerns so they're not going to read The Gunslinger. Heh! Little did I know at the time that there were six more stories after that first one. Western? Hardly.

If you have enjoyed the other stories, why would you not want to read Mr. Mercedes, Andrew?

I confess that I enjoy these type of stories, have read a pile from Leonard, Willeford, Chandler, just finished one from Hammett...there's a pile of others...they never get old. I think Leonard and Willeford...Chandler a bit...they crank up the comedic volume more so than what King did in Mr Mercedes, bout the only thing that might have made it more enjoyable. It's still a story and that's all I ask...there isn't someone getting down on Cheney's heart at the end to blow it for me...there's more in the works. It's a story, a good story. Read it. Or forever lose your eternal salvation. There is/was one laugh out loud moment..."the field goal is good."

 

[GNTLGNT]

 

[staropeace]

I'm reminded of a day back in '06, sniffing books at a mall in Rapid City, the wife and I headed west...hootin' and hollerin'. Naw...but I at least was in a cow-pokin mode...visited Cody Wyoming and the Buffalo Bill Museum there...Devil's Tower...Deadwood. Wasn't there a famous or infamous outlaw or sheriff who was shot there, playing cards? Anyway, so when I picked up a copy of The Gunslinger and sniffed it, read the first line, wondered 'what did he do with this one?' Thinkin, Stephen King...what do you think he did with this one? Fanned the pages...sniffed it again...looked at the cover, a gunslinger...the man in black so forth so on. I think it's a hoot when I read someone who checks in, announces to all they don't favor westerns so they're not going to read The Gunslinger. Heh! Little did I know at the time that there were six more stories after that first one. Western? Hardly.

If you have enjoyed the other stories, why would you not want to read Mr. Mercedes, Andrew?

I confess that I enjoy these type of stories, have read a pile from Leonard, Willeford, Chandler, just finished one from Hammett...there's a pile of others...they never get old. I think Leonard and Willeford...Chandler a bit...they crank up the comedic volume more so than what King did in Mr Mercedes, bout the only thing that might have made it more enjoyable. It's still a story and that's all I ask...there isn't someone getting down on Cheney's heart at the end to blow it for me...there's more in the works. It's a story, a good story. Read it. Or forever lose your eternal salvation. There is/was one laugh out loud moment..."the field goal is good."

I enjoyed Chandler and the bunch....wow, the humor! Did you read Poodle Springs by Robert Parker....he finished the story for Chandler.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

I enjoyed Chandler and the bunch....wow, the humor! Did you read Poodle Springs by Robert Parker....he finished the story for Chandler.

That was Chandler's last...that he was unable to finish? I read something like what you post...will have to look for that one. There's a pile of shorts I'd like to get to read, too. Gonna start another Hammett, The Thin Man...did his The Maltese Falcon...and that movie was a blast...the one guy, bugle-eyed, talked funny? Heh! But Hammett doesn't crank up the comic, not like some of the others. (The foot stomping...that was a hoot, too...in Mercedes, Andrew.)

 

[Neil W]

I'm bemused by a request from someone to be persuaded to read a particular book. If it doesn't appeal, to the extent that you're asking to be persuaded, then don't read it. Read something that DOES appeal - it's not as if there aren't any other books out there.

 

[blunthead]

I don't know why, but Mr. Mercedes isn't really calling out to me. From what I understand, it is not in any way supernatural and is more along the lines of a police procedural/detective book, a genre I'm not overtly fond of. And the plot seems so overdone: retired police chief haunted by the one guy he couldn't get, but comes out of retirement when he the criminal resurfaces. I don't watch many legal dramas or cop shows, but this plot has featured in nearly every one I've seen.

I guess I'm wanting to know if this book is worth it, if King is able to do anything revolutionary with the plot. An overused narrative can still be useful if given a fresh voice or new twist. I've kind of been away from King and his works for a while, but would like to start in again.

So, to you, what would be the most compelling reason for picking up this particular novel?

My thinking is that sometimes we assume too much; we decide that we know something which we actually don't. One of the enjoyable mysteries in my life has been that some area of study or some subject matter I've historically had no interest in I fall in love with overnight. For instance, in the past I hated the idea of studying about Egyptians. Now I'm fascinated by that. I used to hate courtroom dramas and detective stories, now I love them.

Maybe Mr Mercedes is your opportunity, gunslinger, to discover a new joy.

 

[Haunted]

What I have always loved about Mr. King's works are his characters, and you meet some of his wonderful people in Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers . No supernatural happenings but some truly scary stuff. Highly recommend.

 

[doowopgirl]

Do yourself a favor. You will be pleasantly surprised. Kings talent is his characters and the way they work together. Give it a go.

 

[skimom2]

Probably not

 

[Brian]

It's amazing.

 

[prufrock21]

If you don't read it you will be visited by the boogeyman at two at night and he (it) won't be happy.

 

[not_nadine]

If you don't read it, Stephen King himself shows up. He ain't no nice guy.

 

[Brian]

...Think Training Day meets China Town.