Discussion(SPOILERS) -after you have read the book

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ZarkSeven

Member
Nov 14, 2011
12
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I just finished it on audio. I thought Maggie Siff did a good job. I also thought King and Chizmar did a good job speaking as one voice. I never did feel that I could tell who wrote what.

I too wish it was a bit longer, but the story would have been different if it were. Given Gwendy's ultimate relationship with the box, more story would have probably been padding. I guess I'm just greedy for a little more chocolate. I did like R.F. though. Sort of enigmatic.

I'm looking forward to someone outlining all of the little nods and references to other Castle Rock or King stories. I'm terrible at picking up on those sorts of things.
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
46,336
195,472
79
Just north of Duma Key
I just finished it on audio. I thought Maggie Siff did a good job. I also thought King and Chizmar did a good job speaking as one voice. I never did feel that I could tell who wrote what.

I too wish it was a bit longer, but the story would have been different if it were. Given Gwendy's ultimate relationship with the box, more story would have probably been padding. I guess I'm just greedy for a little more chocolate. I did like R.F. though. Sort of enigmatic.

I'm looking forward to someone outlining all of the little nods and references to other Castle Rock or King stories. I'm terrible at picking up on those sorts of things.

Dark Score Lake- Bag of Bones
 

Tery

Say hello to my fishy buddy
Moderator
Apr 12, 2006
15,304
44,712
Bremerton, Washington, United States
When the Suicide Stairs were described, I immediately thought of a similar set of stairs on Oahu. The Haiku stairs go up the ridge of the pali (cliffs).

"Also known as the Stairway to Heaven, the 3,922 stairs lead to the top of the 756 m (2,480 ft) height summit of Puʻukeahiakahoe. Originally built in 1940s to install the Naval radio antenna, today the stairs attract the adventurers."

It made me wonder if either Uncle Stevie or Mr. Chizmar were aware of them.

stairways_to_heaven_oahu.jpg
 

cat in a bag

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2010
12,038
67,827
wyoming
I read the whole thing this morning with my coffee. Awesome little story, I loved it.

I don't know if I only skimmed the description back when we were clued in to the story but I went into it thinking Button Box meant a box full of clothing buttons. ;-D I wondered how that was going to be scary. So a little mental picture adjustment was necessary. This kind of button box makes more sense! And is very scary.
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
When the Suicide Stairs were described, I immediately thought of a similar set of stairs on Oahu. The Haiku stairs go up the ridge of the pali (cliffs).

"Also known as the Stairway to Heaven, the 3,922 stairs lead to the top of the 756 m (2,480 ft) height summit of Puʻukeahiakahoe. Originally built in 1940s to install the Naval radio antenna, today the stairs attract the adventurers."

It made me wonder if either Uncle Stevie or Mr. Chizmar were aware of them.

stairways_to_heaven_oahu.jpg

I immediately thought of these stairs which are just blocks away from where I live. And while they do not lead directly to a park, there is one nearby once you get to the top.

8955dc10c157e2c7a7d0ac66ec90b820.jpg
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
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NJ
The book itself contained a good story, relevant to the times we live in, hidden Easter Eggs, puzzles to be solved(the coin). Word count is only a secondary matter. Thankful for every word count SK desires to give us.
When I say I expected "more" I'm not talking about word count or length by any means; I am referring to quality & substance. I really expected there to be more to the story and character development. As for "Easter Eggs" I am really not that interested in this aspect. Even though I have been a Constant Reader from the start and have read just about everything published, I don't retain enough over time to appreciate Easter eggs. If there were any in this story they flew right over my head. As for "puzzles to be solved (the coin)" I have no idea what you are even referring to. Honestly. Care to fill me in under a spoiler tag?
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
46,336
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Just north of Duma Key
When I say I expected "more" I'm not talking about word count or length by any means; I am referring to quality & substance. I really expected there to be more to the story and character development. As for "Easter Eggs" I am really not that interested in this aspect. Even though I have been a Constant Reader from the start and have read just about everything published, I don't retain enough over time to appreciate Easter eggs. If there were any in this story they flew right over my head. As for "puzzles to be solved (the coin)" I have no idea what you are even referring to. Honestly. Care to fill me in under a spoiler tag?
Just my input/ opinion-- not every book, story has to have in depth character development. We, as SK constant readers, have become accustom to being completely involved in his characters. He serves us well with his descriptions. We feel we know them. Since this was a co written book, mayhap it was meant to just touch upon the main characters, and not delve into them in a great degree. This was instead a story told as a stone would skim upon a pond, rather than a dive into the pond.
Again, personally, I found enough substance to satisfy. I felt the thoughts and ideas of the authors came across within the story.
It is natural to want more, but sometimes just being satisfied with what is given is enough.

It was a 1891 dated coin = 19
 
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carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
Just my input/ opinion-- not every book, story has to have in depth character development. We, as SK constant readers, have become accustom to being completely involved in his characters. He serves us well with his descriptions. We feel we know them. Since this was a co written book, mayhap it was meant to just touch upon the main characters, and not delve into them in a great degree. This was instead a story told as a stone would skim upon a pond, rather than a dive into the pond.
Again, personally, I found enough substance to satisfy. I felt the thoughts and ideas of the authors came across within the story.
It is natural to want more, but sometimes just being satisfied with what is given is enough.

It was a 1891 dated coin = 19
Never would have even crossed my mind! Thanks.
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
Finished the story this evening. Loved it.

On the brief discussion above about character development: as I get older, I find I am more interested in plot/pace than character development (at least, when that development is not done concomitant with the plot), probably for obvious reasons.

I think there were only a couple moments when I strongly suspected which author authored what; otherwise, it was a wonderful blending of voices.

Question: there was a quote of a line from a song in the story (I want to say from Hotel California). Just out of curiosity, because as far as I recall this was not on the copyright page, does a quote of one line mean that no credit is necessary?

And now a comment:

I'm very curious if anyone else had the same thought (I am going to predict that several did): I thought for sure the ending or epilogue would have seen the box being used by someone else to initiate the 9/11 event. I'm not sure of the timeline, but I'm pretty sure it could have plausibly been the kid that was mentioned as the next recipient. Perhaps he lost money in the market (maybe from the Internet bubble that occurred around that time) or was laid off from a financial job, thus the motive.
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
Finished the story this evening. Loved it.

On the brief discussion above about character development: as I get older, I find I am more interested in plot/pace than character development (at least, when that development is not done concomitant with the plot), probably for obvious reasons.

I think there were only a couple moments when I strongly suspected which author authored what; otherwise, it was a wonderful blending of voices.

Question: there was a quote of a line from a song in the story (I want to say from Hotel California). Just out of curiosity, because as far as I recall this was not on the copyright page, does a quote of one line mean that no credit is necessary?

And now a comment:

I'm very curious if anyone else had the same thought (I am going to predict that several did): I thought for sure the ending or epilogue would have seen the box being used by someone else to initiate the 9/11 event. I'm not sure of the timeline, but I'm pretty sure it could have plausibly been the kid that was mentioned as the next recipient. Perhaps he lost money in the market (maybe from the Internet bubble that occurred around that time) or was laid off from a financial job, thus the motive.
I was thinking it would go in that direction, too, but I guess King didn't want to touch 9/11 and/or other bad current events, as he did that in Doctor Sleep and Fair Extension.
 
Mar 12, 2010
6,538
29,004
Texas
I read the whole thing this morning with my coffee. Awesome little story, I loved it.

I don't know if I only skimmed the description back when we were clued in to the story but I went into it thinking Button Box meant a box full of clothing buttons. ;-D I wondered how that was going to be scary. So a little mental picture adjustment was necessary. This kind of button box makes more sense! And is very scary.

I also imaged a box full of clothing buttons :) I liked the idea. My grandmother had a tin box filled with buttons. I was fascinated with them when I was a little kid. Some buttons were big, some were small. Some were fancy, some were plain. They all had their own personalities and their own story. Sometimes I felt like I could enter their world if I held one long enough lol.

I never thought it might be a box similar to the one in the Twilight Zone episode Button Button (which was based on a short story by Richard Matheson). Derby hat dude reminded more of Mr Steward in Button Button than Randall Flagg.

I thought the story was interesting but I didn't think the authors' writing styles meshed all that well. And I did not like the main character at all. It is NOT ok to think blowing up an area of rain forest including the wildlife within is ok just because there weren't any humans in the area. I loved the illustrations.
 

RichardX

Well-Known Member
Sep 26, 2006
1,737
4,434
It's always nice to settle into something new from King. This one, however, is a middling short story of which he only wrote a part. No doubt with good intentions of the folks at CD to finish something King might not have otherwise completed. Probably better suited for a short story collection than a standalone book. That's not a knock on CD or anyone involved. I think they all had great intentions to get a King story out there that might otherwise have never seen the light of day. It's great that King let them do it. And lots of us will read anything from King. No one is forced to buy it.
 

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
29,655
139,785
Behind you
Surprised it just ended. I read it on Kindle and did not have a page count.

Liked it. At first I could not pick out who wrote what, but after awhile it was obvious to me. Maybe better for a short story collection, as RichardX stated.

I thought she was going to get overweight again, and that just fizzled out.. And the coins were random, why?.. And yes bugged me about the wildlife too, No bounce.

I did enjoy it.