Dolan's Cadillac - SKMB RBC- Discussion 8.8.14

[VultureLvr45]

Thanks! I am directionally challenged even on the board.

Me too. I think it was really inventive that he used the things he believed when he was younger as fuel for his stories.

 

[Christine62]

I found it hard to believe he 'found short stories tough' to write. (page 5)

I think when you have the freedom to write without restraint 500 pages, it might be difficult to reign it in and use a little more control and chose your words more carefully--like writing a poem....you have to charge the language.

 

[VultureLvr45]

Let's discuss Dolan's Cadillac. How did you experience the story?

 

[morgan]

I'm holding my hefty hardback of N&D in my hands -- nothing better than a big ole King book is there???

I'll post a few thoughts and whatnot, but won't attempt to post a serious analysis/opinion until tomorrow, when I've finished the story and let my thoughts come together, if you will...

Still, a few things:

"I waited and watched for seven years. I saw him come and go -- Dolan."

SK sure can write a hooker, can't he? This story really hits the ground running -- who is Dolan? Who is the guy stalking him? One is immediately drawn into their relationship, and as one reads the first paragraphs the conflict is perfectly established: Dolan is the reason this guy's wife is dead. Dolan is of high society and is wealthy, whereas this guy is an Everyman, a school-teacher. The fact that he's a school-teacher lets us, the readers and observers, know he (probably) isn't usually prone to mean, vengeful thoughts or actions but he's planning to get Dolan. This guy means business! And really, can ya blame him? His wife is dead. SK is so great at coming up with "What would I do in that situation?!" scenarios.

Lines like "Schoolteachers and high-priced hoodlums do not have the same freedom of movement; it's just an economic fact of life" and "His hair went silver and mine just went" let us into the narrator's world and we can truly relate to him -- haven't we all felt a tiny bit like him at some point? Haven't we all had a Dolan, albeit maybe not to such a severe degree?

I've only read the first few pages, so I won't step out anymore until I've finished the story! Heh. Those are just a few thoughts for now, I'll probably expand on those and have much more to say later....

A few quick things:

I love the Spanish parable used as an epitaph. Definitely sets the story up splendidly.

The first-person POV really draws the reader into the story -- I remember this working especially well later on.

I didn't re-read the introduction this time, but c'mon -- it's a SK intro! Of course it's gold. I still remember the Nixon stuff and it makes me chuckle.

I'll be reading you guys' thoughts. (That sounds creepy....) Can't wait to post more tomorrow!

Incredibly well stated! I liked the line, "His hair went silver and mine just went" also-great imagery!

 

[FlakeNoir]

Thank you. In the Group Read, Christine made a couple nice entries.

Done, let me know if I've missed any.

 

[Christine62]

Me too. I think it was really inventive that he used the things he believed when he was younger as fuel for his stories.

I think he is like Shakespeare in that respect. Shakespeare was accused of not having original stories. He didn't have to have original ideas he just took skeleton of what others had done before and dressed it up in the robes of stunning language. Mr. King is like that too. I have seen quite a few Twilight Zone episodes where King borrowed the idea and blew it up into a masterpiece of shining brilliance.

 

[VultureLvr45]

I think when you have the freedom to write without restraint 500 pages, it might be difficult to reign it in and use a little more control and chose your words more carefully--like writing a poem....you have to charge the language.

Agreed, he mentioned the new tendency of 'verbal anorexia' in the past thirty years. God, the way he puts words together, you know exactly what he means. Amazing.

 

[AchtungBaby]

Incredibly well stated! I liked the line, "His hair went silver and mine just went" also-great imagery!

Thank-ee!

King does so much with so few words.

It's kinda freaky how someone can get so mad (even though "mad" doesn't begin to cover it) they can snap and create such an elaborate plan like our narrator. Everyone has a breaking point.

 

[VultureLvr45]

So Guys, was Robinsons actions justified?
Did anyone else notice that he didn't give the main male character (Elizabeth's Husband) a name until close to the end of the story? That drove me bonkers I liked this guy and I wanted to know his name.

 

[morgan]

Let's discuss Dolan's Cadillac. How did you experience the story?

I was truly astounded by all the laborious details of "the plan!" To be honest, I was trying to reread quickly, but was still amazed by the mathematic and scientific intricacies of the story!

 

[Christine62]

I think the school teacher is a tough, determined, little weak man. Kinda Ying and Yang. It's quite a contrast because you really don't believe he is going to do it. But he's got a burn in him. A good lesson. Not on how to kill someone but how to freakin push on when you are tired.

 

[morgan]

So Guys, was Robinsons actions justified?
Did anyone else notice that he didn't give the main male character (Elizabeth's Husband) a name until close to the end of the story? That drove me bonkers I liked this guy and I wanted to know his name.

Since he was writing in the first person, I didn't even think about it until the part where he was "called out!" I liked him too-could completely understand the need for revenge!

 

[VultureLvr45]

I was truly astounded by all the laborious details of "the plan!" To be honest, I was trying to reread quickly, but was still amazed by the mathematic and scientific intricacies of the story!

He added little gems in there like an Edgar Wallace Plot Wheel (pg 16) no clue what it is but it inspired me to look it up. Also how to jump start a backhoe if I ever need to...wonder if it really is the real way to do it?

 

[Christine62]

So Guys, was Robinsons actions justified?
Did anyone else notice that he didn't give the main male character (Elizabeth's Husband) a name until close to the end of the story? That drove me bonkers I liked this guy and I wanted to know his name.

You know, I really didn't feel anything for this character. I was not emotionally involved. There wasn't a hook for me. Yeah the guys wife dies and? Towards the end, I got a little more sucked in. I think he was justified.

 

[Christine62]

i don't know whether anyone here has read the backstory to this story. But I remember Mr. King driving past construction seeing a long deep dig in the road and thinking, "You could fit a Cadillac in there!"

 

[VultureLvr45]

I think the school teacher is a tough, determined, little weak man. Kinda Ying and Yang. It's quite a contrast because you really don't believe he is going to do it. But he's got a burn in him. A good lesson. Not on how to kill someone but how to freakin push on when you are tired.

This is where Elizabeth's voice carried him through the broken blisters and slipped discs. I also enjoyed the other voices floating around, Tink calling him Whitebread...Shades of a kinder Detta Walker?

 

[Christine62]

Who's Detta Walker?

 

[VultureLvr45]

Who's Detta Walker?

Sorry, a character from Dark Tower saga, specifically The Drawing of The Three (one of my favorite stories in the series).

 

[morgan]

Who's Detta Walker?

Dark Tower Series

 

[Christine62]

Okay, Gang, unfortunately, I have to go! I have to get up at 4o am. This is great though loads of fun. I will catch up tomorrow. Night!