If you had to pick ONE Stephen King Book...

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Cheffie1983

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2016
125
581
40
If you had to pick 1 book by Stephen King to closely related to the way society functions and interacts today, what would it be and why?

I would choose The Green Mile. Here's why: It's a story that could (to some extent) happen in real life. A man charged and executed for a crime he did not commit? Power hungry officer of the law? The ability of karma to come full circle (Billy the Kid) to uphold the balance of the Universe?

Use you opinions, for this is what they are...opinions.
 

Sunlight Gardener

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
375
1,273
If you had to pick 1 book by Stephen King to closely related to the way society functions and interacts today, what would it be and why?

I would choose The Green Mile. Here's why: It's a story that could (to some extent) happen in real life. A man charged and executed for a crime he did not commit? Power hungry officer of the law? The ability of karma to come full circle (Billy the Kid) to uphold the balance of the Universe?

Use you opinions, for this is what they are...opinions.

I'd say there are some common themes in something like Firestarter in which there are governmental agencies and media outlets using underhanded tactics and sensationalism to meet their ends and accomplish their goals. Although in our society, the purpose mostly seems to be to seed as much hate and unrest between groups of people as humanly possible and to divide our society through rhetoric. They can always find a Boogeyman, even if there isn't one....just as long as it can be used to divide people and cause them to hate someone else.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
I'm not sure I fully understand the question but I'll say Dolores Claiborne. It is often touted as a women's lib story (and it is) but I would take it another step further. One thing that may be relatable in today's world: Poor/working class people who(due to circumstances out of their control) decide to take drastic measures in order to overcome victimhood and attain a sense of justice.
 

Arcadevere

Gentle Lady From Brady Hartsfield Defense Squad
Mar 3, 2016
793
3,689
Manila, Philippines
steamcommunity.com
In my country, Under the Dome is a good comparison to the politics of my country. The Rennie tandem was actually a metaphor of our politicians there
Ready to kill to protect their corruption and their control to the society

I agree to the Carrie, bullying is an essential and frequent issue here in my country, i also became a victim of bullying but i stand up and fight against my bullies so before i reach the half of highschool and college, those bullies never bully me anymore, and they're scared of me everytime i'm passing by at their room, i still remember how i beat the crap out of them
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
If you had to pick 1 book by Stephen King to closely related to the way society functions and interacts today, what would it be and why?

I would choose The Green Mile. Here's why: It's a story that could (to some extent) happen in real life. A man charged and executed for a crime he did not commit? Power hungry officer of the law? The ability of karma to come full circle (Billy the Kid) to uphold the balance of the Universe?

Use you opinions, for this is what they are...opinions.
Perhaps Needful Things, but that is a pretty dim view of human nature.

On a more upbeat note I liked Shawshank as it is a tale of hope. Perhaps not a good answer in terms of how society functions today however.
 

Cheffie1983

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2016
125
581
40
Perhaps Needful Things, but that is a pretty dim view of human nature.

On a more upbeat note I liked Shawshank as it is a tale of hope. Perhaps not a good answer in terms of how society functions today however.

Needful things...people today are willing to do WHATEVER it takes to get what they want and keep it.

And Shawshank is a good one in respects to the "criminals" who were released upon being proven innocent...they did not give up hope.
 

Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
3,973
22,555
47
Derry, NH
I'm not sure I fully understand the question but I'll say Dolores Claiborne. It is often touted as a women's lib story (and it is) but I would take it another step further. One thing that may be relatable in today's world: Poor/working class people who(due to circumstances out of their control) decide to take drastic measures in order to overcome victimhood and attain a sense of justice.
The Stand
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Needful things...people today are willing to do WHATEVER it takes to get what they want and keep it.

And Shawshank is a good one in respects to the "criminals" who were released upon being proven innocent...they did not give up hope.
That second thing is a good comment - you have really hit the nail on the head - we have had criminals up here in Canada proven innocent after many years of incarceration. Luckily for them they have had over 1 million dollar settlements with the government as a result.

a guy named David Milgaard - his mother fought for years to prove his innocence

David Milgaard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It doesn't buy one back all those years of freedom and a normal life but it sure helps!
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Stand
:yes_pig:That was actually my first thought - I read it many years ago. After a recent reread (of the expanded version) I did not find it quite as gripping - maybe my perspective has changed over the years
I do like how it seems (once again) that the good will triumph over the evil in this case.
 

Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
3,973
22,555
47
Derry, NH
:yes_pig:That was actually my first thought - I read it many years ago. After a recent reread (of the expanded version) I did not find it quite as gripping - maybe my perspective has changed over the years
I do like how it seems (once again) that the good will triumph over the evil in this case.
I m Geotagging ( that's how tired I am) I've never used the word in my life. I'm not so sure which case you might be referring to, as I recall the longer version had more characters but yes, it has the same ending. I'll go to sleep, live through my dream - and in a few hours get back to you on the pros and cons of good triumphing over evil subjectively. That actually sounds like fun!!
 

Connor B

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2015
766
4,219
30
One word: Cell. Looking at the story as a metaphor, it's downright terrifying, because it's sadly true. Technology, and my extension, social media, tends to bring out the worst in people, and in some cases, amplify the nasty tendencies that are already boiling under the thin façade of normality.