The only difference is the color of the printing and the sticker on the front. I think I like the purple better, myself. Retail cost was the same, too.
John
John
Mr. Mercedes *Possible Spoilers*
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I agree and I enjoyed it a lot.
I've always wondered if you are a published writer . . .if you've stated so in the past I missed it. If you are I'd really like to read some of your work.
That is probably true. Unless you are one hell of a hacker, and the antagonist is not that brilliant behind the keyboard.
Yup. Agree.
This made me laugh! Personal story: when I wrote my first book a few years ago, one pivotal conflict revolved around the protagonists being unable to contact each other at a crucial junction. My pre-readers crucified me over this, & all non-technophobes will probably realize why: cell phones are everywhere. I never even thought about that, because I not only didn't have a cell phone, I hated the damn things (and still have mixed feelings, TBH). I still struggle with computers. I fail at technology.
One thing, though: I don't remember the FBI or NSA being involved until late in the game. Brady was not a suspect to anyone but Hodges, is how I remember it.
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Something about Mr. Mercedes has been niggling at me, and I finally identified it: it's written in present tense. I normally really dislike that (makes character development and story building difficult without the writer voice intruding or relying on info dumps. Good thing Mr. King is a good writer--lol), but it worked here. It did make me start thinking, though: has Mr. King published a novel written in present tense prior to this? I can't think of one off the top of my head.
I'm not for sure but I kinda think Joyland may have been written in present tense. Maybe SK just writes in present tense for his crime novels.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. The first chapter/prologue is a showcase example of King's character creation abilities - it was gut wrenching the way it ended. To feel that much for not just one but a couple of characters introduced and then dispensed with in one chapter is amazing. Enjoyed the book for the characters a lot even though murder mysteries on the whole are not my jam. They rely too much on unlikely circumstances - a trait Mr. Mercedes valiantly tries to work it's way around. I find it easier - and more enjoyable - to buy when fortuitous events are the result of supernatural influences.
That aside, this was a blast to read, love the unlikely Three Musketeers, and can't wait for their next adventure. (For more of my thoughts - and Hans Lilja - watch for our next podcast to land this weekend.)
Mr. Mercedes was a helluva warm up to what I consider the main course this year, Revival.
That aside, this was a blast to read, love the unlikely Three Musketeers, and can't wait for their next adventure. (For more of my thoughts - and Hans Lilja - watch for our next podcast to land this weekend.)
Mr. Mercedes was a helluva warm up to what I consider the main course this year, Revival.
Thanks! I'll have pull that one back off the shelf & take a look
I decided to go back and read Rose Madder again since I couldn't remember much about the plot. To my surprise it reminds me a bit of Mr. Mercedes only with a supernatural element.
There's a bit of the old cat and mouse except the cop is the bad guy looking for the good guy (or gal as the case may be). Norman and Brady are very similar characters. And - maybe a double spolier here - Norman even shaves his head and sneaks into a public event in a wheelchair. My favorite part is when he decides he needs a cover story if anyone asks and names himself Hump. A veteran paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. Instead of telling anyone who asks to buzz off he decides he needs this cover story to make himself less conspicuous. The use of the wheelchair ruse is interesting though.
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Mr. Mercdes reminded me of Rose Madder, as well. Tone, maybe?
Think how much different the plots in a lot of King's older books would have to be changed if they were written in the era of cell phones and Internet. You see it in a lot of films as well when they have to deal with the ability of most everyone to make a call at any time. I think it has made it more difficult to write a suspense or horror story when you know that most people have constant access to their phones. Having to explain that away in stories must be tiresome. And is likely a good reason to set some more books like Joyland in the days before cell phones.
Thats incorrect. It takes place in Norwalk, Ohio about 20 min south of Sandusky. I live here. He describes some very specific places in Norwalk, ex specially in the second book. He kinda combines 3 cities together Norwalk, Sandusky, and Huron, Ohio. The closes Stadium though is Cleveland, but he clearly talks about that as a separate city in the book.
....neither one of you is completely wrong....but neither one is completely right......when I saw King on the Mr. Mercedes tour, he said that the city was a poorly disguised equivalent of an amalgam of things in Northern Ohio, but that the inspiration was the city of Cleveland.....
Perhaps that means it is on another level of the Dark Tower,not quite this world but not far off either..
