Which terrible book have you read to appreciate how good King is?

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

muskrat

Dis-Member
Nov 8, 2010
4,518
19,564
Under your bed
I SECOND THE MOTION!

Nope, nope, nope, yer both wrong (you too AchtungBaby--I saw what you said). Ya'all gonna tell me you prefer the more recent output over classics such as Lot, Semetary, The Stand?

I challenge the both of yez (both at once) to a steel cage Texas chainsaw grudge match (sponsored by FlavorAide beverage mixers. Need to poison an entire cult of devoted followers? FLAVOR-AIDE! They'll never taste the strychnine.)

Insert Heh heh joke disclamer here:
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
Nope, nope, nope, yer both wrong (you too AchtungBaby--I saw what you said). Ya'all gonna tell me you prefer the more recent output over classics such as Lot, Semetary, The Stand?

I challenge the both of yez (both at once) to a steel cage Texas chainsaw grudge match (sponsored by FlavorAide beverage mixers. Need to poison an entire cult of devoted followers? FLAVOR-AIDE! They'll never taste the strychnine.)

Insert Heh heh joke disclamer here:
The Stand is one of my faves too (forgot to mention it). Sematary and 'Salem's Lot are good, just not among my favorites.
 

Lynnie L

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2016
314
1,637
64
Tarpon Springs, FL
Shakespeare was writing in verse, plus the people of his time fully understood this. Plus, his writing was meant to accompany visual cues. It is because we are reading it out of its time and place that we find it hard to comprehend. When Shakespeare is performed by talented actors who have the cadence down, it is very easy to comprehend.

But you have to admit, SK's attention to minutiae sometimes is annoying. But we love him anyway.

Speaking of minutiae, how about Robin Cook??
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
Pretty much can't stand anything by John Saul. I've tried several of his books, both older and newer, and they all have the effect of making me sick to my stomach.
I used to read John Saul a lot when I was younger. I think his first few are OK but after that they got horribly formulaic. They are about as easy as an episode of Scooby Doo to figure out, but with much less interesting characters. He did publish a 6-book serial novel, The Blackstone Chronicles, (I'm sure in answer to SK doing the same with The Green Mile) which is cheesy but a fun read.
 

Connor B

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2015
766
4,219
30
This is gonna sound like I'm beating a dead horse, but I firmly believe that James Patterson is quite possibly one of the worst writers that has ever achieved mainstream success on the bookshelves; even Stephen said his books were terrible. I've tried reading some them, and I could only get about twenty pages in before tossing them out of my sight, preferably into a furnace, my mind in a state that is alternately one of disgust and confusion. You know you're in trouble when you can't maintain reader interest after a few mind-bogglingly short chapters.
 

Blake

Deleted User
Feb 18, 2013
4,191
17,479
I agree with your statement, Connor, regarding the first say ten pages. Like I said about two years ago, the best writer for starting is John D MacDonald. Read the Neon Jungle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neesy and GNTLGNT

Lynnie L

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2016
314
1,637
64
Tarpon Springs, FL
This is gonna sound like I'm beating a dead horse, but I firmly believe that James Patterson is quite possibly one of the worst writers that has ever achieved mainstream success on the bookshelves; even Stephen said his books were terrible. I've tried reading some them, and I could only get about twenty pages in before tossing them out of my sight, preferably into a furnace, my mind in a state that is alternately one of disgust and confusion. You know you're in trouble when you can't maintain reader interest after a few mind-bogglingly short chapters.

Plus I find it really annoying that he promotes his books on TV commercials.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neesy and GNTLGNT

Blake

Deleted User
Feb 18, 2013
4,191
17,479
there are no terrible books, there are better books than others. Like I bought a James Patterson book to learn how to write trillers. Obviously, James Patterson is good writer because he's a multi-seller. Everyone's got their favourites.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GNTLGNT