The Works of Stephen King

[andreajersey]

I have it on hold as well--actually, I had no idea it was coming out until I saw a review of it in the Sunday paper. The same thing happened to me with Cell. Every time I think he retired I get all sad, but he always seems to come through with a new book in the end.

sarcasticcheese said:

Has anyone started reading Lisey's Story yet? I have it on hold at the library, but who knows how far down on the list I am for this.

[iceblink]

I read it a few months ago and really loved it. It's a unique story for King, although it covers familiar terrority (it's about a writer). I wouldn't put it in the horror category at all.
I've just started rereading "Needful Things" myself while I wait for a couple of books I've bought to show up in the mail. It's been over 10 years since I read this one so I'm enjoying it lots so far.

[Deleted]

So I just finished reading Cujo for the first time, and aside from my fear of large dogs being much much worse now, I'm in shock because I can't believe he killed off the little boy. Although I suppose it's nice that he didn't go with the cliched happy ending, it is a bit more realistic.

[ratscabies]

I for one, really liked "Bag of Bones". As I read it, I started to think it was autobiographical, and that it was an apology to his loyal fans for the five or six books ("Insomnia", "Gerald's Game", etc) that came before it, and an implied promise to do better from here on out. He's been hit or miss since then, but more hit, I think.

I just like his style. It almost doesn't matter WHAT he's writing about, as long as he writes. Much like I'll forgive Sir Paul a thousand "Say, Say, Say"'s since he wrote "Maybe I'm Amazed", Uncle Stevie gets a Lifetime pass for "The Stand."

[Smilla]

and that it was an apology to his loyal fans for the five or six books ("Insomnia", "Gerald's Game", etc) that came before it

Ooo, nice catch. I think that's an excellent interpretation.

[sugarhigh]

I read "Lisey's Story" a couple of months ago and HATED IT. This is the first SK book I've out and out disliked (though that didn't stop me from finishing it). Lisey and her husband's cutesy little private language drove me up the wall. It was all I could do not to reach in and strangle her the 10th time she said "smucking".

This is the first SK book I doubt I'll ever read again.

[Deleted]

Oh my God, I know her husband was traumatized at an early age and everything, but he grew up to be a Pulitzer-winning author so his brain obviously developed beyond that - why the baby talk??? It also actually made me dislike the character every time she'd use one of their stupid sayings in front of someone who didn't get it and then be all, "Of course they don't understand, they weren't a part of our marriage. My husband would know what I mean." Or when she tells the guy off and keeps calling him "Woodsmucky" instead of his name (Woodbody). You should be rooting for her, and instead you're going "Ooh...burn?"

Also, the point of the story (and the part I found more interesting) was Lisey's life with Scott, and Scott's past. By the end her crazy stalker felt tacked on, like, "Wait, this is a Stephen King book. There also needs to be a psycho killer. Rose Madder had a fantasy land AND a psycho killer!"

[sugarhigh]

So much word. The psycho killer part was completely unnecessary. The "long boy" thing in Booya Moon was scary enough. If he'd left out the killer and the baby talk, just concentrated on her realtionship with him (and his past) and her sisters, it would have been a much better book, IMO.

Also, I love Rose Madder. Just needed to say that.

[Smilla]

Oh my God, I know her husband was traumatized at an early age and everything, but he grew up to be a Pulitzer-winning author so his brain obviously developed beyond that - why the baby talk???

Wuh? These descriptions make the book sound awful. I got "Lisey's Story" on CD for my birthday, and was considering listening to it in the car, but I think it's just going to have to go to one of my used book store haunts for trade.

[Deleted]

Smilla, I wouldn't say it's so bad it's not worth listening to - I think Dreamcatcher was worse - but...there's a lot of baby talk for some reason. The main character and her husband have all this special slang (they say "smuck" instead of "fuck"), and it's baby talk-y. When the husband talks about his traumatic childhood, he regresses to baby talk. When the main character's sister has a breakdown, she gets through to her by speaking in baby talk. I wish I could say there's some point to this common theme, but I couldn't really find one. It just gets annoying and it's really hard to take seriously. But I know people who really liked the story of the couple's marriage. The story as a whole's not bad, but a lot of it is stuff he's done before, and Rose Madder (I loved it too) did it better.