I am so glad you are becoming a Constant Reader after so many years of resistance. I'm excited for your journey into King's twisted mind and storytelling.
I love this!! To me King's real talent lies in his characters. He's a master at character building. I absolutely love some of his books,they feature is my favourites of all time and others not so much, Salem's Lot is top of the list and his more recent Dr. Sleep as the sequel to The Shining is brilliant. Fairy Tale lost me somewhere in the middle but I think he has something for everyone. Enjoy getting stuck in!
I should add, she's not a minor character in those books, either. She was important enough that fans were thrilled when she started getting her own adventures.
Also, there's a Holly novella called "If It Bleeds" that can be found in the collection IF IT BLEEDS (which also contains "The Life of Chuck"). The novella takes place between THE OUTSIDER and HOLLY.
I would definitely recommend The Dark Tower. That series of 8 books contains 2 of my very favourite books of all time (I won’t say which so as to avoid giving you preconceptions about them ahead of time), and the other 6 rank highly.
So funny, Jack... I was actually just telling a friend how much I hate back jacket copy. I want to open a book, start reading, and get swept away. I don't want to know what it's about. My best reading experiences have happened that way. No trailers! No blurbs! Just wow me from the first page.
A lovely essay! A reader’s life-long journey has to eventually find new territory, otherwise you’re just walking in circles. I tend to develop crushes on different literary traditions—Portuguese, Bulgarian, Icelandic, etc., and these days am beginning to dip my toes into Indonesian lit. All in translation, of course! And I’m beginning to appreciate more the French modern and contemporary tradition of of very short novels and memoir. That used to piss me off, and now I have no idea why. For the past couple of years I’ve also been been mulling over the idea of reading King—thank you for this push in a new direction.
Hi Philip! Thanks so much for the comment. Liz and I have often talked about your little library project with massive respect and awe! I'll be so curious to hear if you do start with King and what your impressions will be. I think he could be considered a very regional author in many ways. He's also quite a moralist, which is interesting. I think it's why so many people like him, perhaps especially right now. Keep me posted if you dive in.
Not a "con" guy but that sounds fun, if only for the merch. I'm a sucker for first editions and tees.
The way you feel about contemporary lit is the way I feel about contemporary King. I much prefer his older work. I read his latest book of short stories and have yet to finish it, though it does have a couple of gems. These days I prefer to listen to his older stuff (that I've already read), on audio book when I have the time and patience.
Hey Sarlos! I didn't think I was con guy either, to tell the truth. KingCon was my first (well, I have been to AWP, but that is a different beast entirely) and I was nervous to go (introvert). But now, I'm converted 100%. Mostly because of the sheer joy of the fans. There was zero pretense. So different from other bookish communities I've been part of.
BTW, really "enjoyed" those rightfully enraged haikus. Keep 'em coming.
This is aces, Mel. 👍
Thanks, Joe! I hang my head some days…
I am so glad you are becoming a Constant Reader after so many years of resistance. I'm excited for your journey into King's twisted mind and storytelling.
If only I had seen the light before you downsized!
I love this!! To me King's real talent lies in his characters. He's a master at character building. I absolutely love some of his books,they feature is my favourites of all time and others not so much, Salem's Lot is top of the list and his more recent Dr. Sleep as the sequel to The Shining is brilliant. Fairy Tale lost me somewhere in the middle but I think he has something for everyone. Enjoy getting stuck in!
Ooooh! Moving Salem's Lot up higher now in my TBR pile.
Though she’s not the main character, Holly Gibney first appears in the Bill Hodges trilogy, starting with Mr. Mercedes!
Wow, Bill, you're obvs a true fan! Good to know!
I should add, she's not a minor character in those books, either. She was important enough that fans were thrilled when she started getting her own adventures.
Also, there's a Holly novella called "If It Bleeds" that can be found in the collection IF IT BLEEDS (which also contains "The Life of Chuck"). The novella takes place between THE OUTSIDER and HOLLY.
Ok, I'm hooked. Will definitely seek that out as of course The Outsider and Holly are currently my only "modern" King reads.
I would definitely recommend The Dark Tower. That series of 8 books contains 2 of my very favourite books of all time (I won’t say which so as to avoid giving you preconceptions about them ahead of time), and the other 6 rank highly.
So funny, Jack... I was actually just telling a friend how much I hate back jacket copy. I want to open a book, start reading, and get swept away. I don't want to know what it's about. My best reading experiences have happened that way. No trailers! No blurbs! Just wow me from the first page.
Not a fan of horror, so have read very little of King. Did start 196…4(?) but put it down. Nice you are enjoying though!
Did you mean 11-22-63? But I've heard people rave about that one!? It didn't grab you though?
That book is really something. Epic. I’ll recommend it if no one else does. Lots of speculation about a big turning point in American history.
So I guess it didn’t grab me that much.
A friend suggested it. Maybe I didn’t give it enough of a chance.
Sounding like a buddy read might be shaping up here, Jeremy... just saying!
Hmm 🤔
A lovely essay! A reader’s life-long journey has to eventually find new territory, otherwise you’re just walking in circles. I tend to develop crushes on different literary traditions—Portuguese, Bulgarian, Icelandic, etc., and these days am beginning to dip my toes into Indonesian lit. All in translation, of course! And I’m beginning to appreciate more the French modern and contemporary tradition of of very short novels and memoir. That used to piss me off, and now I have no idea why. For the past couple of years I’ve also been been mulling over the idea of reading King—thank you for this push in a new direction.
Hi Philip! Thanks so much for the comment. Liz and I have often talked about your little library project with massive respect and awe! I'll be so curious to hear if you do start with King and what your impressions will be. I think he could be considered a very regional author in many ways. He's also quite a moralist, which is interesting. I think it's why so many people like him, perhaps especially right now. Keep me posted if you dive in.
Will do!
Not a "con" guy but that sounds fun, if only for the merch. I'm a sucker for first editions and tees.
The way you feel about contemporary lit is the way I feel about contemporary King. I much prefer his older work. I read his latest book of short stories and have yet to finish it, though it does have a couple of gems. These days I prefer to listen to his older stuff (that I've already read), on audio book when I have the time and patience.
Hey Sarlos! I didn't think I was con guy either, to tell the truth. KingCon was my first (well, I have been to AWP, but that is a different beast entirely) and I was nervous to go (introvert). But now, I'm converted 100%. Mostly because of the sheer joy of the fans. There was zero pretense. So different from other bookish communities I've been part of.
BTW, really "enjoyed" those rightfully enraged haikus. Keep 'em coming.
Thank you so much! I appreciate that. :)