Horror, Fantasy, and other non-sci-fi genres...

[D_Davis]

Well, dammit, now I have to read it. You're making some big claims my friend.

It blew me away. I was very skeptical of the advance reviews as well - it may be his best reviewed book to date. Some even claiming it will elevate his status from great genre author to great American author, or whatever. But it is really that good. It's timely, poignant, frightening, exciting, and emotionally moving. And they way he strings the scenes together - its like he's directing a film in the way he writes his transitions. While there are dozens of characters, I never once lost sight of who was with who and where they were. There are also a few passages in which King breaks through as the narrator and addresses the reader - these are filled with King's best writing to date, and his deft insight into the pathos of his characters.

[lovejuice]

I recently finished Insomnia - loved it. It's totally weird, and the central characters are great.

Desperation is one of my favorites as well. Simply a corking good tale.

aside from being a bit too long, insomnia is indeed very good. and am i odd for preferring the regulators to desperation?

[D_Davis]

and am i odd for preferring the regulators to desperation?

Yes.

[lovejuice]

Yes.

the regulators is a good old shoot 'em up pulp. desperation, in comparison, feels like he's trying too hard to be kingish rather than bachmanish. the novel doesn't radiate the same mythological aura as many of king's. perhaps the time frame -- if i remember correctly the novel is confined within 24 hours -- doesn't allow it to be so.

[megladon8]

I'll second Davis' love for "Insomnia". I thought it was a brilliantly odd book.

For my money, though, there's no better King than "'Salem's Lot".

[D_Davis]

Alright fantasists, I'm reading your golden tome now:

Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.

So far it's pretty darn good.

[D_Davis]

OK, so Book of the New Sun is pretty damn amazing.

[monolith94]

I lent out Shadow + Claw and it hasn't come back to me…

[D_Davis]

I lent out Shadow + Claw and it hasn't come back to me…

Bummer - I'll probably read these back-to-back.

[monolith94]

That's the way to do it. What scene/chapter are you up to (so I can live vicariously through your reading)?

[D_Davis]

That's the way to do it. What scene/chapter are you up to (so I can live vicariously through your reading)?

Let's see....

Severian just went to the brothel.

I love how cryptic the futuristic elements are. Like the library having some cube no bigger than a thumbnail containing all of the books ever written - and yet the librarian misplaced it. Very cool.

[monolith94]

As remarkable as the beginning of the book is… Severian eventually leaves the city. And the things he encounters…
I can't wait until you encounter:
[

Show Spoiler

Jonas, he's one of my favorite characters ever.

]

[D_Davis]

As remarkable as the beginning of the book is… Severian eventually leaves the city. And the things he encounters…
I can't wait until you encounter:
[

Show Spoiler

Jonas, he's one of my favorite characters ever.

]

The anticipation of him leaving is killing me!

I know something is gonna go down, thus making Severian leave the citadel. It seems to me as if he's going to be going on a spiritual journey as much as he is a physical one.

[D_Davis]

He's left the guild.

This book just keeps getting better.

[monolith94]

Interesting note: while visiting the Boston MFA to see a small exibit of Durer's prints, I noticed a print of his that I'd never seen before and reminded me of the book of the new sun.



The martyrdom of St. Catherine

[megladon8]

What better way to catch the reading bug again, than reading some Stephen King? I think I am now - finally - officially hooked back on reading. I read nearly 100 pages of "Needful Things" in just over an hour today.

It's fantastic. Really enjoying it. Can't wait to see how it all comes together.

I really should have done this earlier.

[D_Davis]

That's funny - whenever I'm at a lost for something to read, I often times turn to King to rejuvenate my reading momentum. However, after finishing Under the Dome, I started on Needful Things, and I didn't like it much.

Glad you're digging it though.

[megladon8]

That's funny - whenever I'm at a lost for something to read, I often times turn to King to rejuvenate my reading momentum. However, after finishing Under the Dome, I started on Needful Things, and I didn't like it much.

Glad you're digging it though.

I'm thinking of borrowing my mom's copy of "Under the Dome" (which I gave to her for Christmas, no less ) when she's done.

She's utterly hooked on it. Like you, she says it's some of the best writing - particularly characterizations - she's ever read, by King or otherwise.


EDIT: I also have a couple King books on my shelf which I haven't read yet - "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" and "Desperation".

However, I don't want to read "Desperation" until I have "The Regulators" to read afterwards.

[D_Davis]

I'm thinking of borrowing my mom's copy of "Under the Dome" (which I gave to her for Christmas, no less ) when she's done.

She's utterly hooked on it. Like you, she says it's some of the best writing - particularly characterizations - she's ever read, by King or otherwise.

It's amazing. Really freakin' good.

[lovejuice]

That's funny - whenever I'm at a lost for something to read, I often times turn to King to rejuvenate my reading momentum. However, after finishing Under the Dome, I started on Needful Things, and I didn't like it much.

indeed, needful things is among lesser King's, but whatever put meg in reading mood is good.

[megladon8]

How would you guys rate/rank King's works?

[lovejuice]

How would you guys rate/rank King's works?

oh, that's just too hard. i'll list a few which are my favorite.

The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Half
Four Past Midnight
Gerald's Game
Insomnia
'Salem's Lot
The Stand

[D_Davis]

How would you guys rate/rank King's works?

Oh man...I'll have to get back to you.

[D_Davis]

Tiers (I think this is accurate):


The Great

The Dark Tower - series
a. Wolves of the Calla
b. The Drawing of the Three
c. The Dark Tower
d. The Gunslinger
e. Wastelands
f. Song of Susanna
g. Wizard and Glass

Under the Dome - my favorite single King Novel
The Mist
The Stand
Cell
Everything's Eventual
Night Shift
Talisman
The Bachman Books
Different Seasons
Cycle of the Werewolf
On Writing
Danse Macabre
Desperation

The Good

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (this is the book that got me back into King as an adult)
Hearts in Atlantis
Insomnia
Four Past Midnight
Misery
The Shining
Nightmares and Dreamscapes


The OK

Bag of Bones
Eyes of the Dragon
Skeleton Crew
The Regulators
The Colorado Kid

The Bad

Needful Things
Lisey's Story
Dreamcatcher
Tommyknockers


Never Read

The Dark Half
Delores Clairborne
Rose Madder
Gerald's Game
The Green Mile
From a Buick 8
Faithful
Blaze
The Duma Key
Just After Sunset
Thinner
Black House




Read too long ago to rank

Firestarter
Carrie
Salem's Lot
Pet Sematary
Cujo
It
The Dead Zone
Christine

[megladon8]

That's awesome, D. Thanks for posting that.

As I said, I still have "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" on my shelf to be read.

I strongly urge you to re-read "Salem's Lot" sometime. That is my single favorite King novel. It would without a doubt be in my top 20 books of all time.