Novels/Books - Print Media Discussion

[wildwest08]

Please feel free to enter into a friendly discussion of this topic

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[RedMage]

Did no one read Dean Koontz's novel Phantoms?

Very well; let's see I'll try a different net to cast: Stephen King

As soon as I'm done reading Cujo I'll be moving onto what I like to affectionately call 'The Big Three' my favorite Stephen King novels: Salem's Lot, The Shining and IT.

However; there are questions that I would want to ask Stephen King such as:

In THE DEAD ZONE Johnny Smith's mother is taken to Cumberland General Hospital that's just north of Jerusalem's Lot was this before or after the events in Salem's Lot?

In CUJO was the monster in Tad's closet the Boogeyman from the short story of the same name, Tad's overactive imagination or other?

In IT where was Mike during the cataclysmic events towards the end of the novel?

In SALEM'S LOT what happened to Bill Norton? He disappears entirely after going to the hospital after his wife was admitted and possibly dying.

What questions would you ask of Stephen King?

[Lando Griffin]

I read two or three of Koontz's books in high school, and really wasn't that impressed by them. In fact, I can't even remember which books I read. Did see the movie Phantoms, though, and it was ok, not great.

As for Stephen King, I prefer his short stories, so I've read everyone of his collections. I also read all the Dark Tower novels and a handful of others. Never read any of his classic novels, like The Shining or Salem's Lot, I only saw the movies.

The question I would ask King is this: You took nearly 20 years to publish the first four Dark Tower books, but the final three were published in under two years. Did your near death experience cause you to worry something could happen and you might never finish the series, leading you to rush through the final three novels?

As much as I love King, I think I prefer Clive Barker. Unfortunately, he's all but retired now. Have you read any of Barker's books?

[RedMage]

@Lando - I hear you Phantoms is the only novel I've read by Dean Koontz which makes him an occasional not regular author I enjoy. Also I agree with you the film Phantoms is just OK, not great, not even good just OK.

What are your favorite short stories by Stephen King?

I have but haven't read The Dark Tower Series there's a transition starting in the second book that my head isn't able to wrap around very similar to a transition he wrote in Pet Sematary.

Unfortunately I'm unfamiliar with Clive Barker what books do you recommend I read of his first?

[Lando Griffin]

Favorite Stephen King short story? That's a tough one since he's written so many. Probably Children of the Corn, since that was a creepy story. Also, the one's about the boogeyman and The Lawnmower Man (which has nothing to do with the movie).

As for Clive Barker, I would suggest starting with his short story collections The Books of Blood. You could also check out the novel The Hellbound Heart, which was the basis for the movie Hellraiser. He also wrote a novel for younger readers entitled The Thief of Always which was really good. Any one of these should give you an idea of whether you will like his work or not.

[RedMage]

Those are all great short stories to choose from! Boogeyman is probably my favorite which is why I wondered if it did make an appearance or not in Cujo; there's some definite similarities.

I still have to look into Clive Barker and while I'm not too familiar with the Hellraiser film I know of it; like the old adage is the book much better than the film?

I recently finished Salems' Lot and now I'm onto The Shining.

[tcpeep]

I just finished The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab. I thought it was great.

[tcpeep]

Originally Posted by Lando Griffin

Favorite Stephen King short story? That's a tough one since he's written so many. Probably Children of the Corn, since that was a creepy story. Also, the one's about the boogeyman and The Lawnmower Man (which has nothing to do with the movie).

As for Clive Barker, I would suggest starting with his short story collections The Books of Blood. You could also check out the novel The Hellbound Heart, which was the basis for the movie Hellraiser. He also wrote a novel for younger readers entitled The Thief of Always which was really good. Any one of these should give you an idea of whether you will like his work or not.

I could talk Sai King all day, any day. He's definitely one of my favorite authors and I've loved his work for almost three decades.

I don't know if it can be considered a short story, but the last novella in Different Seasons -- The Breathing Method -- does not get the attention it deserves.

[redmond]

The Tudors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Tudor#:~:text=The%20House%20of%20Tudor%20was,from%20the%20Tudors%20of%20Penmynydd.&text=The%20first%20Tudor%20monarch%2C%20Henry,cadet%20house%20of%20the%20Plantagenets.

Have given up trying to read Hilary Mantel's The Mirror And The Light. I struggled through the first two volumes of her Cromwell trilogy before deciding I could no longer tolerate the slog through her overt erudition, dense prose and lack of an engaging narrative. The rewards were no longer worth the sacrifice. It may identify me as a dilettante, but WTF.
In contrast, may I commend C J Sansom's Shardlake novels as ones which are wholly engaging. Admittedly, they are explicitly in the historical crime fiction genre rather than being a purported historical documentary but, hell, they are damn good reads from a PhD historian. In fact, I learnt far more about law, medicine, manners, science, religion, social obligation and religious schisms in Tudor England that I gleaned from Mantel. Though maybe again my bad?

[Lonewolf]

Getting ready to read this: