I’ve found many readers can be put into two categories: those who love Stephen King, and those who don’t, but are afraid to admit it. Okay, maybe I’m projecting. But the internet LOOOOOVES Stephen King. At least the circles in which I find myself. So much so that I know there’s something wrong with me for not loving his books. It’s been my dirty little literary secret.
I started with IT. I remember bits and pieces of the miniseries that aired in 1990. Did I actually see the whole thing? Regardless, I picked up the book and gave it a go. I’m pretty sure I didn’t get through that, so I’m gonna go ahead and say I saw the TV version in it’s entirety. I had to, because I remember that I hated the ending.
Then came the Tommyknockers. 1993. I remember clearly that I didn’t get through that book. I was too bored by the minute details that went on for pages and pages about what’shisname…Garrett? Gardner! (thanks wikipedia). Again, wasn’t crazy about the ending.
If you’re beginning to wonder why I decided to read these books knowing already I didn’t like the ending of the movies, I too, wonder.
But it’s Stephen King! And he’s a master! And I already had the books at home. And I think I liked the movies enough to give the books a go.
Maybe the problem was my age? I was in junior high and high school in the 90’s. Maybe I wasn’t mature enough for King.
So skip ahead about 17 years and we are at Bag of Bones. Now THIS one? Wasn’t too bad. Although I read it before I started blogging, so I don’t really remember much about it. But it’s probably what gave me the confidence to tackle The Gunslinger.
THAT? A big fat nope. Just a lot of dust and wandering and a guy and a kid and I don’t even know what else.
So I’m batting about .250. Not too shabby if you have a leather glove instead of a Stephen King book in hand. So why, WHY did I think The Shining would be a good idea? I honestly don’t remember. Except that I was on vacation and in the mood for something scary.
And thank baby Jesus I thought it was great! I didn’t just finish it ( a crowning achievement in itself) I actually, truly, liked it! I’m not going to go into details about the plot except to say that the movie isn’t a good representation of the book. So if you really want to know what Stephen King’s The Shining is about, read the book. And you’ll get a great dose of a grand, empty hotel with haunted rooms and characters you’ll care about. I loved the setting, the backstories, the isolation, and yes, even the ending.
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Interesting choices! I have read a lot of King, some works better for me than other novels.
Tommyknockers wasn’t that good, The Gunslinger was rough (the rest of the series has a huge tonal shift). Somehow, The Shining was one of the later King reads for me.
Some of my favorites of his are Salem’s Lot, The Stand and Gerald’s Game if you want to keep trying him now.
I’ve never heard of Gerald’s game. I’ll check that out. Probably Salem’s Lot too. I want to try the Stand but it looks like quite a commitment! I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet with King.
I liked Gerald’s Game a lot because it was so self contained compared to some of King’s other more sprawling novels. Wife and husband go out to their cabin, he brings hand cuffs, and she is cuffed to the bed in the middle of nowhere after he has a heart attack in midst of it all. That’s basically the first chapter or two, and the rest is her trying to figure out how to save herself.
I’ve always been into vampire novels so Salem’s Lot was just a perfect fit for me! Very much an old school take on vampires. I think King has done a lot to try to be aware of how he writes women (though I still don’t always agree/love the way he does gender) but this is very much still early ’80s so there may be some cringe there – it’s been a while since I read that one.