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dirk_bannion_author's Reviews (157)
I had a tough time getting through Lord of the Flies, which is strange because the concept is really cool and it's obviously a modern classic, so I *should* like it, right?
I did end up finishing it, and I have to say the ending left me stumped. I'm not the first, I see, having read some other reviews online. But all-in-all I was kind of disappointed that I didn't like it better.
I did end up finishing it, and I have to say the ending left me stumped. I'm not the first, I see, having read some other reviews online. But all-in-all I was kind of disappointed that I didn't like it better.
This is another classic in King's list. It's Dracula, moved up to the 20th century and into your living room. Scary stuff.
As an aside, I loved the character of Father Callahan, and was absolutely thrilled to find him pop up in the Dark Tower series (around book #3, if I remember correctly,) although the two stories have little else to do with each other. By that time, King had started to intentionally inject his other works into the Dark Tower mythology and vice versa, creating a truly interesting web of fictional boogery.
Any way, if you're interested in a fun and exciting vampire story from before vampires became en vogue, check out Salem's Lot.
As an aside, I loved the character of Father Callahan, and was absolutely thrilled to find him pop up in the Dark Tower series (around book #3, if I remember correctly,) although the two stories have little else to do with each other. By that time, King had started to intentionally inject his other works into the Dark Tower mythology and vice versa, creating a truly interesting web of fictional boogery.
Any way, if you're interested in a fun and exciting vampire story from before vampires became en vogue, check out Salem's Lot.
I liked the Green Mile, but I'm a huge King fan and I felt like this was someone else's book. The story felt slow to me and most of the characters felt a little shallow.
That's not to say it's not worth reading. There's a lot more drama to this story, as opposed to action, horror or fantasy elements. But all those are in there to some extent too. It just felt a bit slow to me in comparison to most of his other work.
That's not to say it's not worth reading. There's a lot more drama to this story, as opposed to action, horror or fantasy elements. But all those are in there to some extent too. It just felt a bit slow to me in comparison to most of his other work.
The Drawing of the Three is where the Dark Tower story started coming into its own. It's still a bit slow (see my review of [b:The Gunslinger|43615|The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309288354s/43615.jpg|46575]) but it's a step in the right direction. The growth of Roland's ka-tet adds tremendous dimension to the storyline and we get a much better understanding of Midworld in this book.
At this point, I think King had a better idea of where the whole story was actually growing, and a better handle on the character of Roland. Whereas in The Gunslinger, Roland was essentially a Clint Eastwood cardboard cutout with an odd vocabulary, in book #2, he becomes his own man.
I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend everyone who enjoys a deeply imagined world and characters read it. But definitely don't try to jump into it as a standalone novel. It's not designed for that and it won't work.
At this point, I think King had a better idea of where the whole story was actually growing, and a better handle on the character of Roland. Whereas in The Gunslinger, Roland was essentially a Clint Eastwood cardboard cutout with an odd vocabulary, in book #2, he becomes his own man.
I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend everyone who enjoys a deeply imagined world and characters read it. But definitely don't try to jump into it as a standalone novel. It's not designed for that and it won't work.
This was one of a handful of novels that felt to me like King was mostly out of ideas but was still struggling to churn out a book a year. I know that's harsh and, Mr. King, if you deign to read the opinions of an amateur like me on Goodreads, I sincerely apologize. But the fact is the plot felt solid enough for a short story, but far too weak for the 700+ pages it covered.
I'd enjoy someone reading the book and this review, then replying to let me know what I missed.
I'd enjoy someone reading the book and this review, then replying to let me know what I missed.
Another King classic that manages to scare the pants of you without resorting to supernatural junk. It's right up there with Jaws and a few other notable "creature feature" stories that manage to make the natural world as horrific as anything the imagination can dream up.
I think the scariest part about this story is how it turns man's best friend into his worst enemy, and we realize that it can literally happen to anyone at any time. Scary stuff.
I think the scariest part about this story is how it turns man's best friend into his worst enemy, and we realize that it can literally happen to anyone at any time. Scary stuff.
I'm sorry. I know it's a huge classic, defined a genre, etc. etc...
The fact is I had a heck of a time getting through this book. And when it was finally over, I was like, "thank God!" Way way way too much victorian "mood" setting and far too little action. Granted, it was written in the way back, but so was everything by Charles Dickens and you know what? He wrote damn good books.
I respect this book for its originality and Shelley's willingness to push the envelope of literature at the time she wrote it, but frankly it's tough to swallow these days.
The fact is I had a heck of a time getting through this book. And when it was finally over, I was like, "thank God!" Way way way too much victorian "mood" setting and far too little action. Granted, it was written in the way back, but so was everything by Charles Dickens and you know what? He wrote damn good books.
I respect this book for its originality and Shelley's willingness to push the envelope of literature at the time she wrote it, but frankly it's tough to swallow these days.
This is my absolute favorite book about how to write and the writing life, hands down. Nothing else comes close.
As a writer and a Stephen King fan, I looked forward to reading this book and I expected it would be good. But I had no idea just how good it would be. Something about the intermingling of King's writing expertise, his memoir/autobiographical interludes and specifically his account of being hit by a van while walking along the roadside near his Maine home... it's just magical.
Every time I read this book, I'm reminded of the magic of being a writer and I'm inspired to give it another go. That alone is worth the price of admission.
As a writer and a Stephen King fan, I looked forward to reading this book and I expected it would be good. But I had no idea just how good it would be. Something about the intermingling of King's writing expertise, his memoir/autobiographical interludes and specifically his account of being hit by a van while walking along the roadside near his Maine home... it's just magical.
Every time I read this book, I'm reminded of the magic of being a writer and I'm inspired to give it another go. That alone is worth the price of admission.
As I stated in my review of [b:The Drawing of the Three|5094|The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2)|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309281704s/5094.jpg|2113248], now that he's past the Gunslinger, a few more years have gone by, and he's managed (through "three") to get inside the minds of his main characters, The Waste Lands brings the Dark Tower series into full swing with a flat out horror/fantasy story that will not stop.
There's all manner of references to other King books, including extensive reference to the landscape of [b:The Stand|149267|The Stand|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1213131305s/149267.jpg|1742269]. And, without giving anything away, let me just say that the scene aboard the runaway insane Blain the Train is just absolutely burned in my memory as classic nailbiting storytelling that will not let go.
Reading this book propelled me to the next DT novel with not a moment's break in between.
There's all manner of references to other King books, including extensive reference to the landscape of [b:The Stand|149267|The Stand|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1213131305s/149267.jpg|1742269]. And, without giving anything away, let me just say that the scene aboard the runaway insane Blain the Train is just absolutely burned in my memory as classic nailbiting storytelling that will not let go.
Reading this book propelled me to the next DT novel with not a moment's break in between.
Quite a few people gave King flack about this book, and I'm not totally sure why. Granted, it was a touch on the slow side and might have run out of steam at some points. But all-in-all I enjoyed it and thought the potentially corny concept of a haunted murderous car was handled as effectively as it could be in King's hands.
If you're a fan of King's style and haven't had a chance yet to read Christine, don't let a lousy review stop you. Pick it up and check it out for yourself.
If you're a fan of King's style and haven't had a chance yet to read Christine, don't let a lousy review stop you. Pick it up and check it out for yourself.