The Stephen King Thread (non Dark Tower series)

Discussion in 'TMB Book Club' started by RegimentML, Mar 3, 2016.

  1. -Asshole-

    -Asshole- TMB OG Reject
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    Download it this morning. Have a few other books queued up first though.
     
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  2. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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    I started during lunch. Already hooked.
     
  3. Rebelution

    Rebelution I'm not superstitious but I am a little stitious.
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    Anyone got the ebook? Truman ?
     
  4. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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  5. Rebelution

    Rebelution I'm not superstitious but I am a little stitious.
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    Mississippi Rebels

  6. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Finished it yesterday.

    I thought it was pretty meh. It felt rushed for a King novel. Virtually no side stories that build character development and the whole cloak and dagger purpose of what the Institute is to save the world ect is barely mentioned or explored. If this is going to be a duology or trilogy then Im more ok w this book. As it seems to be setting up other stuff. As a stand alone novel, it’s pretty lame.
     
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  7. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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    Now that I’ve finished, I definitely agree. King tends to really set the hook in me at the beginning of a lot of his novels since the accident, but then completely miss the landing at the conclusion. This one was a bit different. The ending didn’t fall completely flat on its face, but I also found myself losing decided interest more quickly. Last half of the book was a bit of a struggle.

    Like you said, I think this novel works a lot better if it is setting Luke up as a character who will appear in following novels. I really enjoyed the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, and I hope this is the beginning of something similar with Luke being the Hodges type character.
     
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  8. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    Anybody ever read Christine? One of the few older ones I haven't read. Have the hardcover on my shelf and might pick it up soon
     
  9. NCHusker

    NCHusker We named our yam Pam. It rhymed.
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    Speaking of older books I read Misery for the first time about a month ago and holy fuck that book is a wild ride
     
  10. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    Gotta be one of his best. I didn't read it in my teens when I read a lot of the older ones; read it within the past few years. Still thought it was awesome. The paperback version I read had a false second cover inside that was the cover of a romance novel with the male lead looking like a jacked Stephen King, haha
     
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  11. NCHusker

    NCHusker We named our yam Pam. It rhymed.
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    It's just constant suspense and the villain is one of the most terrifying people I've ever experienced in pop culture
     
  12. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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  13. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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    Thoroughly enjoyed the Dr. Sleep film.
     
  14. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    Just finished It. Why in the fuck is there a
    child sex scene in the book?
    What the fuck did I just read?
     
  15. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
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    I just finished reading it Monday and don't quite think I read a child sex scene. Read a little kid coming to sleep with older kids because he couldn't sleep, but no sex scenes.

    Also agree with what Truman said earlier about it should've spent more time building up what the institute's history was. That part felt like an afterthought and the book seemed like it's destined for an Amazon or Netflix release.
     
  16. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    No I read the book IT, not the institute
     
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  17. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
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    Ok yeah that part I'd skip over. Like some of the time travel stuff in the Witcher books.
     
  18. The Blackfish

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    My wife and I listened to the audiobook together and got to that scene and just looked at each other like what in the everliving fuck are we listening to.
     
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  19. NCHusker

    NCHusker We named our yam Pam. It rhymed.
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    Just finished The Institute a few days ago. It was fine but nothing special. I do like a good underdog escaping from powerful assholes story so overall I'd say I enjoyed it.
     
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  20. ukcats8

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    I listened on audiobook, and so much cringe. "It's big, oh yes!"
     
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  21. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    Over past 5 weeks Read the institute the shining Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption and listened to Dolores Claiborne on a road trip. Pet semaraty and outsider are in my shelf ready. Leaning to pet semaraty. What other books you guys recommend?
     
  22. Codename Duchess

    Codename Duchess Well-Known Member

    11/22/63
     
  23. Gin Buckets

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    Listening to The Institute now. Not quite halfway, but as usual, King has gotten a grip on me, and I can't stop listening. I listened as I took my dog for a walk today. After the walk, I didn't want to stop listening, so I started to find other things to do around my place, like the dishes, cleaning, and other odds and ends. I'm sure I'll ultimately be disappointed with the ending, but the ride there -- as usual for King -- is fantastic (in a King sort of way).
     
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  24. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    The Tommyknockers
    Firestarter
    Misery
     
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  25. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I personally loved Revival. Probably my favorite of all the King books I've listened to thus far.
     
  26. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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    I enjoyed it a lot. With that said...

    Common complaint with King is he can’t end books. I think he didn’t have an issue with Revival, but that shit was DARK. I know it was jarring and turned off a lot of readers, but I was a fan, if anything, because it was so unexpected.
     
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  27. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Honestly, that may be one of the reasons it was my favorite. I can't think of a book of his with a more appropriate ending (that I've read anyway).
     
  28. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Truman
    Finished yesterday
    I loved the book. I agree about setting up more side stories, and the Institute "saving the world" was not explored nearly enough. The biggest thing that I felt he missed the mark on is explaining the "bad guys" a bit more. How are these people justifying institutionally torturing and murdering children beyond just saving the world. You don't have to cruelly torture them to get the same result, and they'd realize that, so I wish that had been explored more. Other than that, I really enjoyed the ride.
     
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  29. Lorne Malvo

    Lorne Malvo Aces!
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    Had my worst year of reading in 2019 and really want to change that in 2020. Started The Outsider last night and knocked out 50+ pages pretty fast. Looking forward to diving back in.
     
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  30. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    Ugh read 150 pages on the airplane of Pet Sematary and really not enjoying it so far. Does it pick up ever?
     
  31. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    Yes. King trying to make you like the young doctor and his family before everything goes to hell.
     
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  32. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    most definitely
     
  33. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    It picked up!
     
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  34. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    I have to say something about Pet Sematary but want to use spoilers - how do I put the spoilers text ?
     
  35. Henry Blake

    Henry Blake No Springsteen is leaving this house!
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    [SPOILER ] content [/SPOILER ]

    Remove spaces after the Rs.
     
  36. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    I dont think you need to worry about spoilers w a 30 year old book. But

    [ spoiler ]



    [ /spoiler ]

    take out the spaces.
     
  37. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    That was fucked up when they buried the kid!
     
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  38. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    Ok Thanks.

    so the part that really fucked with my head was when he buried his wife after the shit that happened with his son. The state of Lou’s mind King lets the reader believe is something I’ve never experienced book or movie. It’s truly beyond fucked up. I thought about throwing the book away last night too lol
     
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  39. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    I have a friend that puts books in the freezer when they get to her
     
  40. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    I’m gonna do that later tonight
     
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  41. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    I listened to it while in a public gym working out so my facial expressions had to be something to witness
     
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  42. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    The Outsider starts tonight on HBO
     
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  43. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
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    Currently reading the shining. Dr. Edmonds just finished misdiagnosis of Danny.
     
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  44. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    Never cared for King. Picked up Desperation in the used shop and loved it. Since then, I've done

    Desperation: 9.5/10
    Needful Things: 8/10
    The Shining: 8.5/10
    Regulators: 7/10
    The Stand: 9/10
    IT: 9/10
     
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  45. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    I was the same until we read 11/22/63 for book club. Now Im working my way through his stuff. Although none have been as good as 11/22/63. Still enjoy it.
     
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  46. NCHusker

    NCHusker We named our yam Pam. It rhymed.
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    Read 11/22/63. I'm not as much of a King stan as others but it's by far my favorite book of his.
     
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  47. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    I love his character development. I’m on ‘Salem’s Lot now.
     
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  48. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    Regulators continues David’s (the young kid) story I assume?
     
  49. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    I'm actually keeping away from that one because it was super hyped at the same time I read Under the Dome, which was also hyped, and I fucking hated Under the Dome
     
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  50. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    Kind of... I don't want to say more. They're not sequels, they're concurrent takes on the same people.
     
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