finally found some reading time last night and finished this...
I think I'm going to start this next....
:fp: I can't believe Geek Love is a book. I kept getting ads for it on every single website & I thought it was for a dating service website (ie: eharmony aimed at geeks, sort of like christian mingle is aimed at christians) Every single time I saw it i felt like Google was judging me. Go figure I learn the truth on a PJ forum.
Thread integrity: Diving back in to Sea of Monsters. HOPING i can read straight through and finish Mark of Athena by June 3rd. But that would mean about a book a day, so probably not gonna happen.
I wanted to read this before the TV series starts because knowing how bad TV remakes of his work usually are, I didn't want that ruining what could be a good book..... :think: Well, I'm a big King fan, and this is a very interesting plot. I like that it's a little more raw than a lot of his books in some ways. I'm having some trouble with the antagonists though. I'm not sure their absolutely maniacal and psychopathic behaviour is properly justified or explained, aside from the guy with the brain tumor. I'm finding Big Jim's personality hard to swallow, and what's even more difficult for me to take is the way most of the other characters are either just as evil apparently, or letting them all act that way. I find that aspect of the story very hard to "believe". Yes, people can be idiots and sheep, but this just seems over the top given all the circumstances. But all in all, I'm finding the story entertaining but frustrating.
And I don't think the TV series will be any good with these kinds of characters involved. I think it will be even more frustrating than the book. But time will tell. I'd like to be wrong.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
13 Books of wasted time. I read most of this last book Tuesday night, but guessed where it's heading and have delayed reading the ending. Maybe I'll feel better about it once I've finished. However, I think I'll avoid series books from now on.
I usually like series but this one is really not very good at all. I far prefer what they've done with True Blood!
I usually have no issue with not reading the rest of a book if I lose interest. I have no idea how I stuck with this entire series.
The screen adaptation is much better than the books.
Pinstripe Empire, the 600 page history of the Yankees.
Reading 2004
Albany 2006 Camden 2006 E. Rutherford 2, 2006 Inglewood 2006,
Chicago 2007
Camden 2008 MSG 2008 MSG 2008 Hartford 2008.
Seattle 2009 Seattle 2009 Philadelphia 2009,Philadelphia 2009 Philadelphia 2009
Hartford 2010 MSG 2010 MSG 2010
Toronto 2011,Toronto 2011
Wrigley Field 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Philadelphia 2, 2013
Philadelphia 1, 2016 Philadelphia 2 2016 New York 2016 New York 2016 Fenway 1, 2016 Fenway 2, 2018 MSG 2022 St. Paul, 1, St. Paul 2 2023 MSG 2024, MSG 2024 Philadelphia 2024
"I play good, hard-nosed basketball.
Things happen in the game. Nothing you
can do. I don't go and say,
"I'm gonna beat this guy up."
I'm finally getting around to Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen.
That's f-ing weird...I just started this...
I started it this past weekend, with a "finally gettin' around to this" type attitude. It's alright so far. Weird that we both are "finally getting around" to Franzen. Haha!
1998-06-30 Minneapolis
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
2013-11-24 Los Angeles
2014-07-08 Leeds, UK
2014-07-11 Milton Keynes, UK
2014-10-09 Lincoln
2014-10-19 St. Paul
2014-10-20 Milwaukee
2016-08-20 Wrigley 1
2016-08-22 Wrigley 2 2018-06-18 London 1 2018-08-18 Wrigley 1 2018-08-20 Wrigley 2 2022-09-16 Nashville 2023-08-31 St. Paul 2023-09-02 St. Paul 2023-09-05 Chicago 1 2024-08-31 Wrigley 2 2024-09-15 Fenway 1 2024-09-27 Ohana 1 2024-09-29 Ohana 2
I wanted to read this before the TV series starts because knowing how bad TV remakes of his work usually are, I didn't want that ruining what could be a good book..... :think: Well, I'm a big King fan, and this is a very interesting plot. I like that it's a little more raw than a lot of his books in some ways. I'm having some trouble with the antagonists though. I'm not sure their absolutely maniacal and psychopathic behaviour is properly justified or explained, aside from the guy with the brain tumor. I'm finding Big Jim's personality hard to swallow, and what's even more difficult for me to take is the way most of the other characters are either just as evil apparently, or letting them all act that way. I find that aspect of the story very hard to "believe". Yes, people can be idiots and sheep, but this just seems over the top given all the circumstances. But all in all, I'm finding the story entertaining but frustrating.
And I don't think the TV series will be any good with these kinds of characters involved. I think it will be even more frustrating than the book. But time will tell. I'd like to be wrong.
I read this recently. Excited to check out the series but yes you're right it is probably not going to be too great, but it's always interesting to see how it might translate on screen. I also found parts of the book, especially certain characters, very frustrating but overall it was a good read! Have you already finished the book?
I am currently reading Defending Jacob by William Landay. It is excellent so far!!
I wanted to read this before the TV series starts because knowing how bad TV remakes of his work usually are, I didn't want that ruining what could be a good book..... :think: Well, I'm a big King fan, and this is a very interesting plot. I like that it's a little more raw than a lot of his books in some ways. I'm having some trouble with the antagonists though. I'm not sure their absolutely maniacal and psychopathic behaviour is properly justified or explained, aside from the guy with the brain tumor. I'm finding Big Jim's personality hard to swallow, and what's even more difficult for me to take is the way most of the other characters are either just as evil apparently, or letting them all act that way. I find that aspect of the story very hard to "believe". Yes, people can be idiots and sheep, but this just seems over the top given all the circumstances. But all in all, I'm finding the story entertaining but frustrating.
And I don't think the TV series will be any good with these kinds of characters involved. I think it will be even more frustrating than the book. But time will tell. I'd like to be wrong.
I read this recently. Excited to check out the series but yes you're right it is probably not going to be too great, but it's always interesting to see how it might translate on screen. I also found parts of the book, especially certain characters, very frustrating but overall it was a good read! Have you already finished the book?
I am currently reading Defending Jacob by William Landay. It is excellent so far!!
No, I haven't finished - I'm about 2/3 of the way through.... hoping Big Jim dies a slow and ironic death.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
13 Books of wasted time. I read most of this last book Tuesday night, but guessed where it's heading and have delayed reading the ending. Maybe I'll feel better about it once I've finished. However, I think I'll avoid series books from now on.
I usually like series but this one is really not very good at all. I far prefer what they've done with True Blood!
I usually have no issue with not reading the rest of a book if I lose interest. I have no idea how I stuck with this entire series.
The screen adaptation is much better than the books.
It's the LAST !!! SOOKIE BOOK.... EVER. Charlaine Harris is done, she sold the characters to Alan Ball. Do you hate much? Can I trade you for a coloring book? Last year Charlaine told me and others she had no idea where the story would go.
I found out 2 weeks ago.... IT IS OVER!!!!!!!
I was gifted a copy. I can't read it :nono:
I need to process the idea that it's over. Maybe a year?
Obviously, you must be a Philistine. :?
Half of my series are autographed.
Put it in lost dogs and trade it for a butterfly sticker.
I'm trying not to be mean ..... but you are a special creature. :fp: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :fp: :fp: :fp:
Now, I remember why I will never sell Books again.
13 Books of wasted time. I read most of this last book Tuesday night, but guessed where it's heading and have delayed reading the ending. Maybe I'll feel better about it once I've finished. However, I think I'll avoid series books from now on.
I usually like series but this one is really not very good at all. I far prefer what they've done with True Blood!
I usually have no issue with not reading the rest of a book if I lose interest. I have no idea how I stuck with this entire series.
The screen adaptation is much better than the books.
:fp:
Please don't read it. :fp:
I'm likely to cry now, I can't deal with ignorance at such a high volume. :(
Mansfield, MA - Jul 02, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 03, 2003; Mansfield, MA - Jul 11, 2003; Boston, MA - Sep 29, 2004; Reading, PA - Oct 01, 2004; Hartford, CT - May 13, 2006; Boston, MA - May 24, 2006; Boston, MA - May 25, 2006; Hartford, CT - Jun 27, 2008; Mansfield, MA - Jun 28, 2008; Mansfield, MA - June 30, 2008; Hartford, CT - May 15, 2010; Boston, MA - May 17, 2010; [EV - Providence, RI - June 15, 2011; EV - Hartford, CT - June 18, 2011]; Worcester, MA - Oct. 15, 2013; Worcester, MA - Oct. 16, 2013; Hartford, CT - Oct. 25, 2013; Boston, MA - August 5, 2016; Boston, MA - August 7, 2016...
on book 7 of the wheel of time series ... Shep - you still reading them?
This is one of those series' that EVERYONE I know (who's a reader, that is) has told me to read. Either I'm hanging with some real nerdy sci-fi fans who don't know anything...or these are worth reading. I'm guessing both are true.
1998-06-30 Minneapolis
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
2013-11-24 Los Angeles
2014-07-08 Leeds, UK
2014-07-11 Milton Keynes, UK
2014-10-09 Lincoln
2014-10-19 St. Paul
2014-10-20 Milwaukee
2016-08-20 Wrigley 1
2016-08-22 Wrigley 2 2018-06-18 London 1 2018-08-18 Wrigley 1 2018-08-20 Wrigley 2 2022-09-16 Nashville 2023-08-31 St. Paul 2023-09-02 St. Paul 2023-09-05 Chicago 1 2024-08-31 Wrigley 2 2024-09-15 Fenway 1 2024-09-27 Ohana 1 2024-09-29 Ohana 2
I wanted to read this before the TV series starts because knowing how bad TV remakes of his work usually are, I didn't want that ruining what could be a good book..... :think: Well, I'm a big King fan, and this is a very interesting plot. I like that it's a little more raw than a lot of his books in some ways. I'm having some trouble with the antagonists though. I'm not sure their absolutely maniacal and psychopathic behaviour is properly justified or explained, aside from the guy with the brain tumor. I'm finding Big Jim's personality hard to swallow, and what's even more difficult for me to take is the way most of the other characters are either just as evil apparently, or letting them all act that way. I find that aspect of the story very hard to "believe". Yes, people can be idiots and sheep, but this just seems over the top given all the circumstances. But all in all, I'm finding the story entertaining but frustrating.
And I don't think the TV series will be any good with these kinds of characters involved. I think it will be even more frustrating than the book. But time will tell. I'd like to be wrong.
I didnt find Jim Rennie to be all that unbelievable. I live in a suburb that is an Island, and pretty much everyone knows who everyone is, magnified by a natural border. There are actually similar characters as that. Not the murderous/meth slinging type per se, but similar to the big shot, H3 driving, dealership owning, say in town politics, kids who thinks their shit doesnt stink etc does exist. The kind of guy who coaches little league and loads up a 6-8 year old team with the "best" players and mercy rules everybody. Maybe if we were closed off, people were in a panic, a dark secret was in danger, and he had control....
Then you give a bunch of the town 'big shot' kids power of authority and guns...
I thought the antagonists made the book.
Series will suck though. SK said he just saw some of it and wasnt surprised they added a lot of content.
This is one of those series' that EVERYONE I know (who's a reader, that is) has told me to read. Either I'm hanging with some real nerdy sci-fi fans who don't know anything...or these are worth reading. I'm guessing both are true.
i never really read the genre when i was younger ... except for LOTR ... but i read harry potter, hunger games as well as game of thrones ... so, i decided to give the prequel a try and it worked well enough ... the first few books were pretty good and now i'm finding it a bit dragging ... but i was just told by someone who's read them all (14 in total) that it picks up halfway into book 8 into the finish ... so, i'll stick it out ...
I didnt find Jim Rennie to be all that unbelievable. I live in a suburb that is an Island, and pretty much everyone knows who everyone is, magnified by a natural border. There are actually similar characters as that. Not the murderous/meth slinging type per se, but similar to the big shot, H3 driving, dealership owning, say in town politics, kids who thinks their shit doesnt stink etc does exist. Maybe if we were closed off, people were in a panic, a dark secret was in danger, and he had control....
Then you give a bunch of the town 'big shot' kids power of authority and guns...
I thought the antagonists made the book.
Series will suck though. SK said he just saw some of it and wasnt surprised they added a lot of content.
I generally agree. I think these archetypal characters are pretty much standard in the King pantheon of villains. He writes them with surface traits that are deplorable to begin with and become amplified to some devious end once the plot picks them up. In this case, I don't think it's too "unrealistic" (keep in mind, we're discussing the authenticity of characters trapped inside an invisible forcefield ) to believe that people with particular character traits might, under extreme conditions, do some terrible things OR that those character traits, which normally are annoying or off-putting, might naturally evolve into terrifying or dangerous traits under the same extreme circumstances. Someone who's narcissistic and aggressive normally, like Jim Rennie, might become violent and brutal under the stress of a given situation.
What I take from much of King's work - other than simply great stories - is the philosophical question of: what type of beast are you? Like his characters, what will plot devices or life experiences or events cause me to become as a person? Beast or hero? Cowardly cast-off or courageous under pressure? Will I maintain composure? Will I panic?
Of course, I don't consciously think of this dichotomy as I'm walking around, living life, but if you think of your own life experiences through the lens of some of King's work (say, Under The Dome), it's intriguing to think about how you operate under pressure, how you respond to stress. Does impatience become frustration, anger, rage? Does worry become panic? Does elation become impulsiveness? Confidence into courage? Honesty into sacrifice? I don't mean to say that normal, "every-day" circumstances always morph into situations where we become brutal or heroic, but rather that normal, "every-day" circumstances do something to our personalities, sometimes the differences are negligible, sometimes grave or drastic.
King often gets disregarded as a "legitimate" writer because some of his plot premises involve the supernatural, when in reality, his books aren't driven by the supernatural. Sure, it's what draws us in as readers, but how many of his stories are driven to their climactic ends by the intense relationships between his characters? How many of his stories are truly terrifying because of the very real human emotions involved (think: Pet Sematary)?
1998-06-30 Minneapolis
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
2013-11-24 Los Angeles
2014-07-08 Leeds, UK
2014-07-11 Milton Keynes, UK
2014-10-09 Lincoln
2014-10-19 St. Paul
2014-10-20 Milwaukee
2016-08-20 Wrigley 1
2016-08-22 Wrigley 2 2018-06-18 London 1 2018-08-18 Wrigley 1 2018-08-20 Wrigley 2 2022-09-16 Nashville 2023-08-31 St. Paul 2023-09-02 St. Paul 2023-09-05 Chicago 1 2024-08-31 Wrigley 2 2024-09-15 Fenway 1 2024-09-27 Ohana 1 2024-09-29 Ohana 2
Has anyone read "The Cave" by Jose Saramago (one of the greatest writers in the world normally IMO).... If so, can you PLEASE explain what in the hell the ending is supposed to mean?? :fp:
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Charles D. Smith
It has gotten better and I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn about the subject. Smith lays it out quite well. I can't even imagine the patience it took to write this all down because the history is so back and forth... constant violence coupled with vain attempts at peace. If someone does this, the other reacts that way. Or not at all. Or goes half way and then screws over the other.
It would take some crazy good patience to write this all down.
Thanks for sharing. The picture for 4 cracked me up. A lot of these are true for me.
Shows: 6.27.08 Hartford, CT/5.15.10 Hartford, CT/6.18.2011 Hartford, CT (EV Solo)/10.19.13 Brooklyn/10.25.13 Hartford
"Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
I recently went through that ... except I had two 4' piles on the floor in front of the bookcase, now neatly stacked on a new tall 'bookcase' in the corner.
Finished No country for Old Men today.
I really liked the first half of the book but I was a little disappointed with the second half.
Seemed a little phoned in to me.
Comments
:fp: I can't believe Geek Love is a book. I kept getting ads for it on every single website & I thought it was for a dating service website (ie: eharmony aimed at geeks, sort of like christian mingle is aimed at christians) Every single time I saw it i felt like Google was judging me. Go figure I learn the truth on a PJ forum.
Thread integrity: Diving back in to Sea of Monsters. HOPING i can read straight through and finish Mark of Athena by June 3rd. But that would mean about a book a day, so probably not gonna happen.
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
I wanted to read this before the TV series starts because knowing how bad TV remakes of his work usually are, I didn't want that ruining what could be a good book..... :think: Well, I'm a big King fan, and this is a very interesting plot. I like that it's a little more raw than a lot of his books in some ways. I'm having some trouble with the antagonists though. I'm not sure their absolutely maniacal and psychopathic behaviour is properly justified or explained, aside from the guy with the brain tumor. I'm finding Big Jim's personality hard to swallow, and what's even more difficult for me to take is the way most of the other characters are either just as evil apparently, or letting them all act that way. I find that aspect of the story very hard to "believe". Yes, people can be idiots and sheep, but this just seems over the top given all the circumstances. But all in all, I'm finding the story entertaining but frustrating.
And I don't think the TV series will be any good with these kinds of characters involved. I think it will be even more frustrating than the book. But time will tell. I'd like to be wrong.
I usually have no issue with not reading the rest of a book if I lose interest. I have no idea how I stuck with this entire series.
The screen adaptation is much better than the books.
Albany 2006 Camden 2006 E. Rutherford 2, 2006 Inglewood 2006,
Chicago 2007
Camden 2008 MSG 2008 MSG 2008 Hartford 2008.
Seattle 2009 Seattle 2009 Philadelphia 2009,Philadelphia 2009 Philadelphia 2009
Hartford 2010 MSG 2010 MSG 2010
Toronto 2011,Toronto 2011
Wrigley Field 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Philadelphia 2, 2013
Philadelphia 1, 2016 Philadelphia 2 2016 New York 2016 New York 2016 Fenway 1, 2016
Fenway 2, 2018
MSG 2022
St. Paul, 1, St. Paul 2 2023
MSG 2024, MSG 2024
Philadelphia 2024
"I play good, hard-nosed basketball.
Things happen in the game. Nothing you
can do. I don't go and say,
"I'm gonna beat this guy up."
That's f-ing weird...I just started this...
I started it this past weekend, with a "finally gettin' around to this" type attitude. It's alright so far. Weird that we both are "finally getting around" to Franzen. Haha!
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
2013-11-24 Los Angeles
2014-07-08 Leeds, UK
2014-07-11 Milton Keynes, UK
2014-10-09 Lincoln
2014-10-19 St. Paul
2014-10-20 Milwaukee
2016-08-20 Wrigley 1
2016-08-22 Wrigley 2
2018-06-18 London 1
2018-08-18 Wrigley 1
2018-08-20 Wrigley 2
2022-09-16 Nashville
2023-08-31 St. Paul
2023-09-02 St. Paul
2023-09-05 Chicago 1
2024-08-31 Wrigley 2
2024-09-15 Fenway 1
2024-09-27 Ohana 1
2024-09-29 Ohana 2
I am currently reading Defending Jacob by William Landay. It is excellent so far!!
It's the LAST !!! SOOKIE BOOK.... EVER. Charlaine Harris is done, she sold the characters to Alan Ball. Do you hate much? Can I trade you for a coloring book? Last year Charlaine told me and others she had no idea where the story would go.
I found out 2 weeks ago.... IT IS OVER!!!!!!!
I was gifted a copy. I can't read it :nono:
I need to process the idea that it's over. Maybe a year?
Obviously, you must be a Philistine.
Half of my series are autographed.
Put it in lost dogs and trade it for a butterfly sticker.
I'm trying not to be mean ..... but you are a special creature.
:fp: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :fp: :fp: :fp:
Now, I remember why I will never sell Books again.
I'm surrounded by IDIOTS
:fp:
Please don't read it. :fp:
I'm likely to cry now, I can't deal with ignorance at such a high volume. :(
http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/sign ... ks-reading
This is one of those series' that EVERYONE I know (who's a reader, that is) has told me to read. Either I'm hanging with some real nerdy sci-fi fans who don't know anything...or these are worth reading. I'm guessing both are true.
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
2013-11-24 Los Angeles
2014-07-08 Leeds, UK
2014-07-11 Milton Keynes, UK
2014-10-09 Lincoln
2014-10-19 St. Paul
2014-10-20 Milwaukee
2016-08-20 Wrigley 1
2016-08-22 Wrigley 2
2018-06-18 London 1
2018-08-18 Wrigley 1
2018-08-20 Wrigley 2
2022-09-16 Nashville
2023-08-31 St. Paul
2023-09-02 St. Paul
2023-09-05 Chicago 1
2024-08-31 Wrigley 2
2024-09-15 Fenway 1
2024-09-27 Ohana 1
2024-09-29 Ohana 2
I didnt find Jim Rennie to be all that unbelievable. I live in a suburb that is an Island, and pretty much everyone knows who everyone is, magnified by a natural border. There are actually similar characters as that. Not the murderous/meth slinging type per se, but similar to the big shot, H3 driving, dealership owning, say in town politics, kids who thinks their shit doesnt stink etc does exist. The kind of guy who coaches little league and loads up a 6-8 year old team with the "best" players and mercy rules everybody. Maybe if we were closed off, people were in a panic, a dark secret was in danger, and he had control....
Then you give a bunch of the town 'big shot' kids power of authority and guns...
I thought the antagonists made the book.
Series will suck though. SK said he just saw some of it and wasnt surprised they added a lot of content.
i never really read the genre when i was younger ... except for LOTR ... but i read harry potter, hunger games as well as game of thrones ... so, i decided to give the prequel a try and it worked well enough ... the first few books were pretty good and now i'm finding it a bit dragging ... but i was just told by someone who's read them all (14 in total) that it picks up halfway into book 8 into the finish ... so, i'll stick it out ...
I generally agree. I think these archetypal characters are pretty much standard in the King pantheon of villains. He writes them with surface traits that are deplorable to begin with and become amplified to some devious end once the plot picks them up. In this case, I don't think it's too "unrealistic" (keep in mind, we're discussing the authenticity of characters trapped inside an invisible forcefield
What I take from much of King's work - other than simply great stories - is the philosophical question of: what type of beast are you? Like his characters, what will plot devices or life experiences or events cause me to become as a person? Beast or hero? Cowardly cast-off or courageous under pressure? Will I maintain composure? Will I panic?
Of course, I don't consciously think of this dichotomy as I'm walking around, living life, but if you think of your own life experiences through the lens of some of King's work (say, Under The Dome), it's intriguing to think about how you operate under pressure, how you respond to stress. Does impatience become frustration, anger, rage? Does worry become panic? Does elation become impulsiveness? Confidence into courage? Honesty into sacrifice? I don't mean to say that normal, "every-day" circumstances always morph into situations where we become brutal or heroic, but rather that normal, "every-day" circumstances do something to our personalities, sometimes the differences are negligible, sometimes grave or drastic.
King often gets disregarded as a "legitimate" writer because some of his plot premises involve the supernatural, when in reality, his books aren't driven by the supernatural. Sure, it's what draws us in as readers, but how many of his stories are driven to their climactic ends by the intense relationships between his characters? How many of his stories are truly terrifying because of the very real human emotions involved (think: Pet Sematary)?
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
2013-11-24 Los Angeles
2014-07-08 Leeds, UK
2014-07-11 Milton Keynes, UK
2014-10-09 Lincoln
2014-10-19 St. Paul
2014-10-20 Milwaukee
2016-08-20 Wrigley 1
2016-08-22 Wrigley 2
2018-06-18 London 1
2018-08-18 Wrigley 1
2018-08-20 Wrigley 2
2022-09-16 Nashville
2023-08-31 St. Paul
2023-09-02 St. Paul
2023-09-05 Chicago 1
2024-08-31 Wrigley 2
2024-09-15 Fenway 1
2024-09-27 Ohana 1
2024-09-29 Ohana 2
It has gotten better and I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn about the subject. Smith lays it out quite well. I can't even imagine the patience it took to write this all down because the history is so back and forth... constant violence coupled with vain attempts at peace. If someone does this, the other reacts that way. Or not at all. Or goes half way and then screws over the other.
It would take some crazy good patience to write this all down.
"Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
I recently went through that ... except I had two 4' piles on the floor in front of the bookcase, now neatly stacked on a new tall 'bookcase' in the corner.
#3, 8, 22, & 24. especially 24 LOL
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
Got through like 1/2 of it today.
I really like it so far.
what page are you on?
oh. ooooooooh. ah!!!! you're gonna like page 43. i won't spoil it for you......but WHOA!!!!!!!!!
I really liked the first half of the book but I was a little disappointed with the second half.
Seemed a little phoned in to me.
Up next...about fatal familial insomnia....