Monday, January 24, 2011
Stephen King
I've never really read Stephen King until recently. I knew he existed and that many, many, many people loved him, but he'd just kind of stayed out of my radar. I read mostly fantasy and sci-fi growing up and once some of my interests strayed, it was to noir, crime and thrillers, with a few gory horrors thrown in.
But when we moved to Maine last year, I thought it would be kind of funny to check out some of his books, since he's so linked to the state. I was surprisingly impressed. A few things seemed too goofy or obvious, and I admittedly have pretty low standards for a novel anyway. If it's entertaining and has the F-Word at least a dozen times, that's good enough for me. So I read a few of 'em. I read Cell and Under The Dome and half of the Stand. (Until my nook squarked out on me halfway through and I didn't feel like hitting the page turn button 6,000 times to get back to my place. Maybe I should start again now that it can select pages...)
I liked the way his characters were pretty down home. Average Joes with problems and histories. Then I got a bunch of Richard Stark novels and King was laid to the side.
But I recently listened to a crusty old version of a book on tape of his seminal novel, IT. And it was a different experience listening to a Stephen King novel. I'm a speedy reader, usually averaging around 200 books a year (Though this year has been lagging quite a lot) and I found myself breezing through long passages about the characters back history without really batting an eye. But when you're a captive audience, cruising the back roads of Maine in your Honda Element, listening to the gravelly voice in your speakers, you have a chance to realize how great King is at creating a world with these characters. It was often that I'd sit and listen to 45 minutes of back story on a person that was promptly killed off. When I was reading that, it kind of annoyed me. Like when someone goes into too much detail about clothes. They were a pair of black, strappy heels, that's great. I don't need to know that they're 4.3 inch heels with 1/4 inch straps, manufactured in Taiwan by the hands of 12-year old orphans, stamped with the logo of a flying gargoyle and a gold embossed signature blahblahblah....
But I loved it in audio form. I don't know why, and there's a chance that I was just missing out when I was reading the novels - I'll have to read one and see - but I liked knowing the odd yet common backgrounds on the weird little Mainers that inhabit King's stories.
So I guess what I'm saying is that there's always a benefit to experiencing things in a new way, whether it's an audio book or an e-book, or watching a movie in it's original language with subtitles. Get out there and try something new!
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Will do! Now I just have to pick what new thing to try.
ReplyDeleteI've read a few of Stephen King's books. He's by no means my favorite author but I did enjoy them. I'm always trying to guess how a story will end, and King was usually pretty good at surprising me.
ReplyDeleteAs for experiencing things in a new way, I'll try. I used to be a lot better at it. The older and more crotchety I get, the more I like the comfort in the same old things.
Cool post and I got to say that Stephen King is definitely one of my favorite writers and one of my biggest inspirations for being a writer in the first place.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Neal, and write on!
Lindsay - Try anything! Maybe a new pizza place or something.
ReplyDeleteRandy - I need to read some more of his stuff. After I posted this, I remembered that I'd also read his Hard Case Crime Novel, THE COLORADO KID, which I liked a lot, mostly because he kept me guessing!
ReplyDeleteI know it's hard for you out there, where most of the world is still permafreezed in the late seventies and there's nothing but flat land and 3 trees. (According to Steve, anyway. hahah) But you should try something new! Do it!
Vatche - Thanks, man! I'm going to read more. I just got a copy of his newest.
ReplyDeleteDig this ROUS! As I'm typing this I am enjoying a sandwich from Erbert and Gerbert's that I've never had before. I love E&G sandwiches but up until now have exclusively ordered the "Flash" sandwich.
ReplyDeleteRecently, I signed up for the sandwich society, you get a free sandwich just for signing up, a free sandwich on your b-day, a free sandwich for every 10 ordered at regular price, and (cue the drumroll) a free sandwich when you try all 16 sandwiches from the menu.
Yes I have the alterior motive of achieving a free sandwich, but I also am expanding my horizons by trying new things. Today I started at the top of the menu with the "Boney Billy" A delicious concoction of turkey breast on wheat with lettuce, tomato, sprouts, and mayo. It's not a "Flash" but still tasty.
I was already hungry before I read Randy's post...now I'm starving!!!
ReplyDeleteGO RANDY! Hahahah I love that your new thing was a sammich. That's awesome. And your justification is completely justified. haha
ReplyDelete