Stephen King: American Author Challenge

"Once upon a time, not so long ago, a monster came to the small town of Castle Rock, Maine.” ~ Cujo

“Death is when the monsters get you.”~ Salem’s Lot

Stephen King was born on September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine and later worked as a teacher while establishing himself as a writer. He specializes in horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction and fantasy. King has published 58 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, and six non-fiction books. He has written around 200 short stories, most of which have been published in book collections. He is still cranking out books, in rapid fashion, while living in Maine and Florida.

**This is part of our American Author Challenge 2018. This author will be read in October. The general discussion thread can be found right here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/279501

I am glad Mr. Stephen King finally made the AAC cut, since I grew up reading his books and continue to do so. My Mom handed me Carrie in the mid-70s and we were both hooked. The Stand was her favorite. I have read over 30 of his books and while there were a few clunkers along the way, for the most part he remained remarkably consistent, with plenty of true classics sprinkled along the way. I think he will be a perfect fit for October.

I am kicking off the month, with The Fireman, which is part of a Group Read and it is written by King's immensely, talented son, Joe Hill, (Here is the link for the G.R.: http://www.librarything.com/topic/296776). My King book, for later in the month, will be his latest, The Outsider. I also hope to bookhorn in a revisit, before the year's end.

Okay, what will everyone else be reading. Hmmmmmm?? And if you need any recommendations, I am sure many of us could come up, with a load of suggestions.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think I want to read Lisey's Story. I've taken it down off the shelf, which is always a good sign. *smile*

Thanks for setting this up, Mark!
I'm currently listening to A Good Marriage and have pre-ordered his newest Elevation, but isn't released until Oct 30.

I have read all of King's novels to date, as well as his short story collections. I plan on going back to The Dead Zone this month as I saw it on a list of his top ten novels and the synopsis didn't ring any bells. I read it in my early twenties and clearly it didn't stay with me.

I'm also reading Joe Hill (Stephen King's son) and plan to find a couple other spooky reads for Halloween.

There are many many King books in our house. My husband is a bigger fan of Stephen King than I am, although I definitely acknowledge his story-telling gift, and I have enjoyed a select number of his books, including Carrie, Salem's Lot, The Green Mile, Hearts in Atlantis, and On Writing. I did not care for the Gunslinger series, and quit somewhere near the beginning of the second one. I haven't attempted either The Stand or The Shining. I thought Bag of Bones was so-so. I believe I will give Mr. Mercedes a go this month.

Well, I’ll bet I have a few to report this month... 😀

Unbelievable that its October already. As is usually the case with AACs that I might be interested in, I'm already reading something.

I'm almost done with Sleeping Beauties. King and his other equally talented son wrote this together.

What happens when all women in the world go to sleep, encased in a weird cocoon. If you take it off, they turn into rampaging zombies.

Hilarity ensues.

>9 mahsdad: Ooh, that sounds like a good one. And it's interesting that father and son wrote together (I like both of their writing styles).

Karen O.

I'm passing on this one. I'm SO not a fan of Mr. King. I don't do horror At All. I read The Stand years ago, and it was OK. So I'm good.

>11 nittnut: I know what you mean, his fiction is not my cup of tea either. However, I have his book on writing On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft so I am going with that.

A quick look at some second hand shops should bring forth a few Stephen King novels!

I'll probably be joining Meg with the writing book.

If anyone is interested in non-scary/horror options, I really enjoyed King's novellas The Body (which the film, Stand By Me, is based on) and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (which the film, The Shawshank Redemption, is based on). I listened to both on audio and they were very well done.

>15 katiekrug: Totally agree. Different Seasons has always been a favorite of mine. The 2 you mention are the best of the 4, The Breathing Method is weird but really good. The fourth; Apt Pupil, is good but a very challenging read.

Other non-horror tropes that are favorites of mine are... 11/22/63 (Time travel and the Kennedy assassination), Eyes of the Dragon (the fantasy story he wrote for his daughter) and Green Mile

>14 thornton37814: I have just tipped into the book, Lori, but so far it is pretty good.

>14 thornton37814: Good. I probably ought to make sure it is actually on the shelf downstairs. I finished the Irish poetry and am nearly done with the MysteryCAT spy one. Getting Stephen King out of the way will knock off another one. I'm reading a ghost story collection for ScaredyKIT. I have the British book selected. I also think I've got a book that should work for Non-Fiction in process. I began reading it for a challenge last month, but it's slower going. I can only read a little of it at a time.

>18 thornton37814: You sound like me, Lori. I have most of my challenge books set for the month but I still don't know which spy one I will read. It would be brilliant if my hold on Dead Lions came in. Spy books are not my thing but that series is an exception. I think the Stephen King writing book might also work for this month's nonfiction category.

I've been looking forward to this month to get me to finally read another Stephen King novel. I had browsed over some on my shelf and at the library - actually started one and rejected it. I read many/most of his early books years ago and have only read (and loved) 11/22/63 of his more recent novels. A couple I started and did not love. Under the Dome has been demanding I read it since it was released but I think it will remain on the shelf a bit longer - I just don't want to tackle a 1000+ page chunkster. I decided on Full Dark, No Stars from my TBR pile, a collection of 4 novellas. I'll start it today.

I just finished The Colorado Kid - another of his non-horror stories. The tv series Haven is very loosely based on it, which is why I was curious about this one. I am hoping to also finish up Different Seasons - I have read both the stories Katie (>15 katiekrug:) mentions up thread from it, and I agree that they are very enjoyable.

I'm happily engaged in reading Lisey's Story, but am NOT reading it at night. So far no real scary stuff, but I anticipate it.

>16 mahsdad: I agree with Jeff - 11/22/63 is a good choice for those who don't like horror but like time travel.

Finished Sleeping Beauties. Can't say that its a favorite of mine. The premise is that a mysterious syndrome appears that causes all the women in the world to go to sleep, encased in a strange cocoon. If anyone disturbs the cocoon, the woman wakes up in a beserker rage.

The men in the Applichian town, where the story is set, go crazy themselves attacking a women's prison where its rumored that there is a woman there, who DIDN'T go to sleep.

I never quite "bought" it completely. Oh well, there's always more. On to another of King's progeny, I'm starting the audio for Joe Hill's The Fireman

I'm about 1/3 of the way through The Shining, which was recommended to me by a trusted adviser who has read a LOT of King's books (and is kind of weary of him now). She reminded me that it isn't like the Kubrick movie, and in the introduction to the edition I'm reading, King notes that he talked only once to Kubrick about the story and that they had divergent views on the fundamental evil underlining it. While I do not think I watched the entire movie, it's hard to avoid all the famous clips.

So I am reading it slowly, and I will get to the end. At the chapter breaks, I pick up something else and read some chapters in that. Making more progress in Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart than King. John McPhee is waiting in a union hall whilst his subject looks for a suitable job on a merchant ship. Too, Timothy Snyder's book on the Holocaust, Black Earth awaits (it's shorter than The Shining and even more horrifying).

So.

I'm working on it.

I've finished Mr. Mercedes, and have to admit, he's got me hooked. It was a page turner, and the suspense is palpable---he set me up a couple times for a really nasty thing that didn't happen, but something else nasty happened instead. There are two more books in the "Bill Hodges trilogy", and knowing that gave me some confidence that King wasn't going to bump off Det. (Ret.) Hodges in this one. But the last book is called "End of Watch", which suggests he might be saving that wallop until his faithful readers are REALLY invested in the character. I just don't trust the man, who also likes to sneak clowns in where they aren't expected to appear. Still, there's no question about his ability to get and keep a reader's attention.

I read the three books in the trilogy, and really enjoyed them. The second book gets a little more supernatural; the third book is more psychological (don't know if that's exactly the right word). Definitely worth reading all three; it's almost like reading them pays homage to the Bill Hodges character.
There's a TV show of Mr. Mercedes, and my husband and I enjoyed the first season very much. I read all three books prior to watching the show, and I felt like the show really did justice to the first book. I need to find where season 2 is available!

Karen O.

As long as I'm here...I'm planning to read The Outsider and, if time permits, Sleeping Beauties. I'd forgotten that King can be quite a wordy so-and-so (but really interesting words). Luckily, I have both of the books on my Nook e-reader.

Karen O.

>23 mahsdad: Forgot to mention, at the end of the audio for Sleeping Beauties, they had an interview with Stephen and Owen. One of the interesting things was how much Stephen like audio versions of books. He said that it had to be more precise in its writing execution. He said that when someone reads a book themselves (in their inner voice) it was much easier for them to bypass/overlook any technical shortcomings with the story. Interesting.

I'm so glad I joined this challenge! I just finished Lisey's Story and loved it.

^I am featuring Stephen King on this month's AAC and I decided to go with his latest book, The Outsider, which has received solid reviews and I have to say it is off to a nifty start. He definitely knows how to hook the reader early. Like King's Bill Hodges trilogy, this has more of a crime/mystery feel to it than straight horror.



^Will Patton has been narrating many of King's audiobooks, of late, and he usually does a stellar job. This is no exception.

>28 mahsdad: I may have liked Sleeping Beauties a bit more than you, but, once again it could have used some editing.

>29 karenmarie: Hooray for Lisey's Story, Karen. I loved that one, as well and think it is underrated.

The Outsider by Stephen King 4 stars

"Dreams are the way we touch the unseen world . . ."

King mined the crime/mystery/supernatural genre with his Bill Hodges trilogy and he continues in that direction here. It begins with a horrific murder of an eleven year old boy and the arrest of a popular high school coach, for the heinous crime. The teacher has a perfect alibi but the police have solid DNA proof that he committed it. How King, addresses the rest of this novel, is truly thrilling, scary and entertaining. As a bonus, Holly Gibney returns from the Hodges books, to assist with the investigation. She is a terrific character and it is good to see her back. Mr. King continues to deliver, in his usual masterly style.

**Will Patton does an excellent job on the audiobook narration.

How is everyone else doing with their King reads for the month? It is the 28th, you know...grins.

My reading this month has been pretty meager. I started on Full Dark, No Stars but ended up only reading the first novella which is pretty long. I guess I can't read and enjoy Stephen King much anymore. Too dark and nasty for me. I was very surprised to discover when I had finished it that it had been made into a full length Netflix movie last year. I don't know that I'd watch it.

1922 a novella from Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King, finished October 7, 2018, 3 stars

Wilf and his wife disagree on what to do with the land she has inherited. Wilf wants them to farm it with the land they already own. Arlette wants to sell everything and move to Omaha. 14 year old son Henry is becoming sweet on farm girl Shannon down the road. Wilf gives us a confession of how he recruited his son to help murder Arlette. Nothing good can come of this of course. The story is told very well, but it is very dark at the start and along the way. This is too dark for me to enjoy.

I'm maybe a quarter of the way through The Outsider and loving it! It's got my hooked, where I don't want to stop reading and am really guessing what will happen next. I'm sure that I'll be done by month-end (especially since I have a few days off from work).

Karen O.

I hadn't planned on reading two books by Stephen King this month but have. First was Lisey's Story and second, just now finished, is The Outsider. Both quite wonderful.

So I did complete The Shining for this here Steve King challenge. I know I whined and complained. I interrupted my reading again and again, and started and completed other books. But I got'er done. My take on it is here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/296461#6615355

I am not a fan of Stephen King's books as they represent a genre that I don't enjoy, so for the challenge, I turned to his nonfiction book about writing, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. It was both an advice book for writers and a personal memoir. It was really good. Who knew King could write humour? I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

>38 Familyhistorian: That was the one I read. From your comments, I think you liked it better than I did though.

>38 Familyhistorian: I recently read Pat Conroy's My Reading Life and enjoyed it much more than his fiction. I do love King's fiction, but also have On Writing on my shelves and will give it a go. I won't get it read for the AAC, but still need 23 books this year to hit my goal, so why not!

>38 Familyhistorian: There is a fair amount of humor (some of it pretty black or crude) in many of King's works.

I finished up The Outsider: A Novel, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was classic Stephen King to me, and I was thrilled to see Holly from the Bill Hodges Trilogy show up and play such an important part in the book. Many terrific characters in this book, some very cool locations, lots of suspense! A great read for the days before Halloween.

Karen O.

>39 thornton37814: I read your review of On Writing, Lori, and I think I liked it more too.

>40 karenmarie: I read My Reading Life too, Karen. I have never read anything else by Conroy and I don't think I have read anything else by King except On Writing. I have seen movies based on King's work and didn't like them so wasn't tempted to read his fiction.

>41 laytonwoman3rd: Is there humour in King's works, Linda? I have only seen film based on his books and the horror usually washes out any humour for me.

Somewhere I do have a short Stephen King novel. The other I have is far too long to read right now, The Stand