December's read

What is December's book going to be?

Well, if we stick to CandiBelle's plan, the next one up would be The Shining. I guess we could put it to a vote if that doesn't sound good. I do think December is a nice time to read (or reread) The Shining though.

Yes, I agree! December is a great time for The Shining!

I hate that I haven't had much time to read over the last few weeks. I teach and I'm also taking a class that is requiring a lot of outside work. I still haven't finished Salem's Lot.

I still haven't finished Salem's Lot.

Oh, I just wrapped that one up last night. Stick with it! You'll finish it! Luckily we're still on his relatively short novels. I don't know what we're gonna do about The Stand...

I would like to stay with CandiBelle's plan, too. But I think for the longer novels maybe we can take 2 or even 3 months for those.

Here, I'll start a thread for The Shining as a December read and maybe we could use this to discuss what we'll be reading for the next couplea months?

I'm assuming that we'll be reading the unabridged version of The Stand (though it was actually published much later) because that's the version most LTers are likely to have. If so, I think we should split it between January and February?

How about short story collections? Is Night Shift going to be a group read or no?

I agree with 2 months for The Stand. It does not matter to me if we read the short story collections; I'll go with whatever the group wants to do.

I enjoy the shorts but I'll go with the group.

I vote for reading the short stories too. I've been really busy lately so I haven't had time to finish 'Salem's Lot yet, but I hope to do so in the next few days so I can comment on it. Then, it's right on to The Shining!

It seems to me the goal of this thing is to try to experience the books again "for the first time," so to speak. (At least for those of us who are long-time fans.) It seems to me that the devoted fans in the beginning read the books as they appeared on the shelves and that means the story collections as well. I vote for plowing through in the original publishing order, collections included.

Good point, Bentley.

By the way, I know I'm showing my age, but I'm pretty sure my copy of The Stand is the original paperback. It's the Signet with the blue and black face on the cover. That's the abridged version, isn't it...

Yeah, the one with this cover, right?



That's the original, abridged version.

If we wanted to be anal about the list, we should be reading the abridged one first and then the unabridged months and months later, but the reality is that I think most LT users have the unabridged edition or both (like me).

I don't know Bentley. My age might be right with you. I believe my copy is the same one. Darn, now if I can only find it.

So let me get this straight. Everyone else will be reading a version of The Stand that is even longer than the version I have read. Apparently, everyone else has read a version that is even longer. I think I may just read along in my own copy, even if it does just hit the high points. :-)

And, yes, cal, I think we are about the same age, give or take. :-)

Just thinking aloud....

How about we skip the abridged version of the Stand at this point and read the writer's cut version where it fits on the publishing timeline instead. That way we'll gain momentum by reading the (somewhat) shorter novels (and short story collections) here at the start of the journey...

I think that sounds reasonable, Locke.

agreed, I think the original version of The Stand is what we should hone in on if we can. If you only have the long version, don't sweat it, you won't miss anything...just get to spend more time with Trashcan Man. I have both and can read either. Prefer the original though.

Hey, that's my copy-- only mine's more beat up. I have both, but prefer the shorter version. When I read the 'uncut version', my reaction was that the original editor had earned his money.

You know, it might be kind of fun to actually read different editions. I've heard many people argue for each, and I just don't have the patience to read the uncut version. After all, the plot is the same. Is there any harm in everybody reading different editions?

I don't see why not...the uncut people will just lag behind. : )

That's the paperback version I have too, Bentley and Cal. I did have first edition hardback of The Stand, but loaned it out and it never came back. I also have the uncut version - I found it worth buying not because of more Trashcan Man or the extra character, but because King did more of the little bits about the people who died from non-flu things right after the plague. The man who loses his wife and 7 children to the flu is haunting.

Im sorry but did we decide on one or the other? I have both so either way. I just would like some clarification before I start reading.

Hey Candi,

Welcome back!

As far as I can see, we have three different thoughts:

1. read the abridged version in January, read the unabridged later where it would fall in publication order

2. read the abridged version or the unabridged version, whichever you already have (might make for tough discussion though)

3. skip over The Stand altogether for now and just read the unabridged when it comes up later

I'll do whatever the rest of the group wants to do, but my vote would be #1

I just don't want to make others go hunt down the long out of print abridged version if they don't have it already.

So far I don't think there's any consensus yet. It may be too early since lots of us haven't even started December's book (The Shining) yet.