SK's flavors of the month - 2009

Just thought I'd post the list of books for 2009. Wanted to see if there were any errors in what I believe to be the publication order for these books:

(Revised 29August) - I thought we could make Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow the books for December. If the group doesn't like that we can change December back to Thinner
January - Night Shift
February - The Stand
March - The Stand
April - The Dead Zone
May - Firestarter
June - Danse Macabre
July - Cujo
August - Different Seasons (Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil)
September - Different Seasons (The Body, The Breathing Method)
October - Christine
November - Pet Semetary
December - Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow
---
January - Night Shift
February - The Stand
March - The Stand
April - The Dead Zone
May - Firestarter
June - Cujo
July - Different Seasons
August - Christine
September - Pet Semetary
October - Thinner
November - Skeleton Crew
December - The Bachman Books

Now this isn't any 'official' list or anything. I just wanted to get some discussion and ask a few questions.

I've left off Danse Macabre (wasn't sure if the group wanted the non-fiction stuff), Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow (since they are not quite novels) and one that may be a big deal: The Talisman (since it was a collaboration). Should any of these books be added back into the mix? I'm thinking Danse Macabre and The Talisman probably belong, but think the group should decide.

Also, The Gunslinger was originally released as a very limited edition in 1982, but the wide release was years later; 1988 and it was revised and expanded in 2003. Where should that book fall?

Oh, and The Bachman Books is actually four short novels. Should me maybe split that one over two months, Rage and The Long Walk one month and Roadwork and The Running Man the next?

We have a long, long time to hash it out. The first thing that would change the schedule is Danse Macabre and that wouldn't be until July.

I think you've done a wonderful job! I know I alway say whatever the group wants to do, but that's the truth. Whatever you guys decide is okay with me.

Thanks, Jseger, for putting all of this together.

CandiBelle started it. I just have too much time on my hands :)

Thanks, CandiBelle!

Man! Very Impressive. It almost makes me want to join in. The problem is I've always had trouble reading when I'm told to. Feels too much like school and I've had enough of that. I think I may need to reconsider though because I love most of these books and it would do me good to reread them all. I would have to say that Talisman really should be in there too.

Jseger, you're awesome! Thanks for all your work.

I'm for keeping all of his books in this group read schedule. If someone doesn't care for non-fiction then they could always skip that month. Also I would keep Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow. It would be a nice change to have lighter months. I think your idea of splitting The Bachman Books is a good idea for the same reason.

As for The Gunslinger whatever you (or whoever) decides is fine with me. I'm just excited to be along for the ride.

Thanks again for guiding this group read in a good direction and cheers for CandiBelle for the idea!

I'm with cal. I'd keep everything on the list. After all, we have all the time in the world, and this isn't a course syllabus. If someone doesn't want to read a particular book, they can just skip it.

I'd almost be for reading the Bachman books one at a time. They're short, that's true, but they're different from each other, and they'll elicit different responses. Rage, at the very least, could chew up a month's worth of discussion even if you read it all in one sitting. The Running Man probably could, too. And at some point we going to be--gasp--finished with all of them. What's the point in proceeding at break-neck speed?

Cycle and Creepshow are fun and could be done as side projects (sort of like extra credit) for us alongside the main novel. Watching the movies could be fun, too (if you can take Cycle that is, Creepshow is bloody brilliant).

As for Danse M, I'd love to see that included. It's been 20 years since I read it and would like to again.

Splitting the Bachmans is fine w/me. Does everyone actually have a copy of Rage? After Steve got PC and cold feet about it, it's been hard to find I'm told.

I would have to look for Rage. I don't think I have it.

I wondered if that was going to be a problem. Rage is out of print. You're lucky if you can find a used copy. Your local library might have a copy of The Bachman Books.

The last time I checked, used copies of The Bachman Books omnibus were still pretty cheap and easy to find on Amazon.

Maybe spending an entire month on each book is a good idea. Rage sure would be an interesting discussion.

I'm all for including Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow. Just they are so short. Maybe we could read 'em both in one month?

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Silver Bullet. And yeah, the movie of Creepshow was fantastic. I'd like to see King and George Romero work together more often.

I just checked. If condition isn't a concern, Amazon has some 93 copies of The Bachman Books starting at 1 cent. Half.com has many copies starting at 75 cents.

If you are an SK fan that doesn't already have a copy of The Bachman Books I'd say get it while the getting is good. Eventually all those used copies will be gone and it will be expensive even for beat-up editions.

I'm all for keeping everything on the list too. I especially would want to reread The Talisman. My mom and my sister claim that's their favorite King but I didn't love it the first time around. I'd be really interested to see how it fares now. And honestly I don't own a lot of these, like Creepshow and Danse Macabre, but I'll look into what my library has.

I don't know how many times I've read The Talisman even listen to the audio book. I think it should be left in order as the books were released.

The DT books are another thing, read them as they came out or back to back in a separate reading group.

I found rage online if you don't mind reading off the PC.

http://www.wattpad.com/84796-Rage-1977-by-Stephen-King

Looking forward to Thinner. That is one of my favs. Have it on tape read by Paul Sorvino. It's abridged, but it's fun.

I haven't yet read The Talisman or Black House because SK and Peter Straub are two of my favorites and I'm afraid two powerhouses together will disappoint. Since I own these and won't read them otherwise I think they should stay on the list as well.

I read the first two Dark Tower books but skipped the rest because dark fantasy is just really not my bag, not even when Stephen King is doing the writing. However since they are so integral to Stephen King's work it will be good for me to finally have to read them.

I also actually quit Cujo and Rose Madder without finishing them (they just weren't doing it for me at the time). I really hope the flavor of the month keeps rolling because it will be nice to have read all his books and to have some support on ones that for whatever reason I wasn't nuts about in the past.

I vote for keeping both The Talisman and Black House. I also vote for keeping the non-fiction works: Danse Macabre and On Writing.

As for the Dark Tower I'm not sure! I started reading The Gunslinger once, but gave up just a couple of pages in. I guess the fantasy genre is really not my bag either. I agree with 'beeg' that these novels maybe are best suited to be read in a separate reading group.

Strange not reading The Talisman because you like both authors too much.

But where the Dark Tower is concerned you all will lose me. I've tried twice to get into this series and failed both times. Fantasy isn't my bag either and the whole thing just seems like a giant ego wank to me.

I don't think either The talisman or Black House will dissapppoint you. They were both wonderful.

If you don't mind, after eveyone weighs in, can we put together a "final" list so We can all track down the books we want to read in a timely fashion. A few of the older ones I'll need to get from the used book store or order from amazon. Maybe I can add them to my Christmas list!

From what I'm seeing so far, order everything! Better safe than sorry after all.

Do you think King will ever know what caused the surge in sales of his older works. ;)

I have extra copies of Misery and The Dark Half if anyone (who is a regular here) would like them.

jseger - I also quit reading The Dark Tower books after the second one. I've always meant to finish them; now I have a great reason!

I agree with leaving everything in. If someone doesn't want to read one of them, they can just skip it.

I just want to make sure that I am on the same page with everyone else here. This list of books by SK starting with Night Shift in January 2009
and ending up with The Bachman Books in December 2009 plus The Cycle Of the Werewolf, Creepshow,Danse Macabre,The Talisman, Black House and the seven volumes of The Dark Tower Series are all supposed to be part of a Monthly Reading Group?

You know some of the books are a good 700-800 pages long
or even longer while some others are much shorter in length. Plus I think you would also have to take into account for either how fast or how slow a reader a person is plus if they also happen to be in any other Monthly Reading Groups at the time.

Well, for me none of these books listed would be a problem for me to get hold of a copy since they are all as close to me as the shelves on my Bookcases at home. How about IT? Four Past Midnight, The Green Mile, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Salem's Lot, Misery, Dolores Claiborne,Needful Things, plus the rest of the SK books not mentioned here.

And as far as The Stand goes I would recommend people reading the Complete and Uncut Edition of The Stand compared to the original 1978 version of the book. Now I happen to own both versions of The Stand. However, if someone is new to The Stand and has never read it before I would tell them to read the original 1978 version first then get a copy of The Complete And Uncut version. Originally, I first read the 1978 version when it came out then bought the Complete And Uncut version when it hit the Bookstores in the 90s. The '78 version is a good introduction to what the book is actually about then the other version fills in with the 350 pages of material he was forced to Edit out of the book by his Publisher because they thought none of his fans would want to read a book 1,000 pages or more in length. Little did they know. Boy, were they ever wrong on that assumption.

Beatles1964

Actually, I find the complete and uncut version highly superfluous and kind of an ego wank...like the Dark Tower series. Just because you can write so much Steve, doesn't mean you should. And I believe we're taking 2 months to read the long ones while grouping some of the short ones together in a month.

#26 - Beatles,

No, no, no. Sorry. That list in post #1 is a proposed list of the books to read during 2009. But it isn't a 'for sure, for sure' list. We're reading the books in the order they were published. The Cycle of the Werewolf, Creepshow, etc. are ones that were left out of the list and now we are discussing if they should be included. Of course, if we add Danse Macabre (which it looks like we will), that would be the book for July, so everything else would be knocked down a month, with Different Seasons becoming the August book and so forth.

As long as you are reading The Shining now (or have it finished by the end of the month anyway) you are on the same page as everyone else.

OK that does answer my question. I had been wondering if that list had been set in stone yet or if there were going to be additions to it.

Beatles1964

OK that does answer my question. I had been wondering if that list had been set in stone yet or if there were going to be additions to it.

Beatles1964

Additions, deletions and changes. Nothing is constant but change.

so I just want to know what the jan. book is. whatever it is, that's fine by me.

Night Shift is pretty safe bet. I think it's farther down the list that the questions start.

Sorry, yeah, Night Shift is the January read. Think I should start a thread for it so folks don't have to read through all of this? Or is it too early?

Is it ever too early to pick books out to read? I think not!

No, I meant too early to start a 'Flavor of the moth' thread for January... I admire peole that can pick out books to read early. Aside from this book group, I usually couldn't tell you what I'll be reading when I finish my current book. What normally happens is that I get down to fifty/a hundred pages left and the next book I want to read will just sort of bubble to the surface of my consciousness.

I'm surprised The Shining hasn't drawn more traffic and discussion yet.

It's a busy time of year, that's probably part of the reason there are no more posts. I finished The Shining, but I haven't posted much about it.

So, Night Shift for January and then The Stand for February and March. I'm not that organized, I just like to think ahead. The Stand is also one of my favorite King books. I did manage to find a copy of the original version. I've only read the expanded version; I'm looking forward to the original.

One of my co-workers is reading through the books, too. He is not a part of LT, but thought this was a great idea. I'm trying to recruit him! We both teach eighth grade.

ugh, I'm behind. Still reading Salem's Lot I figure I can get caught up after I finish this Christmas thing I got going on.

Just joined from the Thingies That Go Bump In The Night board. Will be starting the SK Flav of the Month in Jan, and I say include EVERYTHING (Danse Macabre, Cycle of the Werewolf, and the other one).

By the way, what have I missed? Is it just Carrie, Salem's Lot and The Shining so far?

That's right. The Shining is December's book...

#40 - By the way, what have I missed? Is it just Carrie, Salem's Lot and The Shining so far?

If you're interested in our weighty opinions so far, there are threads for 'October - Carrie', 'November - 'Salem's Lot' and 'December - The Shining' (Not too late to take a crack at The Shining!)

January will be Night Shift which I'm looking forward too. I've read various stories from it over the years, but have never read the thing cover to cover.

I'm also looking forward to NS. It's been a decade or more since I did read it from cover to cover. Sometimes They Come Back. Strawberry Spring. The Mangler. Ah...old friends.

>42 jseger9000::

I'll probably read those three at some point in the new year, but I won't make any special effort to catch up. I'll definitely read everyone's opinions once I've finished them. One's an old favourite, one I disliked, and one I've never read (I won't say which is which)!

>43 Bookmarque::
Read it about a year or two ago, so it's fresh in my memory (Strawberry Spring still sends shivers down my spine).

I haven't read King in years so I love this group read. It's interesting to remember parts of the books and then to learn something new on the next page.

February's book is The Stand - which version is everybody going to be reading? Is everyone free to pick their own version?

Or are we going to be reading the short version in Feb, then the longer version in order, ie when he published it? I like that idea the best myself, but not sure what everyone else has decided.

We didn't decide. There's a thread here somewhere discussing it. My take is read what you have, but if you have both read the original since we're reading in publication order.

I think (assuming you have both already) you should read hte abridged, original version of The Stand in February. After all, we will be reading the unabridged eventually.

I have to say, I'm not especially looking forward to reading The Stand in any form. Dark fantasy just ain't my bag. I'd read the abridged one before and it wasn't a favorite.

The good thing about this group read is that it is pushing me to read books I haven't yet read and will maybe get me to reevaluate books I didn't appreciate so much the first time through.

Don't read it if you don't want to. There are some on the list that I'm going to sit out (Dark Tower series and Insomnia, I'm looking at you)

Some of these books I haven't read in years so for me it will be like seeing some old and dear friends as well as some people, animals and in the case of Christine a car I wouldn't like to meet in a dark alley or anywhere else for that matter. For years I have avoided rereading Skeleton Crew because of the short story, Survivor Type which really Grossed me out big time. I guess I'll have to read the story again.

Skeleton Crew also has the short stories, The Jaunt, The Raft, The Mist, Mrs. Todd's Shortcut, Here Be Tygers, Word Processor of the Gods just to name a few.

Beatles1964

Heh. Survivor Type is my favorite.

Cold roast beef.
Cold roast beef.
Cold roast beef.

Right now I am having some trouble trying to finish reading the book The Ruins. I can't bring myself to read about the part where they have to cut some poor guy's legs off. That scene has totally Grossed me out much like King's Survivor Type.

Beatles1964

>48 jseger9000::
Looking forward to The Stand. I read the longer version years ago and yeah, I found the plot quite silly in places, but the characters in that book were great. Wonder what I'll make of the short version?

>49 Bookmarque::
I know it's an option but I'm going to go for it and get stuck in. Bring them on!

#49 - Don't read it if you don't want to. There are some on the list that I'm going to sit out (Dark Tower series and Insomnia, I'm looking at you)

Nah, I'm in this for the good, the bad and the ugly (and I agree with you, Insomnia was one of the ugly).

I think reading The Stand and being able to discuss it with a group will help me appreciate it more.

#52, ooh, finish reading the book so you can rent the movie ;)

I was surprised the movie was as faithful to the book, as movies go.

I'm looking forward to re-reading the books I didn't love. I'm wondering if my attitude at the time influenced my liking the book because it wasn't where I wanted the book to go.

#55 I don't know if I really want to rent the movie The Ruins. So far what I have read of the book I have enjoyed up until this part. I can be a bit squeamish at times watching some Horror movies that are way too bloody and gorey for my taste. For example all the SAW movies are way to gorey and bloody just like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.I have to make up my mind just to get it over with and move past this part of the book.

Beatles1964

Well, not to get too far away from King stuff, but The Ruins was awful. Just awful, teenage horror and gore at its worst. Stick with good horror writers and storytellers, like King.

I haven't read The Ruins but Stephen King was wild about it. In general I trust his recommendations, he turned me on to Bentley Little and sorta Peter Straub, so I owe him greatly.

Beatles, if you are squeamish, stay far away from the movie version of The Ruins (though it was very good otherwise).

eh, I just watch the wet stuff through my fingers

I do the same thing too at least until the real gorey and bloody stuff is over with. I know, that's what I do with some of the Horror movies I watch at home. While some other Horror movies don't have the same effect on me. I can watch any of the Zombie movies, Stephen King, ALIENS and the sequels without any problems but when you get the Chainsaw wielding Psychos going after everyone or something like the SAW movies that is when I have to peek at the movie between my fingers.

Beatles1964

Oh I haven't read the book, I just meant the movie. The book could be great

The Chainsaw-wielding psychos don't bother me much at all, but I draw the line at Trauma-vision and torture porn. The only zombie movies I can tolerate are the more unique ones--the original Romero trilogy, 28 days later, Shawn of the Dead. IMHO, the Saw movies are just torture porn. I guess I just don't get it. I don't even like King when he's doing gross-for-gross'-sake (e.g., Survivor Type).

The Ruins was a GREAT book, but I haven't seen the movie.

Just a bump in case some new people want to check out our group read list.

Again

I'm wondering if we should break Different Seasons up over two months (August and September)? It isn't that long of a book. I'm just wondering if folks are starting to feel burnout.

What do you guys think?

I'm fine with that. I was wondering if we shouldn't have some breaks here and there to give whoever needs it a chance to catch up. I think this would be a good way to do it.

Good idea, jseger. I know that I have been feeling overwhelmed with my challenges and goals. Self induced, I know.

I'm okay either way, despite my little hiccups here and there (I misplaced the books, honest, I wasn't avoiding reading them!).

It's not any longer of a book than Firestarter, but whatever, I'm flexible.

This was one I was going to skip since I read it earlier this year anyway (I was going to read Carrie during the month since I joined the group late). Whatever is fine though as it will give me an opportunity to catch up on my backlog of other books.

Thanks for updating the list jseger! But just to double check--Thinner is on the list twice, should the October book be Christine?

#73 - But just to double check--Thinner is on the list twice...

Hey, I just really, really like Thinner. Nah, I updated the list.

#72 - I bet if you revive the Carrie thread you'll get some conversation going again.

Gee...um.. jseger.....not to be a pain but....can you start working on the 2010 list? If you are busy I'm sure one of us can work on it. No rush, I'm just curious to see which books I have and which I will need to look for.

*puppy dog eyes*

This might help you out....from my understanding of what we have decided to read and all that this is roughly what we will do.

Jan. - The Talisman (if we are doing the collaborations, but he might have it so we do it right before Black house which would mean this would be much later in the list)
Feb. - Skeleton Crew
March and April - The Bachman Books (I assume this will be split into two months)
May - It
June - The Eyes of the Dragon
July - Misery
August - The Tommyknockers
Sept. - The Dark Half
Oct. - Four Past Midnight
Nov. - Needful Things
Dec. - Gerald's Game

Obviously if we don't read The Talisman move everything up a month and have Dolores Claiborne as December.

I skipped two Dark Tower books when making the list because I think we skipped the Gunslinger so I assume we are reading them all back to back probably when it's Book VII's turn.

For future reference here's a good link for what you might need to buy next http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King_bibliography

Thanks a lot. I have a few that I need to pick up.

Looks good to me. I think we should keep The Talisman (because I like Peter Straub and haven't yet read the book.

And believe me, I have nothing but time.

You know, going over the Stephen King chronology on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King_bibliography I'm wondering if The Talisman should be before Thinner?

And Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow. Are we reading those?

You know, we could make Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow the books for December as it is likely to be a busy month for most of us. Just about anybody could knock those two out in a day.

Werewolf and Creepshow are huge fun. I have both (and even the movie of the latter, even Gary Busey couldn't save the former for me), but a lot of people don't. I say read 'em if you've got 'em.

Are you guys going to read Under The Dome when it comes out in november?

Are you guys going to read Under The Dome when it comes out in November?

Not as part of the 'Flavor of the Month' group read, no. That one won't come up for a good long while. Of course, this group is for his Constant Readers and I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of discussion of that one, of course (except for me! I'm a cheapo that waits for the paperback. I'm just now looking forward to Just After Sunset...).