I just saw the latest Stephen King book - I'm half scared and half excited.

[Jacksmania]

"The Wind Through The Keyhole".

Has anyone read it? Reviews? Worth it?

I used to love SK. I did find that his books got a little even weirder weird after his accident. And having DS has made me a little fragile in terms of being able to read/watch anything deeply frightening. I used to be all "deliciously scary" :o. Now I'm more like "oh my fuck why did I do that to myself, I won't be able to sleep for days". Don't ask what happened the other night when DH thought he'd creep me out by singing me Freddy Krueger's song from Nightmare On Elm Street. It wasn't pretty. Actually it was embarrassing.

Anyway - thanks to all of you SK fans who reviewed warned me off "Full Dark, No Stars". Help me out on this one. :)

[Jacksmania]

Oh BTW I'm not posting and running, am just at the airport and won't have Wi-Fi for a few hours. Will check back later.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

It's only of any interest if you've read 'The Dark Tower' series, as it's basically a scene in the middle of the series in which Roland tells a story from his youth. I thought it was an absolute waste of time tbh (and I bloomin' love The Dark Tower).

[Jacksmania]

Oh - thank you! I coukd never get into The Dark Tower. Just didn't do it for me. Thanks!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Have you read the JFK one?

[Jacksmania]

Nooooo? Which one's that then?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

It's about somebody going back in time to try and save JFK. Title = 11.22.63

It's pretty good.

[mignonette]

Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The Shining and will hopefully be out soon.

[Jacksmania]

Oooohhh... a sequel to The Shining? How creepy is that going to be!!!

Remus, thank you - I'll have to check that out!

[mignonette]

Danny is all grown up and apparently dysfunctional (can't think why ] in the sequel to 'The Shining- 'Doctor Sleep' .

[AnyFucker]

I didn't like the JFK one. Couldn't get into it.

[mignonette]

I actually thought his last book- 11/22/63 was a return to the form of his earlier books. I enjoyed it and didn't have to skim. King definitely awakened my avid interest in American popular culture when I was barely ten yrs old with the rich historical/social/political/cultural detail that runs through most of his work. I particularly enjoyed reading about his home region -Maine and the breadth of dialect/regional accents of his characters (especially Jud Crandall in 'Pet Semetary') enhanced this for me; this last novel of his had no lack with regard to this. I will brook no literary snobbery about King's merits!

I'm afraid my desire to keep reading books like 'Cell', 'Duma Key' and 'The Dome' waned considerably and I only finished the latter. And that was after some judicious 'reader editing'.

I have been told by a publishing acquaintance that some authors have so much power because of their sales figures that the editing process can become author-driven' as opposed to a collaborative process. Some authors refuse any real editing at all other than proof reading. I wonder if King is one of these as some of his later books badly need pruning?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

King is always v good at thanking his editors though and saying what a hard job they'd had!

I liked all bar the ending of the JFK one; ditto 'Under The Dome' which I enjoyed apart from the v v silly bit just before the end.

Then again, I like picking and moaning but I'd mostly be happy to read King's shopping list. He makes even humdrum and daft stuff readable, unlike so many far more critically acclaimed modern writers.

[mignonette]

I didn't think King would be one of the editorially controlling-at least I have always imagined him not to be...But he would benefit from a bit more editorial topiary!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

No, I know Mig - and I agree. It's just that I get the impression that he writes huge tomes and then that they are slashed a fair bit, perhaps not always in exactly the best places!

Topiary - don't mention topiary; we'll be back on The Shining and quaking in fear again. :)

[mignonette]

Oh god.....(zips mouth up)......Who would ever go in a maze after reading that? Did I hear correctly that there's movie gossip about a Shining remake and if it is so.......For the love of god, why?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

There's going to be a book sequel soon-ish I think.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Iirc the maze = the film and the scary topiary animals = the book.

[DancehallDaze]

I loved "The Wind Through The Keyhole". A wonderful piece of storytelling. You don't need to have read any of the Dark Tower series to enjoy it.

[Japple]

"Dr.Sleep"Set for publication-Sept.24,2013. "Weeds" in Shivers V11 in the 7th
Edition of "Shivers" is coming out this Winter. "Carrie-The Musical" coming out
Sept 25 th on iTunes and Amazon. "Joyland" will be released on Sept. 24!2013.
Got a note from Stevie boy,this morning.Jill.