Stephen King, one of the most prolific and beloved horror writers of all time, covers the new issue of Parade. He’s promoting his new novel Joyland, which seems more like a crime thriller/pulp fiction rather than horror. King rarely gives interviews, which is sad because he’s an incredibly interesting guy. He actually reminds me a lot of the late, great Roger Ebert. Both men were and are talented writers whose interests were exhaustive, whose lust for life, knowledge and art appreciation were unquenchable. One of my favorite epitaphs for Ebert was “He was a bomb-thrower.” And he was. He loved controversy. He loved a debate. He loved a fight. I feel like King is the same way. Maybe I’m reading him the wrong way though. Anyway, here are some highlights from King’s Parade interview:
On the fact that Joyland, his new book, isn’t a horror novel:
“I’ve been typed as a horror writer … but I never saw myself that way. I just saw myself as a novelist. With Joyland, I wanted to try my hand at the whodunit format.”On his daily writing regimen:
“I wrote 1,500 words this morning. Five pages a day, that’s usually what I get through.”On why he and his two novelist sons show their work to his wife, Tabitha:
“She’ll say, ‘Here, you’ve done this before. This sucks. This is dumb.’ There’s no soft landing with Tabby, and that’s fine. [My sons] both dedicated their first novels to her, so it means a lot.”On the current TV shows he enjoys:
“Justified, Bates Motel, The Walking Dead. The best show of the year is The Americans. I don’t watch Mad Men. I think it’s basically soap opera, and if I want soap opera, I watch Revenge. That show is crazy, but they have great clothes.”On whether he thinks he’ll be popular beyond his lifetime:
“Well, you really can’t worry about it. … Fantasy has a better chance of lasting than a lot of other things. The Hobbit and the Narnia books … because they’re set in a fantasy world, they can remain relevant. So maybe things like Salem’s Lot and The Shining might last, the Dark Tower books. … The idea of posterity for a writer is poison. … You do the best you can.”On his main reason to keep writing:
“The major job is still to entertain people. Joyland really took off for me when the old guy who owns the place says, ‘Never forget, we sell fun.’ That’s what we’re supposed to do—writers, filmmakers, all of us. That’s why they let us stay in the playground.”On gun-control measure, a subject he also addressed in his essay, Guns, published as a Kindle Single on Amazon.com:
“I heard that [the background checks legislation didn’t pass in the Senate], and I thought, ‘Oh, my God, they couldn’t even do that.’ It infuriates me, because most people would like to see some rational controls on guns. I think we all understand that they wouldn’t entirely solve the problem. I mean, in Boston they built bombs in pressure cookers. But you’ve got a roadblock of probably most of the Republican Senate and four or five Democrats who come from rural areas, some of whom are up for reelection pretty soon, who stopped what the public wanted.Background checks for gun purchases:
“Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell say, ‘Background checks won’t solve the problem because crazy people will still get guns.’ To me, that’s tantamount to saying, ‘Why bother to make it illegal for kids under 18 to buy cigarettes, because they’ll find a way to get them anyway?’ But we know that those laws, [while] they don’t stop underage smoking, inhibit it greatly. These people are so shortsighted — this is going to happen again.”
Shall we discuss his thoughts on gun control? I think he sounds very sensible. I think – and the polling data suggests this too – that he sounds like the average American voter on this issue. He’s not calling anyone names, he’s making a rational argument and seriously, he’s right. That is all. Oh, I love that he watches Revenge, and that he’s all about the costumes! That makes me so happy.
King also has some lovely things to say about his mother, and how she influenced him as a writer. Apparently, his family didn’t have a TV growing up (until he was 10) and so his mom would read to him. King says, “She read us Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when I was six and my brother was eight; I never forgot it.” Also: did you know he’s only 65 years old?! I thought he was older, for sure. I guess I thought he was older because he’s written about a bajillion books.
PS… Name your favorite King book! Mine is The Stand. I still love that crazy book and I still think about it so often.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, cover courtesy of Parade.
ahh this made my day 🙂 there should be more Stephen King interviews he’s amazing. hmmm, my favourite is either Carrie or Misery. Its hard to choose. Misery I definitely think was scarier but they’re both amazing.
I scared myself to death reading Carrie when I was a kid, lol. My SK fave is The Stand. I take it out and read it every couple of years. Least favorite…Gerald’s Game.
i was hoping to read some comments and see if this is going to be a fightin’ friday!
best book: On Writing
(not a fan of his genre)
also, not a fan of guns
My favorite thing he has written in “1408.”
I like what he said about thinking of himself as a novelist. It really would be such a shame to insist he write only horror, he has a beautiful range. And he has credited his wife, also, for his strong female voices. He has her critique the dialogue so it is a realistic representation.
1408 is BEYOND creepy. Its one I have trouble re-reading, and tend to shudder away from it because I find it so disturbing.
When Stephen King dies, he should donate his brain to science. I am continually amazed at how imaginative, interesting, and dark his books are. Would love to get inside his head…
I haven’t read 1408. Man, this guy has such an insane body of work huh? How many books has he actually written?
Anyway, I effin’ LOVE Stephen King and I get really defensive about him when people try to question his writing abilities. He might be seen by some as “overrated” but to me, his writing abilities are highly UNDERrated.
“Anyway, I effin’ LOVE Stephen King and I get really defensive about him when people try to question his writing abilities. He might be seen by some as “overrated” but to me, his writing abilities are highly UNDERrated.”
Totally agree with that. He’s not given the credit he actually deserves.
I totally agree. People talk about having one novel in them (and as much as I’d love to write one I don’t think I have it in me)…he seems to have an infinite number of them. He’s truly a genius.
Huge Stephen King fan here. Huge. I write as a hobby and he has always been one of my biggest influences.
@OK, I highly recommend 1408. It stays with you long after the last page.
I gotta say though I can make a list of SK’s novels that I love, (particularly his earlier work) my absolute favourite King story is one of his novellas, The Langoliers. I read that in the daytime only, so much did that story wig me out.
1408 may be the scariest thing I have ever read. I am sure that is hyperbole but whenever I think of it, I shudder.
I agree that his writing is underrated. I have read some of his stuff that I thought was just okay but when he writes something good, it is so very good.
His On Writing is one of the best books on how to write out there.
I’m gonna pick it up, J. Eyre-thanks for the recommendation. The weather out here sucks right now-perfect for a good book.
..and did you just change your Gravatar?
It was different right? I like.
Sorry – that’s my dragonfly gravatar reserved for dragonfly (Hiddleston) posts – I forgot to switch back. Cute boys and exceptional writing just gets me all a-twitter.
Our weather is turning too. It is supposed to rain on Tuesday – bizarre.
I’m a huge Stephen King fan (I started reading his stuff around age 14) but I actually haven’t read 1408. I saw the movie and thought it was dumb, but if the book is better then I’ll give it a go.
As for my fave King novel…I can’t pick just one. My top 3:
* Christine. There’s a scene where a character starts choking on a burger while in the car and it still freaks me out even years later.
* The Shining. Because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 😉
* 11.22.63. Of his more recent stuff, this is the only one that I can say really grabbed me. It’s not realllly horror but man, the twist towards the end was amazing!
He’s definitely one of the best writers of the “modern era”, hands down.
11.22.63 is the only novel of his that I’ve read but I heard he reprises people and places from his other books in it, like Bevvie from the Levee and Ritchie from the Ditchie, who stayed with me long after I finished the book even though they didn’t have a huge part in it.
I imagine his die-hard fans loved that. And it makes me want to read more of him. Too many books, too little time!
@LadyMTL – the movie was not well done and held none of the magic of the story. It is a short story in either in the audiobook Blood and Smoke or Everything’s Eventual.
I have not read 11.22.63 – I shall add it to my Good Reads list at once, thanks.
I haven’t read that yet. I liked the movie, but only until [spoiiler alert!] the room flooded. Does he drag the story out, or was that just the adaptation? I love him, but he does go on sometimes…
@Lisa – 1408 is a short story in a compilation book, the movie is what dragged it out! Highly recommend the story
I’ve loved King’s books for years. My fave has to be The Green Mile.
Gerald’s Game, I love that book!!! Thinner too is really good.
Thinner was one that really got to me. I was just sure when I started it that it was a dumb idea and I would hate it. I was so very wrong.
Haha, I read Gerald’s Game when I was 15. So fucked up. I liked Thinner, though. I’d read that one again.
Late to the party on this one, but heigh ho!
I love King’s short stories, but Gerald’s Game is my favorite. For some reason, that kept me awake at night more than any of the other novels.
Off topic somewhat. Tabitha King has written some wonderful books too.
I really wish she got more recognition for her writing. ‘One on One ‘ is my favorite by her and made me cry, and I’ve read ‘Pearl’.
Yes, I think One on One is one of my favorite stories of all time. It is a beautiful, and beautifully written love story. Not icky, gooey but real. And both Steve and Tabby have their characters “visit” each others books. They have a home in Bangor, Maine with wicked cool handmade wrought iron gates. They are wonderfully sharing people and give a lot to the community. I was lucky to meet him once and he tells a great story too. And was wearing the best Hawaiian style shirt I have EVER seen. It was all spiders and webs and stuff.
Fascinating man. And I agree 100% with what he says about gun control. I am beside myself with anger at frustration for those who see any measure like background checks as the first step toward confiscation. The NRA has done an amazing job of making people paranoid beyond belief.
Anyway, I hadn’t read any of Stephen King except a few short stories when I was younger then last summer I had to read 11/22/63 for a book group and I was blown away. Loved it.
The NRA was in favor of the proposed legislation because it eased current restrictions on legitimate gun owners.
It’s essentially like talking to a wall at this point.
Me: “I am NOT for taking guns away from responsible gun owners. I simply think background checks and reasonable regulation is needed.”
Conservatives: “There is no way in hell you Libs are taking our guns away from us!!! This is our constitutional RIGHT! You are unAmerican!!”
Me: “What? No. Listen to what I just said. No one wants to take your guns away. We simply want REASONABLE regulation.”
Conservatives: “YOU WILL HAVE TO PRY MY GUN AWAY FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS! Obama is coming for our guns! *insert apocalyptic doomsday scenario about government takeover*”
Me: “What…? No…I didn’t say that…
*sigh*
I give up.”
It’s impossible to have a rational discussion about control right now. It’s amazing how polarizing this issue is.
Yes. Exactly. And I should add that I’m not even that angry or frustrated anymore. Just kind of numb.
Right?!?! I fail to see where background checks=Obama’s taking away our guns. I remember having a FB debate with someone shortly after Sandy Hook and this person thought it was perfectly acceptable for the Average Joe to have RPGs since the “bad guys” (which includes the govt) has them. Really??? Last time I checked, the govt had nukes. Are there no limits to this insanity?
But anyhoo, never been too much of a King fan, but absolutely loved 11-22-63. Brilliant.
It’s a slippery slope.
What provisions are under consideration to keep all firearms away from the mentally unstable?
@Mac-the “slippery slope” argument is a reactionary one with no historical basis, it is simply based on irrational fear. Is restricting the purchase of cigarettes to minors a “slippery slope” to banning cigarettes entirely? They still exist, you can still buy them.
As far as laws to prevent the mentally unstable from purchasing firearms, until it becomes Fed law (which it never will, given Repubs penchant for striking down any bill that even touches on firearm regulation)–bills are passed on a state-by-state basis.
You can thank Democratic Rep. Barbara Watson for pushing through FL’s bill to restrict the mentally ill from owning guns:
“Under the bill, people could be prohibited from purchasing firearms if a doctor said they posed a danger to themselves or others. If the patient didn’t agree to be voluntarily admitted for treatment, an involuntary commitment petition would be filed. Patients who voluntarily committed themselves would do so with the understanding that they would be barred from purchasing firearms.”
And talking to a dem about gun control.
ME: We already have gun control and background checks. Why not enforce those laws?
DEM: You just it because Obama wants it..RACIST.
ME: No I dont beleive in infrignement on any right. Freedom of speech, guns, etc.
DEM: RAAAACCCIIIIISSSSTT.
ME: But look at Chicago it has the strongest gun laws in the US and the worst violence, whereas other states without carry laws have lower incidents of gun crime.
DEM: RAAAAACCCCIIIIISSSTTT!!!!!
@ TheOriginalKitten – Sounds great! What could possibly go wrong? Laws always work!
Actually we have had instant background checks since the Brady Act in 1993. The notion that the bill as defeated by the Senate would have improved on the current system simply is not true. This year’s legislation was a solution in search of a non-existant problem. If any of you were gun owners you would be aware of the current regulatory scheme and why the proposed changes were meaningless and created more inconvenience to the only people who obey the law now.
‘On Writing’ is fantastic. I’m not a huge fan of King’s books but the way he discusses the craft of writing is pretty amazing.
I agree with this. On Writing inspired me when I read it as a teen, given to me as a gift by my mother who always wanted me to be a writer. I recently read it again, after having the first draft of my first novel was stolen. I was heartbroken, needing inspiration. Anyway, I still think King is a fantastic writer and inventive storyteller, though I consistently don’t care for how he writes his characters. I admit I’ve only read about four of his novels. Still, I think he’s brilliant and I love every one of his interviews.
Maybe I can look around for a book of his that is not so character-driven. I would so love to immerse myself in a good story of his without being distracted.
I wonder if 11.22.63 would fit the bill for you since it’s based on a real life event, the Kennedy assassination.
Hey thanks esmom, I’ll give that one a try! It’s actually on sale in the Google play store, I downloaded it at your recommendation! I’ll let you know what I think.
Just bought it on amazon! Thanks all for turning me on to this book. Can’t wait to read it.
My favorite is “Pet Cemetery”
While I love King, I have a complaint for him. I am so tired of when his books get made into movies that the endings are such crap. Pet Cemetery is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen, but the list goes on. Stop selling the rights if that’s going to happen. Sorry, that’s the end of my rant, but it has bugged me for years.
As for gun control, I completely agree with him.
OMG yes!!! Pet Sematary is pure genius. Why did they have to turn it into such a lousy movie?
@ Marie:
“Pet Sematary” is my favourite, too (it’s spelled wrong on purpose because it’s supposed to have been written by children who still don’t know the word’s correct spelling).
The movie, however, was a disaster and the living proof that King himself can’t adapt his own novels to film (he wrote the screenplay).
I think Frank Darabont should be the official writer/director of all things King (“The Green Mile”, “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Mist” were all adapted and directed by him).
The few nice things from “Pet Sematary” (the movie): Fred Gwynne as “Jud Crandall” (the old neighbour), Brad Greenquist as “Victor Pascow” (the ghost who tries to warn him about the other cemetery) and the theme song by Ramones.
P.S.: I almost said “Misery” though (I love the whole book withing a book thing).
Forgot to add: both “It” and “Pet Sematary” are going to be remade.
I’m not so sure about “It” because I love Tim Curry’s performance as “Pennywise”, but I can’t wait for the new version of “Pet Sematary”.
P.S.: “The Stand” is also going to be remade (Ben Affleck is rumoured to direct — which is not a good idea, in my oinion).
whoops, didn’t mean to answer twice, my apologies.
The whole reason I was able to watch Pet Sematary (I always forget and misspell the title) was Fred Gwynne, he got me through most of it.
I forgot all about Misery, but Kathy Bates did a fantastic job in it.
I never knew that was Tim Curry as Pennywise, I watched the movie 1 and still can’t walk by storm drains, probably never will be able to..
And I am such a bad fan that I forget he writes anything other than horror, at least I know what to have on my summer reading list.
Yes, dear ol’ “It” Thank you so much, Mr. Curry, on your fine acting. You fed my phobia of clowns a bellyful.
Hard to decide between “The Stand” and “The Towers” series…waiting SO long for that last book. I’ll have to choose “The Stand” as I love ‘M-O-O-N, that spells Tom’. And, that a favourite teacher of mine should have been cast as The Walking Dude. He held every characteristic except the desire to rule the World 🙂
Oh, goodness, yes, those are the best adapted of his books for the screen. The green mile was so beautifully made it gave me hope books can translate well into movies.
Just read where Tim Curry is recovering from a major stroke 🙁
Wishing him healing and health!!
Oh no – really? Yes, many wishes to Mr. Curry.
The first 1/2 hour of The Stand is the scariest!
I watch The Stand from time to time on NetFlix.
Read an interview SK gave about 25 years ago. He was asked which one of his books scared him the most. His reply was Pet Semetary. He said he got half way through writing the story and he had to stop. The book sat unfinished in a drawer for 2 years, and then Tabitha found it, read it, and insisted he finish it.
My fav is The Stand, followed by the Gunslinger, and remember a short story called the Long Walk? One hundred 16-year-old’s from across the states gathered and started walking. They had to do 4 miles per hour and if they fell below that time they were warned. Three warnings and they were shot. No stopping for sleep, food, bathroom breaks, inclement weather, nothing. Walk or die. That one kept me awake at night. He wrote that story as Richard Bachman. Worst movie had to be the Running Man with Arnold. I haven’t seen the movie IT and now I know it has Tim Curry as Pennywise I won’t watch it. I love reading horror but I cannot watch it.
I’m a Texan and gun owner but I’m in complete agreement with King.
Stricter background checks.
Increase ammunition prices.
Ban assault weapons.
Prison sentences and harsher fines for sellers who don’t do thorough background checks.
No online purchase of weapons.
Most Texans would disagree with me on this AND I realize this isn’t necessarily going to keep guns out of criminal hands BUT we have to start somewhere.
Gun owners who go through proper protocol are responsible (mostly), however, ANYTHING that decreases the likelihood of more guns being purchased illegally is a good thing.
Do you live near the border?
Cartels and coyotes routinely carry fully automatic weapons when crossing over.
You realize assault doesn’t equal automatic right? Assault weapons typically just have a larger magazine certain types of scopes lights etc. Guns aren’t like in the movies where one bullet always does the trick. As a woman I own them and I will continue to do so to protect myself. And yes I’ve been through an FBI background check for a concealed carry permit. I’m fine with background checks, but not banning assault weapons. A regular old pistol can be just as dangerous.
If a regular old pistol can be just as dangerous, why do you need assault weapons?
Because a revolver typically holds 6 rounds and that might not be enough as evidenced by numerous people who have used them to shoot intruders etc. they empty the revolver and yet the person survives, manages to escape, etc. Revolvers are handy because they can be made small enough for your purse and you can fire them through the purse if needed which you can’t do with the standard issue 9mm semi automatic. My husband has a .22 rifle he hunts with. If he puts on the larger magazine that allows for more shots to come out, suddenly it becomes an “assault” rifle simply because it has more bullets. Assault is a buzz word the media likes to use in order to scare people. Certain types of scopes and lasers also make things assault weapons even though they’re basically cosmetic changes. In my concealed carry class we had to listen to a 911 audio tape of a woman calling for help. Then you hear her screaming and screaming and screaming. And then it stops, because the intruder has killed her. I cried in the middle of the gun class after hearing that. I decided then and there that I will do whatever I need to to protect myself and try not to be that poor woman. When seconds count, the police are minutes away. Even if guns scare you and you thing “assault” weapons are bad, get a taser, get mace, DO SOMETHING besides thinking the cops will have time to save you.
@ Joy – I couldn’t agree with you more. Got to throw in the fact that the Supreme Court decided that cops have no legal responsibility to come to your aid if you are in danger. To wit: “The court stated that official police personnel and the government employing them owe no duty to victims of criminal acts and thus are not liable for a failure to provide adequate police protection unless a special relationship exists.” See this case: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia
You could stick the ‘rational’ between Some and People and it would be as accurate.
Background checks are the least of the problems. The NRA and their paid for congressmen/women have legislation in place that ensures things like the feds (ATF) can’t even ask for a stocktake of a gun store.
Delores Claiborne is my favorite King book.
Followed closely by, Carrie.
And to this day… I am permanently scarred from having seen “Carrie” at the movies. 🙂 When I was 9.
I swear. That movie had the perfect ending.
Sadly that is rarely the case with his books. I never will understand why movie studio’s purposely screw with an excellent book.
Or just do a half-a** job of making it. And killing it with bad actors.
ha, I said the same thing. most endings are simply awful.
I tell you though, the first time I had my period I heard “Plug it up Carrie” on repeat in my head.. I’m extremely curious to see the new remake, I imagine Julianne will awesome as the mom.
Like how they destroyed the ending in Pet Cemetary. The book ending would have been PERFECT on screen and the studio messed with it
“The Stand” is my favorite, too. I was a big fan of his books in high school but I’m less able to stomach horror stuff now.
Favorite King writings
Insomnia (has some beautiful writing on love, aging and death, I’ve reread it at least a dozen times)
I like his short stories best. Most of his novels need ALOT more editing, especially The Stand … good god.
Nightmares and Dreamscapes, delightfully creepy and wierd stories like Rainy Season, Dolan’s Cadillac, Chattery Teeth, The End of the Whole Mess and another look at aging and time in My Pretty Pony
Everything’s Eventual has some of his most disturbing work IMHO, including 1408 and The Road Virus Heads North
Yes, Insomnia was a really good book.
The Bachman Books are tops with me. I wouldn’t read Roadwork again, but Rage and The Running Man are ones I go back to. With The Running Man, it’s really just to see him talk about 1997 as the future!
Other short story faves: The Jaunt, Word Processor of the Gods, Here There Be Tygers.
The Long Walk is my fave book he wrote under Richard Bachman. Just read it again recently and got choked up all over again. Loved the interaction between the boys and the emotional roller coaster ride that ensued.
Yep, “The Road Virus Heads North” is probably the creepiest King short story I’ve read. Just the thought of being pursued by that razor-sharp grin… *shudder*
The Stand was and remains my fave Stephen King book, especially the version that included all the stuff that was edited out of the original published edition. I love it that he did a cameo on Sons of Anarchy as a creepy clean up guy who gets rid of dead bodies. How perfect. I hope he never stops writing. IMO the best film of any of his books was The Dead Zone. David Cronenberg and Christopher Walken. How can that combo miss?
^ Agreed! “The Dead Zone” was a rare hit. I think Walken should be in every King movie/t.v. series!
His books give me nightmares but I love the man’s politics. Either last year or the year before, he wrote an awesome op ed talking about the fact that ‘yes’ he is rich and ‘no’ he doesn’t mind paying taxes to help keep America strong.
Yeah I read it! What an articulate and thoughtful guy he is.
He is awesome. I really would like to know what spin neo-cons give to people like him. He and Gates and Buffett, et al are definitely not takers.
My fav Stephen King book is “The Shining.” I also loved the movie (which is flat out horrifying), but the book gives so much more background to the characters . . . I just loved it.
I have that book memorized. Seriously. I love the movie too, even if he doesn’t.
I love most of his books, but my favorite is “The girl who loved Tom Gordon”. It’s incredible how he can make everyday things and occurences seem totally creepy.
And the short story “Travel” haunts my nightmares.
I’ve read them all, good and bad. What people who don’t read his novels know is how funny he is. I laugh out loud reading each and every book. My favorite is also The Stand, but I have deep love for Rose Madder, The Green Mile, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and Duma Key. I’m trying to get my son to read the Gunslinger series. Also great.
‘It’, that god damned clown scared the pants off me as a teenager.
He still scares my husband. I did a replica of Pennywise for my front window for Halloween on year – my husband would only enter the house from the back until I took it down.
I like to put the head under the covers on his side of the bed every once in a while – just to keep things exciting.
j.eyre…sooo cruel (and I love it!)
Carrie and The Shining were the only two books that came out well on film. All the other movie versions of his books are dreadful.
I think “Misery” turned out well, too (especially considering the amazing performances by Kathy Bates and James Caan).
I also love “The Mist” (based on a short novel) — the movie has an even better ending, in my opinion.
What about The Shawshank Redemption? That’s one of King’s as well
“The Green Mile” is perfect. And I also enjoyed “Stand by me”.
Yes!
Shawshank, Carrie & Misery are the best filmed versions. I haven’t liked any other film versions I’ve seen. Plus, the older I get the less I can stomach horror, so I never watch horror films anymore.
I haven’t read many of his writings, but Misery is my favorite.
Looking through the comments here it sounds like I need to read 1408!
What about “Stand By Me”?
One of the best coming-of-age movies ever.
It was based on King’s “The Body”.
I agree that Stand by Me and Misery were quite well done.
I love all his books, expecially Insomnia, Bag of Bones, Rose Madder and Gerald’s Game, oh and the Shining. But notTommyknockers. haha
I like his son Joe Hill’s books as well. Heart Shaped Box is excellent, as is Horns.
Oh, I love him and his books, simply love him! He’s such an inspiring person!
If I had to name a favourite book of his then it’ll be “Needful Things”. It absolutely got me hooked as a child/young teenager and I’ve read dozens of his books since 🙂
I’ve loved him and his books since I was a teenager. The Stand is my all-time favorite, followed by the Dark Tower series…both are genius!
Hearts in Atlantis! I was an exchange student in Bolivia for a year after high school, and I didn’t think about the fact that I wouldn’t really have access to literature in English while I was there. So I arrived with only a handful of books, one of which was Hearts in Atlantis. It’s an incredible book but it also always gives me a sense of peace; whenever I was feeling homesick I would pick the book up again and read it and imagine my Uncle Stephen was telling me a story, and it felt like home!
I’ve yet to see a “rational” gun control law that does not infringe on my right as a law abiding citizen to protect my family and neighbors with a gun.
The best gun control law would require anyone committing a crime with a gun or any felon in possession of a gun to be imprisoned for a mandatory 15 years, no early release. Get them out of society and leave law abiding folks alone. Build the prisons and this will take care of 80% of gun crime. Problem solved.
I’m not trying to flame or challenge you or anything but I’m genuinely curious: what is the recent law/bill (that wasn’t passed) that infringes on your right as a law-abiding gun owner? What is the bill and where specifically does it affect you?
I just want to be educated in this argument.
Hi Honey,
I am very much in favor of expanded background checks and these sorts of regulations. The problem with all laws is the enforcement. For instance, if the neighbors call the police because a man and wife have a verbal fight, the first thing the police ask is, “Are there any guns in the house?”
The police stop you for a traffic violation and ask if you have a gun. Cops will often confiscate the gun for any excuse even if you have a valid carry permit. Then you have to go to court to get it back.
New gun control laws may not allow you to own one if you are caring for a mentally ill relative.
These laws which are so well intentioned at first, soon become a confiscation mechanism for cops with an attitude or people with an agenda.
Each and every well intentioned law eats away at my Constitutional liberty. Look at the well intentioned Patriot Act and Affordable Health Care Law. Just these two laws enforced by bad government eliminates almost all our freedom.
Thanks for the response, Rita.
Sorry if I opened up a can of worms..lol
I do think it’s an important discussion though. I wish there was a way that people on both sides of the fence could find a middle-ground…
Rita
That opens up such a can of worms. What you think is protecting yourself, your neighbor, and your land might be manslaughter in court. Everyone will interpret it differently and in the heat of the moment who knows what might happen. 15 years is harsh if a gun goes off by accident or if the injured party that tried to break into your home sues you and you get 15.
These new laws are not affecting responsible gun owners. They are driving gun nuts up the walls. And in the end all responsible gun owners are registered. It’s the criminals that you never knew had guns.
Accidents and self defense are not crimes. Use a gun in committing a “CRIME” or own a gun as a felon and go to jail for 15 years. This solves 80% of the problem.
Gun control laws do nothing. The ban on “assault” weapons didn’t lower gun crime. None of the laws proposed have any effect on criminals or the mentally ill because they won’t obey the law. That’s why we call them criminals.
Why is it that people want to control gun crime but not the criminals committing it?
“Why is it that people want to control gun crime but not the criminals committing it?”
I think that’s a very broad, disingenuous and inaccurate statement, pretty much the same thing as the tired old “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” statement. Guns are designed for no other reason but to maim or kill. Pushing for reasonable restrictions on these deadly weapons isn’t ignoring our country’s overall problem with crime/violence/criminals.
Requiring all gun owners to be registered was the first step taken to eventually outlaw private gun ownership in places like England and Australia. The “slow boiling of the frog” analogy really does work here.
Rita
I’m not saying you shouldn’t be allowed to shoot someone if they’re threatening your or your families safety. I’m saying that there are a lot of people out there that, for lack of a better term, jump the gun and shoot first. Also, there have been many cases sadly that took the person defending their home on trial for injuring the burglar. With a mandatory 15 years it would be applied to the home owner in a heartbeat.
Also, I’m torn on this new law over the Newtown shooting. Yes you should be allowed your constitutional right to own a gun and to protect your family, but the murder there took his mother’s guns after killing her. She had way too many guns to say they were all for self defense! Who needs those guns? Militias are the only circumstance I can think of. Sometimes a line in the sand needs to be drawn. Sadly, we’re all slowly losing our civil liberties from under our noses too. Like I said i’m torn.
@Florc
I totally understand and respect your position. It is a very difficult situation. Nothing short of banning all guns could have stopped the tragedy in Newtown which has some of the toughest gun control laws in the country.
Where I live, if I shoot an intruder in my home, no matter his intent, I can not be charged with a crime much less taken to court or sued by the intruder. It’s the law.
I am appalled at the gun violence in this country but a very good step would be to get those people who repeatedly commit crimes out of society.
This isn’t a comment on gun laws in the US, just a correction of facts re Australia.
Nymeria- your statement is inaccurate. Private gun ownership isn’t outlawed here in Australia (not sure about England). What is against the law for a private citizen is the ownership of automatic weapons. This law was passed in response to the Port Arthur Massacre. A 2 second Google search reveals what the laws here in Oz are re gun ownership. Please see below;
State laws govern the possession and use of firearms in Australia. These laws were largely aligned under the 1996 National Agreement on Firearms. Anyone wishing to possess or use a firearm must have a Firearms Licence and, with some exceptions, be over the age of 18. Owners must have secure storage for their firearms.
Before someone can buy a firearm, he or she must obtain a Permit To Acquire. The first permit has a mandatory 28-day delay before it is first issued. In some states (e.g., Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales), this is waived for second and subsequent firearms of the same class. For each firearm a “Genuine Reason” must be given, relating to pest control, hunting, target shooting, or collecting. Self-defense is not accepted as a reason for issuing a license, even though it may be legal under certain circumstances to use a legally held firearm for self-defense.
Each firearm in Australia must be registered to the owner by serial number. Some states allow an owner to store or borrow another person’s registered firearm of the same category.
King is awesome. I was lucky yo grow up in Maine an he would visit local libraries and read to us. A very sweet man. The hit and run left him in terrible shape and he’s been doing more side projects to curb any chance of random violence. And his wife’s books are not good, but it’s cute that he humors her.
Side Note: Yes, his haunted houses were amazing and yes he’s building another addition to it!
I have to disagree, I love most of Tabitha’s books.
I heart books, too! That’s all I have to say. The other topic makes me too mad to even think about.
My favourite is the Dark Tower series and The stand
The Dark Tower series started off great, but got seriously derailed in the fifth book. I couldn’t finish it.
I have to join everyone who said The Stand. Someone lent me the unabridged (Lordy!) version of that book, and I was sucked in for days until I finished it. I was so hooked that I took it on a “girls weekend” but wouldn’t go out with the rest of the girls, I just stayed in to read. 🙂 Like the mini-series of it, too. I always think of that as Rob Lowe’s “comeback” vehicle.
I like this post! I’ve got some King recommendations. I tend to be overwhelmed in his section of the library.
Sadly I’ve only read Carrie and The Green Mile. I say The Green Mile between the two. Although TGM effed me up for months.
My mom is a King-nut, she has read every single thing he has ever written and bugged me all the time to read him but I kept resisting cuz I’m a wuz for all things terror but then she’s like, oh, he writes all kinds of genders and then I tried a couple of his books and I was hooked. I still avoid his terror novels, but he’s right, he is at the core a novelist not encased in a single niche. My favorirte is The Long Walk. That book is awsomely creepy. Also, The Green Mile.
I only read a few of his books, but his spectacular novella, The Different Seasons, is one of my all-time favorite books. Not his typically horror/thriller genre, but definitely a standout.
Different Seasons is a collection of novellas, including Apt Pupil, The Body, Rita Hayworth & Shawshank Redemption, and Breathing Method. Of these, Apt Pupil is the creepiest, but Shawshank probably the best written. Cheers.
Shawshank and the body ( stand by me ) seem to be two of the best movies that Hollyweird didn’t ruin. Oh ya the green mile too. I loved The Talisman thought it was a great adventure story. Sequel sucked though
Any love for 11/22/63? It’s the only recent book of his that I’ve liked. The other ones just made me wonder if he was doing drugs again (But time travel through a diner closet didn’t?)
Yes! See a few comments above.
I loved it! I think I associated him so much with the horror genre (not my thing) that I never bothered to read more than one or two of his novels. I was surprised at how good 11-22-63 was. I’ll have to go back now and read more of his non-horror novels.
I think he really went back to King basics with that one. The Green/Yellow Card Man could be spectacularly creepy if they made it into a movie. It could’ve been a bit shorter, but I still loved it.
Love King !!
My favourite book is probably third book in the Tower series, The Drawing of the Three, but The Eye of the Dragon is awesome as well. I have read all of his works up until the last seven years or so, got busy am now playing Catch up. I Really liked Under the Dome. He has had a few that left me cold, but overall, I have enjoyed most of his books that I have read.
He is at his best in novella format, In my opinion, and among those works I really don’t have a favourite. They are amazing. And if you don’t like a book, the forward always makes good reading too!
I’m a huge Stephen King fan and have been since I first read Carrie back in the 70’s.
Favorites are probably: IT; The Stand; and his Novella ‘The Mist’.
The movies are never as good as the books but they did a pretty decent version of the Mist.
Missed ‘1408’ and ‘11.22.63’, but I have just about all of his books so I’ll have to check those two out.
Thanks for this SK item!
I thought “It” should have been sliced in half. There was a lovely piece of writing at the end of the first part where the kids were walking home in the sunset thinking they might have killed the monster but they weren’t sure. It would have been a great note to end on and King should have left it at that. Bringing them all back as adults was boring and unnecessary.
I think in the south people would disagree about guns. UGH – People LOVE their guns in places like Texas. I went to a hunting party there last year (I know) and everyone drank beers and shot guns all weekend long. As for me, when in Rome… But they are “super safe” with them, keeping them locked up with the correct licenses. Some parts of the south are another world – you can literally drink alcohol and drive (at least as a passanger), they have drive thru liquor stores next to shooting ranges. I saw this with my OWN eyes, near Waco. You cannot take away their guns/civil liberties, at least this is what they told me…
The thing is no one wants to take away their guns. That paranoia is what makes a rational dialogue on the topic impossible.
No one wants to take away their guns. Take away their semi-assault weapons, yes, and better background checks. But the idiots carry on with the line, they’re taking away our guns, or, it’s the first step. I am from the South and like Joe Scarborough said he realized no one is taking away guns, but to hunt and protect your home you don’t need semi-assault weapons and his hunting friends agree.
“It” frightened me like nothing else, that’s probably why I’ve read it a dozen times! “The Shining” was my first King novel and I was sold after that.
The Shining is the most terrifying book ever written PERIOD.
Dolores Claiborne is brilliant and by far his most hilarious book. I was crying with laughter.
I first Stephen King in high school for AP English, his book On Writing. I had never read anything by him before and it was very interesting to see the tools and tricks he uses as a writer.
Finally a few years ago I decided I should read an actual story by him and picked up Pet Sematary in a bookstore. I knew the general storyline because someone had told me the movie’s plot (which I haven’t seen) but that is a scary book! Then I heard about the Dark Tower and I was intrigued. I’ve read Book 1 (The Gunslinger) and I just finished Book 2 (The Drawing of the Three). It is SUCH a weird story, I want to know where the heck he is going with this epic fantasy quest thing!
Dark Tower is great, I’m jealous you get to read them for the first time! As a commenter above says, the later books go off the rails, but unlike her, I still enjoyed them. I hope you continue to like them !
I’ve been going through the Dark Tower series thanks to a list a friend gave me with a suggested reading order of all of the DT-related books. It’s been a blast!
I’ll admit I found The Gunslinger hard to understand at first (honestly, I slogged through it) but was blown away by The Drawing of the Three and the concept of Roland being able to “step forward” into someone else’s body. That was the book that really hooked me into the DT series.
Tip: I found it really helpful to re-read The Gunslinger after finishing Wizard and Glass–all of a sudden, people and places mentioned in the first book made sense to me.
I’m now just pages away from finishing “Song of Susannah” and am actually dreading the completion of this series, as, like Keats says, I will never again be able to read them for the first time.
Just don’t get bogged down by Wizard and Glass. I’m going to go eat a tooterfish popkin now.
His characters are such real people. How they talk and think and act. The subjects of his books may be supernatural but the people and places are spot on. Love reading him for the detail. The Long Walk did the whole distopian kids in a life or death conest way before The Hungar Games.
IT is my favorite book. The Shining for the movie. I loved Stand By Me and Green Mile as well. Even the awkward Dreamcatcher simply because the actors got the friendships down. Especially Banky, he was a great Beav.
I’m Southern as well, but heartily agree with King on the background checks for gun owners. After all,I’m not crazy, on paper.
I love Stephen King myself. He made me really feel for Carrie even as he scared me. To this day I can’t even look at clowns thanks to IT.
The clown in “It” really is the scariest thing ever. I liked the miniseries too. “The Stand” because it is so beautiful philosophically. Finally, “The Mist” because it made me terrified of leaving my husband before/during or after a storm! But “Insomnia” cured mine. Love all the Stephen King love!
This is somewhat off topic but we just watched The Green Mile — it scared my young teen kids more than I anticipated and now I feel bad for suggesting it — but I was freaked out to see one of the main characters (Percy) is that guy who’s married to Courtney Stodden! I didn’t remember that/realize he’d ever had such a big role.
Ugh, Doug Hutchison (Percy) is just as slimy in real life. TGM is a beautiful story, though. I always watch it when it’s on.
I’ve read more King books than I can recall and can’t choose a favorite. But It made me jump at every noise. Tommyknockers is probably the one I think of most and gave me the most interesting nightmares. Also, the end was kind of funny: with all their technology, the one thing the aliens couldn’t master was getting along. And that’s what did them in. And, yeah, I think King is right about gun control. The arguments against common sense are loud, involved and long, but I hope they don’t prevail.
Oh, this is hard, I’ve read a lot of Stephen King. Probably The Langoliers, always impressed me how much he fit into a novella.