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Post by GryphonMage on Aug 4, 2003 12:41:41 GMT -5
Why on earth is he so popular?? I don't read a lot of horror so maybe I just don't have any basis for comparison or something, but frankly, I'm just not all that impressed. What's the deal with him?
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Post by fen on Aug 6, 2003 20:41:46 GMT -5
He writes at a level that is accesable to the average person. His characters are working to middle class and use words like f*ck and sh*t. Some of his novels are not that great. But 'The Shining', 'It' and 'The Stand' are shining works of litery.
Well up too a point with the Stand, he killed off my favourite character about two thirds of the way through and after I finished reading that book I swore off Stephen King.
His book 'On Writing' remains a superb guide to what is a very fresh and different approach to writing.
As you can tell I have mixed feelings towards him. He's not my fav horror author. I'll get to that guy when I recover my books and review them.
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Post by GryphonMage on Aug 7, 2003 10:51:09 GMT -5
You so haven't read the review we did on "On Writing" did you? Maybe my problem with King is that I don't find is every day characters very accessible at all. Most of the people I know don't swear much. The language he uses is actually one of the reasons I don't care much for him. I think he overuses it.
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Post by fen on Aug 7, 2003 19:40:48 GMT -5
I have read that review, and yes there is a fair amount of repeat in his novel. But I encounter and deal with people who are like his characters. They do swear that much.
So I'm afraid here I hold a different opinion. I still find the book inspiring and enlightening. Sure I'd be willing to accept that you don't like it.
But I'm all for any guy who encourages removal of the 'ly' words they are wishy-washy and weak.
They are the crutch that people fall back on when they are too scared to write a set opinion.
As for basically <- well don't even get my started on my personal bug bear
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Post by GryphonMage on Aug 11, 2003 9:45:33 GMT -5
My biggest issue with the book is the best advice he gave, like removing -ly words, was pretty much direct from Strunk and White, who managed to give good advice without every other word being f--k.
On the other hand, the book wasn't all bad. The part about his life story was interesting, and in some parts kind of inspiring. But to be honest, I bought the book for the writing advice, and since I already owned Strunk and White - total ripoff.
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VenusKQuest
chibi ninja
Guten Tag, ich bin ein Berliner! (Good day (hi) I am a jelly donut!)
Posts: 5
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Post by VenusKQuest on Aug 13, 2003 23:48:18 GMT -5
He's popular because he writes in a formula that people like. Although I do believe it's VERY important to find one of his good novels to fall into him, I was in that phase for a while.
He reminds me of E.F.Benson, an older (as in he wrote in the 40's and 50's if I'm correct) author. You could predict HIS short stories in a very scary way, it's almost like: Turn to page 12 for plot twist.
Mind you I love some of E.F. Benson's stuff regardless of the predictability, it just matters what the story itself is, instead of the formula.
Which granted is VERY hard for most people.
Stephen King is the same way. I read (scratch that, read: TRIED to read) his book Gerald's Game 7 times. I just couldn't bare it, it was so painful to me... the predictability and stupidity. How one character couldn't figure to (sorry for the rant) pull on the GD'ed bed post 'til the wood broke (being she HAD metal handcuffs on) or at least til the handcuffs themselves snapped open, saying they DO have safety switches on them. I mean, I could NOT relate to that circumstance.
But I had also read The Long Walk, one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Stephen King BOOKS (my movies are classic choices, regrettably) I mean to me I figured out who'd survive on page 2, but still... the PROCESS was beautiful.
The development of each private pain each character brought, the greed some had while the virtue others had... the sheer shock value it presented at such a heartless government and culture... It was beautiful.
He went into a manic writing spree in the 80's... he once said something along the lines of: Whoever wrote Carrie and the other books during the 80's was GREAT, but I was so cranked up at that time that it sure as heck wasn't me. (NOT AN EXACT QUOTE! I do not reference well, sorry all)
Yeah, most of the rest is crap though. His formulas were getting stale and he very rarely tweaks it. To my opinion that is.
Well, hope to talk to you all again later! ~Auf Wieder Sehen~ Vanessa ;D
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