Messymascot's faith in humanity and ginger safe haven

[Barnfred 55]

I have read all of King’s work and the beauty of it is that his collection is that vast it is literally 25 years since I read some of it so it seems new again. I’m starting to wonder if his son is now co-writing given the speed of the work coming out in recent times.

@COYBL25 recommended that to me a good while back and I loved it. God I wish I didn’t have to work today and could just curl up and read.

I think we need to start a thread where we can talk about books that @COYBL25 hasn't read. lol

 

[Armaghtoffee]

Morning all.

Piggybacking onto @Armaghtoffee and @anjelikaferrett ‘s conversation: I’m ploughing on with my King-a-thon. For the last couple of years I’ve been reading every novel of his (that I hadn’t yet read) in order. About 2/3 of the way through The Dark Tower. I’m with @anjelikaferrett on this one, in that I haven’t loved this series. Not a great fan of Talisman or Black House either, though the latter had some decent horror elements.

I wholeheartedly agree he’s the best storyteller of his and all subsequent generations but there’s a LOT of filler in that bibliography, as you’d expect from someone so prolific, I guess.

Had a rough one last night. Little fella is poorly and came in for a 4am cuddle, shortly followed by my eldest at 5am on the back of a bad dream, all of which came after my routine 2:30am check on my eldest’s blood sugars. Brought an energy drink on the school run this morning. Just about kept the wolves from the door. Just a day of work to contend with, now!!

Have a good one, all.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

I think we need to start a thread where we can talk about books that @COYBL25 hasn't read. lol

Coloured in you mean?

@COYBL25

 

[Barnfred 55]

The first book in the Passage Trilogy ( The Passage ) is as good as any horror I`ve ever read.

It`s beautifully written and parts of it ( when they`re in the desert compound ) almost reads like Cormac McCarthy has written it.

It`s crying out to be made into a series of films.

Not read the books but will keep a look out for them. Tend to recall a recent TV series of that name but don't know if it was based on the same book.

Edit. Just googled and it was. But for some reason they didn't follow up on the rest of the books and stopped after series 1. I think books like these are far better covered in TV series than films. Too much of the story is missed in the shortened version and if you've already read the books you feel a bit cheated.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Morning all.

Piggybacking onto @Armaghtoffee and @anjelikaferrett ‘s conversation: I’m ploughing on with my King-a-thon. For the last couple of years I’ve been reading every novel of his (that I hadn’t yet read) in order. About 2/3 of the way through The Dark Tower. I’m with @anjelikaferrett on this one, in that I haven’t loved this series. Not a great fan of Talisman or Black House either, though the latter had some decent horror elements.

I wholeheartedly agree he’s the best storyteller of his and all subsequent generations but there’s a LOT of filler in that bibliography, as you’d expect from someone so prolific, I guess.

Had a rough one last night. Little fella is poorly and came in for a 4am cuddle, shortly followed by my eldest at 5am on the back of a bad dream, all of which came after my routine 2:30am check on my eldest’s blood sugars. Brought an energy drink on the school run this morning. Just about kept the wolves from the door. Just a day of work to contend with, now!!

Have a good one, all.

He's certainly a top writer. But I've always preferred reading James Herbert, especially his earlier stuff. Possibly because they are set in the UK and I can relate to them more. Mind you, how you can relate to giant man eating rats I'm not sure. lol

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

Oh good grief. Hope the little ones are feeling better today both physically and emotionally - bad dreams are scary. Hopefully you will survive your work day. and catch up on sleep tonight.

I tend to like Stephen King's shorter stories best. His story telling just shines through. I haven't really read much of anything lately but of the ones I have read recently Dr Sleep (follow up to The Shining) was really good and 11.22.63 was also a good read.

The Stand was my favourite book of all time until I undertook this marathon and read Cujo. His good books are incredible and his bad ones are pretty bad. Very little middle ground where he is concerned!!

Kids are great, thanks. I spoke to the eldest this morning when he was a bit more lucid and we discussed his dream. Little one is absolutely fine apart from a cough, which would (and has previously) get him sent home from school. He's made up he gets to slack off and have a cuddle with his mum who has been away with work for the last few days.

Just me that's knackered, probably had about 6,000mg of caffeine today and it has barely touched the sides!!

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

He's certainly a top writer. But I've always preferred reading James Herbert, especially his earlier stuff. Possibly because they are set in the UK and I can relate to them more. Mind you, how you can relate to giant man eating rats I'm not sure. lol

James Herbert and Graham Masterton were some of my earliest horror literature memories. Pretty wild, but good fun nonetheless.

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

The first book in the Passage Trilogy ( The Passage ) is as good as any horror I`ve ever read.

It`s beautifully written and parts of it ( when they`re in the desert compound ) almost reads like Cormac McCarthy has written it.

It`s crying out to be made into a series of films.

Such a glowing reference that I got the audiobook earlier on. Got a way to go in my current audiobook but I will jump on it as soon as this one is finished.

 

[Barnfred 55]

James Herbert and Graham Masterton were some of my earliest horror literature memories. Pretty wild, but good fun nonetheless.

I was halfway through reading his last book when he died. I was actually quite spooked by it. He died suddenly and no reason of death has ever been publically stated as far as i'm aware. All they said was that he hadn't been ill. It was very weird, but then again so were his books.

 

[Blue Piper]

Just finished Elevation which was short but very very satisfying. Over Christmas I read Let it Bleed but I am spoilt for choice now. Had been weighing up revisiting The Dark Tower or The Talisman but think I will go more modern with The Institute.

Greatest writer ever by far.

He also spans the generations. My 25-year old is a huge fan as well. His favorite is Cujo. From his older stuff I would pick out Salems Lot as particularly good. Even though I've tried I could never, ever manage more than 20 pages into The Dark Tower. Must be a mental block or something.

 

[COYBL25]

Not read the books but will keep a look out for them. Tend to recall a recent TV series of that name but don't know if it was based on the same book.

Edit. Just googled and it was. But for some reason they didn't follow up on the rest of the books and stopped after series 1. I think books like these are far better covered in TV series than films. Too much of the story is missed in the shortened version and if you've already read the books you feel a bit cheated.

I watched the tv series and although the cast gave it their best shot, it was made in a way, so`s that you didn`t necessarily have to know anything about the book(s), to watch it.

In essence, they missed some of the best storylines and also massive great chunks of the book out. In doing so, the tv series had nowhere near the same " punch or depth " as the book.

I understand why they did it though, as the book is the Passage is close on 1200 pages long.

If the film(s) where done properly and with the right cast, they`d effortlessly become modern scfi horror classics, like Alien / Aliens, as the template for the script is there with the books - which are off the scale well written for this genre ( the author is a Professor of English at an American university )

They`ve done it with the re boot of Dune, split it into two films, due to the book being a massive read and impossible to do it justice with one film.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

He also spans the generations. My 25-year old is a huge fan as well. His favorite is Cujo. From his older stuff I would pick out Salems Lot as particularly good. Even though I've tried I could never, ever manage more than 20 pages into The Dark Tower. Must be a mental block or something.

Randal Flagg makes it worth persevering through The Dark Tower.

King loves the concept that evil is beyond ancient yet will often change form over time. That notion has chilled me since I was a teenager discovering Salem’s Lot.

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

Randal Flagg makes it worth persevering through The Dark Tower.

King loves the concept that evil is beyond ancient yet will often change form over time. That notion has chilled me since I was a teenager discovering Salem’s Lot.

The thing that drew me in to wanting to read all of his books was that I loved how so many of them exist within the same uni/multiverse.

Got to disagree though. I thought we got had off when it came to ol’ Randy in the DT series. He’s great in The Stand, though.

 

[blue1948]

Morning all, bright and frosty here again. Was taken aback a bit yesterday when I received the card I posted to my aunt in Canada marked “return to sender - deceased”. She was 98 so not entirely unexpected but at the same time to get the news in such a terse way was upsetting. She was in a care home and she corresponded by telephone as her eyesight wasn’t good and she was unable to write but I sent cards and letters which the staff read to her. Her son lives in California and we’ve never had any contact but he knows that she has a neice and nephews in England so I would have thought he might have found my address or email amongst her papers and could have dropped a line let us know or maybe the care home could have put a note on the card to say when and how, apparently not.
@blue1948 good luck with the blood test and glad to hear Mrs B. is progressing. @Brett Angell Delight hope your little ones recover soon and good luck with keeping awake today lol
Have a good day, all?

Thanks .Blood all good and ECG the same as last year but the doc wants me to drink more water ,have no alchohol for a week and take an extra tablet for the cholesterol for four months as the bad level is only just below the max recommended and he says it is imbalanced with the good so needs to come down more. So chuffed to bits .

 

[Armaghtoffee]

The thing that drew me in to wanting to read all of his books was that I loved how so many of them exist within the same uni/multiverse.

Got to disagree though. I thought we got had off when it came to ol’ Randy in the DT series. He’s great in The Stand, though.

I’d say Maine would be a wonderful spot to walk around although how creepy would the Barrowlands be even in daylight??

I think I missed a trick not re-reading The Stand during lockdown. Quite a prescient book all considered.