Stephen King Reads From Dr. Sleep

If you are enjoying the autumnal chill in the air, here is an excerpt from Dr. Sleep, his sequel to The Shining

Book Review: Cell

Cell by Stephen King
Release Date: January 2006
Publisher: Scribner
Audience: Adult/Mature
Pages: 480
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 4/5









Alas, we have reached the last day of Stephen King week... If you are wondering why none of the Dark Tower books made an appearance, a couple reasons. 1. I haven't read any of them beyond The Gunslinger and...well...that's about it. The series is fairly well known, and I wanted to share other King offerings. That doesn't mean the series won't appear on this blog. . .

Bit of a shift today as I am looking at a more dystopic book and one of his more recent novels. Cell follows Clayton, an unsuccessful artist, as he tries to find his son during a technology-induced apocalypse. From Clayton's observations, using a cellphone essentially erases the human brain, much like a magnet on a hard drive. This creates a mass of humanity that is wild, unpredictable, violent, and later dangerous as the full potential of the human brain is unlocked and creates a group-mind populace with preternatural abilities. Along the way he ends up grouping together with a number of people and they try to find out how to turn humans back to normal while trying to find loved ones.

This book is a very visceral book, which I think affects the novel negatively. It's almost as if King wanted to write in all the blood and filth that many authors may not include in their 'artistic vision'. Does knowing that humans lost control of their bowels and crap their pants matter? No. Do I need to know the specifics of naked people running by the narrator or details of people bashing their faces in? No. (alas, King-itis affects this book with its cast of many). It may just be a personal beef, but blaring the humanity of humans in novels when it doesn't have direct bearing on the plot smacks of self-superiority. One could make the argument that it is a physical representation of the mind-wipe people experienced, but that is shown in so many other ways this feels extraneous and only serves as shock value.

That being said, King must have done something right because I read it when it came out and the novel, upon recollection, is still vivid in my mind, perhaps because of the realistic and visceral nature of the novel. The nature of the threats the main characters face change throughout the novel, and Clayton's quest to find his child amongst the wreckage of humanity is compelling. Also, the nature of humanity is discussed some as the main characters try to make sense of it all.

Beyond the shock value of the book, it was a vivid and fast read, well put together and is an interesting take on the many apocalypses (apocalypsi?) humankind may face, often from unexpected quarters.

Film Friday: The Mist (2007) Movie Review

Title: The Mist
Genre: Horror
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Written by: Frank Darabont
Starring:
Thomas Jane
Marcia Gay Harden
Laurie Holden
Andre Braugher
Release Date: November 21st, 2007
Rating: 2.5/5

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Since I wrote a review of The Mist on Monday, I want to primarily talk about the differences between the book and movie.

My main problem with the movie is its need to be...well...cinematic. By that I mean that elements of the novel are translated into film language, to its detriment I think. One thing is the need to A. have the 'jump at you' scares and B. show off the creatures. To address the first complaint, earlier on before you see the creatures, it is more terrifying than when you do because you mind fills in the blanks and creates something far worse than the designers can create. (this is in no way to harp on Berni Wrightson's designs which are, as with all his work, awesome.) But they resort instead to have them jump out of the fog at the audience for cheap thrills rather than creating an atmospheric horror movie like The Thing.

This goes into the next part: showing off the monsters. Part of the terror is not seeing The Thing or the alien in Alien, but knowing it could appear at any moment, to keep you on the edge of your seat. In The Mist  they are all over the place and, as such, when they do attack it is less terrifying and has less of an impact on the audience. In most horror movies, less is more is often a plus, and I feel they could have had less of the monsters with more of an impact.

The ending. I don't want to ruin either the book or movie, but lets just say the movie was extremely maudlin and heavy handed with its ending. I prefer the book's ending myself.

However, what is most important is the characters and their interactions and I think the movie is fairly successful in this regard. Much like the book, the film is very visceral with its characters and you either like the characters or hate them (you only have to look at youtube comments on the trailer to see this). Despite this, I can't get past the ending. I am in the middle of the road on this movie, I like parts, don't like others. So, if you are intrigued by the book, or the trailer, watching the movie adaptation certainly won't hurt.

Book Review: Misery

Misery by Stephen King
Release Date: June 1987
Publisher:Viking (Penguin)
Audience: Adult
Pages: 320
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 5/5









Day five of Stephen King week! Whoo!

*crickets*

Well...I suppose I will talk about another Stephen King novel. Misery is my favorite Stephen King novel. The novel follows successful author Paul Sheldon who, after finishing his last 'Misery' novel, wrecks his car in a snowstorm while drunk. Rescued by loner and former RN Annie Wilkes, Sheldon is taken to her house and slowly nursed back to health. However, he soon finds Wilkes is a huge fan of his books and that he is also, essentially, her prisoner. Finding out that Sheldon kills Misery in his last novel, she demands a new book bringing her back to life, on the threat of his. The book follows Sheldon as he writes the book and attempts to escape his insane fan.

When I say fan, I don't mean the stereotypical nerd, I mean a mentally unstable insane loony toon woman who locks him in a room forcing him to write a book on pain of physical mutilation. This book is extremely claustrophobic as Sheldon is stuck in a wheelchair because he broke both legs in the car crash. Further, he is stuck in a small bedroom in a house in the middle of the mountains during winter. This book is extremely atmospheric and suspenseful because you don't know what Wilkes will do next and part of the allure of this novel is slowly uncovering Wilkes past and psyche along with Sheldon. You are kept on the edge of your seat as Sheldon tries to escape during times when Wilkes goes to town and root for him as he tries subtle things to aid in his escape.

I suppose a bit of a bias review in that I really like this book and recommend it to anyone who likes Stephen King, suspense/horror novels in general, or just enjoy a good read late at night. The movie is also one of the top Stephen King film adaptations and I highly recommend that as well. If you have seen the movie, the book is still worth checking out as the movie doesn't take things as far as the novel does.

She later went on to sell office supplies at Sabre

Book Review: The Eyes of the Dragon

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
Release Date: February 1987
Publisher: Viking (now owned by Penguin)
Audience: Everyone
Pages: 384
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 3/5








Day four of Stephen King week!

Today I am going to cheat a little bit and review The Eyes of the Dragon. A departure from most of his oeuvre, this book, while straight fantasy, still harbors that Stephen King flair.

The Eyes of the Dragon follows two brothers, princes, who are to inherit the kingdom. However, the older brother, Peter, is framed for the murder of the King by Flagg (our villain and stereotypical evil advisor) and the younger brother, Thomas, is placed on the throne. Flagg, knowing Thomas is only 12, offers his services and advice and Thomas, not knowing any better, gives him more and more power, despite knowing Flagg framed Peter and killed his father. The brunt of the novel follows both Peter's attempts to escape prison and kill Flagg along with the decay of the kingdom, the throne, and Thomas.

I think the main reason I enjoy this novel is that the novel, while including many tropes from the fantasy genre, focuses not on the kingdom per se but the two brothers. It is interesting to see how Peter and Thomas, through chance and circumstance, become two completely different individuals. By the end of the novel Thomas, under Flagg's influence, has become a obese, dunk, shamble of a man while Peter is almost the complete opposite. For me, the compelling elements of this novel is seeing the passage of time and affects of entropy on the two princes.

However, beyond that you do not get much other than the general plot of: good king replaced by inept king ruled by evil advisor via murder and rightful king is banished. I am sure you all can guess as to the novels outcome from there. Yet again, perhaps not one of his strongest novels, and not a dystopian novel (unless you count the dark potential we all share given the effects of entropy, decay, and the passage of time on the human frame) It is worth checking out from your local library. Stephen King offers nothing new in this book as far as the fantasy genre is concerned, but it somehow feels fresh.

Book Review: The Long Walk

The Long Walk by Stephen King
Release Date: July 1979
Publisher: Signet
Audience: Everyone
Pages: 384
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 3.5/5









Stephen King week continues at Dystopian Reviews!!! Why? Because the world won't end if I include a little horror.

The Long Walk initially published under his Richard Bachman pen name, follows Garraty as he enters into a contest known, as the title implies, only as 'The Long Walk'. One hundred people enter the contest, the winner is the last person still walking. The rules are simple: keep walking at a pace of four miles an hour; fall under that pace, get a warning; while the warnings can be dropped off, if you get three warnings you die. If you win you get The Prize: anything you want for the rest of your life. The book follows Garraty and the friends he makes on 'The Long Walk'.

While this book isn't one of Stephen Kings' better known books, I still find myself retuning to it every so often to read it. The premise is fairly simple, everyone is walking until only one of them is left alive. However, as the group dynamics begin to emerge and the walkers become disillusioned to a number of things, the book becomes compelling as you wonder who will emerge as the winner, and what each walker can be said to represent. While not specifically stated, it is implied that this takes place in the future and the American government is more despotic, 'The Long Walk' being almost gladiatorial a la Battle Royale or The Hunger Games (though entry in 'The Long Walk' is primarily voluntary).

Stephen King has admitted that this is one of his earliest books, and it is interesting to see the elements and ideas that often come to the fore in his later novels being explored in this book. Perhaps not the best example of Stephen King's oeuvre, I still find it has its own charm and, while not for all, I recommend giving it a chance and walking to your nearest library or bookstore to check it out.

Book Review: The Mist

The Mist by Stephen King
Release Date: 1980;1985;2007
Publisher: Signet
Audience: Everyone
Pages: 240
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 4/5









Stephen King week! Why? Because I can!!! :)

Admittedly, I turned to this novel after watching the movie adaptation and the fact that my friend mentioned that the book ended differently than the movie. In short, The Mist follows David and his son as they becomed trapped in a grocery story with a number of other patrons. They soon find they cannot leave the store as strange creatues abound in the mist, killing those who venture forth from the store. Soon, the patrons, a la The Lord of the Flies or The Drive-In, begin to socially break down. Most end up following a prophet who emerges from the group, a prophet who believes a child sacrafice is needed to save them all: David's son. David, to save his son, must brave the mists.

The Mist is one of those books that, upon completion, you kind of get that 'I hate humans' feeling. In this book, Stephen writes a number of visceral characters that naturally rub against the reader and do a good job of making you hate them. Further, I enjoy the ambiguous nature of the novel, you are never sure exactly what is happening or where these mists came from. Further, you are not exactly sure what will happen next as the grocery store, as time passes, becomes a pressure cooker on the people living inside of it and anything becomes possible.

While the book suffers a little from what I call King-itis (the need for dozens of tertiary characters) it was a decent book with memorable characters. Further (a plus in my experience with Stephen King novels), it is fairly short. This seems to be a nod by King to a number of authors, including Golding, Lovecraft, and others like them. If you are looking for book with some atmosphere or a decent dystopian / horror I recommend checking this book out.