Could someone please explain to me what people see in him? I've only read a couple of books by King (Desperation, most recently) ,and, from those, I find he is an absolutely terrible writer. He spends forever describing the most trivial of things. I've been told that his older stuff is better, but I really can't bring myself to read one more book by him. I think he's severely overrated.
2007-01-16 15:40:31 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I think his main strengths are his very good characterizations, which often feel like echoes of real people one has met or could easily meet and which tend to draw you into any narrative; and his ability to come up with creative variations on older themes, such as "The Dead Zone"'s poignant twist on the good & bad aspects of being able to see into the future or "The Shining"'s great twists on the haunted house and ESP. If he's not your cup of tea, okay, that's each reader's call, but he's been very prolific and had more far hits than misses. Sometimes "trivial things" create an atmosphere of color that enhances the narrative. He also has a wicked sense of instilling dread, which is a more delicate thing than merely shocking the reader. For all of that, I at least give him his due points, as I have often found his twists and turns engaging.
2007-01-16 16:05:44 · answer #1 · answered by gamerathon 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Try
Misery (gave me chill bumps even in the tub)
Needful Things (the kill scenes KILL)
The Shining (proves he's a creepy sob)
Delores Claiborne (redemption from child abuse)
IT (will scare the be-jesus out of you; make you HATE clowns)
The Dead Zone (much better than the series)
Green Mile (amazing)
Shawshank Redemption was also King
The Stand (long, but worth it...the end of the world as we know it)
Thinner (vengeful Gypsies, corrupt politicians)
Pet Sematary (just read it)
he is long winded, but he does not use five dollar words, and the descriptions are meant to suck you in and make you see what he sees.
Desperation went downhill after the first chapter as far as I'm concerned, and I refuse to read ANY of the Gunslinger(s).
Pick what you like by him just like you would any other writer....
I also just finished Cell just last night and it was like sitting around a campfire hearing ghost stories.
2007-01-16 23:57:51 · answer #2 · answered by melissa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
king is the greatest author of all time hands down. maybe you don't like him but over 30 new york times best sellers cant be wrong. not including the hundreds of short stories. maybe you just read to slow and it seems like he takes forever describing.
Stephen King ROCKS! There will never be any author better than Stephen king.
2007-01-18 23:21:28 · answer #3 · answered by Hippie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Steven has had some really fantastic stories (The Langoliers), and unfortunately, some complete bombs (The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon). His older stuff is indeed better then anything I've read from him as of late... and his recent attempt at a mini-series, "Kingdom Hospital" was flat out ridiculous.
2007-01-16 23:52:33 · answer #4 · answered by Lirrain 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
His earlier writings were extremely good and terrifying. When I was in college, I read "It" and couldn't put it down because I was too scared.
I recently read "Cell." It was well written, but pointless.
I took a very long hiatus from his books because, after trying to read "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon," I could swallow it.
2007-01-16 23:49:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, seriously King's older stuff is way superior to his later stuff. I know die-hard King fans who admit that he's lost his touch. Try Salem's Lot, or The Shining, or Misery, or The Gunslinger, or Cujo, and then make up your mind.
2007-01-16 23:52:56 · answer #6 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you for the most part. I just could Not get through the first ten pages of IT for the life of me and i couldn't get through Pet Cemetery either. However, Firestarter was excellent, as was Carrie. All of my friends adore the dark tower series, although I haven't touched them. I guess he is rather hit and miss, but I would agree that for the most part his earlier stuff is good.
2007-01-17 00:36:46 · answer #7 · answered by Martiedawn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont.. i beg u dont read.. cell.. its totally a waste of 2 days or so of reading.. he doesnt end the book but leaves it open for interpretation instead of a closure he gives a chapter of his new book coming out inked in his own writing..
yay but please i need an ending sometimes.. i agree with most people thats hes come and gone and now hes just writing cos he is stephen king and he can.. but hes past his sell by date already
2007-01-17 13:11:01 · answer #8 · answered by girl_yeahhh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that he is trading on his reputation now. The latest stuff is really bad. I would recommend that you start "The Stand" great book. I have it in line to read again well worth your time. This is where he made his reputation.
2007-01-16 23:50:02 · answer #9 · answered by al 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I think he tells a story very well. He makes things very real for the reader. I think he could have done more real novels and less horror, but most people read him for horror. His wife Tabitha is, however, a better writer than he is from my point of view.
2007-01-16 23:50:32 · answer #10 · answered by terry b 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋