| Author | Message | ||
     Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 129.11.77.198 |
Radio 4 are doing a series of programmes on American Literature at the moment. Authors scrutinised are Norman Mailer, David Mamet, Vonnegut Jr, a few others . . . and Stephen King. Mark Lawson will present. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.56 |
Well if you're doing anything about American literature, missing out the most popular American writer of the last 3 decades would be a bit of a gap. I'm not sure if he's still officially the worlds bestselling writer but I know he held that title for a long time. I must admit to preferring his early work to his more recent books. In the last 10 years I've found he tends to start really well and then goes downhill fast - Bag of Bones and Rose Madder were the worst for that IMHO. I thought Cell was a huge return to form though and it kept the standard up through the whole book - and I loved the ending, even though Ive read a lot of dissenting voices about that. I've got Lisey's story, Duma Key and Dreamcatcher in my TBR pile, soon to be joined by Under the Dome | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 86.169.163.57 |
I absolutely LOVED Lisey's Story and thought it was a proper "return to form". Duma Key was good and interesting, but nowhere near as engaging. Haven't read the other two (yet), though. | ||
| Colin Leslie (Blackabyss) Username: Blackabyss Registered: 02-2010 Posted From: 86.164.67.73 |
Under The Dome is also excellent but for the very dubious ending which I won't spoil for anyone.. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.167.138 |
Not read 'Under The Dome' yet, but I think I may be the only person who actually liked 'Duma Key' better than 'Lisey's Story.' Ah well... chacon a son gout. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.181.73 |
That makes two of us then, Simon! | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
I thought you'd had the gout treated, Simon. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.167.138 |
Some curses are forever, Ramsey...  Mick, glad I'm not alone. | ||
| Colin Leslie (Blackabyss) Username: Blackabyss Registered: 02-2010 Posted From: 86.164.67.73 |
Here, here to Duma Key, didn't care much for Lisey's story. Mind you Under The Dome beats them both, if only it had a better ending... | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.167.138 |
My problem with Lisey's Story, to be honest, was that for me the characterisation didn't quite ring true. It didn't feel like a female character, more like King trying to write an authentic female character. It just jarred. It was still a good book, but in many ways it just lacked King's usual narrative ease. Duma Key, though, seriously cut the mustard as far as I was concerned. Long, but it never felt like it was outstaying its welcome, and leisurely paced- but since when's that a problem in supernatural fiction. Looking forward to Under The Dome though... |