David Schwinghammer's Blog - Posts Tagged "stephen-king"
MOVIES WORTHY OF THE BOOK
1. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
2. CLOCKWORK ORANGE
3. MISERY
4. THE THIN MAN
5. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
6. FIELD OF DREAMS
7. HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY
8. THE NATURAL
9. ANATOMY OF A MURDER
10. THE COLOR PURPLE
11. SCHINDLER'S LIST
12. DR. ZHIVAGO
13. ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
14. THE BIG SLEEP
15. GONE WITH THE WIND
16. HUD
17. A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
18. LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR
19. IN THE CUT
20. LORD OF THE RINGS
21. A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
22. LOVE STORY
23. SHANE
24. CAPTAIN'S COURAGEOUS
25. FEAR STRIKES OUT
2. CLOCKWORK ORANGE
3. MISERY
4. THE THIN MAN
5. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
6. FIELD OF DREAMS
7. HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY
8. THE NATURAL
9. ANATOMY OF A MURDER
10. THE COLOR PURPLE
11. SCHINDLER'S LIST
12. DR. ZHIVAGO
13. ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
14. THE BIG SLEEP
15. GONE WITH THE WIND
16. HUD
17. A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
18. LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR
19. IN THE CUT
20. LORD OF THE RINGS
21. A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
22. LOVE STORY
23. SHANE
24. CAPTAIN'S COURAGEOUS
25. FEAR STRIKES OUT
Finders Keepers
MISERY has always been my favorite Stephen King book, mainly because it wasn't about some dopey clown sticking his head out of a sewer grating. It was about an obsessed fan who happened to find her favorite writer in dire straights after a car accident and refused to let him go until he promised to continue her favorite series, which he had discontinued. It was plausible, in other words.
FINDERS KEEPERS is also about an obsessed fan who sets out to rob a J.D. Salinger like novelist who had been out of the public eye for twenty years. Morris Bellamy is more interested in a continuation of the Jimmy God novels (think Holden Caulfield), the last of which seemed to him to have been a sellout. John Rothstein keeps his writing and some money in a safe which Morris and his friends break into; Morris then dispatches his literary hero with a bullet to the brain and hides the money and the moleskin notebooks in a trunk buried beneath a tree. But he's arrested for a brutal rape and spends the next thirty-five years in jail.
Along come Pete Saubers who lives in Morrie's old house; he finds the trunk and the money as the bank beneath the tree has eroded revealing the trunk. Wonder of wonders Pete is also a big Rothstein fan, but he needs the money more to help his parents. His dad just happens to be a victim of the Mr. Mercedes attack; he can barely walk and has been laid off his job as a real estate salesman, thanks to the recession. His wife still has a job but just barely. Pete decides to send them five hundred a month, anonymously, and it pulls them through. By the time he's ready for college it's running out and his little sister wants to go to a private school; she's bullied at the public school she goes to.
Pete wants to go to college to become a heinous (j.k) literary critic, as he doesn't quite have the talent to imitate his hero, Rothstein. He decides to sell some of the moleskin notebooks; he asks his former hippie teacher to whom he might sell them without too many questions being asked. Coincidentally (he said sarcastically) the teacher recommends a former friend of Morrie's who now owns a rare books store. He's wise to Pete immediately and sets out to blackmail him into giving him all of the notebooks. There are two new Jimmy Gold books, the second of which is his best, in Pete's estimation.
I know you're asking, Where the heck is Bill Hodges and his gang from MR. MERCEDES?, as was I. It takes over a hundred pages before he makes an appearance. Tina, Pete's little sister, the one who gets bullied, is friends with Barbara Robinson from the first book. Of course she is. She's noticed Pete is losing weight, his acne has resurfaced and he talks in his sleep. Holly who brained Mr. Mercedes with a sock containing ball bearings is now Bill's assistant, and she's gaining confidence every day. Jerome, Bill's lawn care boy from the first book is Barb's older brother, now in college. He returns to help out.
I think you know by now my main objection to the book is the unusual number of coincidences. But this is Stephen King, and he's got to be the best writer I've ever read at hooking you on the first page. Besides, Bill is an ex-cop who was suicidal at the beginning of MR. MERCEDES; Holly is somehow related to the woman Bill fell in love with in that book who came to a sad end. Bill blames himself. There's a cliffhanger at the end; I hate cliffhangers, but this is a three-book project, and the cliffhanger involves Mr. Mercedes, Brady Hartsfield, who's supposed to be brain dead; Bill isn't so sure. The John Rothstein plot has been fully resolved.
FINDERS KEEPERS is also about an obsessed fan who sets out to rob a J.D. Salinger like novelist who had been out of the public eye for twenty years. Morris Bellamy is more interested in a continuation of the Jimmy God novels (think Holden Caulfield), the last of which seemed to him to have been a sellout. John Rothstein keeps his writing and some money in a safe which Morris and his friends break into; Morris then dispatches his literary hero with a bullet to the brain and hides the money and the moleskin notebooks in a trunk buried beneath a tree. But he's arrested for a brutal rape and spends the next thirty-five years in jail.
Along come Pete Saubers who lives in Morrie's old house; he finds the trunk and the money as the bank beneath the tree has eroded revealing the trunk. Wonder of wonders Pete is also a big Rothstein fan, but he needs the money more to help his parents. His dad just happens to be a victim of the Mr. Mercedes attack; he can barely walk and has been laid off his job as a real estate salesman, thanks to the recession. His wife still has a job but just barely. Pete decides to send them five hundred a month, anonymously, and it pulls them through. By the time he's ready for college it's running out and his little sister wants to go to a private school; she's bullied at the public school she goes to.
Pete wants to go to college to become a heinous (j.k) literary critic, as he doesn't quite have the talent to imitate his hero, Rothstein. He decides to sell some of the moleskin notebooks; he asks his former hippie teacher to whom he might sell them without too many questions being asked. Coincidentally (he said sarcastically) the teacher recommends a former friend of Morrie's who now owns a rare books store. He's wise to Pete immediately and sets out to blackmail him into giving him all of the notebooks. There are two new Jimmy Gold books, the second of which is his best, in Pete's estimation.
I know you're asking, Where the heck is Bill Hodges and his gang from MR. MERCEDES?, as was I. It takes over a hundred pages before he makes an appearance. Tina, Pete's little sister, the one who gets bullied, is friends with Barbara Robinson from the first book. Of course she is. She's noticed Pete is losing weight, his acne has resurfaced and he talks in his sleep. Holly who brained Mr. Mercedes with a sock containing ball bearings is now Bill's assistant, and she's gaining confidence every day. Jerome, Bill's lawn care boy from the first book is Barb's older brother, now in college. He returns to help out.
I think you know by now my main objection to the book is the unusual number of coincidences. But this is Stephen King, and he's got to be the best writer I've ever read at hooking you on the first page. Besides, Bill is an ex-cop who was suicidal at the beginning of MR. MERCEDES; Holly is somehow related to the woman Bill fell in love with in that book who came to a sad end. Bill blames himself. There's a cliffhanger at the end; I hate cliffhangers, but this is a three-book project, and the cliffhanger involves Mr. Mercedes, Brady Hartsfield, who's supposed to be brain dead; Bill isn't so sure. The John Rothstein plot has been fully resolved.
End of Watch
The last number in Stephen King's mystery is a bit stranger than the first two, and there's a very big believability factor. Even King seems to know that as he spends more time explaining how what happens could be possible. Maybe in a robotic future.
Bill Hodges, the retired detective, has always suspected that Brady Hartsfield, Mr. Mercedes, from the first book, was still somewhat lucid behind his brain dead mask. He'd been hit in the head by a bag of ball bearings before he could blow up a concert where thousands of teeny boppers were in attendance. The nurses were telling stories about Brady turning on the TV, rattling the shades, among other telekinesis episodes. But eventually Bill stopped going to see Brady to avoid harassment charges.
Enter Library Al with a defunct Zappit Game Boy. There's a game on it called the Fishing Hole that's somewhat hypnotic, and Brady uses it to get inside Al's head. Another culprit is Dr. Babineau, a neurologist who thinks he might have a cure for Brady's condition. Thing is it hasn't been approved for humans by the FDA. It works, and Brady begins to grow back brain cells. Brady still has murder on his mind. There's this nurse who has a wee bit of an epilepsy problem. During her weak moments, Brady finds he can see out the window while still helpless in bed. He's seeing the world through the nurse's eyes.
By using Library Al to distribute the Zappit and another former IT coworker , Freddi Linklatter, to adapt the Fishing Hole to his needs, Brady is able to target former attendees at the concert, convincing them to commit suicide. When he takes aim at Barbara Robinson, Jerome Robinson's sister, Bill takes notice. Jerome is Bill's former lawn boy and helper, along with Holly Gibney, who is now Bill's partner is a detective agency called Finder's Keepers, the title of the second book. Barbara walks into traffic due to the hypnotic effects of the Zappit's pink fish, but a boy saves her life. Jerome is presently helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity; he's only reachable by phone or text, so it's mostly Bill and Holly against the nefarious Brady, who has also set up a web site encouraging suicide.
Bill and Holly must find Freddi Linklatter, who is on Brady's visitor list. She's the key to stopping the suicide epidemic.
But I've said too much. This is the most enjoyable King book/books since MISERY. The characters are likable if not lovable, especially Bill and Holly, who used the ball bearings to take out Brady in the first place. As I've said above, this one stretches believability a bit too much, but I was able to suspend disbelief enough to enjoy it. I highly recommend all three. King won the Edgar Award for MR. MERCEDES. King doesn't usually win literary awards.
Bill Hodges, the retired detective, has always suspected that Brady Hartsfield, Mr. Mercedes, from the first book, was still somewhat lucid behind his brain dead mask. He'd been hit in the head by a bag of ball bearings before he could blow up a concert where thousands of teeny boppers were in attendance. The nurses were telling stories about Brady turning on the TV, rattling the shades, among other telekinesis episodes. But eventually Bill stopped going to see Brady to avoid harassment charges.
Enter Library Al with a defunct Zappit Game Boy. There's a game on it called the Fishing Hole that's somewhat hypnotic, and Brady uses it to get inside Al's head. Another culprit is Dr. Babineau, a neurologist who thinks he might have a cure for Brady's condition. Thing is it hasn't been approved for humans by the FDA. It works, and Brady begins to grow back brain cells. Brady still has murder on his mind. There's this nurse who has a wee bit of an epilepsy problem. During her weak moments, Brady finds he can see out the window while still helpless in bed. He's seeing the world through the nurse's eyes.
By using Library Al to distribute the Zappit and another former IT coworker , Freddi Linklatter, to adapt the Fishing Hole to his needs, Brady is able to target former attendees at the concert, convincing them to commit suicide. When he takes aim at Barbara Robinson, Jerome Robinson's sister, Bill takes notice. Jerome is Bill's former lawn boy and helper, along with Holly Gibney, who is now Bill's partner is a detective agency called Finder's Keepers, the title of the second book. Barbara walks into traffic due to the hypnotic effects of the Zappit's pink fish, but a boy saves her life. Jerome is presently helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity; he's only reachable by phone or text, so it's mostly Bill and Holly against the nefarious Brady, who has also set up a web site encouraging suicide.
Bill and Holly must find Freddi Linklatter, who is on Brady's visitor list. She's the key to stopping the suicide epidemic.
But I've said too much. This is the most enjoyable King book/books since MISERY. The characters are likable if not lovable, especially Bill and Holly, who used the ball bearings to take out Brady in the first place. As I've said above, this one stretches believability a bit too much, but I was able to suspend disbelief enough to enjoy it. I highly recommend all three. King won the Edgar Award for MR. MERCEDES. King doesn't usually win literary awards.
The Institute
THE INSTITUTE is about children who are tested for telepathy and telekinesis at birth and late kidnapped by these crazies who think they can prevent nuclear war by using the collective minds of the kids to off potential monsters.
The book starts a little cumbersomely with a guy in South Carolina who takes a job as a kind of night watchman also called a Night Knocker. Later on that connects to the main story about the kids who've been kidnapped, but not until late in the story. I didn't even recognize him until I read the term “night knocker”.
One of the kids, Luke Ellis, is only twelve years old but he's got a scholarship in two different schools, MIT for engineering and Emerson for English Literature. But THE INSTITUTE wants him because he's got minimal telekinesis. That proves to be a mistake.
There are two parts to The Institute, the front half and the back half. Once you get to the Back Half they start showing the kids movies that enhance their extra sensory abilities, but it also turns them into zombies, or Gorks as the kids call them. The Back Half is called Gorky Park, after the book.
Luke establishes a relationship with a black girl named Kalisha, a rebel named Nick, who fights back, and Avery, a ten-year-old with strong telepathic powers. He also finds an actual human being among the staff, a maid named Maureen. He helps her pay off her husband's credit card debts. Bill collectors have been hounding her, despite the fact they're separated. She helps him escape. Once he escapes, the book picks up speed with a lot more suspense. Turns out The Institute has spies everywhere called stringers who help trace Luke's escape route.
One thing I've always liked about King's books is that he grabs you right away. I've never been thrilled with the horror genre, but he'll get you anyway. My favorites are those that are more realistic like MISERY and the three recent mysteries. This one is somewhere in between. He doesn't go overboard with the extra sensory stuff until we get to the Back Half where the kids are beyond help.
The book starts a little cumbersomely with a guy in South Carolina who takes a job as a kind of night watchman also called a Night Knocker. Later on that connects to the main story about the kids who've been kidnapped, but not until late in the story. I didn't even recognize him until I read the term “night knocker”.
One of the kids, Luke Ellis, is only twelve years old but he's got a scholarship in two different schools, MIT for engineering and Emerson for English Literature. But THE INSTITUTE wants him because he's got minimal telekinesis. That proves to be a mistake.
There are two parts to The Institute, the front half and the back half. Once you get to the Back Half they start showing the kids movies that enhance their extra sensory abilities, but it also turns them into zombies, or Gorks as the kids call them. The Back Half is called Gorky Park, after the book.
Luke establishes a relationship with a black girl named Kalisha, a rebel named Nick, who fights back, and Avery, a ten-year-old with strong telepathic powers. He also finds an actual human being among the staff, a maid named Maureen. He helps her pay off her husband's credit card debts. Bill collectors have been hounding her, despite the fact they're separated. She helps him escape. Once he escapes, the book picks up speed with a lot more suspense. Turns out The Institute has spies everywhere called stringers who help trace Luke's escape route.
One thing I've always liked about King's books is that he grabs you right away. I've never been thrilled with the horror genre, but he'll get you anyway. My favorites are those that are more realistic like MISERY and the three recent mysteries. This one is somewhere in between. He doesn't go overboard with the extra sensory stuff until we get to the Back Half where the kids are beyond help.
IF IT BLEEDS
Stephen King's story collection includes four novella-length stories, the best of which is “The Life of Chuck”.
I especially liked that one because it reminded me of John Donne's “No Man is an Island” and his proviso “Each man's death diminishes me.” Chuck is an accountant who appears to be retiring after thirty-nine years juggling numbers. For some reason there are billboards extolling Chuck's achievement. In reality Chuck is dying at age 39, and it appears the rest of humanity is going with him because each man contains multitudes.
Holly Gibney of the Mr. Mercedes mystery trilogy returns in the title selection “If It Bleeds”. Holly is now the head of the detective agency, Finders Keepers. Some sneaky devil has left a bomb at the local Middle School, ostensibly meant for a class that had a long-distance relationship with a school in Scotland. Holly sees something odd about the reporter covering the bombing. This one is more of your typical King story. Think about the clown character sticking his head out of the manhole cover in IT.
The first story “Mr. Harrigan's Phone” is about a nine-year-old boy, Craig, who takes a job reading, watering plants and doing minor dusting for a retired billionaire, Mr. Harrigan. His father's reaction is that Harrigan is cheap for only paying Craig five bucks an hour. He is only minimally bothered by the possibility Harrigan may be a perv. He's not. Craig is an inveterate reader having assumed the job of reading the LESSONS at his local Methodist church. Mr. Harrigan is in the congregation and is impressed. They read some very heavy fare including Conrad's THE HEART OF DARKNESS. But Harrigan sends Craig birthday, Valentine's and Christmas cards that include lottery tickets, one of which returns five thousand dollars for Craig. Eventually King reverts to form when Harrigan dies and Craig calls him on his iPhone, which Harrigan had reluctantly accepted as a gift from Craig. He answers.
The fourth one is about a writer who experiences writer's block every time he tries to write a novel. I was wondering when the rat would show up. Let's just says the rat takes a Faustian role as it negotiates a deal with Drew Larson to finish a novel he had started at his cabin and was cruising along until he caught the Flu and a killer storm hit upper Maine, putting the brakes on Drew's efforts. Drew thinks he's dreaming the whole thing, but is haunted when everything happens according to the agreement.
I have read some excellent King short story collections, including THE SKELETON CREW; I don't think there was a bad story in that compilation. He's actually a better short story writer than he is a novelist IMHO. This one seems a bit redundant, although I would like to see more mysteries from King. Holly Gibney is a very likable character.
I especially liked that one because it reminded me of John Donne's “No Man is an Island” and his proviso “Each man's death diminishes me.” Chuck is an accountant who appears to be retiring after thirty-nine years juggling numbers. For some reason there are billboards extolling Chuck's achievement. In reality Chuck is dying at age 39, and it appears the rest of humanity is going with him because each man contains multitudes.
Holly Gibney of the Mr. Mercedes mystery trilogy returns in the title selection “If It Bleeds”. Holly is now the head of the detective agency, Finders Keepers. Some sneaky devil has left a bomb at the local Middle School, ostensibly meant for a class that had a long-distance relationship with a school in Scotland. Holly sees something odd about the reporter covering the bombing. This one is more of your typical King story. Think about the clown character sticking his head out of the manhole cover in IT.
The first story “Mr. Harrigan's Phone” is about a nine-year-old boy, Craig, who takes a job reading, watering plants and doing minor dusting for a retired billionaire, Mr. Harrigan. His father's reaction is that Harrigan is cheap for only paying Craig five bucks an hour. He is only minimally bothered by the possibility Harrigan may be a perv. He's not. Craig is an inveterate reader having assumed the job of reading the LESSONS at his local Methodist church. Mr. Harrigan is in the congregation and is impressed. They read some very heavy fare including Conrad's THE HEART OF DARKNESS. But Harrigan sends Craig birthday, Valentine's and Christmas cards that include lottery tickets, one of which returns five thousand dollars for Craig. Eventually King reverts to form when Harrigan dies and Craig calls him on his iPhone, which Harrigan had reluctantly accepted as a gift from Craig. He answers.
The fourth one is about a writer who experiences writer's block every time he tries to write a novel. I was wondering when the rat would show up. Let's just says the rat takes a Faustian role as it negotiates a deal with Drew Larson to finish a novel he had started at his cabin and was cruising along until he caught the Flu and a killer storm hit upper Maine, putting the brakes on Drew's efforts. Drew thinks he's dreaming the whole thing, but is haunted when everything happens according to the agreement.
I have read some excellent King short story collections, including THE SKELETON CREW; I don't think there was a bad story in that compilation. He's actually a better short story writer than he is a novelist IMHO. This one seems a bit redundant, although I would like to see more mysteries from King. Holly Gibney is a very likable character.
