January 2016 Group Read-The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

[Jay]

Alex wrote: "Am I the only one who didn't like "Ur"?"

UR was okay, but anybody who has read a lot of short genre fiction has read something like it before. That's a complaint I have toward half the book: He revisits too many tropes, even though he manages to twist a few.

[Canavan]

“Mr. Yummy” ✭✭✭

I enjoyed this story although I wonder if I’ve somehow managed to miss some greater point that King was trying to make. (view spoiler)[According to the intro, King wanted to write a story that conveyed the power of the human sex drive, especially when one is young, and how that sense of urgency increases risk-taking behavior. In some sense, King seems to be creating a metaphorical link between sex and death, although, if that’s true, I still don’t really understand what King is trying to say by having the object of youthful sexual desire reappear during the weeks before one dies. Maybe I’m just trying to read too much into this story. (hide spoiler)]

[Walter]

Read "Herman Wouk is Still Alive" (which I hadn't known either) yesterday. Only Wouk book I clearly remember having read is his WW II tome The Winds of War; though of course, like almost everyone else, I'm familiar with his most famous work, The Caine Mutiny. ("First there was the strawberry incident, then they all turned against me.")

I can't help but feel that there will be some folks who read this story and dismiss it as not being horror, but having known so many women like the two mothers in this tale, I would be inclined to debate that point.

[Jay]

Walter wrote: "Read "Herman Wouk is Still Alive" (which I hadn't known either) yesterday. Only Wouk book I clearly remember having read is his WW II tome The Winds of War; though of course, like almo..."
I would say the story is a tragedy, albeit a modern one. I should probably read some of Wouk's work, but... I don't have an excuse, I've just not done it.

[Monica]

I finally started. I read Mile 81 which was cute, I would give it 3 stars; Premium armony was kinda meh and Batman and Robin wasn't bad, 3 stars too.

[Walter]

James wrote: "Walter wrote: "Read "Herman Wouk is Still Alive" (which I hadn't known either) yesterday. Only Wouk book I clearly remember having read is his WW II tome The Winds of War; though of co..."

I agree, James, it can certainly be considered a tragedy, and an excellent argument could be made that it is.

I think there's a lot of bleed-through with fiction, particularly genre fiction. Not just mash-ups, like blending sf and westerns to come up with a flick like Cowboys vs Aliens, but genuine blends where the lines get blurred. Octavia E. Butler's Dawn has always been one of those books for me. Quite a few horror fans would stay away from that novel, dismissing it as 'scifi', but it's actually been listed on multiple best horror lists.

I think a number of readers consider any given work of fiction to be horror only when the author's intent is clearly to stick the reader on a roller coaster and scare the bejabbers out of them, and if it doesn't do that, it ain't horror. They might forgive a flick like Alien, an sf/horror movie, because it doesn't stint on the thrills and the chills, but are less inclined to consider a book like Dawn horror because the chills aren't primarily visceral, you have to give them some thought.

Which is one reason I like it when we do theme reads here in HA. I enjoy it when we push the envelope. :)

[Jenny]

Just finished Ur... I like the dark tower connection...

[Alex]

Christina wrote: "I've read the book, and I enjoyed "Morality", but the one that really got to me was "Herman Wouk is Still Alive". I think it was the opening notes about Diane Schuler and the tragedy that took her ..."
I Googled her after reading the opening notes. Crazy stuff. I should watch the documentary too.

[Adriane]

As a fan of all things horror, I'm almost always scared or embarrassed to say that I'm not keen on Stephen King's work, in general. I mean, he is definitely talented and entertaining, just not my cup of tea. Having said that, his short story collections are my favorite part of his work, so I decided to give The Bazaar of Bad Dreams a shot. like most people who commented above, I agree that it has its highs and lows and so far my favorite is
"Bad Little Kid". I didn't care much for "Mile 81" and I don't know what to think of "A Death". Did anyone enjoy it? If so, why?

[Jay]

Adriane wrote: "As a fan of all things horror, I'm almost always scared or embarrassed to say that I'm not keen on Stephen King's work, in general. I mean, he is definitely talented and entertaining, just not my c..."

I did like "A Death," primarily for the atmosphere. I also like that (view spoiler)[ the protagonist tries very hard, believes in the man's innocence and has the best intentions, but in the end is wrong. (hide spoiler)] Who hasn't been there?

[Walter]

I agree with James. (view spoiler)[When we sympathize with someone, we want to bellieve the best of them, but sometimes the butler really did do it. (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Walter wrote: "I agree with James. [spoilers removed]"

Walter said it perfectly! That's exactly how I felt about that one.

[Walter]

Finished "Under the Weather".

I puzzled a bit over King's comment in the prelude, "Fortunately for me, this is one of those tales where it's okay for the reader to be one step ahead of the narrator". And yes, it really is only a question of time before the reader catches on. This being the case, one might ask, "If we know how it ends before it ends, then what's the point?"

For me, (view spoiler)[I got the point when the main character was at work, and everything was so normal. In particular, I got it afterwards recalling how he explained so intelligently and succinctly why Billy's concept for the ED pill didn't work. During that scene, you get how smart the main character is about his job and his business, which makes the later revelation of his delusion all the more horrifying. He's not a Norman Bates, he's just . . . well, anybody. And even though King telegraphs the ending by a country mile, the MC is so down-to-earth, such an otherwise pleasant fellow, you don't want to accept that he has lost his mind, even though he himself knows, on some level, what he's doing, what he has done. Yet in the end he can't own up to his actions, even to himself. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

I read "Under the Weather" last night and thought a lot of the story. I can totally relate to how the main character reacted. (view spoiler)[ Having been married such a long time myself, I can see where I would not want to accept it if my husband died. I can also see not wanting to accept it SO MUCH, that my mind refuses to and instead creates an elaborate explanation, so as to protect itself. (hide spoiler)] If that makes any sense.

[Alondra]

Just finished reading, and gave it 4 stars overall.

My favorites were Bad Little Kid, Mile-81, and Drunken Fireworks.

I also liked Batman and Robin have an altercation; I actually laughed out loud at the end. That was hilarious.

[Jack]

Lagging behind, as I expected to... Just finished The Dune - very much enjoyed it - great main character, odd hook, and a lovely twist that made me laugh and tell my partner all about the story.

[Jack]

I totally agree Christina. I was expecting this to be out and out horror if I'm honest. I think the whole 'bad dreams' claim of the book's title sets that promise somewhat. Four or five stories in and I'm waiting for a horror story still. That being said, I'm not terribly disappointed - I'm enjoying the sheer quality of the writing and the characters, crafted so well in so few words/pages really jump off the page.

[Char]

I'm reading Blockade Billy now. I know I've read it before but I don't remember too much about it. (I'm a little bored with it, to be honest.)

[Tressa]

Walter wrote: "Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is one of the greatest short stories ever written. I still find myself thinking about it occasionally decades after reading it for the first time."

It's one you never forget, that's for sure.

[Tressa]

"Mile 81" - 2 stars
Is it just me or is Kind derivative of himself most of the time? This story had nothing new in it, reheating characters from all his books and stories, and IMO it's pretty lame. (view spoiler)[This is simply a murder-by-number story once again with the kids as the heroes. And King's minor kid characters are always so annoying and it's like he has no idea what real kids say and how they act. For example: This story is set in the current time, yet Pete, when he's mad at his older brother for not letting him hang out with the bigger kids and Pete yells that he hopes he gets hurt, then feels guilty and proceeds to do some voodoo crap where he spits through his fingers to "take it back." This sounds like something kids did in the forties and fifties and would never do in present days. And I don't know many kids Pete's age raised in a similar home who would say all that nasty stuff about the girls in the porno mags. This unpleasant scene just took me out of the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "I'm reading Blockade Billy now. I know I've read it before but I don't remember too much about it. (I'm a little bored with it, to be honest.)"

The first time I read this one, I remember "skimming" much of the baseball facts...otherwise, I don't think I would have lasted until the end.

[Walter]

I just finished Blockade Billy earlier this morning. It was obviously a labor of love for the author, and while I thought he did telegraph the ending, King was obviously getting so much pleasure out of revisiting his childhood memories of a game he loved that I couldn't help but get caught up in his enthusiasm, even though I don't follow baseball, not even a little bit.

I also find myself wondering why it is that so many of the truly great sports movies are about baseball? Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, The Natural, A League of Their Own, Moneyball, Major League, The Rookie, The Bad News Bears, etc.

[Jay]

Walter wrote: "I just finished Blockade Billy earlier this morning. It was obviously a labor of love for the author, and while I thought he did telegraph the ending, King was obviously getting so much pleasure ou..."

I think baseball lends itself to movies because of a couple things. First, it's stop-and-go structure allows conversation between characters (and can even necessitate it, what with the catcher and/or coach visiting the pitcher's mound). Second, it's being eclipsed, by football, as America's Pastime lends an instant nostalgia and gives it a built-in underdog factor. Third, with well over one hundred years of history, there is no shortage of great, true stories to draw inspiration from or directly adapt. Not to mention the scandals. Oy vey, the scandals!

[Walter]

James wrote: "Walter wrote: "I just finished Blockade Billy earlier this morning. It was obviously a labor of love for the author, and while I thought he did telegraph the ending, King was obviously getting so m..."

Good points, James.

I thought about it, and another reason occurred to me, in addition to the ones you've cited.

There's a quote from the original (and dystopian) movie Rollerball, which I've never forgotten: "The game was created to demonstrate the futility of individual effort."

Could be that's one more reason why baseball inspires so many good films, because it showcases the individual more than other team sports like football, basketball, etc. Puts me in mind of boxing, a pure individual sport which has also inspired its share of quality flicks.

[Adriane]

I finished "Little Green God of Agony" and enjoyed it more than I thought I would initially. Anyone else here liked it?

[Jay]

It was pretty good. I think it would have made a good Creepshow sequence, as it definitely has that old EC Comics vibe. I can see the Crypt-Keeper cackling over this one...

[Eric]

Had lots of reading time but been offline from Goodreads a few days:

'Herman Wouk...' - Not really sure this is that interesting beyond the social look at the lower class? Was really perplexed by the abruptness of it.

'Under the Weather' - I thought this was just okay. Reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock Presents or some similar formula.

'Blockade Billy' - I had read this before and really loved it. I am a huge baseball fan so that helps.

'Mister Yummy' - Interesting read but not too sure it spoke to me in the way King's work normally does. By this point in the collection I am thinking this is my least fave collection of the half dozen short story books the author has released.

'The Little Green God of Agony' - Definitely a bit of old EC horror. Agree with previous posts.

'Tommy' - Again, not sure what this is saying. Totally lost on me.

'That Bus is Another World' - Really not a lot to this one. Sort of reminds me of old Giallo scenes.

[Kimberly]

I had read Little Green God of Agony before, and it reminded me very much of a comic strip--Creepshow came to mind (as James had said earlier).

[Char]

I just finished Blockade Billy and ended up liking it. I enjoy baseball but the story meandered a bit too much.

To me baseball is timeless. It's always there, in the background, no matter what's happeningg in the world. The numbers, all the stats, your favorite players, a day at the ballpark, (Fenway Franks!)...it's all comforting and safe. The history of it all is special, especially to this Red Sox fan. :)

[Alex]

Not about the stories, but how cool is the cover art for this book?! I love it. Does anyone know who the artist is?

[Lori]

Veronica wrote: "I just started the book and reading 81 Miles. This one is a little strange. [spoilers removed]"

I thought the same thing lol!

[Lori]

I listened to this collection back at the end of last year & really loved some of the stories. Overall, it didn't blow me away but I have a love/hate relationship with Mr. King. I love his stories (and storytelling ability), but hate his endings.

[Char]

Alex wrote: "Not about the stories, but how cool is the cover art for this book?! I love it. Does anyone know who the artist is?"

I can't find anything in my Kindle copy about the artist, but I agree the cover art is super cool.

[Canavan]

Thoughts on “A Death”. ✭✭✭

Well written and evocative although the story itself (especially the rather unexpected climax) doesn’t quite resonate with my personal tastes. Interesting dedication — to the late Elmore Leonard. King has gone on record at least a few times as admiring Leonard (so, for that matter, have many other writers). I found myself wondering if the dedication meant a bit more — Leonard’s novels often featured conclusions that were unexpected and yet managed the trick of being consistent with the character psychologies provided by the author.

[Canavan]

Alex asked:

Not about the stories, but how cool is the cover art for this book?! I love it. Does anyone know who the artist is?

Nicolas Obery.

[Canavan]

Christina asks:

Brings up an interesting question - are there any bonafide sports horror stories (fiction)?

Not quite sure what you mean by “bonafide”, but here are a few that mix sports and the supernatural:

“The Fifteenth Man”, Richard Marsh (1900) (rugby)
“Wild Wullie, the Waster”, Tod Robbins (1920) (billiards)
“The Bully of Brocas Court”, Arthur Conan Doyle (1921) (boxing)
“The Seventeenth Hole at Duncaster”, H. R. Wakefield (1928) (golf)
“The Apparition in the Prize Ring”, Robert E. Howard (as by John Taverel) (1929) (boxing)
“New Corner”, L. T. C. Rolt (1939) (car racing)
“Not Quite Cricket”, H. R. Wakefield (1940) (cricket)
“Autumn Cricket”, Edward Plunkett (as by Lord Dunsany) (1950) (cricket)
“Mean Mr. Murray”, Avram Davidson (1960) (baseball)
“His Coat So Gay”, Sterling E. Lanier (1970) (fox hunting)
“Third Wind”, Richard Christian Matheson (1984) (running)
“What’s in a Name?”, David G. Rowlands (1992) (cricket)
“SQPR”, Kim Newman (1992) (football)
“The Holy Game of Cricket”, R. B. Russell (1992) (cricket)
“Twilight at the Little Brydon Cricket Club”, Mark Valentine (1992) (cricket)
“Sorted”, Michael Marshall Smith (1996) (football)

Note: By football, I refer to the sport that is called soccer in the U.S.

[Char]

Canavan wrote: "Christina asks:


Brings up an interesting question - are there any bonafide sports horror stories (fiction)?


Not quite sure what you mean by “bonafide”, but here are a few that mix sports and ..."

Nice, Canavan!

[Canavan]

Tressa said (in part, referring to “Mile 81”):

This story is set in the current time, yet Pete, when he's mad at his older brother for not letting him hang out with the bigger kids and Pete yells that he hopes he gets hurt, then feels guilty and proceeds to do some voodoo crap where he spits through his fingers to "take it back." This sounds like something kids did in the forties and fifties and would never do in present days. And I don't know many kids Pete's age raised in a similar home who would say all that nasty stuff about the girls in the porno mags. This unpleasant scene just took me out of the story.

Let me first say that I thought this was one of the weaker stories in the collection. And I agree that the children in the story didn’t always act/react in ways I found believable. On the other hand the two instances you cited didn’t seem that far off the mark to me. I don’t know about the whole spitting thing, but I do know that children still cross their fingers as a way of excusing a lie. As for the brief sequence with the adult magazines, while you might not find Pete’s reactions very edifying, I recall similar conversations with peers when I was around his age.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

Well!! I put up here where I am in the book and what I like so far and now it's gone. I'm using the phone and I don't even know if I hit post!!!!!!!

[Alex]

Canavan wrote: "Alex asked:


Not about the stories, but how cool is the cover art for this book?! I love it. Does anyone know who the artist is?


Nicolas Obery."
Thank you!

[Char]

Melissa wrote: "Well!! I put up here where I am in the book and what I like so far and now it's gone. I'm using the phone and I don't even know if I hit post!!!!!!!"

Ugh, that's so frustrating when that happens, Melissa.

[Canavan]

Thoughts on “Morality”. ✭✭✭✭½

Although this particular story hasn’t received a ton of love on this thread, I thought it was one of the two or three best that I’ve read to this point. There’s a lot of interesting stuff going on here (or at least interesting from my perspective). (view spoiler)[In one sense, the story’s focus is on Nora and the rather unpleasant truths she discovers about herself once she succumbs to Winnie’s temptation. Her descent is pretty fast — maybe a bit too fast to be believable, but this is, after all, a short story rather than a novel. Even before she attacks the child, Nora (who hasn’t smoked in 5 years) bums a cigarette from Chad, a bit of foreshadowing that hints this ain’t going to end well. And immediately afterword she evinces a rather unhealthy fascination with the tape and launches into a masochistic sexual relationship with Chad (as if she feels the need for some kind of expiation/punishment for her sin — talk about Freudian!). I liked the line she delivers to the library policeman after he asks her, “What kind of crazy lady are you?” “ ‘I don’t know,’ Nora said, ‘I’m still finding out.’ ”

But I’m actually more intrigued by Winnie than Nora or Chad since the former’s motivations are a bit murkier. It’s interesting how Nora only gradually comes to recognize his rather depraved nature. King again sketches this rather quickly, almost showing us rather than telling us straight out: “Had she thought he had a sheep’s face? How stupid of her. How unseeing of her. Nor was it a wolf’s face, not really. It was somewhere in between. A dog’s face, maybe. The kind of dog that would bite and then run.” I once read in a theological text that one of the most heinous of sins was the corruption of the innocent. Nora is, of course, only a relative innocent, but that is Winnie’s real sin, not the bloodied face of a four-year-old kid. You can see his fascination with this aspect of his sin when he asks Nora at one point whether “feeling dirty [is] always a bad thing” and, later, when he tries to convince her to return in order to once more watch the tape. (hide spoiler)]

I think this one will stick with me for quite a while.

[Robert]

I agree - I think Morality is one of the best stories in the book so far (I'm on "Ur" at the moment, so halfway through at least in terms of story count), because of how my mind has kept wandering back to it. It is brutal, and none of the characters are likeable, but it asks hard questions, and makes me think. I still think I liked "Bad Little Kid" more, but this is probably second. Great analysis, Canavan!

[Obsidian]

Amanda wrote: "So just read 1st story,Mile 81. Remembered that I had already read this when it was released as standalone novella. It's ok, feel quite indifferent to it."

Im not happy this is out in a new standalone collection.

[Eric]

Read "Obits" today. I enjoyed the story but the premise has been done to death. King explored this with "Word Processor of the Gods" and anthology shows like Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, Are You Afraid of the Dark, etc. have all taken turns at the concept.

[Obsidian]

Mile 81- how did Pete become more of a jerk in this one? How would a 6 year old have the vocabulary that Rachel has as well. The update didn't help at all with this story. Was disappointed. Hope the next one is better.

[Michelle]

I think artist is Glenn Chadbourne. Looks like he does a lot of King cover art.

[Canavan]

Michelle said:

I think artist is Glenn Chadbourne. Looks like he does a lot of King cover art.

No, the cover artist is Nicolas Obery. Chadbourne has, as you note, done a fair amount of artwork for King’s books, but almost all of it has been on behalf of small press publishers, especially Cemetery Dance.

[Monica]

I finished The dune, which wasn't that bad. But I couldn't help but wanting more. Then I finished Bad little kid which I enjoyed even more, maybe because it's a little bit longer.

[Alison]

I have mixed feelings about this. I loved 'Mile 81' and 'Ur' and enjoyed 'Blockade Billy,' 'Obits,' and 'Batman and Robin' but wasn't a fan of the rest of the stories.