January 2016 Group Read-The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

[T.]

"Morality" was one of my favorite stories in BoBD. It reads a lot like the Maupassant story "The Necklace" or Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown." It's largely allegorical. You can trade the inciting event with almost anything, and the dissolution of their marriage would probably still occur.

[Tressa]

I find stories like "Morality" fascinating because I truly believe that deep down in every human being there is that primal urge to do something shocking, violent, and bad. As I've gotten older I am never as shocked as I once was when, say just a normal, loving, kind family man or woman is found with child porn or something equally heinous. You just never know what lurks beneath the surface of a primal human being and what they get off on doing when nobody will find out.

[Canavan]

Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and with what I think the author is trying to say. (view spoiler)[Yet another story about addiction, but I think the real focus is on the juxtaposition of the two views of life — the relatively hopeful one offered by Phil and Pauline, which sees the potential for joy even as the end of life draws near and is represented by the article on Herman Wouk, who notes that “the body weakens, but the words never do.” And then there is the “grey” world of Jasmine and Brenda. I find I’m struggling a bit with the conclusion of the story. I find it depressing on a number of levels. The first and perhaps more obvious one is a response to the death of seven people. But it seems that the fact of those deaths has exerted a corrupting influence on the more life-affirming, optimistic worldview of Phil and Pauline, almost rebuking their naiveté. “Climbing the hill, she [Pauline] thinks that their lifelong efforts to make beauty out of words are an illusion. Either that or a joke played on children who have selfishly refused to grow up.” (hide spoiler)]

[Canavan]

T. noted:

I liked Under the Weather, but I wanted more. One of my problems with this collection is how unfulfilled I felt by some of the stories, and this one feels that way. I understand his need, stylistically, to show some restraint here, but some of the stories needed more room to breathe, and I wish it had happened with this story.

Interestingly, my reaction to “Under the Weather” was probably the opposite of yours, T. I thought this was one of the better stories in Bazaar , but, if anything, I wish it had displayed a bit more subtlety.

[Tressa]

Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and with what I think the author is trying to say. [spoil..."

Dayum. I been out of my English Lit classes too long and have forgotten how to thoroughly and beautifully analyze a piece of writing! Very insightful, Canavan. I guess since I had so recently saw that documentary (There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane), that I had a totally different view of this story. The poverty aspect of "Herman Wouk" depressed me.

[T.]

@Canavan

Yeah, I see your point about the lack of subtlety in that story, but it reminded me of Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily."

[Tressa]

Canavan wrote: "but, if anything, I wish it had displayed a bit more subtlety. ..."

You know what? I think you just nailed it as to why I don't like more of King's stuff. If he would just hide a little bit more of what he's trying to do in subtlety, and surround it with a little more beautiful, lyrical text, I think he could make it to the plane I'd like to read him on.

[Canavan]

Tressa said (in part):

I find stories like "Morality" fascinating because I truly believe that deep down in every human being there is that primal urge to do something shocking, violent, and bad.

After reading your comment, Tressa, I made the perhaps improbable connection between “Morality” and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . In Jekyll, Stevenson seems to be telling us that sin, once indulged in, becomes increasingly difficult to resist. Jekyll strives mightily to resist drinking his tincture, but ultimately fails. (view spoiler)[One senses that Chad escapes the events of “Morality” with a soul that is damaged but left more or less intact; Nora ain’t so lucky. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Tressa wrote: "Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and with what I think the author is tryin..."

One more comment from the peanut gallery over here regarding Herman Wouk...(view spoiler)[ I liked the ending, depressing though it may be-mostly because it's realistic. This is what happens when people drink behind the wheel-other people, and innocent people, die. Like his book Revival, which had a HIGHLY unusual ending for King, I think the ending of this story did it justice. IMO, this story needed to be told with a big bludgeon instead of a subtle kiss. (hide spoiler)] Just my useless thoughts on the matter. :)

[Char]

Oh, and I have to agree-there are some great conversations going on here, much more in depth than the usual group reads lately.

[Canavan]

T. said:

Yeah, I see your point about the lack of subtlety in that story, but it reminded me of Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily.”

Exactly. I made that connection as well (in my first post on the story), and so, I think, did a number of other posters. Of course, I would make the case that “Under the Weather”, although a fine story in its own right, is not so elegantly crafted as “Rose”. But that kind of comparison may be unfair to King given that “Rose” is so widely regarded as a classic of its kind.

[Canavan]

Charlene said (in part):

I think the ending of this story [“Herman Wouk”] did it justice. IMO, this story needed to be told with a big bludgeon instead of a subtle kiss.

I suspect you’re right, Charlene. As I was reading this story, the sentimental side of me was hoping that something of the optimism shared by Phil and Pauline might be spared. But I don’t think that happens. As you say, in such incidents, sometimes the innocent are victims.

[Jimmie]

I completed The Bazaar of Bad Dreams today. I have enjoyed reading all of the groups remarks regarding this great book. In my review, I mentioned choosing my favorite story from this collection was like choosing my favorite child. But I have to say I enjoyed Blockage Billy as much as any Stephen King story I have ever read. As a true horror book and avid sports fan, I really related to Blockade Billy. So I guess I can choose my favorite child. I can see why it is not a favorite story for other readers, but I was glad this story found it's way to me. All of these stories moved me in some way. I even enjoyed the poems, mainly because of the back story provided prior to these stories. Overall, I felt this was not just a horror story collection. This was a collection of stories that helped the reader reflect on life.

[Char]

Jimmie wrote: "I completed The Bazaar of Bad Dreams today. I have enjoyed reading all of the groups remarks regarding this great book. In my review, I mentioned choosing my favorite story from thi..."

I'm pleased that this turned out to be a good experience for you, Jimmy. It sounds like you had some fun, too. :)

[Jay]

Charlene wrote: "Oh, and I have to agree-there are some great conversations going on here, much more in depth than the usual group reads lately."

I think one of the reasons this has been so lively is that it's a collection. Every separate story is a discussion point, and every person has ones they love and defend, and everyone has stories they could have happily done without. It's been great!

[Obsidian]

Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and with what I think the author is trying to say. [spoil..."

I thought it was sad, but you could kind of see both of their points of views for why they went ahead and did what they did. That story really depressed me, but I enjoyed it a lot.

[Char]

O wrote: "Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and with what I think the author is tryin..."

It's really nice seeing you here, O. You always add to a conversation.

[Obsidian]

Charlene wrote: "O wrote: "Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and with what I think the autho..."

Thanks! I decided in 2016 I was going to be more involved with groups on Goodreads when I am doing group reads.

And this book has seriously caused me to go hunting for my other short stories by King. I loved them a lot more than this collection except for a few that others have noted here that I thought were great.

[Char]

O wrote: "Charlene wrote: "O wrote: "Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and with what ..."

Just about any other collection of his stories is better than this one, IMO. I especially liked the four novellas in Full Dark, No Stars. Have you read that one?

[Obsidian]

Charlene wrote: "O wrote: "Charlene wrote: "O wrote: "Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”. ✭✭✭✭

Another well-written story, although I’m still grappling with exactly what I think about it and ..."

Oh I loved Full Dark, No Stars. Those stories haunted me. Big Driver made me lock all of my doors and turn on every light I had.

[Canavan]

Thoughts on “Drunken Fireworks”. ✭✭

This one was, sad to say, a bit of a miss for me. Nothing particularly bad about the writing, but I’m rarely stirred or impressed by humorous pieces. This story in particular seemed a long trudge leading to a foregone conclusion. The story is dedicated to Marshall Dodge (1935-1982). According to his Wikipedia page (see here), Dodge was “a well-known Maine humorist. He and his associate, Robert Bryan, put out several defining albums of Maine humor, starting with Bart and I, released in 1958” (i.e., when King was around 11). You can find various clips around the Web with Dodge, including this one, which features a bit called “Muddy Walking”. The humor strikes me as pretty dry, even for New England.

Final thoughts on The Bazaar of Bad Dreams . ✭✭✭½

The easy thing to say about this story collection is that I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag — some stories I liked, some not so much. Of course, I could say that about almost every story collection I’ve ever read, so that’s probably a fairly meaningless characterization.

The two best stories in the collection were “Bad Little Kid” and “Morality”. “Bad Little Kid” is the sort of supernatural story that most people probably think of when they think of King. It’s a well-executed piece of horror fiction; I’m not sure what it says about me, (view spoiler)[but I appreciated it’s rather bleak ending and the fact that the author didn’t over-explain the “kid”. (hide spoiler)] “Morality” is perhaps more typical of King’s output in recent years; readers might quibble over whether to categorize it as horror as opposed to something else (I tend not to worry too much about those distinctions), but there isn’t a whiff of the supernatural in it. Like many of the better stories in this book, it’s strength lays not just with the quality of the writing, but in the rather pithy way King is able to let the actions of his characters cleanly express rather complex and compelling ideas. A good think piece; as I said before, I’m still mulling this one over. Other stand-outs: “Batman and Robin Have an Altercation”, “Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”, “Under the Weather”, and “Obits”.

I described the book as a mixed bag, but — although I liked some stories more than others — there were really only a few entries that I would classify as out-and-out clinkers — “Mile 81” (fun premise, but badly executed), “That Bus Is Another World” (another story with a good start, but which [for me] ended on weak note), “Drunken Fireworks”, and the poem, “The Bone Church”. That’s really not a bad batting average.

Thanks to all who contributed to the thread. Very enjoyable going over the different viewpoints.

[Canavan]

Charlene said (in part):

Just about any other collection of his stories is better than this one, IMO.

I’m know that few, if any, will agree with my opinion on this question, Charlene, but for me King’s weakest collection was his first one, Night Shift .

[Char]

Canavan wrote: "Charlene said (in part):
Just about any other collection of his stories is better than this one, IMO.
I’m know that few, if any, will agree with my opinion on this question, Charlene, but for..."

Oh no, Canavan, say it ain't so!

[Char]

O wrote: "Oh I loved Full Dark, No Stars. Those stories haunted me. Big Driver made me lock all of my doors and turn on every light I had.
.."

Wasn't it good? Did you happen to see the movie of Big Driver? I know it was Lifetime and everything, but I didn't think it was bad at all.

[Char]

Canavan wrote: "Thoughts on “Drunken Fireworks”. ✭✭

This one was, sad to say, a bit of a miss for me. Nothing particularly bad about the writing, but I’m rarely stirred or impressed by humorous pieces. This story..."

And thank you, Canavan, for your participation. Your comments added greatly to the discussion, as per usual. :)

[Obsidian]

Charlene wrote: "O wrote: "Oh I loved Full Dark, No Stars. Those stories haunted me. Big Driver made me lock all of my doors and turn on every light I had.
.."

Wasn't it good? Did you happen to see the movie of B..."

I didn't watch it because reading about that story gave me chills. I thought if I watched it on tv I have nightmares for days.

[T.]

I found "Drunken Fireworks" a bit bewildering upon finishing it. There's a flash of teeth toward the end, but otherwise it feels uninspired to me. It kind of wants to be funny. It kind of wants to be dangerous. I don't think it quite accomplishes either to a major degree of success. I listened to the audiobook version back when it was released in July, and the accent was amazing. The story, on the other hand, felt less idiosyncratic than King's best mid-sized short fiction.

[Jamie]

When I first learned that this book was coming out, I was SO excited. I loved the way the cover art was revealed...piece by piece...

A handful of my favorites include Bad Little Kid, Blockade Billy, Morality, Obits, Drunken Fireworks, and Summer Thunder.

I'd read many Stephen King books over the years before I ever read one of his short story collections. I think my first one was Full Dark, No Stars which I just loved. Now I can see that while his lengthier books are usually always a guaranteed great read, I was really missing out by not reading his short stories.

[Troy]

I finished BoBD on Sunday.

I really like King, he's not my favorite author but every novel that I've read by him has been good. Saying that, I do need to read more of him.

I'm not really a short story fan. I don't mind them piece at a time but I much prefer novels.

Now saying all that, I did really enjoy BoBD.

My favorites include Mile 81, The Dune, Bad Little Kid, Blockade Billy, Obits, Drunken Fireworks, and Summer Thunder.

I least enjoyed The Bone Church. Didn't enjoy it at all.

I think after reading BoBD I need to track down some of King's other short story collections and incorporate them between my other reads. If I throw a few short stories in between my group reads then I think I'll be doing myself a favorite :)

[David]

I've just started reading TBoBD tonight. I guess I timed that wrong. :(

[Tom]

Still finishing off. Just read Blockade Billy. I know nothing about baseball (living here in the UK), and I thought I would hate it as I couldn't work out what was going on when the games were described. But I still got a sense of great story and was gripped until the end, wanting to know what would happen to the MC. I think it's the way King carries a voice with his first person narrator. He did it in the Shawshank redemption and he succeeded here too - despite the baseball theme.

[T.]

Tom wrote: "Still finishing off. Just read Blockade Billy. I know nothing about baseball (living here in the UK), and I thought I would hate it as I couldn't work out what was going on when the games were desc..."

That's an interesting perspective. In reading the story, I didn't even think about how the story would play elsewhere, but it's nice to know that the sense of momentum plays well, even despite the idiosyncrasies of baseball being featured in it.

[Tressa]

Canavan wrote: "After reading your comment, Tressa, I made the perhaps improbable connection between “Morality” and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . In Jekyll, Stevenson seems to be telling us that sin, once indulged in, becomes increasingly difficult to resist. Jekyll strives mightily to resist drinking his tincture, but ultimately fails."

Nice viewpoint, Canavan. We are all capable of becoming inured to what should, and what used to, repulse us.

[Tressa]

Charlene wrote: "One more comment from the peanut gallery over here regarding Herman Wouk...[ I liked the ending, depressing though it may be-mostly because it's realistic. This is what happens when people drink behind the wheel-other people, and innocent people, die. Like his book Revival, which had a HIGHLY unusual ending for King, I think the ending of this story did it justice. IMO, this story needed to be told with a big bludgeon instead of a subtle kiss. ..."

I agree. But I thought King was making more of a statement not on drunk driving but on that horrible cycle of poverty and the desperation people feel to escape it. And, IMO, (view spoiler)[save their children from it by killing them. (hide spoiler)]

[Tressa]

Charlene wrote: "Oh, and I have to agree-there are some great conversations going on here, much more in depth than the usual group reads lately."

I surprised myself by getting much more out of these stories than I initially thought I would.

[Tressa]

O wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Oh I loved Full Dark, No Stars. Those stories haunted me. Big Driver made me lock all of my doors and turn on every light I had."

Full Dark, No Stars is FANTASTIC. I think Big Driver was made into a made-for-TV movie.