October 2016 Group Read #1 The Mist by Stephen King

[Rita]

Thank you ! I hope I can read other recommendations too. Thanks for your advice !

[Vicky]

Graham, I started off with Salems Lot also. Hard to beat!

[Jimmie]

Rita, welcome to the group. My first Stephen King book was Pet Cemetary. I was hooked on Stephen King books after that book.

[Graeme]

Agreed Vicki, it's a powerful story that has stayed with me for decades.

[Graeme]

Jimmie wrote: "Rita, welcome to the group. My first Stephen King book was Pet Cemetary. I was hooked on Stephen King books after that book."

King's stories are addictive.

[Graeme]

Hi Rita, I'm reading a lot of horror at the moment.

Read (for "The Mist")

Currently in and

About to start

Followed by

I write reviews on everything that I read.

[Kelly B]

Carrie was my first King book, and my first horror novel. I was in 5th grade.

[Rita]

Just to know I read also Mr. Mercedes and I didnt like it very much. I know isbt horror type novel yet i just want to clarify i read two books of him non-horror. I appreciate more recommendations or any advice of a horror book of Stephen King who you liked very much. You can see my description a few comments above. Thank you ;)

[Kasia]

Latasha wrote: "I'm not liking them very much. Are you Kasia? They don't measure up to the mist. The one about the monkey was good."

I'm half way into the Monkey one, but I cant see them equaling The Mist, plus it was long enough to get a lot more story conveyed, so we'll see :)

[ChrisP]

Paul wrote: "Well King, (or the narrator) does say, "But you mustn't expect some neat conclusion," and "It is, I suppose, what my father always frowningly called, 'an Alfred Hitchcock ending', by which he meant..."

It is rare when I like the movie ending better than the book ending. (view spoiler)[Most Hollywood movie endings have a nice happy ending to make the viewer feel warm inside. This ending was cold blooded. (hide spoiler)]

[ChrisP]

I felt Stephen King's underlying theme in the book was less about what was going on in the story and more about what happens when you put a group of humans in a tiny space in a situation that is out of their control; and how fast they turn on each other.(view spoiler)[My favorite part of the book is when Ollie shot the preacher. (hide spoiler)]

[Julie]

ChrisP wrote: "I felt Stephen King's underlying theme in the book was less about what was going on in the story and more about what happens when you put a group of humans in a tiny space in a situation that is out of their control; and how fast they turn on each other."

Definitely yes to this, and it's one of the points I highlighted most in my review. It really underscores the point that "hell is other people" (and in some ways, a much scarier threat than the monsters in the mist tbh). And I think it dovetails nicely with what he explores in Under the Dome, where he's still interested in exactly that: how human beings tear themselves apart if you trap them in an enclosed space, how society breaks down, how we fall back on fear.

[Latasha]

ChrisP wrote: "Paul wrote: "Well King, (or the narrator) does say, "But you mustn't expect some neat conclusion," and "It is, I suppose, what my father always frowningly called, 'an Alfred Hitchcock ending', by w..."

I'm am very ok with grim endings. real life doesn't always have happy endings so books & movies don't have to either.

[Graeme]

Julie wrote: "ChrisP wrote: "I felt Stephen King's underlying theme in the book was less about what was going on in the story and more about what happens when you put a group of humans in a tiny space in a situa..."

very well said.

[Graeme]

Latasha wrote: "I'm am very ok with grim endings. real life doesn't always have happy endings so books & movies don't have to either...."

I think that the worst ending I've seen was an HEA.

On the Twilight series - now imagine if Alice's plan hadn't worked...

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane)]

Side note: I like the size of this story. Easily read in a week-end. Yep, about 160 -200 pages is the sweet spot for me (says me who has just started a 650 page behemoth - and that's just Part 1).

[Graeme]

The Way of Shadows - love your comment. LOL.

[Nancy]

Walter wrote: "I know I must have read the shorter version, since I do have Skeleton Crew, but I don't remember reading it. A good thing, I suppose, since that made reading the expanded book version all the fresh..."

There's an expanded version?

[Walter]

Nancy wrote: "Walter wrote: "I know I must have read the shorter version, since I do have Skeleton Crew, but I don't remember reading it. A good thing, I suppose, since that made reading the expanded book versio..."

As I understand it, the novella in Skeleton Crew was 134 pages long versus the 230 or so in the independent paperback version I read. I had assumed that the original was rewritten and expanded upon to coincide with the theatrical release of the film. Or am I mistaken?

[Nancy]

I don't think there is an expanded edition. I think the page length just varies based on the font used and the size of the font and the dimensions and format of the book.

For example if you look at Skeleton Crew the original hardcover is 512 pages but the paperback is 612. The mass market paperback is 573 pages and the Kindle edition is 788.

Same thing if you go to The Mist. The paperback (230 pages) has fewer pages than the Kindle edition (244).

It was rereleased as a standalone story to coincide with the film but I think that is all. I cant find anything that says King expanded on the story.

[Walter]

Nancy wrote: "I don't think there is an expanded edition. I think the page length just varies based on the font used and the size of the font and the dimensions and format of the book.

For example if you look a..."

You're right, Nancy. I had looked around and saw the different page length, which made me think that perhaps King had added to the original tale for an independent release. But after reading your post I did another search with more specific terms and found this link on Reddit, which verifies that the paperback and the novella are the same, word for word:

https://www.reddit.com/r/stephenking/...

[Graeme]

It is easy to get a different page count if the format changes.

[[deleted user]]

I am new and jumping in on reading The Mist with you. I have ordered the book from my library, I hope to get it in time for discussion.

[Latasha]

Oh it's so good! I hope you enjoy it!

[Dora]

oh gosh.

Um...I feel really bad saying this but....I was not impressed.

I felt it was more...goofy/corny than genuinely spooky[maybe that was the point? all 80's horror was ,to a point]. and the characters were really underdeveloped[ even though I do understand there is only so much one can do with a novella].

The love of his life goes missing, he is parted from his wife for what?24 hours? already eyeing up Amanda with a giant erection. Really? was this a sort of ....return to the primeval aspects of human nature due to the extreme situation?

I didn't like the protagonist, I found him weak and lame[ even though there is nothing wrong with a -flawed- hero, those are the best kind]. The whole thing felt rushed, and I didn't feel any of the lyrical prose I usually am so happy with when reading other works by King.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Dora wrote: "oh gosh.

Um...I feel really bad saying this but....I was not impressed.

I felt it was more...goofy/corny than genuinely spooky[maybe that was the point? all 80's horror was ,to a point]. and the ..."

I just thought it was okay too. Decided on a 4 star but almost went with 3. I liked more than I disliked though

I think the Amanda thing was psychological - people tend to do that during desperation and fear times, her included. Helps distract them.

[Graeme]

Hi Erin,

That's how I saw it too. Desperation and terror reaching for momentary comfort.

[Graeme]

Hi Dora,

You are perfectly entitled to your response.

[Latasha]

I loved it but it really broke my heart when he & Amanda hooked up. I know it was stress & all that but it just broke my heart.

[[deleted user]]

Holly wrote: "Skeleton Crew has my favorite King story; Mrs Todd's Shortcut. A back roads rambler myself, I think about this story sometimes........especially when I find a new road I've never taken before."

Good to know, I added it to my TBR.

[[deleted user]]

I listened to a fully dramatized audio version and though the sound effects were good=scary, I think I might have enjoyed a paper book better.

Hated what happened with Amanda, but loved that he let the protagonist get away - I would rather be out there in the fog, than being stuck with those people.

[Julie]

Agreed with Erin & Graeme -- the Amanda hookup makes complete sense to me. People do wild things during times of extreme stress, and this was one of the most. IMO, it was King painting just another example of varied human coping mechanisms in the novella: some turned to alcohol, others to Carmody's religious frenzy, others to suicide, others to the outright denial of the Flat-Earth Society. Our protagonist just happened to distract himself with sex.

[[deleted user]]

I agree, Julie. He is a people person, that is what I love about his writing. Well spoken.

[Paul]

I felt that 'The Mist' was a good short by King, which could have lent itself to having a bit more padding and weight in places, possibly taking itself to a short novella...this added weight is what I felt Frank Darabont gave to the story when adapting it for film. He rounded and exapanded both the characters and the plot, especially at the end of the film. Darabont is excellent at executing this with King's work, as is seen with 'The Shawshank Redemption' and the truly amazing 'The Green Mile'.
I personally feel that removing the human coping mechanism of the 'sex scene' was a good choice by Darabont and as a reader of the short did feel that it added an almost jerking 'what-thewhat' quality, both to the plot and character development.

[Rita]

Josh wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Carrie was my first King book, and my first horror novel. I was in 5th grade."
Hi Rita my name is Josh Myers and if you are looking for a good Stephen King book to read try It, if you..."

Thank you Josh. Actually now I'm reading Joyland by Stphen King, but before I tried to read " Misery" but didn't work out. I didn't like it very much. Let's see if I like Joyland. It is a very long book and I'm afraid not like the story or even his writting. If I like Joyland or not, im interested and quite curious to try out "The Shining" then the sequel "Doctor Sleep". Thank you for your advice Josh Myers. :)

[Latasha]

We also have the Stephen king challenge where we are reading his works in order of publication. We are currently on different seasons. It's under buddy reads if your interested.

[Graeme]

Hi Rita, I would also recommend "IT", but I think that SK's best work is his supernatural books.

[Graeme]

Hi Paul,

An excellent and insightful point.

[Mars]

The first time I read King was in 6th grade. It was The Stand, the uncut version. It took me forever to read it but I did and LOVED it.

[ChrisP]

My favorite Stephen King books are "The Stand" and "It". If you don't have the time to read 1,000 page novel. I would highly recommend "Duma Key".

[Latasha]

The first one I read was in 6th grade, was Christine and I hated it. I stayed away from him til I joined this group forever ago and we read Duma Key and I liked it. The we read The Shining and I loved it. I was on board! My favorite, so far, is IT.

[Shay]

I read The Mist a few years before the movie came out. I enjoyed it. I was really exited to see the movie.

As for the endings I think I enjoyed the movie ending better. That was tragic. The novella ending is also good in its own way, with the not knowing

[Graeme]

Mars wrote: "The first time I read King was in 6th grade. It was The Stand, the uncut version. It took me forever to read it but I did and LOVED it."

Hi Mars, you got there early. I was in my twenties before I read any Stephen King, and the first book I read was Salems Lot.

[Graeme]

Good for you Shay to find value in both endings.

[Andrew✌️]

I'm in, even if a bit late. I started today the Skeleton Crew and the first novel, "The Mist".
I've seen the movie years ago, in the '80, but I don't remember much. The beginning is slow, but not boring. The place is a common town in the US, after an hurricane. I'm looking forward to continue. :)

[Graeme]

That initial slowness is just the striking of the match.

[Latasha]

the calm before the storm?

[Andrew✌️]

I've just finished it! Wow, it's a creeping tale. I think that this is King at his best. The horror remembers me Lovecraft, but there are also some elements of reflexion about human nature (view spoiler)[e. g. the bigotry of mrs Carmody and its grip on many of the people trapped in the market (hide spoiler)].
The ending is perfect for this type of story.

[Latasha]

Great to hear Andrew :) glad you liked it. It was very Lovecraftian but I'm ok with that ;)

[Graeme]

Hi Andrew.

It struck me that some people were leveraging the situation to promote their own power within the community.

Definitely echoes of Lovecraft