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Betsy
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rated it 4 stars
Aug 10, 2009 07:04PM
To be honest, I tend to discount Oprah picks a lot of the time. I attempted to read a couple of her recs and was disappointed. I was actually surprised that she chose McCarthy.
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I find all this talk of Oprah and The Road kind of amusing..I read The Road in 2006 because it was on Stephen King's Top Ten Books of The Year list in EW.
I love Oprah too. Generally speaking, I don't care for her book recs.
And btw, EVERYONE should read THE ROAD. Especially before seeing the movie!
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The book was great. I hope the movie lives up to it!
Chris wrote: "In case I haven't said it in awhile, Becky - you are TOO COOL....."Ummm... why? =\
I'm just saying that I think people write King off too easily. Yes he writes stories that use full sentences and have a linear progression from point A to point B (mostly), but does that automatically make him inferior to other writers who think that they have to throw words in the air and write a sentence out of the ones that land between their feet or whatever the new "trick" is? I mean, sure, it may be cool to some. But I just want to be told a good story.
I wanted to read House of Leaves because of the premise of the book... but then I bought it for my boyfriend and see that there are random upside-down columns of words, words in different colors, boxes of words... Exactly when does that stop being cool and start being a pain in the ass? I think probably page III of the introduction. Really - How do you even know where to start reading? Or is it one of those books which isn't supposed to be read in linear fashion, where gajillion little snippets of text eventually add up to form the story, which will be different every time you read it - IF you can stand it a second time?
I'm tired of ploys and gimmicks. I'm easy to please. Just tell me a story.
But thanks for thinking I'm cool though, Chris! LOL
I want an entertaining story, too. I don't want it to feel like a job I am completing, either. I don't mind having to figure out a little mystery, but figuring out how to READ the story is a little too much to ask, in my opinion. I looked at House of Leaves, (mostly because SBB wanted it!)but didn't get it for the exact reasons you listed. Too much.(BTW, you're cool, just 'cause you are, silly girl!)
Mod
...Elegant? You sure we're talking about MY comments? Hehe...
Elegant may be going a little far...Ha ha ha! But cool is perfect!!!!
Kandice wrote: "Elegant may be going a little far...Ha ha ha! But cool is perfect!!!!"I did wear heels as I posted the comment. :P
No I didn't. But I thought it would be funny to say I did. *sigh*
Becky wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Elegant may be going a little far...Ha ha ha! But cool is perfect!!!!"I did wear heels as I posted the comment. :P"
but did you wear a dainty string of pearls? :)
Rachel wrote: "Becky wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Elegant may be going a little far...Ha ha ha! But cool is perfect!!!!"I did wear heels as I posted the comment. :P"
but did you wear a dainty string of pearls? :)"
No. Alas! *high sarcasm* I own NOT ONE dainty string of pearls. Woe is me!
Oh, Becky! You are TOO COOL, indeed. Almost ten yrs ago, I was lucky enough to establish a long running email "friendship" with himself. Other than a long running arguments about current literature, which is about 96% of our discussions, you could hardly describe this as a "friendship" -- As for Cormac McCarthy, he is pretty much recognized as one of, if not the best living American writer -- and that's not by me -- I'm talking about the dudes who give out the American Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for lit. But I had to laugh at your "Oprah" comment because the only time this famously reclusive author EVER appeared on television for an interview was a taped segment for Oprah, the Queen herself!!!
That's cool... I have to say I'm a little jealous. The closest I've ever come to a "friendship" with King was contemplating camping outside his house until he has me forcibly removed. And I'm sure that King does appreciate other authors' "literature" and MAY even prefer it over his own writings, but be that as it may, I still think that he who does so discounts King unfairly. I would rather read his books than annoying and gimmicky "literature" any day.
Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to read anything if it sits still long enough (well, maybe not anything written by Ann Coulter and her ilk), but I don't really get why something being difficult to read and infinitely interpretable while perpetually mysterious (read: completely frustrating) automatically makes a "classic".
Why can we not appreciate straight-forward writing anymore? Why does obscurity = greatness? Why is the story no longer about the story? Yes the quality of the telling makes a big difference, I recognize that, but if you were being read the story aloud, would you still be able to follow it and enjoy it?
I can tell you that I've listened to a few King audiobooks, and I loved the experience. I wouldn't even want to try listening to The Road.
Becky, I agree with you completely ('specially 'bout Ms. Coulter!!) And I do completely understand the need for "straight forward writing" - Remember, I was in effect slamming "Cell." As far as post-apocalyptic lit, "The Stand" is the BEST -- And yes, I mean better than "The Road!!"
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Chris wrote: "Becky - actually, the audio book was the method I used to read The Road..."Brave soul. Although maybe you're right and the reader giving it his (I'm assuming the reader was male) own interpretation/spin/personality actually helped rather than hurt.
I just know that with the sentence structures, I'd have been rewinding and rewinding and trying in vain to understand what was going on. At least reading it a couple times didn't feel as blatant because my eye could just scan it again. ;)
Angie wrote: "I am nosy..why did the emails between you and King stop? "They haven't, Angie... sometimes we can go for 6-8 mos without writing, then a particularly exciting book or movie or "Lost" episode will start another flurry of ltrs. When I say one can hardly call this a friendship, I was thinking of the time I wrote to him, yammering on about a really, really good book I'd just read called "The Heart Shaped Box" -- I don't think he will EVER let me forget that one!!
Mod
Anyone think there might be a sequel to this book? Maybe that's why so much was left in the air?
Bondama wrote: "Angie wrote: "I am nosy..why did the emails between you and King stop? "They haven't, Angie... sometimes we can go for 6-8 mos without writing, then a particularly exciting book or movie or "Lost..."
Hey, I'd think that he'd take it as a compliment that his kid wrote a book that you loved so much! At least you weren't screaming how much you hated it! LOL
I think I would've crawled into a hole in the ground and just plain died if I'd "hated it!!" Fortunately, as we ALL Constant Readers know, the man does have a GREAT sense of humor!!And Angie, I fully intend to mention our group -- I only just joined here a few weeks ago, and I love it!!
***********Spoilers Included ***********************I just finished the book and have to say that I really liked it. It was fast paced and a quick read that kept me hooked from beginning to the end.
It appears that Stephen King is using an old Sci Fi Formula for this story. He even dedicates it to Richard Matheson (author of I Am Legend along with some twilight zone episodes) and George Romero (director of Dawn of the Dead).
I’ve seen others stories that use this type of formula. Besides “I am Legend” there is also “Earth Abides” by George Stewart, and I’m sure there are many more, those are just the two I can think of at the moment.
The story formula is some catastrophic event that nearly wipes out humanity. The Characters usually speculate as to what could have happened but there is never really any direct explanation of what happened. The story is usually about the survivors and how they deal with things and usually has an inconclusive ending as well.
I think King did a very good job with the story and he used modern technology to deliver the bomb so to speak. I think the fact that Clay figured out that it was the cell phones causing the problem so fast was King wanting to get that part out of the way so the rest of the story could develop.
King put his dislike of cell phones to use in this story along with the rumored 90% of our brain we supposedly don’t use and incorporating the premise that our brains are like computers and can be wiped. And what would be left if our brains were wiped like a computer hard drive.
There were a couple other references to our modern society which I think King could have been making a point with. One is the mention of who owns cell phones and the other was the flock.
It was mentioned that most of the normal people were either the very young or the old. Most everyone else had a cell phone and was affected by the pulse with a few exceptions like Tom who had forgotten his cell phone and like Clay who didn’t own one or people who did own one but like Alice and Clay noticed that the cell phone was the problem.
The flock I think is a comment on how much people follow each other. In this story it is the culmination of owning a cell phone. My friend has a cell phone so eventually I get a cell phone and soon all my friends have cell phones. Another aspect is once the flock starts binding together they try to force their will on the normal people, making them avoid certain people or making them go specific places or in some instances kill themselves. In a way I think the zombie like state of the flock and the way they are described as doing everything the same and only turning on each other when their own personal selfishness is threatened is making fun of the types that just follow whatever may be the fad for the day. And as for the forcing their will on people, this could represent society’s intolerance at anyone who dares to be different and show individuality.
The thing I was upset about was the fact that Clay finally was going to get his artwork published and then Murphy’s Law kicks in and destroys the world.
King definitely knows how to tell a story. I really enjoyed it.
OMG Mary, you said that beautifully! I really enjoyed this book just because it's a great story. I can't see the bigger picture the way you just described it. So thanks to you! :)
Great post, Mary. This isn't one of my favorite books, maybe because of the lack of explanation as to what caused the meltdown in the first place. I might have been content with a more detailed speculation, but then again, maybe not. Knowing that S.K. used an old Sci Fi Formula for this story makes me appreciate the book a little more than I did before.
I read Cell when it came out & did very much Love the beginning but I was slightly bored, w/a twist of frustration by the end.
Perhaps in another few years, I will read it again & try not to be so prejudice from my 1st experience.
Till then,
Tah, Tah
Perhaps in another few years, I will read it again & try not to be so prejudice from my 1st experience.
Till then,
Tah, Tah
I'm pretty familiar with the formula; I love post-apocalyptic fiction. I definitely need to read more of it. I just didn't like the progression of the "affected people" in the story, because well, I think that people who have had their minds destroyed should really kind of keep them that way. Or, if they are going to evolve, at least make it a believable evolution over a period of many, many years. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to go along with that part. And my disbelief is hanging up there pretty highly suspended most of the time. ;)
I mean, let's look at this: The Pulse occurs, and just about everyone's brain turns to mush and they start attacking and killing anything that moves. Then, within days or weeks (can't remember which) they've miraculously begun to congregate or "flock", and then in a few more days or weeks, MAYBE months, they have language and a society built and a brand-spankin' new world domination plan.
Now, I can go along with finding a leader for their flock. That's an instinctual thing. The biggest, strongest person will naturally just take that role. But the rest of it just doesn't make sense to me. In my mind, the Pulse set them back a gajillion years in development. They were essentially vicious animals, who, within the course of a couple months on the long side, somehow catch up with and surpass human development.
Maybe if it was alien technology, I could go along with that. But as it was, I just couldn't do it, and I was severely disappointed.
The way I see it Becky is that if it only took seconds to erase their minds, then why couldn`t their brains start re-developing over a short period of time? That`s just my opinion, but I can fully understand where you`re coming from.
I guess it could, but I thought of the Pulse as a physical thing, kind of. If you get an arrow through the brain, IF you don't die, then you are not the same as you were, and you're certainly not better off. The brain doesn't regenerate like that.If the Pulse was some frequency that is supposed to bring out the latent telepathic and superior brain power in people, which is what it seems like, I don't see how or why it would essentially destroy all rational brain function first.
*shrug* I'm not saying that the book can't be interpreted that way - just that I can't suspend my disbelief to accept that interpretation. There's something missing that would allow me to accept it, and the more I think about it, the more I think that missing thing is the origin of the Pulse.
Normally, I could understand and accept that we don't get answers to that kind of thing. I don't require that kind of explanation with a lot of the books I read, but this one needs it for me to accept it, because of the way that things played out.
If it's a government experiment, alien technology, God playing a trick on us, whatever, I think that there needs to be some rational explanation for the way that the Pulse was able to ruin all rationality and brain function and then not only rapidly bring it back but also exponentially increase it.
Mod
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12:41pm March 24th, 2006:
Regarding Cell...
CELL SPOILER: "Based on the information given in the final third of Cell—I’m thinking about the reversion back toward the norm of the later phone crazies—it seems pretty obvious to me that things turned out well for Clay’s son, Johnny. I don’t need to tell you this, do I?”
-Steve
Mod
Anyone notice Dark Tower references? Here are some I noticed:
Charlie the Choo choo in kashwak
The Dark wanderer RD are the initals for the main hero
And some I read about:
Maybe the whole thing happened because of the breaking of a beam?
I love this one I found on the internet:
I've heard that the Raggedy Man's Harvard sweatshirt is a clue to him serving the Crimson King, since Harvard's color is usually called "crimson" instead of just red. It's also the name of their school newspaper. The sweatshirt is so iconic of the character that I doubt Stephen just chose it at random.
Angie wrote: "What do you guys think.... if you were around someone who had their cell phone on speaker phone would you be a zombie for hearing it on speaker? Anyone notice Dark Tower references? Here are som..."
Angie- I had pondered the speaker phone thing in connection with Bluetooth technology. I have a Bluetooth in my car...does that mean the Pulse would blast anyone in my car? I think so.
Dark Tower references: I knew the Charlie the Choo Choo thing sounded familiar.
Angie wrote: "What do you guys think.... if you were around someone who had their cell phone on speaker phone would you be a zombie for hearing it on speaker? Anyone notice Dark Tower references? Here are som..."
I think a lot would depend on 'environmental interference'... how much of the signal reached the brain 'uncorrupted'. Take the example of Pixie Dark... she was listening in on Pixie Light's phone instead of having it actually to her ear. Pixie Light got the strongest signal and turned into the standard phone crazy (murderous, gibbering) but Pixie Dark didn't. PD only got a partial wipe. She was still able to communicate in coherent sentences and thoughts (What's going on? Who are you? Who am I?)... well at least until she bashed her head in on the light post!
That made me think that the Pulse's 'message' actually contained two parts: the 'Wipe' that turned off the higher level thinking and then a second component, kind of like a 'worm', that inserted malicious code that induced violence and then later, as it kept working, re-wired the unused portion of the brain until you had all the other stuff (hive-mind, telekinesis, etc.). Maybe I've read too much Sci-Fi, or I was just really willing to suspend disbelief but it made an odd kind of sense to me and I was willing to just 'go with it' for the rest of the story ;)
I would have liked to have had more information on the cause (kind of like my reaction to 'The Long Walk') but I enjoyed the story a lot even without the clear wrap-up/resolution.
Becky wrote: "I'm pretty familiar with the formula; I love post-apocalyptic fiction. I definitely need to read more of it. I just didn't like the progression of the "affected people" in the story, because well, ..."Becky wrote: "I'm pretty familiar with the formula; I love post-apocalyptic fiction. I definitely need to read more of it. I just didn't like the progression of the "affected people" in the story, because well, ..."
I understand the disappointment. On one hand I would have liked more information regarding how and why the pulse was sent. On the other I understand what King was doing when he wrote the story.
And as for how fast the phone crazies started recovering, remember the premise in the story was that our brains are organic computers. A computer can sometimes come back in some semblance of its former functioning depending on the virus but some processes just won’t work right anymore. I’m not so sure the crazies surpassed human development so much as they are using that 90 % of the brain that we supposedly don’t use normally, where all our paranormal abilities are supposed to reside. This was a speculation brought up by Tom or Clay somewhere in the story (by the way this has been debunked with more modern research but the myth still persists) King is playing on this as well. Or maybe it was some of that underlying hard wired programming that Jordan and Tom and Clay were speculating about that is so much a part of the machine or humanity that it displays itself no matter what in whatever bizarre way it can.
Clay also mentioned that the crazies path back to normality if that is what was happening would probably not happen before winter set in which would kill off most of the crazies because they did not seem to have the ability to know how to protect themselves from the elements, something the normies understood.
I can see how your disbelief would be would be affected. It is a fantastic story where you kind of have to go along with the tread no matter how unbelievable it could be. There were aspects of the crazies behavior that was unexplained such as why did they listen to the type of music they did and why did they need it playing in order to reboot so to speak. I just kind of took it as part of the whole unexplained situation.
Angie wrote: "Stephen King has a message about the ending of cell on the main page of his site.12:41pm March 24th, 2006:
Regarding Cell...
CELL SPOILER: "Based on the information given in the final third of C..."
Thanks Angie I never really thought to look on King's site.
Stacie wrote: "Angie wrote: "What do you guys think.... if you were around someone who had their cell phone on speaker phone would you be a zombie for hearing it on speaker? Anyone notice Dark Tower references?..."
Stacie wrote: "Angie wrote: "What do you guys think.... if you were around someone who had their cell phone on speaker phone would you be a zombie for hearing it on speaker?
Anyone notice Dark Tower references?..."
Stacie you kind of answered something that had been bothering me about why some didn’t seem to get at first and that was why some seemed to go into vicious mode and some into confused mode. The idea you present kind of makes sense in a way. I knew it was because they didn’t have the phone directly to their own ear but your explanation about the pulse actually having two parts makes sense in a programming kind of way.
I get what you're saying Mary, about the brain being like an organic computer, but that's something that doesn't really fit to me either. It IS like a computer in the fact that it controls every function of our body and makes it possible for us to be who we are and cognizant and rational etc. But everyone thinks of things differently, and has different ways of processing a thought or command etc. Nobody understands the brain fully, so in that way it is NOT like computers at all. My "reset" switch or trigger could be completely different from yours. I think of it in terms of epilepsy in a way (and I'm NO expert on this so if my theory is wrong, I apologize), but I believe that I read years back that the triggers for seizures aren't understood. So someone could be set off by lights, while someone else with the same physiological symptoms could be set off by a sound, or a smell. It's all in the brain.
So I have a hard time wrapping my own around one end all "pulse" that would act the same way to everyone who got a full dose, and the same way to everyone who got a partial dose. The only thing that makes sense is that people who heard nothing would not change because of it. They are like the control group. *shrug*
In regards to my comment about surpassing human development, I simply meant normal human development, or the so-called 10% we use. I cannot at this time hear anyone else's thoughts or control things with my mind, so if someone can, whether they are using 11% or 90% or acquired whole new realms of brain power, they've surpassed me! ;)
I`m very interested in hypnotherapy, & the pulse for me was something like an audible hypnotic transmission sent to all the cell phones. If you`ve ever seen a stage hypnotist, you would have seen how quick they can put them into a trance! Once they have achieved that, they can get them them to do anything. I have even seen cases where people can demonstrate great acts of strength, strength which under normal circumstances would be beyond their physical capabilities.
Martin, I could go along with that.. Maybe. But what's the point? WHY go to all that trouble? and WHO went to it? For what purpose?
Why? Who knows why? Why did Adolf Hitler kill millions of Jews in World War 2? Why do Suicide Bombers blow themselves up on the streets of Bagdad & other places, killing many innocent lives in the process? The fact is, for those of us that are mentally sane, the acts of such pychopaths will never make sense! In their own twisted way though they actually think they`re doing the world a great favour by doing such acts!
Mod
Terrible acts do not mean that the person or persons who carried them out are automatically insane, OR that they are random. The examples you gave both have purposes, even if you do not agree or understand them.And, this isn't a random real life event - this is a story created and written by a person. You could argue that the event was completely random, but I would argue that there ARE no completely random events in King's universe.
Except for this book, when King writes about random events, he shows us that the act/event/whatever is a result of the "Random" acting on a person and causing them to carry it out. Call the "Random" God, or Fate, or Devine Whim, Ka or whatever, there is purpose behind it.
With his stories there is always a catalyst. Every story shows that there is reason and purpose behind the Random aspects in life (and death) and there is a POINT to it all. Even books like Pet Sematary where the evil just IS, there's a point to the story about the people who have to deal with it - Don't ask for the impossible because you won't like what you get.
Cujo is a story about random events, but there was cause, and a point to the story - doing what you have to do to try to save the ones you love, even if you can't.
There are too many loose ends to this story. The way the Pulse acted on everyone in the exact same way had to be caused by some (probably alien) technology, and could have been explained, but was not. That's all I'm getting at. *Shrug*
Becky wrote: "I get what you're saying Mary, about the brain being like an organic computer, but that's something that doesn't really fit to me either. It IS like a computer in the fact that it controls every fu..."Becky you do have a valid point regarding how one person might react differently than another and how the brain is not fully understood. I think you are right about the epilepsy thing too. I’m not certain they know what triggers them. Also thanks for clarifying the human development thing too. I guess I was thinking something way different that you were meaning. Your analogy regarding the comparison of the non affected people as a control group makes sense too.
I think the fact that brain functions are not fully understood gives authors such a rich source for their imagination to take full reign in their writing they just can’t help themselves. I do understand however, it sounds like you would like it to be a little closer to reality. My husband is also like that. If things seem too fantastic he usually does not enjoy it as much, whereas I just take the story and run with it. Because its fiction the only thing that I’m interested in is how well the author can hold my attention and draw me into the story, nonfiction is another issue. What holds my attention might not be what holds someone else’s; I think everyone is different in that regard too. That’s why there are so many different genres of fiction and stuff. There are even some people who do not like to read fiction at all.
Ok not sure where I was going with this I guess I’m rambling now.
Stephen King Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
The Running Man (other topics)Cell (other topics)
1984 (other topics)
The Long Walk (other topics)
Oryx and Crake (other topics)
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