Stephen King Fans discussion
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Scenes from King books that are difficult for you to read?
i cringe just reading the word "de-gloving". ew.
Me too! I had forgotten how that word, "de-gloving", gave me quivers in my stomach. What makes it worse, is that I worked with a girl who was actually "gloved". That's how she referred to it, not as "de-gloving", in a car accident. She was very sweet, and we became friends, but I never got over having a hard time looking at her left hand. It had required numerous skin grafts and I always had King's descriptions in mind when I saw it.
Tom wrote: "I'm getting entirely too many reminders of scenes in Misery that I've totally forgotten [old age:]! MUST re-read."I'm thinking of rereading Misery too. A lot of things I've forgotten about... and although I've seen the movie many times over, it doesn't even come close to the horror Paul Sheldon experiences.
I think that the season that bothers me the most to read is when the child dies in "Pet Sematary". Even before I had my son, that whole scenario made me cry.
I agree, Pet Semetary was a hard book to read because of that. It made me feel a little crazy because my son had just been born when I re-read for the 2nd or 3rd time and I could imagine the over whelming greif at losing a child and the lengths I'd go to to have him back at ANY cost. The same thing in Duma Key, when that crazy woman kills the guy's daughter. It's horrifying to contemplate any harm coming to children, mine, yours or anyones. Another that was hard to read for me, I remember very vividly the scene in IT where the kid put the dog in the old fridge in the junk yard and then what happens to the kid after he lets it die. EWWW.
I Love King, he can make me laugh out loud, had made me cry and made me sick, literally. But I think Pet Semetary bothered me the most. The killing of Gage, and Judd and the mother by her baby. It was awful and disturbing.
It was awful what they did to his poor hand.
Rob wrote: "The whole story Survivor Type made me cringe. And it takes a lot to get me to cringe. At least in a book."Yeah, that story I found a mite disturbing.
Parts of The Jaunt and The Road Virus Heads North also hit me.
And what happened to the daughter in Duma Key.
I haven't really found any sections I felt the need to skip (in fact the opposite in some cases, I had to go back and reread some parts), but I think there is only on book which I'm a bit afraid of ... Cujo ... the idea of watching a kind-hearted dog slowly transform into a monster really gets to me. That and the fact King supposedly got drunk and woke up with the finished manuscript sitting in front of him.
I fully intend to get and read this book, just waiting on a copy with a cover I like (I know, I'm shallow).
Chaos wrote: "Parts of The Jaunt and The Road Virus Heads North also hit me."I'd forgotten about these two but yeah, they gave me chills. *shivers*
I was rereading Desperation after more than a decade - had practically promised myself I wouldn't ever go back to it, it was so disturbing, but this time round it didn't seem too bad - except for the scene when they're in the bathroom at the theatre, and what used to be David's mom is waiting outside...
"Survivor Type" (the entire frakin' story) and the gang-rape scene in "Under the Dome". Both were quite rough...
I think the part that upset me is the part on DreamCatcher when the down syndrome kid is made to eat dog s***; that part bothers me.
King generally doesn't wig me out. I get that more with other authors. I will admit to being scared a couple of times with him like the scene with the kid that was a sadist in It and for some reason The Chattery Teeth.
I just started The Dead Zone, **** spoiler *** and right off, Greg Stillson kicking that dog to death, made me kind of ill. I've seen the movie years ago,but I don't remember if that was in there or not. I've never read this book, so to have that at the beginning was kind of a shock.
Lori wrote: "I just started The Dead Zone, **** spoiler *** and right off, Greg Stillson kicking that dog to death, made me kind of ill. I've seen the movie years ago,but I don't remember if that was in there o..."Yeah he's pretty good about giving you a vivid image at the start, the beginning of black house can be a bit much for some for that very reason.
That's another one I haven't read yet. I have it I just haven't read it yet. Not enough hours in the day sometimes.
For me its got to be the whole story of"The Long Walk" what Ray Garrety and the other boys go through is just exhausting to read, and to think they all signed up for it disturbs me even more!!Steves visions of the future aren't very bright.......
Madferrit wrote: "For me its got to be the whole story of"The Long Walk" what Ray Garrety and the other boys go through is just exhausting to read, and to think they all signed up for it disturbs me even more!!Stev..."
Not true actually. His Bachman books are the only ones that don't have some sense of hope in them. It' part of the reason I love his work. Things may get awful but in the end there is generally a hope and a will to live that carry the characters through it all. I've lived through some tough stuff so I know what it's like to move on afterwards.
Not true actually. His Bachman books are the only ones that don't have some sense of hope in them. It' part of the reason I love his work. Things may get awful but in the end there is generally a hope and a will to live that carry the characters through it all. I've lived through some tough stuff so I know what it's like to move on afterwards.Most people i talk to dispair at the blunt endings SK gives his stories!! I love him because of that!!
I too have been through tough stuff as im sure many people on here have but i dont feel his books always convey a happy ending for all-but thats just me :-)
Oh just wanted to add its great to read other peoples perspective on his stories! How different we seem to view them, glad i found other SK nerds like me lol
I think there are a few King's with blunt or bleak endings, not only Bachman's. Cell comes to mind. I hesitate to even mention it because I am in the minority for liking that particular offerring:D
Kandice wrote: "I think there are a few King's with blunt or bleak endings, not only Bachman's. Cell comes to mind. I hesitate to even mention it because I am in the minority for liking that particular offerring:D"That's true Cell was pretty bleak. I don't like it as well as his other stuff but I can't really say i've ever read anything by him I didn't like some aspect of
Pet Sematary struck me as having a particularly stark ending, and Rose Madder too. To me, both of these finished with hints that things could only get worse.
I hated rading about the miserable life of the poor abandoned dog, Prince, in Gerald's Game. It didn't bother me at all that he ate parts of Gerald--a starving dog's gotta do what a starving dog's gotta do. I just felt so sorry for him. I mean, people do that evey day--abandon pets--and it really bothers me. A LOT.
Nilofer wrote: "Pet Sematary struck me as having a particularly stark ending, and Rose Madder too. To me, both of these finished with hints that things could only get worse."Yeah he does it so well doesn't he? i like that though there's no finale or "they lived happily ever after" and thats the way life is most of the time.
Mary wrote: "I hated rading about the miserable life of the poor abandoned dog, Prince, in Gerald's Game. It didn't bother me at all that he ate parts of Gerald--a starving dog's gotta do what a st..."He wanted you to feel bad for Prince, it was part of the story that everyone has some edge to them and some good.
Nilofer wrote: "Pet Sematary struck me as having a particularly stark ending, and Rose Madder too. To me, both of these finished with hints that things could only get worse."Yes but that one was about death and learning to let go. The lesson was there, let go or die as a result. We have to deal with death or it will overrun us, swallow us up.
Madferrit wrote: "Nilofer wrote: "Pet Sematary struck me as having a particularly stark ending, and Rose Madder too. To me, both of these finished with hints that things could only get worse."Yeah he does it so we.../i>
Yes, I like that he can be subtle when he wants to be, or as blunt as a sledgehammer when he doesn't:)
Amanda wrote: "Nilofer wrote: "Pet Sematary struck me as having a particularly stark ending, and Rose Madder too. To me, both of these finished with hints that things could only get worse."Yes but that one was ..." I hadn't thought about Pet Sematary like that, but once you said it, it made sense, that he couldn't accept his son's death. But with Rose Madder, and her temper becoming nearly uncontrollable at the end, she seemed that she was turning into her ex-husband - pretty bleak to me, after all she went thru.
Tek wrote: "The "de-gloving" scene in Geralds Game. I had to stop for a moment and cringe when I read it."
"shudders" just when I'd forgotten that bit.
Nilofer wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Nilofer wrote: "Pet Sematary struck me as having a particularly stark ending, and Rose Madder too. To me, both of these finished with hints that things could only get worse."Yes ..."
I looked at it as confronting her demon but yeah it was pretty stark.
I'd have to agree that the child's death in Pet Sematary was one of the most disturbing things I have read. And the way that King captured the grief of the parents was powerful. I guess anything with a child in harm's way hits us where we hurt since it is in most people's heart to protect the little ones.
Clearcutkip wrote: "I'd have to agree that the child's death in Pet Sematary was one of the most disturbing things I have read. And the way that King captured the grief of the parents was powerful. I guess anything wi..."Yes. King wrote it based on his fears about his own kids getting hit. They lived in a house right on a similar road at the time and their cat Smucky got killed on it. Behind his house was the pet semetery (what the kids who built it titled it)which also creeped him out. That's why i love King. He's full of these neat stories about what inspires him.
Also he hid the book in a drawer for a long time cause it scared him and Tabby so much.
Wow. I was not aware that this was drawn on his own experiences. This makes it even more creepy.
Clearcutkip wrote: "Wow. I was not aware that this was drawn on his own experiences. This makes it even more creepy."Yep, most of his stuff is actually. That' part of the charm.
I've read most of the books already mentioned, and I'm sure that many of the examples you guys have given disturbed me at the time. But the thing is - I can't remember those particular details! Sure, I remember that Gabe got hit by a truck in Pet Sematary, but I don't remember any details about it.I do remember other details about stories that really SCARED me; such as The Raft, The Mist and It, but they didn't creep me out in any way. Salem's Lot is the most scary thing Uncle Stevie has written in my opinion, but I had totally forgotten about the thing with the baby. The sound of nails scratching at the window is what I remember... ;)
One thing that did disturb me when I read it was when I read "The Body" for the first time. I was about 12 years old and there's a short story that Gordie writes when he's an adult about someone called Chico (I think ?) and his girlfriend. In that story there are some intimate details about the young lady's ...ahem, private parts. I thought that was so EMBARRASSING! I even attached a paper clip around that chapter and wrote "Don't read this if you don't want to be sick!" on the first page of that chapter. Remember - I was 12... My mom was a bit puzzled about it and wondered why I had done that.
I can't keep from laughing about it now, I can't believe I was such a prude! :D
Katarina wrote: "I've read most of the books already mentioned, and I'm sure that many of the examples you guys have given disturbed me at the time. But the thing is - I can't remember those particular details! Sur..."Lol i think we all are at that age!
You know i don't think there are many scenes that I had a hard time reading. Maybe some i was like oh no, no i don't want that to happen like with Maddy in Bag of Bones (trying not to be a spoiler)toward the end of the book before all the big stuff happens.
Nilofer wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Nilofer wrote: "she seemed that she was turning into her ex-husband - pretty bleak to me, after all she went thru...."Good possibility. I had only considered that she was engaged in the ultimate payback.
Amanda wrote: "Also he hid the book in a drawer for a long time cause it scared him and Tabby so much...."I've always loved King's quote: "This one even scared me".
Amanda and Tom,I think I'd like to reread Rose Madder, it was one of King's books that I'd avoided once I read it (like Desperation, which I read again recently - the second time around was much easier) but I'd like to see if I find it as disturbing as I did the first time around - and maybe work out why I felt that way.
I also can't handle and animal scenes. I had to skip the entire Henry killing Mikes dog in It and I also had a hard time reading Beverly's chase scene with her father. That poor girl!
Zombette wrote: "I also had a hard time reading Beverly's chase scene with her father. That poor girl!"I read that particular scene last night and it was one of the worst scenes so far.
And I had problems with Patrick Hockstetter and his hole story (killing the animals, his brother, the scene with him and Henry, etc.)
I know this is probably blasphemy since I call myself a fan of Stephen King, but I've never read The Stand because I couldn't get past the opening "scene" where he's describing the dead people in the car. It was mostly the fact that kids were involved though. I'm going to push through it at some point though because I hear the book is just too darn good to miss out on.
I hated the scene where that goon was beating up Lisey in Lisey's Story. I felt so bad for her, she's like what 50 or so, and he just punched her, fucked her up. And when she and her sister take and leave that asshole in Boo'ya Moon, i felt she was vindicated. He got what was coming to him!!
I haven't read a whole lot of King but I had a hard time with the *spoiler* rape scene in The Library Policeman. Things done to kids is just intolerable.
In Gerald's Game when Jessie is trying to pull her hand through the cuffs.. I'm sorry, but my vivid imagination makes my stomach turn.
I agree with the scene in Gerald's Game. The build up to it was torture too-I wasn't sure how it was going to happen but I knew that the hand was going to have to go. Doesn't she keep talking about hearing a chainsaw off in the distance-shudder!The scene in Lisey's Story where he clamps the can opener on her breast will stick with me forever. I can't use mine without thinking about that-god, talk about heebie jeebies!
It was also hard to read when Jack Mort thew the brick at Susannah & turned her into two people. Odetta Holmes & the evil bitch Detta Walker. "I busted up them forspecial plates." All's well that ends well, because he got his!
The scene in Lisey's Story where he clamps the can opener on her breast will stick with me forever. I can't use mine without thinking about that-god, talk about heebie jeebies!OUCH! Those things are tender.
Everyone's mentioning the breaking of bones in Misery... I havn't read it for a long time and it might belong to something else.. but wasn't there a part when she ran over a man with a lawnmower??? I seem to remember this vividly and still grosses me out, i'm sure it was in Misery... I think it's almost time for a re-read!
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Ooh, I had totally forgotten about that one! Good call!