The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

[Rach]

Mile 81
A rogue car. It leaves me with questions. Would you believe a couple of children who told you that about a car? As a reader of fine fiction, you just might at a stretch, but Joe Bloggs on the street? What's going to happen them in the future? I'm pretty sure a few counselling sessions will be needed; to say the least.

[Justin]

Just cracked this thing open. Looking gifted to reading more of his short stories.

[Kandice]

Justin wrote: "Just cracked this thing open. Looking gifted to reading more of his short stories."

Which was your favorite?

[Alexander]

I finished this book the other week, it wasn't a bad. It was hit or miss really, most of the better stories were towards the beginning of the book, only a couple or so of the last few short stories were worth reading. The less worthwhile stories actually ended up being some of the longer ones. I'll list the stories I enjoyed the most below.

Mile 81
Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
Under the Weather
Summer Thunder

The Above were my favorites for various reasons, the list below is of other short stories that may not be my favorite but are still good and worth reading.

Premium Harmony
The Dune
Bad Little Kid
A Death
That Bus is Another World

[Jonathan]

Man, I loved this book. Here's my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Stevo]

Jonathan wrote: "Man, I loved this book. Here's my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Nice review. I thought it was a very strong collection when I read it too. SK keeps surprising me because with every new release after the accident I expect him to have 'lost it' but he hasn't.

[William]

What did everyone think about the first story in this collection?
It’s had very mixed reviews, even king said it wasn’t his best, but I really liked it.

[Erin]

Under The Weather is my favorite story in this collection. I don't know why I love that story so much but I do. I mean you know the "twist" the entire time but I just really love that story.

Mile 81 was just ok.

[mrbooks]

Mile 81 was fab LOL. Different way of looking at things I guess.

[Erin]

Haha!

[Kelsey]

Did anyone else get Bachman vibes from Morality, or was that just me?

[Kandice]

I also feel indifferent to Mile 81.

Kelsey, I absolutely think Bachman wrote Morality! ;-)

[Greg]

I thought Mile 81 was the best of the bunch. Overall I think it’s his weakest collection of short stories by a distance. I know I’m in the minority and probably need to reread.

[Kelsey]

Morality definitely left me feeling like I did after I finished Roadwork, though I enjoyed Morality a lot more.

I thought The Dune was much more unsettling than Mile 81 - now that I've read the latter, I don't understand the hype behind it, but it's really take it or leave it for me.

[Ausaf]

I just got this. Did I make a good decision? Like, I know I am the judge of what I read, but suggestions and recommendations help a lot.

[Jimmie]

I congratulate you choosing to read The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. The beauty of books is they appeal to so many people differently. In my opinion there are some really good stories in this collection. I feel you have made a wise choice.

[Nick]

Ausaf wrote: "I just got this. Did I make a good decision? Like, I know I am the judge of what I read, but suggestions and recommendations help a lot."

Good decision. Lots of excellent stories.

[Tyler]

Can anyone help determine how appropriate the content in this collection is for a 12-year-old to read? (I’m mostly concerned about sexual content — not so much scare level or language.) My daughter is really into horror novels and is taking an online class on how to write her own, so I gave her Pet Semetary to read and learn from the master, and she’s liking it a lot; now she came across this at the library and is asking about it, but it’s on my “Want To Read” list and I haven’t made it around to it yet. I’ve read a lot his novels and love them, but there is a lot of sexual content I don’t want her exposed to yet (that last scene in IT before the kids escaped the sewers, for instance.) Any help from the community to pre-screen this for sexual content would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

[Nick]

Tyler wrote: "Can anyone help determine how appropriate the content in this collection is for a 12-year-old to read? (I’m mostly concerned about sexual content — not so much scare level or language.) My daughter..."

I can't remember so I had to go back and review the reviews. Nothing jumps out at me... as I recall there are a lot of great themes relating to growing old. All in all, I liked the book a lot, and I think if there were really explicit scenes I would have remembered them. But even King's most explicit (It, Christine, Hearts In Atlantis, W & G) seem to be okay with a lot of parents. How about "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" for her.

[Thomas]

There are some sex scenes in the story Morality. Financially strapped Chad and Nora make a video of Nora punching a child at the behest of a retired minister, who wants to experience sin. Chad starts drinking, while Nora has two affairs and develops a tendency for masochistic satisfaction during sex. I do not think the story would be appropriate for a 12 year old girl. She wants men to hit her.

[Nick]

Thomas wrote: "There are some sex scenes in the story Morality. Financially strapped Chad and Nora make a video of Nora punching a child at the behest of a retired minister, who wants to experience sin. Chad star..."

Thanks, Thomas, I forgot about that one.

[Tyler]

Nic and Thomas — thanks for the feedback.

And I’ll definitely checkout the recommendations as well. Always good to get the young ones started right :)