BOTM: January 2020: "Firestarter" by Stephen King

[Allison, Mod Nerd]

We've got another Stephen King book on deck!! With 8 votes (40.0%), we'll be reading "Firestarter" for the month of January. Here's the book synopsis from Goodreads:

First, a man and a woman are subjects of a top-secret government experiment designed to produce extraordinary psychic powers.

Then, they are married and have a child. A daughter.

Early on the daughter shows signs of a wild and horrifying force growing within her. Desperately, her parents try to train her to keep that force in check, to "act normal."

Now the government wants its brainchild back - for its own insane ends.

If you decide to join us for this read, please post your discussion comments in this thread. Enjoy!

[StarMan]

I may need to re-read this one. I remember it being pretty good, though.

Here's a 2 second preview, from the film:   (view spoiler)[

(hide spoiler)]

[Keli, Keli Snail]

I don't think I can do another SK. I know he's popular and his books are okay but his magical negro bothers me. I don't know if there is one in this book but I can't take any chances.
I hope everyone participating enjoys it.

[StarMan]

I sorta feel that way about Dean Koontz; I like most of his earlier stuff, but after the last 6 Koontz books I've read, I've had enough of magic dogs and golden retriever worship.

[StarMan]

For those who've finished FIRESTARTER, what Rating would you give it?

What is your absolute favorite (or least favorite) King book?

Do you like the "earlier" King books like this one more than his post-2000 books? Or vice-versa?

[Candace]

Good questions! I read FIRESTARTER many years ago and thought it was great. Probably 4.5 stars. My all-time fave is THE STAND. MISERY gets an honorable mention among several other faves because the writing is superb. I prefer the earlier books.

[StarMan]

I mostly like his earlier books as well: Firestarter, Carrie, and his earlier short story collections. The tales he wrote under pseudonym Richard Bachman are good as well. If you have any inclinations towards writing, or are intersted in the horror genre, these King non-fiction books are great as well:

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Danse Macabre

[Candace]

StarMan wrote: "I mostly like his earlier books as well: Firestarter, Carrie, and his earlier short story collections. The tales he wrote under pseudonym Richard Bachman are good as well. If you have any inclinati..."

I do have an inclination towards writing. I'm an author. :) And King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a highly recommended, superb reference. Not sure why, but I don't think I've read any of his Richard Bachman books. Must remedy.

[StarMan]

The Bachman Books is a good place to start. "...four early Bachman novels (Rage*, The Long Walk, Roadwork, The Running Man) and the essay 'Why I Was Bachman'"

*I believe this particular story is no longer in print, per agreement by King and his publishers. It's a story about (view spoiler)[a school shooting (hide spoiler)].