Stephen King Fans discussion
The King Himself
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What have you learned from Steve's books?
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Sergey
(last edited Aug 17, 2010 04:57AM)
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Aug 17, 2010 04:56AM
Friends, I'm curious, have SK books taught you anything important? anything that changed your worldview, your life? I mean, sure, they are very interesting/absorbing, but have they caused any good/productive changes in you? would you recommend them to your kids or are they complete waste of time (like games are for gamers)?
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To never bully and to forgive. From Carrie.
I read it earlier this year (I am in year 9) and since then I have been conscious of anyone i may be nasty to, and make sure to never bee crude.
Obviously, i know a girl is not going to go crazy and start a supernatural kill-fest, buts it the logic and moral to not be un-kind to anyone.
We are all troubled with demons (in King's books those demons are visible and terrifying) and a little patience, love and affection with one another can go a long way to providing consolation and encouragement. I'm always touched with how often strangers willingly offer solace or sanctuary to the characters in the novels.
It makes me want to be vigilant about recognizing opportunities to do the same in my life!
I propably won't take a job as a caretaker anytime soon.
Also, when my car crashes and I'm wounded, I tend to stay away from spinsters who live in houses that are deep in the woods.
When I find a chunk of metal in the woods... I leave it there.
I'm sure to never bury my pen name - live an let live!
When a stranger opens a store with everything in my town, I ask him if he does mail orders.
This is too much fun, and probably not what poor Armatura had in mind. I will think of a REAL answer and report back later.
When everyone around me starts acting crazy by using their cellphones, I tell them that a Snake record is not really that important.Come on, Becky. I know you want to. Let's not let this thread turn into another dull topic.
Never become the caretaker of a hotel over the winter when nobody else is there.
Never stand too close to the ledge in a train station.
If you find some creepy looking tombstones , be sure to bury someone in the area where they are.
If you're a girl who happens to be near a group of boys fighting an evil monster, be sure to have sex with them. All of them.
If you plan to embark on a 450 mile walk be sure to bring some crackers.
If you see a rabid St.Bernard running at you, kill the damn thing with a brick...unless you prefer hiding in a car.
If you see a bunch of enraged "zombies" turn philosophy professors, don't panic. Just make a tin-foil hat so they can't mind-control you.
If you see a ragged, almost destroyed car, whose owner is a dirty and smelly drunkard, BUY IT IMMEDIATELY.
If you see a finger poking out from a toilet, make sure to pull it.
If your rival neighbor offers to bury the hatchet but only if you go to a deserted construction site with lots of used port-a-potties... don't.
If a man comes to your house and accuses you of stealing his story, be sure to ask him where he bought his hat.
If you get lost in Crouch End...be sure to buy a map in the nearest news-stand.
If a weird smelling, green-loking man comes to your house to mow your lawn...let him mow your lawn.
Make sure all my library books go back on time! The Library Policeman WILL get you!
When someone tells you to quit smoking... you QUIT.
When an old man employs you to kill his cat...you kill it with a brick.
Probably best not to swim in water with an oily sheen on top.
There is absolutely no way you'll get somewhere in only 4 books. You'll need at least three more. Or four.
Don't tell your psychiatrist your experiences with the Bogeyman.
If you see a gi-normous spider in the sewers of your city--GET OUT OF THOSE SEWERS.
Entering your husband's alternative universe is a totally cool idea!
Don't drink bad beer. It'll split you in two. Then four. Then eight. Then...And if your garden crosses town lines, don't extend your arm over the town line. You'll be sorry.
If you are going to play a bedroom game with your spouse; make sure you do it within easy reach of a phone.
If you see a couple of guys in yellow trench coats - run away.
Erick wrote: "If you are going to play a bedroom game with your spouse; make sure you do it within easy reach of a phone."Better yet, the key. ;)
If you're happily strolling down the road at winter and suddenly a weasel pops up...you're screwed.
Playing with paper boats in the gutter is never a good idea.
So you have this car, it's ugly like hell and you're out of money. But don't worry! All you have to do is push it some and it'll be like new in no time.
If a piece of electronics tells you not to break a law; don't break the law!
If you hear bootheels tapping behing you on a dark and deserted highway...run like hell!
If you are marooned on a desert island; eating yourself piece by piece is probably counter-productive.
If you are imprisoned and know nothing about rocks...well, let's say that a movie deal is not exactly coming your way.
Maciek wrote: "If you are imprisoned and know nothing about rocks...well, let's say that a movie deal is not exactly coming your way."That one took me a few minutes to figure out.
When I go back and look at Armatura's original question; I can see that this isn't what she really meant. However, I think we actually have answered her basic question.
Erick wrote: "When I go back and look at Armatura's original question; I can see that this isn't what she really meant. However, I think we actually have answered her basic question."The answers were funny, but they all mean only one thing - one hardly can learn anything important from SK books, in other words - SK works don't represent any literary value. But I think this point of view is wrong. I feel that his books contain many elements of naturalist/realist/existencialist/nihilist phylosophy & literature, but i seems we need a professional writer here to prove this opinion. So, the question is open...
P.S. Actually, I'm male :)
I don't think that the answers given prove that King's works don't represent any literary value. I have learned things about loyalty and friendship and trust and honor and duty and what it means to be HUMAN from King's books. That's not a waste of time. These are things that even classics chock full of "literary value" fail to offer.
We're a group of readers who like to have fun, not literary scholars or philosophers or whatever. King's books are filled with little lessons like we've had fun mentioning, but the bigger lesson in all of his books remains that when we lose our sense of humanity, we're lost completely. At least that's what I see.
