Stephen King Fans discussion
The King Himself
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What have you learned from Steve's books?
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Becky and Stacie, thanks for your profound and to-the-point answers, at least they are of the kind I really wanted to hear. Stacey, your answer could be nicer, though, if there weren't patronizing tones in it. I'll analyse 2 of them.
1. "No one in this group needs proof" - this statement means that you're authorized by every member of this group to speak on their behalf; that's incorrect, 'cause at least one member (who started this topic) needed such a proof.
2. "The serious answers seem too obvious to us to need stating" - there are a lot of things in this world that may seem obvious for you but be not so obvious for me, and vice versa. Not to mention the case, when 'your obvious' doesn't match 'my obvious'. And I hardly need to remind you that 'obvious' does not necessarily mean 'true' or 'the best', and vice versa. I just have my concepts of SK literary value, and just wanted to listen to/compare to what other people will say.
You know if you look through his quotes on here you also find quite a few that teach something. truisms that make you think. I agree though he does let you know that there can be hope even in the darkest place and that sometimes yeah the bad guys win but its about you knowing how much you still have in the end. His lessons are a little more about the self and the way human being are with one another.
Well said, Amanda. If we are being serious, I would say that something Uncle Stevie tries to tell us is that no matter what we're going through (and sure, the average person isn't going to have to deal w/ killer clowns or possessed cars...) we can find what we need w/in ourselves to get ourselves through it! And just when you think you are alone....you aren't alone!
Why do Stephen King books have to teach us anything? Why can't we just appreciate that he is a good writer who writes entertaining stories that we like to read?
Miriam wrote: "Why do Stephen King books have to teach us anything? Why can't we just appreciate that he is a good writer who writes entertaining stories that we like to read?"Sometimes folks wont even pick up a book they don't get anything out of the reading. Not everyone is this way but when it comes up its generally about literary integrity and that sort of thing. Here I think its just a "I wonder..." question.
Just the fact that so many people are SK fans, and that so many of them once they try one book want to read all the rest, isn't really enough to support the contention that King has real value in a literary or philosophical sense. But you ask any of the members of this group to answer seriously and I'm sure that each and every one of us will be able to say how reading his words has affected us in a very basic way.
I've been reading King's books for nearly 25 years, and although I have many favourite authors, he remains at the top of the list because of his understanding of, and sympathy with, the human condition. He cuts right down to the heart of the matter, to what drives us to act as we do, or we wish to, in difficult circumstances.
Yes, reading Stephen King's books have taught me something important - that every individual matters, and if you scratch beneath the surface there is an amazing story to tell about us all. Making that story and any story fascinating is the work of a true master.
Well between Becky, Stacie, Amanda, Kathy, and Nilofer I can't think of anything to add. I've been reading King since 1985 when i friend gave me The Gunslinger and laughed when i ask where the next one was. So i found The Stand and by the time i finished it, IT was out. I read IT and have read just about all of his books. I don't read the one's on writing, or the graphic comic novels. That still leaves a lot of books.I believe that somewhere, someone, was heading down a bad road in life, and happened upon a King book, that changed their life for the good. I believe a truly talented writer can make a positive change in someones life, and if anyone can do it, it would be King.
Give manhole covers and sewage grates a wide berth, I was probably braver at the age of 12 that I have been the rest of my life.
I say kids only live to be 13 because they don't know what being scared is. They make it to being a teenager because they don't know fear, especially little boys.
I'll NEVER mess with the gypsies ever again.
And if by some chance I'll turn out to be a Gypsy in some future incarnation, I'll never mess with The White Man From Town.
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I learned don't play in the sewers...I also learned chasing the man in black is a never ending quest...but one full of adventure...But most of all, I learned do not have foreplay involving handcuffs with anyone, (especially when you loose the key.)
"Don't sweat the small stuff, it's a long walk back to Eden." Carolyn Roberts---InsomniaIMO meaning to live and let live. Treat everyone the way you want them to treat your mother. Say what you have to then go on with life, to do things that may be unpleasant but not let it get you down. Be kind, courteous, slow to anger, quick with a complement, be gentle with babies, easy with kids & animals and be true to who you are.
"Be brave. Be true. Stand." Bill Denbrough---IT
The Stand made me think about America and what they could be doing in secret. I mean, the idea of something like that happen in real life, isn't that weird if you think about it. There's only person needed to let such a catastrophe hit earth... Except for the Flagg-man... that's just a good fantasy :)
Becky wrote: "When I find a chunk of metal in the woods... I leave it there."I didn't really liked that book... but yeah, I would bury it even deeper I think ;)
Eva wrote: "The Stand made me think about America and what they could be doing in secret. I mean, the idea of something like that happen in real life, isn't that weird if you think about it. There's only person needed to let such a catastrophe hit earth..."Lori wrote: "Don't sweat the small stuff, it's a long walk back to Eden." Carolyn Roberts---Insomnia
IMO meaning to live and let live. Treat everyone the way you want them to treat your mother. Say what you have to then go on with life, to do things that may be unpleasant but not let it get you down. Be kind, courteous, slow to anger, quick with a complement, be gentle with babies, easy with kids & animals and be true to who you are."
I agree with both of these. Especially Eva, about the gov't. If someone can think it up, it's already been done, and most likely it is a possibility that something sort of like this could really happen. The government, not just of the US, but presumably most governments, and even private parties are researching all kinds of who knows what in the name of science and defense, and all it takes is one little accident. Man, scary...
Don't open the window if you hear scratching.
I'll keep it simple: good, clear writing carries a story, no matter how fantastical. SK knows how to tell a story, and his characters are real people with real reactions.
don,t hang your feet out of bed at night.
Lauren wrote: "Don't open the window if you hear scratching."Lauren, I love this! So true.
Don't bury your dead child in a pet cemetary.
Anne posted: Don’t hang your feet out of bed at night.Gods, yes! Whenever my feet get out from under the covers, I start thinking about the part in Pet Sematary where Lou Creed is trying to cope with his visit from Pascow. Steve writes, “the hand from under the bed that stroked your foot in the dead of night”…ugh! Pass terror like a stone, my ass. I’d go straight from “???!!!” to dead.
I was inspired by King's storytelling to become a writer myself. When I read Christine, I knew I wanted to tell stories that made others feel the way he made me feel. I have learned that there is no substitute for good storytelling.
I disagree that we would need a professional writer to prove the opinion because no one in this group needs proof. You are kind of 'preaching to the choir' which is probably why the responses to the question were humorous... the serious answers seem too obvious to us to need stating. At least, that was why I haven't responded until now ;)
So for a serious answer (or at least as serious as I'm willing to get at home on my weekend, LOL) how about... The worst monsters aren't the ones from outerspace, or under the bed, or from something 'other'... the worst monsters are the ones that look like neighbors, family, friends, and sometimes those monsters win... but that doesn't mean you should give up, because sometimes they don't.
To paraphrase G.K. Chesterton: Stephen King does not tell us the monsters exist. We already know that monsters exist. Stephen King tells us the monsters can be killed.