Introduce Yourself and Tell Us Why You Are Here

[Janice]

Welcome Sandy. It's pretty hard to keep up with Stephen King. I couldn't even try - I'm such a slow poke.

[Debra]

Sandy, that's too funny about the baloney and whipped cream sandwiches. I feel the same way!

Two great reads by Joe Hill, Joe!

Welcome to the group, both of you. Hope you can join in on our Group Read discussions these next couple of months!

[ChaptersbyKeeter]

Hi my name is Brett I am new here on good reads and love sk books so I figured I would join this club hope to get to know some of you in the future.

[Janice]

Hi Brett! Welcome to the group. :)

[ChaptersbyKeeter]

Thank you I hope to get to know some of you in the group.

[Shay]

Hi, I'm Hannah. I live in Alaska. I love Stephen King, especially his short stories. The one that scared me the most was 1408, but my favorite would have to be The Long Walk. I'm 16 and I would love to expand my reading list. I love getting recommendations. Thanks!

[Debra]

It's great to see 2 new SK fans here, Brett and Shay. Welcome to the group. Come join in our group reads; we'd love to hear more from you!

[Katy]

Hi, I'm Katy. I've tried a number of books Stephen King has recommended in EW, and I've liked most of them. I'm looking forward to trying a few more! Does anyone have his picks for the end of 2013 from EW? I've misplaced the list before I could hit the library!

[Jennifer]

Hello!!1 My name is Jennifer. I am a 23 year old female from New Jersey! I love Steven King and would read anything he recommends! (almost).

[Michelle T.]

Hello, my name is Michelle. I was born here in the US in Queens, NY, but when I was a year and 4 months my mom send me to Caracas, Venezuela to be with my grandma... I came back to the US in 1998, I was in Miami for 8 years, and now I'm in Tampa. I have hear a lot about Steven King, have watched a lot of the movies; so I decided to join the club months ago, to see all the recommendations.

[Janice]

Welcome to Kathy, Jennifer and Michelle!

[Debra]

Hi Katy, Jennifer, and Michelle. Welcome to the group.

I'm pretty sure I have the EW 2013 books King recommended on my bookshelf, Katy. I don't have the list itself, though. You might try a Google search and see if you can find that particular list that way.

Jennifer, I feel the same way about reading books King has recommended. So far I've liked almost everything I've read.

Michelle, sounds like you've had an interesting life. My son lives in St. Petersburg and works in Tampa. I'm sure you will find some books King has recommended that you will enjoy reading.

[Bob]

I'm bob and a huge stephen king fan working through all of them now.

[Debra]

Hi Bob! Welcome to our group. We hope you find some books that King has read and recommended here to add to your TBR list, and hope you can join in on our group discussions.

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Bob wrote: "I'm bob and a huge stephen king fan working through all of them now."

WELCOME, Bob.

We are just starting a new group read for March and April. Come join us.

[Amanda]

Hi all, I'm here because Stephen King has been a source of reading pleasure for the past 25 years. No other author has been able to make my laugh, cry or scare the hell out of me so consistently. I have re-read many of his books time after time, and the stand will always be my most favourite novel.

[Akira]

Hi! I'm an eclectic reader of all genres & authors, but I do have my faves which includes SK who is a master in his own right. I joined because I thought the group was interesting & fun & brought a different dynamic than some of the other groups. I also always wanted to be in a book club but haven't found any good ones in my area. I'm glad to have stumbled upon this app as well as this group :)

[Kristi]

Hi, I'm Kristi Belcamino. I grew up in California, but am living in Minneapolis. I was a crime reporter in the Bay Area, quit and moved here when I had kids. Now working part time on the cops beat in St. Paul.
I'm an avid reader. I believe that anyone who doesn't recognize SK's brilliance is a total poser -- especially other writers who look down on him. They obviously have no clue. I have no time for writers who think they are better than him. They are fools. (I'm Italian-American, too and feel an obligation to tell it like it is. lol)
Also have my first mystery coming out in June from HarperCollins.
Hope to take part in some fun discussions here.

[Janice]

Welcome to all our new members!

[Debra]

Welcome to Amanda, Kenneth and Kristi. I'm so pleased you have come to join us. Sounds like you are all avid SK fans, and I agree he is a master in many genres!

Amanda, you will find that many of us have also enjoyed reading SK for the same reasons you posted. You're with the right crowd.

Kenneth, you will find many eclectic readers among us here. After all, we are reading books by authors other than SK. Although, we don't always agree his choices are the best, we've read some fabulous books and introduced ourselves to authors we may never have heard of.

Kristi, that's amazing about you being a crime reporter and for telling it like it is! lol Hope your new book is a great success.

[Kristi]

Thanks so much! I also should note that I heard about and got to know (online) Alex Marwood, after SK named her book WICKED GIRLS as one of his top 10 books for 2013. I remember how excited she was on Twitter when she heard about it. She was somewhere in the woods in Scotland and couldn't get her hands on a copy of the magazine but was so excited you couldn't help but love her! For me, that would be a dream come true.

[Janice]

Welcome to our group, Anthony. I have loved Stephen King's books since Carrie came out. I think he has a phenomenal insight into the human psyche. How exciting for you to have your first novel endorsed by him!

[Kristi]

Anthony,
What an awesome story. And you wrote him directly? You have guts and it paid off. So exciting. I'm in the process of getting blurbs for my book coming out in June and have had to ask a few authors (my editor asked the rest). Nerve wracking. Good for you! Will put your book on my TBR list.
Best,
Kristi

[David]

Anthony,
That is a fantastic story. Well done, sir. And best of luck with the book.

[Pat]

I am British Crime writer Pat McDonald @issyblack and new to this forum. Not to Stephen King - I believe I have every book (some more than once!) and await delivery of Mr. Mercedes. I read Harry Dolan Very Bad Men and Bad Things Happen as rec by SK, excellent reads. Now I want to know more! His best book? On Writing! Don't take my word for it.

[Kelly]

Hi, I'm here because I enjoy King's work and feel like reading more like it. My history with King started when I was young and would see my uncle reading his books. I thought it was very creepy. Then I got a job when I was 20 that required a long commute and I got into audio books. The selection wasn't huge back in 1999 and I picked up The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon from the slim pickings at the library. It blew me away. I listened to a few more (Needful Things sticks out in my mind) and I enjoyed them but they were a bit too intense for me. Several years later I met my now husband and we enjoyed reading books together. One of us picked The Gunslinger series and we loved it. I was officially hooked. Now maybe I'm creeping out my niece or nephews when they see me with a King book.

The books for May sound very good and I'll try to read them both.

[Kelly]

Anthony, that is a fantastic story. As a King fan and Pittsburgh native, I'll definitely check out your book!

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Pat wrote: "I read Harry Dolan Very Bad Men and Bad Things Happen as rec by SK, excellent reads. Now I want to know more! ..."

I've had Very Bad Men (David Loogan #2) on my ToBeRead Shelf since Summer 2011.

Thanks for reminding me of it, I'm moving it up the list.



p.s. As an author, you should check out Goodreads Author Program

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Kelly wrote: "My history with King started when I was young and would see my uncle reading his books. I thought it was very creepy. ... Several years later I met my now husband and we enjoyed reading books together. One of us picked The Gunslinger series and we loved it. I was officially hooked. Now maybe I'm creeping out my niece or nephews when they see me with a King book......"

A way to bridge the "Generation Gap"!

Looking forward to your comments for May's selections.

AND feel free to comment on any other previous selections also. We never stop talking about books.

[Rebecca]

My name is Rebecca. I started reading Stephen King in 9th grade with The Long Walk and have been hooked ever since.
I own all his books and among my favorites are: Christine, The Stand, The Girl who loved Tom Gordon, and Nightmares and Dreamscapes.
I saw this club and wondered what books Mr King reads. I am looking foreword to exploring the shelves here!

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Rebecca wrote: "My name is Rebecca. I started reading Stephen King in 9th grade with The Long Walk and have been hooked ever since.
I own all his books and among my favorites are: Christine, The Stand, The Gi..."

Welcome Rebecca. You should be right at home here!☺

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

Like most of you I'm a Stephen King fan. The first one I read was Salem's Lot, 30 odd years ago. I've read most of his books and among my favourites are some of his less popular works like The Tommyknockers and Rose Madder. I look forward to being involved with this group.

[Pat]

Hello Everyone! I started reading Stephen King when I was pregnant with my first daughter (almost 30 years ago!) And, no, it didn't affect her in any adverse way - that I know of. In fact, she's also an avid reader. I love King's stories; the characters are vivid and whole. Describing what's going on inside their heads is one of King's fortes. He has an incredible grasp on taking an ordinary, everyday happening, and imbuing it with such life and incremental horror that it seems totally real and capable of actually happening. His book "On Writing" in invaluable to authors. I'm looking forward to reading what he recommends!

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Dave wrote: "Hi everyone,

Like most of you I'm a Stephen King fan. The first one I read was Salem's Lot, 30 odd years ago. ..."

:D Many of us "cut our teeth" on 'Salem's Lot!

Welcome.

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Pat wrote: "Hello Everyone! I started reading Stephen King when I was pregnant with my first daughter (almost 30 years ago!) And, no, it didn't affect her in any adverse way - that I know of. In fact, she's..."

Welcome Pat.

We are just starting two new group reads, The Troop and/or The Poisonwood Bible. Come join in.

[Debra]

Gosh, so many new folk piping up about their love for King's books. Welcome to everyone! Pat, your story is certainly a dream come true.

Hope you all can join us in our new group reads for the next 2 months.

Again, welcome aboard all you newbies!

[Pat]

Almeta and Debra, Thank you! I'm looking forward to reading The Troop and The Poisonwood Bible. Just from the synopsis of both stories, I can see where King would enjoy these.

[Roberta]

Hello. I'm Roberta from Milan, Italy.
My first SK novel was Christine: I was 12 or 13 at the time, bored and with nothing to read from my own library. So I checked my mother's book, found an old copy of Christine and went to bed with it. It was the first time I read a whole book in one session.
SK is also responsible for my fluent English. I started ESL in middle school (from 11 to 13 years old for us) and I used his books to practice.

[Debra]

Now that's a first. Learning English from Stephen King books! I bet you had a fun time! Welcome to the group.

[Janice]

We've had a few people join! Welcome.

[Missy]

I'm Missy and I don't even remember the first SK book I read because it seems I've been reading him forever. I'm sure it started in high school over thirty years ago. I've read them all, some repeatedly. I convinced my Bookclub last year to read 11/22/63. This was a group of ladies that had NEVER read one of his books, swore they never would, but they loved it. LOVED IT. I had the pleasure of seeing him speak in Boulder, CO last fall for the release of Dr. Sleep, he's a fantastic speaker as well. He has brought me so much entertainment over the years and a few nightmares too.

[Debra]

Ah, Missy, that would be a dream come true to hear SK speak in person. I'm so envious. I, too, have been reading SK since an early age... sometime in my teens.

Glad to have you join us!

[Janice]

Hi Missy! Welcome. I hope your bookclub ladies are all converts now. :)

[Joseph]

Hello! I've served in the military for the last 15 years, mostly as an Army Aviator. This last year I took off the flight suit and donned a pocket protector as an Operations Research and Systems Analyst.

I've been an avid Stephen King fan ever since I picked up Cujo in the third grade. I've read all of his books, most of them multiple times. I'm currently in the process of "re-reading" all that I can on audiobook. I've made my way to Needful Things at the moment.

I blame Stephen King for my voracious appetite for novels. I've also dabbled in writing for the better part of my adult life. My goal is to retire after 20 years of military service and write full time...when I'm not reading, that is.

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Joseph wrote: "I blame Stephen King for my voracious appetite for novels. I've also dabbled in writing for the better part of my adult life. My goal is to retire after 20 years of military service and write full time...when I'm not reading, that is.
..."

Welcome Joseph.

Stephen King has been responsible for the literacy of a lot of our membership!☺ You should be right at home here.

Hope you find interesting material to read along with the rest of the ka-tet.

[Veronica]

Hi, I'm Veronica and I am from Canada. I have loved Stephen King's books since I was a young teenager. He is still my favorite author though I do read others :) I respect his opinion so would enjoy reading some of his recommendations, reading, and discussing it with others here :)

[Leah]

Hi, guys! Loving Stephen King books used to be a "guilty pleasure" of mine, mainly because no one else in my family enjoys sheer terror and horror as much as I do. Does anyone recall the King quote, something about how he tries to terrorize the reader, but if he can't do that, he tries to horrify them, and failing that, he goes for the gross. (I'm sure I have horribly mangled that quote completely!)

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Rade wrote: "Hi,my name is Rade and I am 17 years old . I am from small country in Europe called Montenegro . I joined this group because I recently started to read Stephen King's books ,so I just want to see s..."

Welcome Rade.

You have sooo many great Stephen King stories as well as good ones that he has recommended in your future!

[Kelly]

Leah wrote: "Hi, guys! Loving Stephen King books used to be a "guilty pleasure" of mine, mainly because no one else in my family enjoys sheer terror and horror as much as I do. Does anyone recall the King quo..."

I had to look that up because it sounded so funny.

“I recognize terror as the finest emotion and so I will try to terrorize the reader. But if I find that I cannot terrify, I will try to horrify, and if I find that I cannot horrify, I'll go for the gross-out. I'm not proud. ”

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1724...

Love it!

[Almeta, co-moderator]

Kelly wrote: "Leah wrote: "Hi, guys! Loving Stephen King books used to be a "guilty pleasure" of mine, mainly because no one else in my family enjoys sheer terror and horror as much as I do. Does anyone recall..."

Thanks for that Kelly and Leah. I couldn't find the quote myself. :(