SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
Group Reads Discussions 2008
>
The Gunslinger - Did you choose to not read this?
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Angie
(last edited Nov 22, 2008 09:18AM)
(new)
Nov 22, 2008 09:14AM
It seems to me that a lot of new readers did not read this book (I could be wrong) if you chose not to read it I was just curious as to why? Did it not seem like it fit the theme? Have you read King before and not liked him?
reply
|
flag
I just didn't want to start a new series when I have so many books from the library right now. I've definitely filed it away as something to try in the future.
I have tried dozens of times to read this book because I have so many friends who are such rabid fans of the series, and just cannot manage to get into it. And I really like many of King's other books. For some reason this book is just pure drudgery for me to try to read. It is boring and seems to go no where for pages and pages. I've given up trying.
Jeanne, I wonder if we aren't all "rabid fans" of books we are passionate about? I don't particularly like that term, as to me it implies that there is something wrong with being a fan of something. In my opinion, there isn't. Just different preferences for different people. :)In any case, it seems that you have given this book more than a fair shot. This series is definitely not for everyone. Your friends must be good friends indeed for you to be willing to try this book so many times just for them!
LOL! If you knew my friends Connie and Robert, you wouldn't take umbrage at the descriptor. They are wonderful friends, but when Connie latches on to something we all must follow in her wake or perish. Suffice to say, she's over the top with passion. Strange thing is, I've found them to be right about everything but this series which is why I've tried it several times. I keep trying to tell myself the remaining books get loads better if I just stick with it, but with my limited reading time, I'd just rather read something that I enjoy.
Time got away from me this month. I actually have Gunslinger sitting on my book shelf, but I just can't get motivated to read a Stephen King novel. I gave up on him over two decades ago. I may eventually get motivated, but it's not looking good so far.
Well I certainly know people like that, Jeanne... I completely understand. I still think that you should be commended for trying so many times. The Gunslinger is the hardest of the series to get into, so it's a shame that it is the beginning of the series because it turns so many people off of these books. But even so, the rest of the series contains some pretty weird stuff, even for King, so it's completely possible that you could feel completely justified in not liking it from the start!
By all means, use your leisure time as you want! You shouldn't feel obligated to read books you don't like! :)
Took a two-week vacation, will take a family vacation in a couple of days. This month is just too busy for a book of this size; certainly no time for series.
I've read the entire series and I must say that the first book is not anything like the rest of the novels. The Gunslinger has a different tone, pacing and lacks some of the characters that fans latch on two. Read until you get to the Drawing of Three. If you don't like the second book you will not like the rest of the series.
Maybe I should just forget about Gunslinger and start with book 2?
Definitely Jeanne. Like Jeremy said, if you don't like book 2, you won't like the rest of them. But at least book 2 is a more accurate representation of the rest of the series.
