2226 replies to this topic

[Number 6]

Gerald's Game by Stephen King

[Mr. Blofeld]

Finn, by Jon Clinch. A terrific continuation of Twain's seminal novel, and a maturer work in its' own right; highly recommended, just for the first chapter alone.

[Qwerty]

Continuing the Lord of the Rings with The Two Towers now.

[Number 6]

THE SPIRIT #14 by Darwyn Cooke & Bone

[Golden Claw]

'A Prisoner of Birth' by Jeffrey Archer

[YellowDetective]

Last read "From Russia with Love" and just got my copy of Benson's "Metal Gear Solid" novel. Now I'm torn, because I should also be recieving "Devil May Care" in the next day or so, so I'm not sure if I should start on MGS or just wait. *biting nails*

[Tiin007]

Last read "From Russia with Love" and just got my copy of Benson's "Metal Gear Solid" novel. Now I'm torn, because I should also be recieving "Devil May Care" in the next day or so, so I'm not sure if I should start on MGS or just wait. *biting nails*

Just wait.

There, problem solved.

[YellowDetective]

Yes, I do believe that's what I'll do... Or else, speed-read MGS, because I am officially obsessed with that series as well.........

Damn it Amazon, why did though have to tempt me with 2 pre-orders for great espionage books in such a short timespan?

[Qwerty]

Last read "From Russia with Love" and just got my copy of Benson's "Metal Gear Solid" novel. Now I'm torn, because I should also be recieving "Devil May Care" in the next day or so, so I'm not sure if I should start on MGS or just wait. *biting nails*

Just wait.

Agreed.

[Scrambled Eggs]

Prior to Devil May Care i read "The Long Walk" by Slavomir Rawicz.

A memoir of a Polish prisoner who was taken to a Siberian prison camp in 1941 and escaped by walking first to Mongolia then across the Gobi desert into Tibet before crossing the Himalayas into India.

Wonderful story. Very sad to then discover (via google)that he probably made it all up! Ian Fleming's brother Peter, of all people, was one of the first to find evidence which contradicted Rawicz's account.

Still, good read.

[Kilroy6644]

I'm just about finished with John Pearson's biography of 007, and then I'll launch into DMC.

[00Twelve]

Lewis' The Horse And His Boy, after which I'll be diving headlong into DMC.

[Robinson]

The Alchemist by Paul Coelho. I may move on to his other works once this is done.

[Qwerty]

After recently finishing up this past month's dose of Bond with The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling and Devil May Care, I've decided to give the Stephen King books a go - mostly, because I've lately been so impressed with the film adaptations by Frank Darabont.

Going with Salem's Lot at the moment.

[Harmsway]

After recently finishing up this past month's dose of Bond with The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling and Devil May Care, I've decided to give the Stephen King books a go - mostly, because I've lately been so impressed with the film adaptations by Frank Darabont.

Going with Salem's Lot at the moment.

If you want to read the best of Stephen King, read THE STAND. Stephen King isn't a universally good writer (he's turned out as much forgettable tripe as he has turned out stuff worth reading), but THE STAND is his stand-out work.

[Jackanaples]

Funny. While I do think the writing in THE STAND is some of King's best, I'm in the minority when I say that I don't like the book. I read the extended edition and hated the ending featured there. Maybe it's better in the original edition --or maybe I would feel differently about it twenty years later.

My favorite King stuff tends to be his shorter work: Especially THE MIST, THE BODY and RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. I keep meaning to read SALEM'S LOT, THE SHINING, THE TALISMAN and it's sequel and the entire DARK TOWER saga.

What I've been reading:

Reading or re-reading all the Fleming Bond novels in order this year. I just finished MOONRAKER yesterday, and will start DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER soonish.

I've also started reading Len Deighton for the first time this year. Read THE IPCRESS FILE, HORSE UNDER WATER, FUNERAL IN BERLIN and am halfway through BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN.

Deighton writes simply with wit and elegant prose. Sometimes I find his novels moving a bit slow. By the time I've finished one though the only thing I'm ravenous for is another Deighton novel. I can already tell I'm going to re-reading the lot of them.

[Harmsway]

Funny. While I do think the writing in THE STAND is some of King's best, I'm in the minority when I say that I don't like the book. I read the extended edition and hated the ending featured there. Maybe it's better in the original edition --or maybe I would feel differently about it twenty years later.

It's a classic Stephen King ending - mighty controversial (it's got nothing on the way he ends THE DARK TOWER series). The ending in THE STAND is definitely a bit awkward, and I can understand a negative reaction towards it. That said, I don't really think it hurts the novel much at all. I do think it's an appropriate ending, just not necessarily the best one.

My favorite King stuff tends to be his shorter work: Especially THE MIST, THE BODY and RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.

His shorter stuff is pretty good. I like HEARTS IN ATLANTIS, as well... I think that has some wonderful writing in it.

I keep meaning to read SALEM'S LOT, THE SHINING, THE TALISMAN and it's sequel and the entire DARK TOWER saga.

In my opinion, SALEM'S LOT is just okay, THE SHINING is incredibly inferior to the Stanley Kubrick film (despite King's outrage over how Kubrick adapted it), and THE DARK TOWER series is simultaneously the greatest and most frustratingly inconsistent thing King's ever written.

[Hitch]

With a few exceptions (Salem's Lot is one of them), King tends to struggle over the long stretch. I much prefer his short story collections: Night Shift, Everything's Eventual, Four Past Midnight, Nightmares and Dreamscapes and Danse Macabre. Of his more recent works, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon might appeal to people who don't like horror stories. Hearts In Atlantis has some terrific writing about everyday America. From A Buick 8 got a battering from critics who said it was too similar to Christine (both are stories about "haunted" cars), but I think it's one of the best things King's done. It's technically accomplished, sharing the narrative between different points of view, and it drips with atmosphere. Some might say that it's slow and unexciting but I think it's distinctly spooky.

Yes, I've read far too much Stephen King.

[Tiin007]

About a third of the way through Devil May Care. It may not live up to the hype, but it's certainly not as bad as many CBners make it out to be.

[Qwerty]

Thanks for all the recommendations, guys. I've heard some great things about his short story collections and definitely plan to hit some of those after checking out a few more of the novels.

Regarding The Stand, is it recommended to go with the original or extended edition for first-time readers? Or does it make little difference either way?

[Harmsway]

Regarding The Stand, is it recommended to go with the original or extended edition for first-time readers? Or does it make little difference either way?

It makes little difference, if you ask me. But I do believe that the extended edition is better. So I say go with that.

[Hitch]

Qwerty, grab a short story collection first. It'll get you in the mood.

[Qwerty]

Regarding The Stand, is it recommended to go with the original or extended edition for first-time readers? Or does it make little difference either way?

It makes little difference, if you ask me. But I do believe that the extended edition is better. So I say go with that.

Sounds good to me then.

Qwerty, grab a short story collection first. It'll get you in the mood.

I'm in Salem's Lot a little bit now, so I'll probably finish that up, but then I'll keep an eye out for one of his early short story collections.

[tdalton]

Thanks for all the recommendations, guys. I've heard some great things about his short story collections and definitely plan to hit some of those after checking out a few more of the novels.

I'll be one more to add praises to King's short story collections. The short stories that I've read have all been quite good. I think that, after I finish Devil May Care, that I may also go through some of King's novels. Unfortunately, there are a great number of King novels sitting on my bookshelf that I have yet to read, so it may be time to go about reading those.

[Kilroy6644]

I'm rereading A Princess Of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

[minder125]

I'm rereading A Princess Of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

That whole series is a just a big bag of fun

[Kilroy6644]

I'm rereading A Princess Of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

That whole series is a just a big bag of fun

They sure are. I've only read the first three so far, but the last time I was at Barnes & Noble, I picked up a volume that had Thuvia, Maid Of Mars and The Chessmen Of Mars, so I figured I'd reread the others to refresh before I got to those two.

[Tiin007]

Just finished Devil May Care. Honestly, I loved it and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Was it Fleming? Certainly not. Still, it was a fun adventure which kept me gripped all the way through. No doubt one of the better continuation novels.

Just started Gardner's Win, Lose, or Die last night. I'll let you know how it turns out...

[Qwerty]

Just started Gardner's Win, Lose, or Die last night. I'll let you know how it turns out...

Hope you like it. It's not first-rate Gardner, but I've always found it to be a nice change of pace following the sub-par No Deals, Mr. Bond and just average Scorpius.

[Tiin007]

Just started Gardner's Win, Lose, or Die last night. I'll let you know how it turns out...

Hope you like it. It's not first-rate Gardner, but I've always found it to be a nice change of pace following the sub-par Never Dream Of Dying...

I take it you mean No Deals, Mr. Bond?

And I know many disagree with me, but I find Scorpius to be tied for Gardner's best Bond novel with For Special Services.