Author Topic: 11/22/63 by Stephen King (Read 4288 times)

RichardThomas · « **on:** December 14, 2011, 11:58:23 PM »

http://litreactor.com/reviews/112263-by-stephen-king

I recently had my review of 11/22/63 go live over at Lit Reactor. I think it's King's best work in a long time.

Peace,
Richard

delboy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2011, 02:22:46 AM »

Good review, Richard. I still have several more recent SKs on my to-read shelf so it'll be a while before I get to this one. But I will... I've been with him since the 70s and it's great that he's still producing the goods.

Derek

Ed · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2011, 03:13:12 AM »

I haven't read it yet, but your review makes it sound interesting. I'm not a big King fan, although I'm finding I like his newer stuff far more than the old, so either he's getting better and better, or I'm growing into liking his writing more.

delboy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2011, 03:50:34 AM »

Early SK was by far the best for me (Carrie, Salems Lot, Shining, Stand, the Night Shift Collection, Dead Zone, Pet Sematary and even Firestarter) then I think he tailed off a little (although King tailing off still means he can tell a story better than most) and things like The Dark Half, Needful Thing, and Insomnia left me a little disappointed. But in recent years he's hit a fine seam again. That said, even in the fallow years there were classic moments - The Mist, The Body, Misery, Thinner, and probably a score more I've forgotten. I also love his non fiction - Danse Macabre was great. Overall, the guy's just a born story teller.

RichardThomas · « **Reply #4 on:** December 15, 2011, 01:07:13 PM »

thanks guys for the kind words. yeah, he tends to go on a bit, but i guess after having read 40, 50 books by him it's a voice i've come to find rather hypnotic. you could always wait a year until it hits the bargain bin, although i think i saw copies on Amazon going for 50% or more. there's always paperback too. i too lean towards his earlier work, The Shining, The Stand, as well as Dead Zone, The Long Walk, etc. his latest stuff isn't as much horror, IMO, as it is just great storytelling. i stopped reading Koontz awhile back, but still read everything King puts out.

doolols · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2011, 03:07:41 AM »

It seems to be a common theme amongst die-hard SK fans. Early stuff was spot on, 'middle' stuff so-so, and recent stuff again spot on. I know what you mean, Richard, about his writing being hypnotic. As soon as you open one of his books, from whatever era, you feel at home with his writing, and get engrossed in the story.

I think I'll probably get 11/22/63 at Christmas - my wife and I have agreed to not buy presents, but instead 'give' each other some money to spend at Amazon. It's on my to-buy list

Gerald

delboy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2011, 06:14:10 AM »

I'm enjoying Under the Dome, but there's stuff in there - author intrusion, mainly - that we would slate each other for in the crit group here, yet it just adds to the hypnotic effect and overall picture that SK is building when he does it. I guess he's really adopted that God voice and has taken omniscience to a new level.

"We have toured the sock-shape that is Chester's Mill and arrived back at Route 119. And, thanks to the magic of narration, not an instance has passed..."

Derek

Rev. Austin · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2012, 04:42:08 AM »

That's a really good review, Richard! You've sold me on it

I was hesitant about getting back into reading King - I stopped reading him years ago, then picked up Everything's Eventual, liked it, but waited until Cell, which I thought was okay. Didn't mind Just After Sunset, then happened to get hold of a copy of Duma Key, and really liked that. I think that 11/22/63 will now be going on my birthday list