Stephen King Book • Page 87

Has anyone read Under The Dome? Finished it this week and need to talk to someone about it and then just stumbled across this thread - happy coincidence!

This was my fourth dive into King - I’ve read Carrie, The Green Mile and The Shining before.

 

I’d venture most people lurking in here have read Under The Dome. It’s one of my favorites of his personally

 

Ha, had no idea how popular it was.

It’s definitely my favourite out of what I’ve read so far. Compelling concept and overall felt well executed. Lots of thoughts swimming around my mind about different aspects it raised as well - the kind of book that stays with you.

 

Haven't gotten to it yet, but this thread had been a great guide on my journey through King. Lots of insight and knowledge and good recommendations on where to go next based on what you've enjoyed so far.

 

Finished Never Flinch. Didnt love it. Bored with Holly doing non supernatural cases.

 

I also found it super weird that they added supernatural shit to this world and in the last 2 books have completely ignored it. Very weird.

 

I just finished it actually. I dug it. It’s not a five star for me but I enjoyed it.

I’m up to Song of Susannah now and going to take a break before I dive back in. You’ll be thankful you pushed through by the time you get to Wizard and Glass. It’s a masterpiece.

I’m in the minority but I love Insomnia. There’s something about its tone that I really enjoy. I also feel like you have to be a little high to enjoy it too lmao

I’m also on the camp of The Institute being one of his more underrated modern stories. I can’t wait for this.

 

@brokenparachute really liked insomnia in the end as well! It does feel like a unique tone to me, I agree. The focus on the old folks and their self-contained world and the way it feels like you're trudging through Ralph's insomniac life with him and then suddenly shit gets super weird. Ralph's emotional world just feel very different from most things I've read

 

I liked the Derry aspect of it too because it connects to the other Derry stories and the Dark Tower.

 

Yeah, without spoiling, the main connection that becomes clear at the end definitely blew my mind. Thought it was great

 

I totally agree. I really, really loved my time with the Institute.

 

I feel like it didn't really lag at any point. It's not his best, but it's consistent in pacing I think.

 

I just picked up the Institute tonight because it was 20% off, one of the few Kings I don't have in some box or another somewhere

 

I may need to reread that. I read it right after I had finished Inspection by Josh Malerman, which was another “kids getting experimented on at a secret facility” story. I liked Inspection more so I think it hindered my enjoyment of the institute

 

it's given me pause that he kinda already did that plot in Firestarter and Black House, lol, but the good feedback up above got me interested!

 

The institute is pretty good for his recent stuff. I read it front to back in like a day and a half on a freight train from cheyenne Wyoming to Portland Oregon and didn't ever get bored with it

 

Had to pause halfway through the last chapter of Low Men in Yellow Coats for work this morning but wowee - wasn't expecting that one to hit so hard. Tragic but beautiful

 

It’s so underrated. I just love it so much. It’s so moving that it’s actually a little jarring to jump into the next story with a new perspective, but ends up being a whole other gut punch by the end.

 

Hearts in Atlantis as a whole is some of his best work, maybe top 5 for me. was the easy highlight of my Dark Tower+ Trip (trademark pending)

 

The list I was going off of for my current DT+ just included Low Men but if the other is anywhere close to the quality of Low Men I might just keep going.

 

Low Men is def the most immediately connected to DT but characters from it show up in every story in Hearts so it all kind of comes together in the end. also personally think any list that has Low Men without Heavenly Shades of Night is just nonsense, the latter is basically the full ending and emotional payoff for the former

 

I just finished Song of Susannah. I have to be honest... I liked it? Hahaha. I know that's weird because it's considered the weakest in the series by many but I like kinda dug it. I thought King did a great job putting himself in the story and making it kinda funny and relevant while still serving the story. My only gripe is I kinda think the transition between 5/6/7 is awkward. Wolves and Susannah probably could have just been one book. It felt like a weird speed bump instead of an installment of the series. I also find the Susannah/Mia/Detta/Odetta thing insanely hard to follow at times, haha. I had to really focus on it, especially towards the end.

I'm really amped to finish the series though. I'm glad I've been doing it over the last 2.5 years instead of all at once. I find myself wanting to go back to the characters after awhile.

 

Finishing up The Drawing of the Three (Roland is in the drug store right now and I'm pissed I had to come back from lunch. I wanted to stay in my car and finish so badly), but I picked up Bag of Bones from the library yesterday as someone on here suggested it as a good summer read a year or two back. Excited to start that. Also got Heart Shaped Box and am very interested to see how Joe stacks up.

 

Very glad someone told me to read the rest of Hearts of Atlantis. Nothing hit quite as hard as Low Men but what a great collection. Carol did nothing wrong. Back to the main series now to the end, very excited