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I bought this purely because it gave information on the writing process, and not because I am a fan of Stephen King. I was complaining that everybody who had written a book on the writing process were not best-selling authors, and then this falls from the sky.
The book is split into ... Read review
DUMA KEY is the engaging, fascinating story of a man who discovers an incredible talent ... more
for painting after a freak accident in which he loses an arm. He moves to a 'new life' in Duma Key, off Florida's West Coast; a deserted strip, part beach, part weed-tangled, owned by a patroness of the arts whose twin sisters went missing in the 1920s. Duma Key is where out-of-season hurricanes tears lives apart and a powerful undertow lures lost and tormented souls.
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Stephen King's idea for It came from a favorite childhood image: the entire cast of the ... more
Bugs Bunny Show coming on at the beginning. He thought of bringing on all the monsters, one last time: Dracula, Frankenstein's creature, the Werewolf, the Crawling Eye, Rodan, It Came from Outer Space. It is about a group of adults who were once troubled children in the late '50s--"The Losers." One of them is a best selling horror writer much like Stephen King (or his friend and collaborator Peter Straub). In order to defeat the protean "It" that threatens their hometown, they have to go back- -not only to the town itself, but deep into their childhood memories, to regain the talent for magic they once had. King says It is for "the buried child in us, but I'm writing for the grown-up, too. I want grown-ups to look at the child long enough to be able to give him up." This huge, baggy beast of a novel is a favorite of Stephen King fans--second in popularity only to The Stand. Perhaps longtime fans develop mental filters for King's sloppy storytelling to tune out the repetitions and silliness. King is like the pointillist painter Seurat: if you stand too close to the little dots, the picture falls apart, and it looks meaningless. That's why he makes the storyscape so big--to take you up to that macro-level where you like the book in spite of its flaws. --Fiona Webster
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Advantages: Insightful, humorous, great advice on writing Disadvantages: none
...I am a fan of Stephen King. I was complaining that everybody who had written a book on the writing process were not best-selling authors, and then this falls from the sky.
The book is split into two, the first part being an abridged autobiography and the second part giving advice on the writing process, mostly novel writing. The two parts are engrossing and intriguing at the same time and manage to capture the man himself, and not ... ...peak inside the brain of Stephen King.
The second part leads us to the craft of writing and does it all very subtly, not in a rule book kind of fashion. I felt alive when I was reading it and couldn't wait to start my own writing again. He dispenses pearls of wisdom at the drop of a hat and leads us to believe that if he can write a book anyone can. One of the best pieces of advice he gave in the book was 'read a lot and write a lot, ... more
I have re-posted this opinion as there were problems last night and opinion was never seen. So this is the opinion on the new book 'on writing' by Stepehen king. If you rate this opinion, do not rate my previous one or even look at it as it is the same one, it is entitled 'want to be a writer.....', thanks.
I bought this book yesterday, after finding out about it on Ciao, a review by RichardW (see his excellent opinion on this book) and was thoroughly engrossed with it. I moaned about having to work as I had to put the book down and stop reading, but I managed to sneak a break and have a wee read whilst doing a quick one (bit more info than you needed there).
I bought this purely because it gave information on the writing process, and not because I am a fan of Stephen King. I was complaining that everybody who had written a book on the writing process were not best-selling authors, and then this falls from the sky.
The book is split into two, the first part being an abridged autobiography and the second part giving advice on the writing process, mostly novel writing. The two parts are engrossing and intriguing at the same time and manage to capture the man himself, and not just the tuxedo parts but the parts with his trousers down as well.
The first half gives a fragmented account of some of the childhood experiences that led him, possibly, to start writing and they are humorous, moving, and well written. It gives us an insight into a boy growing into a man growing into a writer, growing into a man again. It shows us the character that collected rejection slips for years before getting published and the elation he felt when he heard the news that 'Carrie' had commanded a $400,000 paperback bid from Signet books, I could almost feel churning of his stomach as he recounted this. He also gives us the side of him that shows his warts, after candidly showing us about his addiction to alcohol and then later on to cocaine. Behind every good man there is a woman and King is no exception. He lovingly attributes a lot of his success to his best friend and wife Tabitha King (herself a writer) and gives a quick tour of their love affair with each other. This half of the book is written very honestly and he does not mince his words, and it lets us take a peak inside the brain of Stephen King.
The second part leads us to the craft of writing and does it all very subtly, not in a rule book kind of fashion. I felt alive when I was reading it and couldn't wait to start my own writing again. He dispenses pearls of wisdom at the drop of a hat and leads us to believe that if he can write a book anyone can. One of the best pieces of advice he gave in the book was 'read a lot and write a lot, that is the only way you will get to know the craft', I think this is obvious, but still has to be said, for it to register. There is plenty of advice on grammar (mainly if you don't know by now you don't need to know), style, theme, characterisation, editing. It is written with humour, wit, and a touch of disdain for the Miss Jean Brodie style of teaching how to write.
The book also gives reference to other books which may be of use to the aspiring writer, particularly in the grammar section. It also lists a selection of books that King has read over the last few years, which is strange in a way as you'll recognise a lot of books that are on your list.
At only 238 pages long you will be able to read this in a day and come away from it wanting to turn off that damned TV and start writing your first novel, even if it's crap it's your first novel and besides that is what revisions are for, he would say. A great book to add to any writers reference collection.
Advantages: Well written, (unconscious?) insight into the beast within us all. Disadvantages: Not for the faint of heart.
Stephen King, one of the greatest horror writers of our day, countless films made from his books and he's not averse to writing one of two things himself. But my first taste of Mr King was something completely different, I think I was about 8 years old (I'm now 17) and, as kids do, was complaining about being bored, so my dad - a huge fan - handed me a book called The Eyes Of The Dragon. Instead of being a horror book, as I expected even at that ... ...kings and the good old baddies you see in fairytales - only slightly badder to make it interesting.
He began his career under the name Richard Bachman and wrote a few books to see if they would sell, they did and he began to use his real name. Probably the best book he wrote as Bachman was The Regulators, though all were very readable, and Thinner was indeed made into a film.
Most people know the book/film Carrie, and most people who know it, like ...
josiefan 18.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Stephen King
Advantages: YOUR HOOKED Disadvantages: NO SLEEP DUE TO NIGHTMARES AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN
I STARTED READING STEPHEN KING BOOKS A FEW MONTHS AGO AND EVERY NIGHT I HAVE A KNIGHTMARE. THATS JUST HOW SCARY THEY ARE. I STARTED OFF WITH THE GREEN MILE WHICH IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. YOU MUST READ THE BOOK BEFORE YOU WATCH THE FILM. YOU GET SO MUCH MORE FROM THE BOOK, THE FILM LOOSES MORE THAN HALF OF THE STORY. IT HAS EVERYTHING IN IT , IT MAKES YOU LAUGH, CRY, GET ANGRY AND HORRIFIED. YOU LOVE THE CHARECTERS EVAN THOUGH THEY ARE DEATH ... ...AS HORRIFYING AS USUAL FOR STEPHEN KING. BUT AS I SAID BEFORE YOU WILL FEEL EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE WHILE READING THIS STORY. added on sorry about the captital letters my baby was sick on the keyboard and the shift key will not work. so from now on i will type in little letters untill i invest in a new keyboard. anyway to continue after finising the green mile i was desperate to get some more stephen king books and as i have just been made redundant ...
heather12uk 31.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Stephen King
Since I read my first Stephen King I was fascinated by his stories. Although I normally don't like the genre of books King writes, he captured me from day one. He creates his own world, parallel to the normal world, in which bizar and fascinating things happen. His characters are always easy to identify with, so you really are absorbed by the story, from beginning to end. His books are easy to read and I love cuddling up in a chair trying to read ... ...I saw an interview with Stephen and I was surprised to see that, in person, he is a very likeble guy. I thought with the weird stories he writes het would be a bit weird himself :-)).It seems he has an eye desease and he runs the risk of becoming blind within a few years. I was very sorry to hear that, of course for him, but also for his readers. I hope he will find a way of keeping on writing his great books. ...
mrighart 29.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Stephen King
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Advantages: Very informative and inspiring. A good writers block breaker. Disadvantages: His methods aren't suited for everyone.
This book is works as a mixture between a memoir and a how-to book on writing, written by a man who damned well knows how it's done.
The thing that strikes you most about King is his sense of humour. He tells us about his childhood, how his mother encouraged him to read everything, including trash books, and entertains with anecdotes about babysitters who sat on his face shouting pow!
It also tells you how he came to write his first book, how he got it published, and inspiringly, how many times he got turned down before he made it. Amazing that even StephenKing struggling initially.
He also tells you how he writes, and I know from experience his way isn't great for everyone, me for one, but it's fascinating knowing how the pros do it and King's not preachy about it.
Overall a brilliant book, the most entertaining how to I've ever ...
Advantages: Great characters and setting, different style to King's other works Disadvantages: Fans may not like it as much as King's horror stories
Written in 1987, the year that StephenKing turned 40 (and I was born!), The Eyes of the Dragon was perhaps his biggest detour of styles to date. Classed as horror on the back cover, it really leans closer to the fantasy genre. A bit of a gamble for a man known predominantly for gruesome spine-chillers, and its not just the genre of his work that is different here, his whole writing style has changed. But The Eyes of the Dragon triumphs thanks to his story-telling abilities alone.
Peter has a fine life - the son of a King, next in line for the throne and a popular person. Things take a turn for the worse though when his father, the King of Delain, unknowingly drinks some poisoned wine and dies. Someone has set Peter up, he is charged with his fathers murder and locked away at the top of the 'needle', a very tall, thin tower ...
Advantages: Great short stories, each a great novel in its own right Disadvantages: 'The Body' is a little long
Sometimes authors are placed into boxes, and the great StephenKing is no exception. While Terry Pratchett is known for his fantasy books and John Grisham for his gripping courtroom stories, StephenKing has always been associated with horror. As IT, Salem's Lot, Christine, Carrie, Cujo, Pet Semetary and Gerald's Game have proved, King is a master at writing scary stories; his books are both well written and compelling, with intricate plots and an imaginative use of lexis making his work extremely enjoyable. Though horror is clearly King's favourite genre, his book Different Seasons shows that he can turn his hand to anything, with this collection of four short novels as good as his previous (and later) works.
Different Seasons contains four very different stories, each worthy of being a stand-alone novel in its own right. Three ...
