King's Lisey's Story

Liam Jackson · Oct 26, 2006

Anyone read King's latest departure from horror? Some critics claim it's better than Stand by Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile.

That's some heft company for any novel.

HorrorWriter · Oct 26, 2006

No, I haven't read it yet. Not in its entirety. Stevie had the first few pages scribbled by hand at the end of The Cell. It seemed quite interesting. I did hear it was excellent but you know how subjective that is. If I pick it up before you, I'll be sure to mention it.

Marlowe · Oct 26, 2006

I thought The Green Mile was lousy- great ending, waaaaay too much crap to get there. So far this one is better than that, at least.

Flapdoodle · Oct 27, 2006

Liam Jackson said:
Anyone read King's latest departure from horror? Some critics claim it's better than Stand by Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile.

That's some heft company for any novel.

Odd you should mention this - I've just been watching a UK Culture show called Newsnight Review in which a panel of artists/authors/politicians/etc review the week's cultural events - whether that be stage shows, films, books, etc.

They reviewed Lisey's Story and didn't pan it.
They stamped on it, ridiculed it, read some of the terrible prose and sniggered at King's attempt to become literary, commented on the "folksy" cliched characters, the clunky use of child abuse and self harm, way it patronizes the main character, etc.

Perhaps the most telling comment was from Paul Morley (Musician and writer) who commented that the fantasy stuff was there just because it has to be there, and that it seems like King's getting bored with his own readership...

They were quite baffled by the endless quotes and references to other literary works, though...

One of the panel - a Member of Parliament - commented that it was the worst book he'd ever read, and read out a passage that was terrible. They also compared King to a "spoof" comedy UK author called Garth Marenghi.

Of course, it'll sell like hotcakes.

SpookyWriter · Oct 27, 2006

Hi Flap, would their criticsm be because King is an American writer or do you feel they were sincere? I hadn't read his latest material because I've been into Barker lately and haven't had time or interest with King's last couple of books.

Thanks

Flapdoodle · Oct 27, 2006

SpookyWriter said:
Hi Flap, would their criticsm be because King is an American writer or do you feel they were sincere? I hadn't read his latest material because I've been into Barker lately and haven't had time or interest with King's last couple of books.

Thanks

No, Newsnight Review wouldn't slate something because it's from the US. There are 4 reviewers plus the chair of the panel, and they sort of informally discuss what's under review. With LS they were unanimous that it was a terrible book, and a couple of them quoted some lines to show how badly written it was.

As the panel's quite diverse, you generally get a bit of squabbling and disagreement, but with this book they all let rip.

You can see the repeat on the BBC's website, apparently:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/6092360.stm#king

Go and read the text at the bottom - it'll be up from Saturday afternoon GMT.

Liam Jackson · Oct 27, 2006

SpookyWriter said:
Hi Flap, would their criticsm be because King is an American writer or do you feel they were sincere? I hadn't read his latest material because I've been into Barker lately and haven't had time or interest with King's last couple of books.

Thanks

He get's whacked everytime he steps out of the horror venue. I'm not sure anyone can say he's "turning literary" unless they've never bothered to read The Body which later evolved into the film, Stand By Me, or Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption)
The guy seems to have sufficient talent to write up or down as the spirit moves him.

Flap- As an aside, was King ever embraced by the UK's critic elites? I know he has a strong UK fan base, but I'm wondering if the Brit reviewers consider him anything more than a "genre hack."

jbal · Oct 27, 2006

Liam-you forgot Dolores Claiborne.

Martin-you still like Koontz though, right?

Liam Jackson · Oct 27, 2006

jbal said:
Liam-you forgot Dolores Claiborne.

I did indeed.

Flapdoodle · Oct 27, 2006

Liam Jackson said:
He get's whacked everytime he steps out of the horror venue. I'm not sure anyone can say he's "turning literary" unless they've never bothered to read The Body which later evolved into the film, Stand By Me, or Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption)
The guy seems to have sufficient talent to write up or down as the spirit moves him.

Flap- As an aside, was King ever embraced by the UK's critic elites? I know he has a strong UK fan base, but I'm wondering if the Brit reviewers consider him anything more than a "genre hack."

I think that was the point of the review - it wasn't a step outside the horror genre, and one reviewer even commented that it only got slightly interesting when the horror stuff started.

Not sure about the elite. I don't read book reviews. Newsnight review isn't particularly elitist - they reviewed the new Dirty Dancing stage play as well (Mixed reviews) and the panel are generally from a fairly diverse background.

What I don't understand is this point about the quotes and references to literary work - what's that about? I know King likes to pepper his stuff with song lyrics and stuff... Is there really a reading list?

Liam Jackson · Oct 27, 2006

Flapdoodle said:
I think that was the point of the review - it wasn't a step outside the horror genre, and one reviewer even commented that it only got slightly interesting when the horror stuff started.

Not sure about the elite. I don't read book reviews. Newsnight review isn't particularly elitist - they reviewed the new Dirty Dancing stage play as well (Mixed reviews) and the panel are generally from a fairly diverse background.

What I don't understand is this point about the quotes and references to literary work - what's that about? I know King likes to pepper his stuff with song lyrics and stuff... Is there really a reading list?

My interest in Lisey's Story started with an article on the Yahoo home page. I followed several links in which jouranlists/reviewers commented that Lisey's story wasn't horror at all, but a tragic romance. A couple of writers mentioned that it would be interesting to see how King managed this "new" entrance into the literary realm, i.e. could he cross the bridge from genre writer to mainstream literary. I thought that was an odd comment, considering the acclaim he received for some of his mainstream work, particularly those mentioned in my earlier post.

I frequently purge the history on my computer, and I can't recall the writers, but I believe the gentlemen who raised the most issues about King's "new departure" was a staffer for the primary Seattle newspaper.

Jbal- Speaking of Koontz, I just finished with Odd Thomas. The ending was a bit predictable, but damn, what writing.

Flapdoodle · Oct 28, 2006

Liam Jackson said:
My interest in Lisey's Story started with an article on the Yahoo home page. I followed several links in which jouranlists/reviewers commented that Lisey's story wasn't horror at all, but a tragic romance. A couple of writer's mentioned that it would be interesting to see how King managed this "new" entrance into the literary realm, i.e. could he cross the bridge from genre writer to mainstream literary. I thought that was an odd comment, considering the acclaim he received for some of his mainstream work, particularly those mentioned in my earlier post.

I frequently purge the history on my computer, and I can't recall the writers, but I believe the gentlemen who raised the most issues about King's "new departure" was a staffer for the primary Seattle newspaper.

Jbal- Speaking of Koontz, I just finished with Odd Thomas. The ending was a bit predictable, but damn, what writing.

I picked it up in a bookstore today, but didn't buy it, even though it was half price - read the first chapter in the store, but it just doesn't look very good, to be honest, and I generally don't like books about authors.

I did pick up the latest Ian Rankin Rebus book, though. I don't generally read detective fiction, but the Rebus stuff is very good indeed.

Flapdoodle · Oct 28, 2006

There's a positive review in one of the broadsheet newspaper today (Saturday's Guardian). It comments that the prose/word usage is almost enough to spoil it, but the reviewers considers it one of King's best.

Rabe · Oct 28, 2006

I've picked up the book mainly because I know I'm going to buy it sooner or later and at the big Mega Discount Store I'd spend less and feel better about it. I've just not been very happy with the last four King books (the last two Dark Tower novels - though I do defend the actual ending - Colorado Kid (which is NOT an actual story but an opening to one) and The Cell - which harkens back to the good old days of horror when creators would let the audience imagine the ending, but this one just didn't do that very well).

I'm currently reading "Golden Fool" by Robin Hobb but Lisey's Story is next up on my list.

As for 'literary' King I think a LOT of books have been overlooked. A few:

It
The Stand
Misery
Bag of Bones (one of my all time favorites)
Firestarter
Gerald's Game
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Long Walk
Rage
and maybe Rose Madder.

I think King is a lot more literary than he is genre. After all, why decline to allow someone's 'literary' qualities shine through becuase he writes in a 'genre' field?

I recall my English 101 prof long time ago giving us a quote attributed to King when his friends would say "when are you going to write something serious" his response would be "when are you going to take seriously what I write?"

I agree with that.

Rabe...

JumpingJack · Oct 29, 2006

I'm certainly not disapointed so far, apart from, as usual, being let down by reviewers who just cant hack it. I am yet to find a reviewer who is consistently worth listening to.

DeniseK · Oct 29, 2006

I started it today and I'm on around page 30, and yeah, I'm hooked. I can tell it's going to be good, the atmosphere has been established, I just wish he'd stop saying "smucking!" over and over! That's the kind of stuff that has turned me off the last few books of his I've tried to read, he throws oddball stuff in there that seems like he's trying to be clever, or saying, he, smuck you, I am Stephen King, I can make up my own words, strapping it on you! I am trying to read the book without thinking about who wrote it, but if he keeps this up, I'll lose interest, and I really don't want to, like I said, I'm hooked and I want to keep reading.

Jackie Coupe · Oct 30, 2006

I have ordered my copy, I didn't like 'Cell' all too well but as I have read King for over half my life and he has given me many great horrors and memories I feel I owe him a shot. I might not end up liking that either but its got to be read before comment I believe.

:tongue

Del · Nov 1, 2006

Rabe said:
Colorado Kid (which is NOT an actual story but an opening to one)

I considered sending my copy to him with a note requesting that he finish it.

Rabe said:
Bag of Bones (one of my all time favorites)

Agreed.

Rabe said:
Gerald's Game

I had to put this one down. Personal issues.

When I like King I like him a lot. When I don't like King, I don't like him a lot.

Rabe · Nov 1, 2006

Delarege said:
I considered sending my copy to him with a note requesting that he finish it.

Maybe we could circulate a petition?

And as for Gerald's Game. It's the one other book I've had the longest discussions/arguments about. The other being a little known Hebrew manual called "The Bible" or something like that.

Rabe...

bsolah · Nov 2, 2006

I saw it at Borders today, but didn't buy it - I'm too busy reading Will Elliot's 'The Pilo Family Circus.'

The book looks like something new for King, a deeper kind of story with his same gritty style. I'll be reading it soon enough.

Marlowe · Nov 2, 2006

I didn't like it very much at all. Aside from personal reasons mentioned in another forum here, the book was just sloppy; there were very good bits (Lisey's relationship with her dead husband was well-handled), but the fantasy elements were plain silly, and the "psycho-stalker" was terribly half-assed. The last hundred or so pages, aside from a few nice character moments, were a slog.

I liked Colorado Kid as it is. And you certainly can't expect him to "finish" it; "finishing" it would basically negate its existence. My only real criticism was that the whole "worshipping the mystery" bit was already dealt with in From a Buick 8, and Colorado Kid didn't add anything new. Still, it had a nice spooky vibe I rather liked, and it was over quick.

Del · Nov 2, 2006

Marlowe said:
I didn't like it very much at all. Aside from personal reasons mentioned in another forum here, the book was just sloppy; there were very good bits (Lisey's relationship with her dead husband was well-handled), but the fantasy elements were plain silly, and the "psycho-stalker" was terribly half-assed. The last hundred or so pages, aside from a few nice character moments, were a slog.

I liked Colorado Kid as it is. And you certainly can't expect him to "finish" it; "finishing" it would basically negate its existence. My only real criticism was that the whole "worshipping the mystery" bit was already dealt with in From a Buick 8, and Colorado Kid didn't add anything new. Still, it had a nice spooky vibe I rather liked, and it was over quick.

My copy of In a Buick 8 has been sitting with the bookmark in it for about a year.

This demonstrates how diverse readers are and that you can't tell a writer they are doing it wrong. Someone appreciates them.

In the postscript in Colorado Kid, King states that he knows many will feel the way I did (Well, he didn't use me as an example

) but that he wrote it the way he wanted and felt it needed to be. I don't agree with his decision but I applaud him.

Flapdoodle · Nov 2, 2006

Delarege said:
My copy of In a Buick 8 has been sitting with the bookmark in it for about a year.

This demonstrates how diverse readers are and that you can't tell a writer they are doing it wrong. Someone appreciates them.

In the postscript in Colorado Kid, King states that he knows many will feel the way I did (Well, he didn't use me as an example ) but that he wrote it the way he wanted and felt it needed to be. I don't agree with his decision but I applaud him.

Ditto. Nice premise, but any intrigue was totally lost after 100 dreadful pages of... well, nothing.

What's Colorado Kid?

Jamesaritchie · Nov 2, 2006

Liam Jackson said:
Anyone read King's latest departure from horror? Some critics claim it's better than Stand by Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile.

That's some heft company for any novel.

In all honesty, this is the first King book I haven't liked in a long, long time. It's a half-arsed novel, in my opion. It isn't horror, it isn't literary, and it isn't fantasy. It's as if King couldn't decide what he wanted it to be, so made it nothing solid.

Now, comments on King trying to be literary come from pure ignorance. King has been writing non-horror literary fiction for quite a few years, and he's always done an excellent job of it. But I think Lisey's Story was an experiment that failed simply because King tried to make it all things, and it ended by being no thing.

Jamesaritchie · Nov 2, 2006

Marlowe said:
I thought The Green Mile was lousy- great ending, waaaaay too much crap to get there. So far this one is better than that, at least.

I disagree completely. I thought the novel was wonderful from page one on. Some of the best I've ever read. It was one of those books I loved so much I kept reading slower and slower, not wanting to get to the end.

King's Lisey's Story

Liam Jackson

Heathen Horde Elder

HorrorWriter

It's a new dawn. It's a new day.

Marlowe

Duck of Death

Flapdoodle

SpookyWriter

Flapdoodle

Liam Jackson

Heathen Horde Elder

jbal

Liam Jackson

Heathen Horde Elder

Flapdoodle

Liam Jackson

Heathen Horde Elder

Flapdoodle

Flapdoodle

Rabe

the living dead

JumpingJack

DeniseK

Jackie Coupe

Evil Lord

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Rabe

the living dead

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

Marlowe

Duck of Death

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Flapdoodle

Jamesaritchie

Jamesaritchie