It’s an easy way to pass time during commutes. I do most of my reading when I’m walking or on public transit, honestly. Or maybe you should pick up a really awesome book soon.
Walking? As in listening to audio books?
No, as in reading a physical book. I reserve audiobooks for house chores.
Except for that pesky little problem he has with alcoholism, lol. Read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. He’s brutally honest about finishing books with garbage bins full of empty Schlitz cans surrounding him, bloody tissue paper stuffed in his nose from abusing coke.
That’s a small part of the book, which is a great read in its entirety, especially if you are into writing.
That looks both funny and dangerous in my head, haha.
I mean, I walk on sidewalks. Sometimes in the park. Sometimes people make funny remarks, so you’re not alone.
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Oh, I’ve read that, actually. Probably 20 years ago (and agree that it’s awesome). I recall the cocaine talk now that you mention it, probably because of the accident, but the drug and alcohol use of celebrities is not particularly something I engage deeply in when reading a book like On Writing.
I think “someone I’d like to have a beer with” was probably more a turn of phrase. I rarely drink beer, so it’s not even accurate for me, but you wouldn’t say of someone like King that he’s someone you’d like to take on a picnic or sit on the back porch with a bottle of wine. It’s easier for men, I think, because you have “go fishing with” or in your case, “play a round of golf with,” but I don’t do those things. I’m female, so prefer focused conversations (men in studies prefer a shared focus, while women focus on one another).
So let me amend my statement to say that King seems like someone you’d like to share a big basket of crinkle cut fries with.
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I can’t recall if I read it in that now or if it was in an interview, but I remember the tidbit that the drinking and drug use described in his early work was somewhat autobiographical.
I’d go fishing with him. “The leviathan selected its prey carefully as it rose from the murky depths to the scintillating transition between its world and theirs…”.
I was never a King fan until I watched Shawshank and The Green Mile. Then I picked up his memoir, appreciated his honesty and his process.
That’s interesting, had never heard it, but it makes sense. Any consideration of masculine energy as opposed to feminine energy? In other words, would a female with masculine energy (results and order) prefer to have a shared focus? Would a male with female energy (creativity and freedom) prefer to focus on the other person?
Perhaps not the right thread for that discussion.
He’s not a very good writer - but a master storyteller. Big distinction for me.
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That’s why I’ve read more Stephen King than probably any other author.
I wouldn’t want to have a beer with him, but I’m not sure I could say no to a cocaine binge.
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Any and all sexual stuff he writes is some of the most unsexy stuff I’ve read.
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I dunno exactly what passages you mean by “sexual stuff”. but I’ll just say that I enjoyed the original IT, and I also liked the new two-part movie adaptation, but if they went 100% accurate and put everything that was in the book on screen, it would literally be illegal pornography. There’s certainly some stuff I’ve skimmed over.
If you’re talking genuine attempts at romance, he must not be very good because I’ve read a LOT of Stephen King books and I can’t recall any scenes at the moment.
Ha, I’m searching my mind, too, and coming up blank. I haven’t read IT, and don’t have much interest in his early work, but have read 8-10 of his books, I would imagine.
Not reading but audiobook listening: “Lords of Discipline” by Pat Conroy. I loved reading his other books when I was younger but never read this one. So far it stands the test of time for me but I’m only about a 1/4 into it.
I rarely read anything biographical in nature but read his a couple of years ago. I can’t recall the title but enjoyed it immensely as it covered, in detail, his fraught relationship with his parents; particularly his father.
There are a few authors that I loved when I was younger but can’t stomach their books anymore. John Irving is one. I’m not sure why. I just end up hating all his characters.
The IT scene was weird. I believe he said something about the times being different when he wrote it. True…but child group sex is still weird, haha.
But the other stuff was just little things. Something in Salem’s Lot about “entering” the girl and maybe feeling her tightness? LOL. And then something in The Shining about feeling some “seed dry on her thighs.” Just meant little bits thrown in like that. It just seems…unnecessary to me. It’s not a crucial part to the story and not his strong suite. It reads like those romantic novels with shirtless cowboys on the covers (which I’ve only secretly read parts of at the store while waiting for my mom to finish shopping at age 10).
Btw, I read all of these books quite recently, hence my memory of those scenes. They’re not things I’ve just held onto for years in my head, haha.
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I love your posts, @jshaving.
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Haha, thanks! Ditto.
Finished Dark Intercept, first book in the new Shepards series by Andrews & Wilson. I really liked all their other books so I tried this one. I dunno… Navy seals fighting Satanic forces, lots of religious, good vs evil going on in this one. The writing was spot on, story was engaging as always, but still… not sure how I feel about the concept.
@ChickenLittle Finally finished Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Googled the author, shocked to find he was old when he wrote the book!
Reading 2 Baldacci novels concurrently -book 2 of the Atlee Pine series, book 5 of the Amos Decker series. I read purely for entertainment, my brows are very low.
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