I've re-read Children of the Neon Bamboo this month. If you haven't read it, you're really doing yourself a disservice. It's an incredible, unique experience.
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Last: 1 day ago by The Marksman
Wow, that looks like a gem. Definitely will gove it a readRockyGamucci said:
I've re-read Children of the Neon Bamboo this month. If you haven't read it, you're really doing yourself a disservice. It's an incredible, unique experience.
The Stand(Complete and Uncut Edition) by Stephen King. What an epic. It's hard to even process such a massive book, but I really enjoyed this novel. The ending, in particular, was extraordinarily well done. Easily a top 5 King for me.
I first read it in 8th grade, so in the '90s right after the unabridged version came out. I remember stopping about 75% of the way through because I knew it was so extraordinary, and I didn't want it to end.The Marksman said:
The Stand(Complete and Uncut Edition) by Stephen King. What an epic. It's hard to even process such a massive book, but I really enjoyed this novel. The ending, in particular, was extraordinarily well done. Easily a top 5 King for me.
Stephen King's best work bar none. I've read both versions and still own the hard cover of the expanded edition released in the early 90s. When I first encountered King as a junior high kid, I was much more drawn to the horror stuff like The Shining, Salem's Lot, etc. The Stand was a really thick book that intimidated 13-year-old me. I thus avoided it because I didn't think I'd actually be able to read it. It wasn't until I was a junior at A&M that I decided it was time to read The Stand.The Marksman said:
The Stand(Complete and Uncut Edition) by Stephen King. What an epic. It's hard to even process such a massive book, but I really enjoyed this novel. The ending, in particular, was extraordinarily well done. Easily a top 5 King for me.
Trivia - Stu Redman played football at Texas A&M. That stood out to me given that I was a student at A&M when I first read it.
Apache said:
Getting towards the end of Pet Semetary and WOW this is a great read.
Much fewer characters than Salem's Lot which I read last month, so easier to keep track of & you know the characters better.
Just creepy AF. This book hits much harder at my age with kids to worry about making stupid decisions & older parents and relatives that seem a Dr. visit away from a bad diagnosis. I feel like I go to a ton of funerals these days (vs. weddings when I was in my 20's/30's) & King's descriptions of the grieving process is, dare I say, dead on?
There's also a couple of passages where the protagonist Louis makes comments on the younger nephews, cousins, etc. who are strapping big guys from a distant part of the family that are the pall bearers.
To these younger guys, the deceased was a person that they only sort of knew, one of those older relatives you put up with or visit on occasion. They exist largely in stories or old photographs.
The young pall bearers thought of the deceased as the past, arthritic relics, someone used up & thought of themselves as young, full of vigor. They were at the funeral, but their thoughts were other places they could be... fun places. I'm occasionally guilty of that myself, especially when I was younger.
Not only is the book a solid horror read, it is making me reflect on mortality. Highly recommend this one!
Edit: Finished this one last night. The ending finished about like I thought it might, which was a slight disappointment though it was nice and scary! I would have enjoyed the book a little more if it had a little more background/origin story on the evil power at the Indian burial ground.... but maybe leaving the ultimate evil behind it all a mystery is just what King does. Deep, unspeakable mysterious horror that just exists.
Read it when I was young and then read it again a few years ago -- it absolutely hits different as an adult!
I finished up The Lord of Samarkand by Robert E. Howard and started on book 2 of the Plainsman Western Series, Trail to Retaliation by B. N. Rundell.
I just read James Wesley, Rawles' Patriots for the second time. He's a bit of a sovereign citizen and gets a little too into that at times, but it is an entertaining prepper guide/societal collapse book.
I refuse to read his books because he put a stupid comma in the middle of his name.Quote:
James Wesley, Rawles
The Marksman said:
The Stand(Complete and Uncut Edition) by Stephen King. What an epic. It's hard to even process such a massive book, but I really enjoyed this novel. The ending, in particular, was extraordinarily well done. Easily a top 5 King for me.
Just ordered this. Not sure how I haven't read it yet, maybe because of how big of an investment it will be. Same reason I haven't read Count of Monte Cristo, which I have sitting on my table taunting me, daring me, to pick it up and just jump all in. Halfway through Salem's Lot now, which has been a solid recommendation from this thread, before jumping into one of the epics mentioned. What says the thread, The Stand or the Demas classic?
It is annoying, isn't it? And it's for a pretentious reason.Apache said:I refuse to read his books because he put a stupid comma in the middle of his name.Quote:
James Wesley, Rawles
Quote:
James Wesley Rawles uses a comma in his name ("James Wesley, Rawles") to differentiate between his given name and his family name. He explains that he views his given name, "James Wesley," as his personal property, while the family name, "Rawles," is shared among all members of the Rawles bloodline. This distinction is derived from a concept in English common law, where the given name is considered individual property, and the family name is common. Rawles uses the comma as shorthand to emphasize this difference.
Read The Stand.Kaiser von Wilhelm said:The Marksman said:
The Stand(Complete and Uncut Edition) by Stephen King. What an epic. It's hard to even process such a massive book, but I really enjoyed this novel. The ending, in particular, was extraordinarily well done. Easily a top 5 King for me.
Just ordered this. Not sure how I haven't read it yet, maybe because of how big of an investment it will be. Same reason I haven't read Count of Monte Cristo, which I have sitting on my table taunting me, daring me, to pick it up and just jump all in. Halfway through Salem's Lot now, which has been a solid recommendation from this thread, before jumping into one of the epics mentioned. What says the thread, The Stand or the Demas classic?
Don't let the page numbers fool you, it's actually something of a quick read in that it's fast moving and all-engrossing.
I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it, especially in wake of covid. If you want to understand why some King fans were acting in a particular way during the pandemic, read the book.
Count me as another vote for The Stand - well worth the time and, like the last guy said, it's a relatively easy read.
You'll be glad you did it.
You'll be glad you did it.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This novel was extremely gripping and a very emotional read. It was beautiful and devastating at the same time. I cannot recommend reading this enough, especially if you are a fan of history, WWII in particular.
Finally got around to finishing Red Rising (took longer than normal since I was reading it parallel with The Darkness That Comes Before. In short, loved Red Rising. Very engaging, lots of action, and easy to immerse yourself in. Excited to start Golden Son (Red Rising bk 2). I can see this as ranking pretty high on fun trilogy reads.
Recently finished old man's war and have started red rising.
And agree on all the light we cannot see. One of my favorites and got me hooked on historical fiction, particularly ww2
And agree on all the light we cannot see. One of my favorites and got me hooked on historical fiction, particularly ww2
Two more books down. Finished The Lord of Samarcand from The Robert E. Howard Omnibus: 99 Collected Stories (Halcyon Classics) and Plainsman Western Series: The Trail to Retaliation, book 2 by B. N. Rundell Started two new ones: The Lion of Tiberias from The Robert E. Howard Omnibus and The Heart of the Matter (Odyssey One, book 2) by Evan Currie.
I have to admit, the only books from King that I've read are The Tommyknockers and the Gunslinger series. I enjoyed both of them quite a bit, but I am just not into horror stories/movies. Is The Stand something that I should read?
I have to admit, the only books from King that I've read are The Tommyknockers and the Gunslinger series. I enjoyed both of them quite a bit, but I am just not into horror stories/movies. Is The Stand something that I should read?
Yes.Quote:
Is The Stand something that I should read?
It is not horror. It's more of a science fiction story, although Covid and this nation's idiotic response made The Stand less sci-fi than it was when it was published. Think The Andromeda Strain or movies like Outbreak, except with a far more dire outcome for humanity.
I'm about 100 pages away from finishing Morning Star (3rd book) and I can tell you, it only gets better in the next two books…keep going! Absolutely fun trilogy, though you will get tired of the term paradigm lol
The forth is a bit of a different feel. I didn't like it the first time I tried. But when I tried again, I rolled through 4, 5 and 6 cannot wait for 7.Wolfpac 08 said:
I'm about 100 pages away from finishing Morning Star (3rd book) and I can tell you, it only gets better in the next two books…keep going! Absolutely fun trilogy, though you will get tired of the term paradigm lol
Might have to give it a try, I like the King books I have read, but not a horror fan, so have stayed away from them.Cinco Ranch Aggie said:Yes.Quote:
Is The Stand something that I should read?
It is not horror. It's more of a science fiction story, although Covid and this nation's idiotic response made The Stand less sci-fi than it was when it was published. Think The Andromeda Strain or movies like Outbreak, except with a far more dire outcome for humanity.
If you like King but not horror, I'd recommend:
The Stand
11/22/63
Billy Summers
Mr. Mercedes trilogy
All solid King, but not horror at all
The Stand
11/22/63
Billy Summers
Mr. Mercedes trilogy
All solid King, but not horror at all
Cool. Read Billy Summers and like it. Will add those to my list!
Thanks. I'll put it on the wishlist.
no plans to stop, enjoying it too much. Read where a TV show is in the works. Feels like it has the potential to ruin it. But maybe they pull it off.Wolfpac 08 said:
I'm about 100 pages away from finishing Morning Star (3rd book) and I can tell you, it only gets better in the next two books…keep going! Absolutely fun trilogy, though you will get tired of the term paradigm lol
Book is great, movie is forgettableThe Marksman said:
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This novel was extremely gripping and a very emotional read. It was beautiful and devastating at the same time. I cannot recommend reading this enough, especially if you are a fan of history, WWII in particular.
StinkyPinky said:no plans to stop, enjoying it too much. Read where a TV show is in the works. Feels like it has the potential to ruin it. But maybe they pull it off.Wolfpac 08 said:
I'm about 100 pages away from finishing Morning Star (3rd book) and I can tell you, it only gets better in the next two books…keep going! Absolutely fun trilogy, though you will get tired of the term paradigm lol
It would have to be 95% AI/CGI
Finished the fellowship of the ring for my first time last night
Wolfpac 08 said:
If you like King but not horror, I'd recommend:
The Stand
11/22/63
Billy Summers
Mr. Mercedes trilogy
All solid King, but not horror at all
I just read The Shining as I recently visited Estes Park, it was different than the movie.
Frok said:Wolfpac 08 said:
If you like King but not horror, I'd recommend:
The Stand
11/22/63
Billy Summers
Mr. Mercedes trilogy
All solid King, but not horror at all
I just read The Shining as I recently visited Estes Park, it was different than the movie.
Better, I thought. I read it last year and it may be in my top 3 King books (that I've read). Easy, quick read. I'd even call it more psychological thriller than horror.
I'd say these three novels are King's best of the last 20 years:
11/22/63
Fairy Tale
Under the Dome
11/22/63
Fairy Tale
Under the Dome
Stephen King's The Long Walk (written as Richard Bachman) is now being made into a movie.
If anyone hasn't read it or Rage, I suggest you read both of them. Rage is quite prescient.
WALK OR DIE.
— The Long Walk (@jointhelongwalk) May 7, 2025
From legendary author @StephenKing.
From The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence. #TheLongWalk - in theaters September 12. pic.twitter.com/lpEt7rfoSb
If anyone hasn't read it or Rage, I suggest you read both of them. Rage is quite prescient.
rynning said:
I'd say these three novels are King's best of the last 20 years:
11/22/63
Fairy Tale
Under the Dome
Oh yeah, forgot Fairy Tale on my list. That was a good one, as well!
Haven't read Under the Dome.
I'm thinking of dedicating a year to just King novels that I haven't read. He's one of those that you think you've read a lot of his stuff, and then you look at his list of books and realize you haven't even scratched the surface..
I'm trying to finish up the Two Towers, but it's been sort of a struggle. Some parts are great and others just drag. So far the Hobbit has been my favorite of the series. Hoping Return of the King is better paced than the two towers.
Read it maybe 15 years ago and remember liking it. I hope they are able to adapt it to the screen well.
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