Same with Bee Season, which is still worth reading -- REALLY -- despite the ending that left me asking "Buh?"
Bee Season was good, up to a point. Talk about a character/plot twist that just killed a book for me!
Wash: I didn't think you were one for rituals and such. Mal: I'm not, but it'll keep the others busy for a while. No reason to concern them with what's to be done.
'Bushwhacked'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Jess M. - Mar 15, 2004 11:21:32 am PST #1352 of 10002
Let me just say that popularity with people on public transportation does not equal literary respect. --Jesse
Amy - Mar 15, 2004 11:56:58 am PST #1353 of 10002
Because books.
I forgot about the kid sex in It...you're right, it was totally squick-worthy. Perhaps I repressed the memory of that passage... *g*
The end -- although big fat spiders freak me out, too, was just a let-down. I thought he did really well portraying how all the kids fears manifested over the years, in very personal ways, so it was partly the idea of the Evil being one specific thing that bothered me. And the fact that it was what it was disappointed me. I think I was expecting something more along the lines of the First, as a matter of fact -- a nameless, faceless, everywhere, everything entity.
Still giggling at the Stephen King HoYay. *g*
Anne W. - Mar 15, 2004 12:03:48 pm PST #1354 of 10002
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
The end -- although big fat spiders freak me out, too, was just a let-down. I thought he did really well portraying how all the kids fears manifested over the years, in very personal ways, so it was partly the idea of the Evil being one specific thing that bothered me. And the fact that it was what it was disappointed me. I think I was expecting something more along the lines of the First, as a matter of fact -- a nameless, faceless, everywhere, everything entity.
This is the reason why I found The Haunting of Hill House to be infinitely scarier than anything Stephen King has ever written, because of the dread factor and because not knowing is somehow scary in and of itself.
Atropa - Mar 15, 2004 12:06:34 pm PST #1355 of 10002
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
This is the reason why I found The Haunting of Hill House to be infinitely scarier than anything Stephen King has ever written, because of the dread factor and because not knowing is somehow scary in and of itself.
What Anne Said.
Mind you, parts of It will still cause me sleepless nights, because clowns freak me out very very badly. The Haunting of Hill House, however, will make me turn on every light in the house and follow Pete around because I don't want to be by myself. Scary damn book.
Amy - Mar 15, 2004 12:08:51 pm PST #1356 of 10002
Because books.
This is the reason why I found The Haunting of Hill House to be infinitely scarier than anything Stephen King has ever written.
I love the end of We Have Always Lived in the Castle, too. Shirley Jackson does elegantly creepy --and drawing out the suspense -- so very well.
And I really meant "big fat spider" to be white-fonted. What did I do wrong? Hmmm.
Katerina Bee - Mar 15, 2004 12:15:13 pm PST #1357 of 10002
Herding cats for fun
Stephen King did publish a reverent review of Haunting of Hill House somewhere or other. I rushed over to my local library and checked out a vintage copy. I still remember the following sleepless night. Yikes.
Merricat and Constance are some of my favorite characters.
erikaj - Mar 15, 2004 4:13:43 pm PST #1358 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
Nick Hornby fans need to read "Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About" by Mil Millington. So far, I think it's FG. Kind of has the same feel...of course the ending could be crap, but I've laughed out loud a couple times already, and I can never resist a funky title.
Alicia K - Mar 15, 2004 6:44:14 pm PST #1359 of 10002
Uncertainty could be our guiding light.
Is that the book that's based on the guy's website, where he lists hundreds of things he and his girlfriend have fought about? It's ringing a bell, but I can't recall the guy's name.
bon bon - Mar 15, 2004 7:09:55 pm PST #1360 of 10002
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.
Yes, the same Mil Millington.
Emlah - Mar 16, 2004 3:37:42 am PST #1361 of 10002
To every idea a shelf...
Oh, that site is stomach crampingly funny. I didn't realise the book was actually a novel, I thought it was a compilation of bits from the website.
I forgot about the kid sex in It...you're right, it was totally squick-worthy. Perhaps I repressed the memory of that passage... *g*
I can think of at least two people I've spoken to who had no memory of this passage and refused to believe it was in there until I brought out my copy and made them read it.
I think the other reason the spider didn't bother me so much was because I seem to remember he qualified it in the description by saying it wasn't actually a spider: that was just the closest thing their brains could come up with when trying to comprehend it.
It is definately one of my favourite Stephen King books. It's a good, sprawling story without being bloated. Scares the hell out of me, breaks my heart and cracks me up. The miniseries wasn't exactly wonderful, but Tim Curry in evil clown makeup? Priceless.