Okay, y’all; I’m sounding the clarion call.
Saintseester, Bo, and I started The Dark and Stormy Book Club WAAAAAY back in July of ‘07. Since that time, we’ve read some amazing books and had some truly stimulating discussions. My co-hosts are smart and funny and well-read, and I have loved every single month of our reading adventures – regardless of whether or not I’ve loved the books we’ve read (and, just for the record, I’ve not loved every book).
I’m writing to you about our little book club because I want to encourage some of you (and you know who you are) to actually join us. You keep saying that you’re interested in reading – you may even listen to the podcasts and tell us that it cerrtainly sounds like fun – but you don’t really participate, do you? You’re kind of on the sidelines – not HINDERING anything, to be sure, but not lending your voices, either.
So I’m challenging you, my dear friends and readers, to pick up a book right now and play with us. We’re fun, we’re not intimidating at all, and with the exception of one or two clunkers, we pick some fantastic books to read. This month, for example, Bo’s chosen Stephen King’s The Stand which I, despite my voracious reading appetite and my English degrees (which is to say that I kind of read for a living), have yet to have an opportunity to crack. I’m doing so now with great relish; SK’s horror doesn’t do much for me, but his stories – The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption and Dolores Claiborn - thrill and delight me.
It’s important to one of my cohosts that our book club consist of more participants than just we three. Not only do I want my friend to have this wish, but I also know from personal experience that lit classes are much better when there are more voices in the conversation. How about adding yours?
I am King’s “Biggest Fan.” Bwahahaha. But I read this book so long ago, I don’t expect to remember much. Maybe I’ll chime in if you jog my memory.
I can’t read it again right now because I’m committed to The Brown Book Project.
From what you say about what you like about King I predict that you will love the beginning of this book and then start to have some problems with it. It’s one of the creepiest for my little heart.
Life is strang enough without adding Mr. King’s weird creepyness to it. I have no reason to open any of his books ever again. I’ll check in next month and see what you’re reading then. I do hope that you all enjoy the book though.
I know you’re talking to me.
I’m just about finished with Breaking Dawn, will plan on picking up The Stand this weekend and delve in.
I read The Stand many years ago, dutifully plowing my way through it. I have read a number of Mr. King’s books, and find many of them are much to long relative to the amount of plot and character development. Much like, in a different genre, James Michener.
While I’m on this hobbyhorse, have you noticed in TV “documentary” type shows, both on cable (Discovery, TLC, History, etc.) and on the major networks (Dateline, etc.), how each segment recapitulates and repeats the last one so that an hour show (really about 40 minutes with commercials) has about 15-20 minutes of content? And that’s being generous.
Every month I add, when not getting involved in your book club, that I don’t know how to do the Podcast stuff. I still don’t.
I read tHe Stand in high school and have to say that I loved the grand sweep of the epic battle for good against evil and its denizens. That said, Mr. King has a way with a particularly nasty image, several of which are STILL with me.
I think you’ll like the book and have PLENTY to say about it when the book club meets. And I will answer the clarion call, along with Snob!
I’ve already picked up a copy of The Stand and look forward to it, especially because I’ve never read Stephen King before. I’ve enjoyed my sideline participation in Dark and Stormy for the past two books (loved The Book Thief and have passed it on to Jersey…disliked The Lady and the Unicorn to the nth degree), and I really love all of the discussion in the podcast. It’s funny because it’s a throwback to my student days; I feel very prepared with some great analytical points and then someone comes along and pushes me a little further. It’s really great.
It will take something of a miracle for me to ever actually call in to the podcast…I’m a little intimidated…but I will continue to join the post-podcast blog discussion.
I’m with Kizz on this one. I will read it with you (I know I have my copy around here somewhere) just because I’ve been wanting to discuss the ending with someone for such a long time!
I left a comment this afternoon and it’s gone?
I loved this book for its epic scale and evil vs good, etc., but there are images that are STILL with me and I last read the book over 15 years ago. I will get my copy out, dust it off and be ready to talk! I shall answer the clarion call!
I loved this book for its epic scale and evil vs good, etc., but there are images that are STILL with me and I last read the book over 15 years ago. I will get my copy out, dust it off and be ready to talk! I shall answer the clarion call!
I last read this epic 15 or so years ago and loved it then for its epic tale of good vs. evil and evil’s denizens. Mr. King has a way, however, of writing the most graphic and nasty descriptions of certain things and I STILL have some of them in permanent residence in my brain.
I shall answer the clarion call, though and I can’t wait to discuss the ending.
I can’t wait to discuss this wonderful and creep book!
The Stand and It are the two examples for me of how King falters on endings. Koontz does better endings, he has more follow through or something, I don’t know.
That being said I really liked the Stand, it’s one of my faves. Misery, though, is the only book I’ve ever tossed down midsentence as a result of creep factor.
I loved this book and have lon considered it among my favorites in its epic scale good vs evil storyline. It’s been 15 years or so since I last cracked the book but I am ready to answer the clarion call and really, I can’t wait to discuss the ending,too!
Hi chili,
This is bob, logged in under boo, trying to see why o’mama can’t leave a message.
By the way, the alarm had a wonderful song called the stand based on the book. I can play it for you sometime if you’re in the rockin mood.
Did you ever see the Friends episode where Joey is reading The Shining and he gets so scared that he has to put the book in the freezer? It can’t sit on his bedside table – it’s got to be in the chill chest. That cracked me up.
The Shining was one that creeped me out – and I’m rarely freaked out by books. I’m coming to realize that I’ve not read much King – I read The Green Mile and Hearts in Atlantis (I didn’t like that one, which turned out to be a collection of three stories and I couldn’t figure out the connection). I read Pet Semetary and I think I read Cujo, too – oh!, and The Tommyknockers, but I think that’s it.
So far, I’m liking The Stand.
Hi Chili,
This is bob, checking for o’mama if I can post as she is having technical difficulties.
By the way, the Alarm have a great song based on the stand. If you’re in the mood to rock out, let me know and I’ll dig it up.
Still can’t fucking post on blogs
?
Bob again, signed in as O’mama, checking the techie stuff.
Organic Mama: You’re right–he gives a little too much life to a nasty image sometimes.
Kizz: That’s funny; The Stand is my second-favorite book ever, and It is easily my second-favorite King book. Think we could still be friends?
Bob: I love The Alarm. I didn’t think they ever got their due. “The Stand” is indeed a great song.
Mrs. Chili: Glad you’re enjoying it so far.