A Constant Reader of Stephen King

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 04:55:00 +0000

Here's Santa!

The Elf Is At IT Again

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Elf On the Shelf Is Up To No Good

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 23:18:00 +0000

What Makes a Stephen King Story Good? Character

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 04:56:00 +0000

“I think the best stories always end up being about the people rather than the event,

which is to say character-driven.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

To this day I am amazed at how much I can still 'fall' into a Stephen King book. I am about halfway through Joyland and I can't believe how quickly the pages are turning.

I'm really enjoying the first person narrative of the story.

King's ability to make the main character relate to the reader on a personal level is tremendous. It sucks me in every time. I think that is the best aspect about King's writing; his ability to pull the reader into the story through the main character's perspective that before you realize it you're 50 pages in and caring more about what is going to happen to the this character than going to bed on a work night, or making supper for the family!

This is why I've been an avid reader of Stephen King since I was in High School so many moons ago, and why I am still a Constant Reader (and re-Reader) of his stories.

What I Still Have To Read

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:36:00 +0000

I've read a lot of Stephen King books over the years, but I haven't read them all. Here is a complete list of books I still have to read (not including Joyland, which I'm currently reading):

Novels:
Black House
Cujo
The Dead Zone
Doctor Sleep
Finders Keepers
Firestarter
Mr. Mercedes
Revival

Collections:
Bazaar of Bad Dreams
Just After Sunset

Screenplays:
Sorry Right Number

Non-Fiction:
Faithful
Guns
Mid-Life Confidential: Rock Bottom Remainders Tour America With Three Chords & An Attitude
Nightmares In The Sky

You know, there's more there than I thought there would be. I better get reading!

7 Yrs Is Too Long

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 05:23:00 +0000

I can't believe it has been 7 years since I last posted here. That's not going to happen again. Got busy doing other things I guess.

Been meaning to start this blog back up the last few year or so but I didn't, guess I was a bit hesitant. The toughest part was just starting and now that that is over look for more from me in the near future!

Since this is a fresh start of sorts I decided to re-name the blog, so good-bye to The Works of Stephen King and hello Constant Reader of Stephen King!

I know I won't be posting everyday, but I'll be posting more often than before that's for sure.

I've been inspired by a few of the Stephen King Facebook Groups I've joined over the last year or two and once I get this site 'back in the high life again' (to quote Steve Winwood) I'll be sharing it with those SK Groups on FB too.

See you soon.

Look What I just Picked Up Today

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:37:00 +0000

It is the premier hardcover edition. I can't wait to get into this 'graphic novel'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't these used to be called 'comic books'?

Regardless, I'm into it.

Who Would Have Thought? Me Writing More Than Just a Blog

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:08:00 +0000

O.K. here is perhaps the biggest reason why I haven't been posting here on a regular basis. I'm now actually getting paid to write - not a lot mind you - and I know it isn't fiction, but it is still a start. And more importantly, I'm still practicing the art of writing.

One of the main reasons they wanted me to write for them is because they liked my written voice, and now that I'm writing for them I've been having difficulty finding it. I'm sure sure once I'm more comfortable with this whole thing, and I'm thinking less about voice and more about writing it'll come back effortlessly.

I am now two articles in and I'm already looking forward to writing my next one.

I'm Still Standing

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:17:00 +0000

I've been really bad at keeping up with this site as of late. Sorry.

I've got a ton of excuses though; work, family, been sick, keeping up with my NASCAR blog, starting my new 1957 Chevy Black Widow Blog, coaching, and it goes on and on.

One good thing though, I've been writing in some form or another almost every day - something Stephen himself would surely appreciate anyway (see what I'm talking about in Stephen's book 'On Writing').

I haven't even had time to finish reading 'Blaze' yet. I've got about 75 pages left, but I've been struggling to get any 'pleasure' reading done as of late too. I've done a ton of work and blog related reading, but the personal stuff has fallen by the wayside.

It happens like that sometimes.

I did manage to see 'The Mist' recently though - the first movie I've rented since Christmas - and I'll be posting my review of it, along with my thoughts on The Dark Tower Series, soon.

Take Care.

Stephen King’s thrilling novella The Gingerbread Girl is available now!

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:42:00 +0000

I just got this email from Stephen King's Official Web Site:

Originally published in Esquire magazine (click here to read an excerpt from the story), The Gingerbread Girl is available exclusively as an audiobook on CD and for download.

Narrated to perfection by Academy Award nominee Mare Winningham, The Gingerbread Girl follows the story of Em, who after suffering a devastating loss, starts running.

Soon Em runs from her husband and her home all the way to the airport. Looking for solace, Em’s running takes her to the Florida Gulf where she settles into the loneliest stretch of Vermillion Key. Once there Em keeps up her running until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys the privacy of Vermillion Key, but the young women he brings there suffer the consequences.

Will Em be next? Listen to The Gingerbread Girl - available exclusively on CD and for download - and find out!

Listen to an excerpt from The Gingerbread Girl, narrated by Mare Winningham

Buy the audiobook from Simon & Schuster

StephenKing.com Getting Major Overhaul

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:36:00 +0000

Here is an excerpt from an email I got from stephenking.com:

Big things are coming...

What to expect in 2008 on StephenKing.com

A fully redesigned and reengineered Official Web Site featuring:

- The Library - A brand new searchable database of Stephen King books, audio books, short stories, movies and more.

- Multimedia Section - Offering audio book samples, movie previews, exclusive video clips, fan art, downloads and more.

- Community Features - Tell the world what you think of Stephen's works with our new "my thoughts on this" comment system.

- Updated Message Board - Offering new themes and style guides.

- New Dark Tower Web Site coming in April - Combining the classic seven part epic with Marvel's Dark Tower series, the redesign is just what the doctor ordered for the constant Dark Tower reader.

- "Wally World" - Codename for a Dark Tower Interactive Flash Experience coming Summer 2008.

- The Office - Step inside Stephen's eclectic office and browse hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia in this Interactive Flash Experience coming Fall 2008.

Click here to see the new home page

I like the changes they've done, how about you?

Rock Bottom Remainders - You Tube Clip

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:56:00 +0000

Stephen King on vocals. Nothing more to say.

Stephen's Top 25 Best Rock n' Roll Songs of All Time

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:16:00 +0000

You must follow the link to get Stephen's video about the subject, as I can't put it up here.

But I can list the songs:

25. "Psychotic Reaction" - Count 5

24. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - Iron Butterfly (long version only)

23. "Dead Flowers" - Rolling Stones

22. "Needles and Pins" - The Searchers

21. "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys

20. "On The Dark Side" - John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band

19. "You Never Can Tell " - Chuck Berry

18. "I Want To Help You Ann" - The Lyres

17. "Long Cool Woman In a Black Dress" - The Hollies

16. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis

15. "Ain't No Fun (Waiting Around To Be a Millionaire)" - AC/DC

14. "Sixty Minute Man" - The Dominoes

13. "Mass. Ave" - Willie Alexander

12. "The Girl Can't Help It" - Little Richard

11. "She Loves You" - The Beatles

10. "Big Hunk of Love" - Elvis

9. "Bip Bop Boom" - Mickey Hawks

8. "Let's Have a Party" - Wanda Jackson

7. "New Orleans" - Gary U.S. Bonds

6. "Ramrod" - Bruce Springsteen

5. "C'mon Everybody" - Eddie Cochran

4. "Stupid Cupid" - Connie Francis

3. "Mystery Dance" - Elvis Costello

2. "Burning Love" - Elvis

1. "Anarchy In the U.K." - The Sex Pistols

The Dark Tower

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:00:00 +0000

OK, I'm finished - finally!

I'll be back to write about it in a day or so, I have to collect my thoughts.

Take Care.

"Duma Key" Now In Book Stores

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:36:00 +0000

Stephen's newest book, "Duma Key", was released on Tues. Jan 22, 2008. If you go to stephenking.com you will be able to listen to Stephen's latest interview about the book (among other things) on The Today Show, as well as listen to an audio excerpt from "Duma Key". I'm getting my copy today!

Update:

Just got it today (Sunday) and will start reading it as soon as I'm done the Dark Tower Series. I have less than 70 pages left in book 7, so look for my review of the series sometime this week.

The Stand - The Book

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:41:00 +0000

Wow, what a book! Definitely in my top 5 of Stephen King books. The original published version came out in 1978, but it was a much thinner version than the one Stephen had written - about 150,000 words thinner.

In the early 1990's Stephen was able to get his "Complete and Uncut" edition of 'The Stand' released. It was 500 pages more than the original publication, and it was the version that I happened to read first.

One day I was in the university bookstore looking for this one textbook that was supposed to be on reserve at the library but had somehow 'gone missing' when I stumbled upon the Complete and Uncut version of The Stand. I thought, "Awesome, I haven't gotten around to reading the first one so I'll just get this and read it instead."

The problem about this was I just couldn't put the bloody thing down - at all - and I was headed into my final exams and essays. I read it more than I studied. Fortunately for me I did fine on my exams and essays, the book allowed me to be more calm because it took my mind of everything but the story before me.

Anyway, about the story, - in a nutshell - it was awesome! The character development again was phenomenal. Stephen's ability to create believable characters facing unbelievable circumstances/situations is what makes him a great story teller, and what sells the reader on his story lines. I mean who ever has seen the hand of God? No one, yet when it appears in the story it is that much more believable because the characters we believe in, and have come to like, see it and are reacting to it.

Set in a post-apocalyptic America Stephen King weaves a classic tale of good vs evil where the apocalypse is not caused by a nuclear war but by a lab developed virus. The story is divided into 3 sections; the first section is really about the outbreak of the virus and the immediate aftermath, the second section deals with the gathering of forces (good and evil), while the last section is the final confrontation.

I know I have not gone into great detail about the story here, but there is a reason: I want you to read the book and discover it for yourself.

If you read only a few Stephen King books ever, then this one is a must for your list.

Shameless Self-Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:32:00 +0000

It is that time of year again where the Canadian Blog Awards are being determined. This little old blog is up for "The Best New Blog" in Canada and as far as I know it is the only Stephen King based blog nominated.

What I am asking you for is your vote. You need only to vote once per round, and your votes do count - I lost second place in the Best Post category last year by 3 votes and ended up finishing 3rd.

I also ask another favour of you, my faithful readers, (do I know how to suck up or what?), my other blog "NASCAR Ranting and Raving" has also been nominated in the "Best Sports Blog" category, so could you vote for that one too? Thanks! Again you need only to vote once for each round.

Tickets Available For A Stephen King Reading

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:43:00 +0000

Stephen King, along with his wife Tabitha and son Owen, are going to be in Washington D.C. for a book reading. The event is being billed as "The Three Kings" and each of the authors are going to be reading selections from their own works. Autographs are scheduled to follow the readings.

For more info go to The Folger Shakespeare Library site. Tickets are just $30.00!

Photo Credits: Folger Shakespeare Library.

Different Seasons Part 4: The Breathing Method

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:09:00 +0000

The fourth story in Different Seasons is "The Breathing Method".

This is a story told at a Private Club in New York City one Christmas about a young pregnant woman determined to deliver her baby, regardless of what has happened to her.

Character Dr Emlyn McCarron tells about a patient of his, Sandra Stansfield, who paid for his help in delivering her baby in the pre-WWII era. He introduced her to what he called the Breathing Method to help control the pain and help her concentrate on the birth - what we now call Lamaze.

Sarah was beheaded in a terrible accident outside the hospital as she was arriving by taxi to deliver the baby. As Dr McCarron arrived at the hospital to deliver the baby he bears witness to Sarah's headless body continuing to perform the Breathing Method and aids it in delivering the baby. Once the baby is safely delivered Sarah's body finally dies just as the eyes on her severed head close.

When I first read this story it really made me pause and think about a parent's dedication to their child. You know, there have been a lot of strange, and sometimes unexplainable, things that have happen in the world and this story isn't too far out of the realm of probability - in my opinion anyway.

As horrible this story is in it's description of the birth it is equally pleasing to the reader because the baby lives due to it's mother's dedication to it. Stephen King has given the reader the feeling of feeling sadness and satisfaction at the same time, kind of a reader's version of speed.

This has not yet been made into a movie, but I have heard that there is a screen play out htere that is being shopped around. We'll just have to wait and see if this is indeed the case.

For you teachers out there this story is available as a level 4 intermediate reader from Penguin Publishers. There are fact sheets/teacher notes available on line as well.

A Winter's Tale

Different Seasons - Part 3: The Body

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:31:00 +0000

The third story in 'Different Seasons' is 'The Body'.

This story takes place during the summer of 1960 in the Stephen King created town of Castle Rock, Maine. A kid named Ray Brower from a nearby town had gone out to pick berries and never returned. Twelve year-olds Gordon Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio, discover the location of the corpse of Ray Brower through an eavesdropped conversation and decide to go find it.

The rest of the story is about their adventures, and misadventures, in their journey to discover the body and unknowingly, themselves.

Along the way the boys are faced to not only faced with certain perils and dangers ( ie. on coming train while on a bridge), but they also realize that they are getting older and once school starts they may never be the same again.

It is a classic coming of age tale as only Stephen King can tell it.

The movie adaptation was called 'Stand By Me' and was directed by Rob Reiner. I find the movie adaptation of this novella to be very good and it stuck very close to the original story.

Another awesome story.

Fall From Innocence

Different Seasons - Part 2: Apt Pupil

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:34:00 +0000

The second offering in Different Seasons is 'Apt Pupil'.

This story is set in the fictional suburb of 'Santo Donato', in San Diego. The main character is thirteen year old Todd Bowden. After discovering an old World War II magazine in his friend's garage Todd becomes interested in Nazi Germany, in particular concentration camps. He is really taken by this one photo of a German camp officer and realizes that the reason why he is captured by it is that it is actually a photo of one of his neighbours.

The rest of the story takes place over a period of 4 years and follows the relationship that develops between him and his 'wanted for war crimes' neighbour.

Everyone can talk all they want about how scary Stephen King books with vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and the like are, but nothing is more scary than the human capacity for inhumane acts on humanity. I found this story disturbing when I read it - I actually lost sleep over it with nightmares. Give me a good vampire story any time.

With that being said, I still enjoyed the story (even though I did lose sleep over it).

This story was also made into a movie by the same name. I found the movie to be alright, and it stuck to the original story fairly well, but I found it less disturbing than the print story.

'Summer of Corruption'

The Mist Movie Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:18:00 +0000

Different Seasons - Part 1: Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 05:21:00 +0000

I'm going to do a four parter on the Stephen King book entitled "Different Seasons". The book itself is made of 4 novellas, each dealing with certain aspects of humanity and human nature.

The first offering in the book is "Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption".

This story is truly a gripping tale of an innocent man's, Andy Dufresne, incarceration in Shawshank Prison. The longer Andy stays in prison the more hope becomes harder to hold on to, especially after proof of his innocence emerges and later disappears by those who run the prison because Andy has become a valuable commodity to his incarcerators.

This is clearly my favourite story in the book, as the story is powerful and is written in a first person narrative from another prisoner's, Red, point of view. Stephen's character development in this story is wonderful. King has you wrapped up and caring about these prisoners - murderers some of them - so quickly that it is truly hard to put the book down.

This story was also turned into a movie simply called "The Shawshank Redemption" and aside for a few plot changes to make the story better suited for the 'big screen', the movie sticks exceptionally well to it's origins.

The movie itself is also one of my most favourite movies of all time. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are each awesome in their roles as Andy and Red. They somehow managed to get the characters from the book and put them on screen virtually unchanged.

Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption is clearly one of the best reads you'll have in a long time, and not only that but the movie is probably also one of the best movies you'll ever get a chance of seeing.

"Hope Springs Eternal"

Stephen King Sizes Up Who's Cool ... And Who's Not

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:02:00 +0000

Stephen King has come out with his list of who he thinks is cool and who isn't for EW.com.

For the complete article on Who's Cool and Who's Not just follow the link provided.

According to Steve, "The meaning of cool is beyond definition. And ... beyond modification. It just is, man." I can't think of it any other way either - it really just is, man.

I'm sure there are going to be some disagreements about who is and isn't on Steve's cool list. Personally, I think Dale Earnhardt Jr should be on the cool list, but who am I?

Like Steve says, "Remember, cool is not a way of life; it's a state of being."

I'm there already.

Photo Credit: peanutscollectorclub.com

The Mist

noreply@blogger.com (4ever3) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 04:10:00 +0000

The short story, 'The Mist' originally appeared in the collection of 22 short stories by Stephen entitled, 'Skeleton Crew'.

The story has been re-released on its own as a movie tie in. The movie of the same name comes out this Friday (Nov. 23/07). I hope to go see the movie this weekend, but with kids and all it might be tough.

I first read this story in 'Skeleton Crew' while I was attending High School. The post-apocalyptic aspect of the story appealed to me then, and still does to this day - I just finished reading it again tonight.

Over the years Stephen has become better at his prose and I find that a lot of his early work has more of an 'unpolished' feel to it - it is more raw, sharp and aggressive somehow. Not that his current writing lacks those qualities, it just has more of a 'polished' feel to it, if you know what I mean.

All artists experience this, whether you are a musician, painter, or writer, it does not matter, the more you do it the better you get at it.

Anyway, back to 'The Mist'. I still find this story interesting. It is the one story in 'Skeleton Crew' that stood out in my mind 20 years later. I have never forgot the story or the title, unlike some of the others in that collection. That is the kind of impression it left on me.

We are all the sum of our own experiences, and reading it again so many years later I was able to identify with the main character, David, differently than I did in the past. I am now married and have kids of my own so I can better understand what David was going through.

Perhaps the best thing that Stephen King does, and continues to do to this day, is develop his characters in such a way that the reader really identifies with them - or hates them for that matter - and he did that in this story, especially with David and Mrs. Carmody, the doomsday prophecy preacher.

I understand that the movie is going to have to sum up the story a little better than Stephen did, as the general viewing audience likes that sort of thing and I look forward to seeing how it is done. Although, I personally liked the way he ended the story. Perhaps there will be more military involvement in the movie than in the story. We are lead to believe that The Mist and the things in it are the result of some sort of failed military experiment in the story after all.

I wonder when Stephen was writing this story if he had some sort of nuclear experimentation going on in his mind that caused these things or if it is some how linked to The Dark Tower and perhaps the breaking of a beam. In the movie these things will probably be explained by some sort of military genetic experimentation gone wrong.

I just hope that the director of this movie at least stays true to the rest of the story and, more importantly, to the characters. He should, he has done a heck of job with the other Stephen King movies he has filmed in the past - but you never know.