Books Stephen King Recommends discussion

Discuss Part Two, Summer of Devil's and Angels. Chapters 1 through 9, Please hide your spoilers.

I've started this part, and am about to start chapter 4, "I Get Around".

I was a little confused after Chapter 1, when the boys met in the clearing, (view spoiler)[ sprouted wings and were flying around the area. I thought that surely they were running and pretending they could fly. But then, I thought with this being fantasy and all... maybe it was literal. (hide spoiler)]

I loved Rocket. What a perfect name for a bike. I couldn't help but think about Silver in It.

As for Gotha & Gordo, (view spoiler)[I hope someone puts them out of the kids' misery. I couldn't get to sleep for awhile because my blood was boiling. Poor Nemo. (hide spoiler)]

I Get Around... I loved that Beach Boys song and was singing along as I read the lyrics. And then Reverend Blessett (how apropos to have a preacher named Blessett) (view spoiler)[ lost his mind about the evil devil worshipping music. I thought Cory made some very mature observations about fear of things people don't understand, and looking for things that aren't there except in your mind. (hide spoiler)]

I could relate to this whole section. I remember a catchy little song, "Oh you can kiss me on a Monday, a Tuesday..." It went through the days of the week until Sunday, "cause that's my day of rest." One woman in our church was incensed with this song because it was about prostitutes. And here, I thought it was just a silly little song. *heavy sarcasm* But things are no different today than they were in the 60's. Look at the commotion Harry Potter caused - the evil being foisted on our children.

Yep, I think Cory was right when he said (view spoiler)[ that it had nothing to do with protection and everything to do with direction (control).

I loved the scene with Lucifer. LOL! What's with these churches? First the wasps and then monkey excrement. But Blessett got what he richly deserves. (hide spoiler)]

Poor Nemo! There's another similarity to It, with the (view spoiler)[overprotective mother who believes her child is fragile. (hide spoiler)]

Then Grandpa Jaybird. I'm not liking this character. I know someone just like him.

The camping trip! I have to laugh at how the boys hear a scary story, and something immediately happens.

And then I have to cry. (view spoiler)[ Cory's dad reading his story and then talking about the horrible things people can do to each other, and how he just wanted peace was so sad. (hide spoiler)]

I think the flying scene was just Cory telling one of his stories as they ran around the clearing faster and faster. It was a great scene, boys being imaginative and having fun.

Blesset infuriated me with his devil worshiping sermon and getting everyone all riled up about an innocent song. I loved how Lucifer showed him up. Ewwww, what a mess. I felt sorry for the monkey. He got away, but how does he survive, especially when he is still tied to a leash?

I felt so sorry for Nemo with his overprotective mom. It broke my heart when he told the boys he had to leave town again. His father should get a different job and settle down!

Grandpa Jaybird is such a jerk. Taking Cory to that house and leaving him outside while he played cards. And Cory losing the salt on his attempt to walk back to his grandparent's house. I don't know why Cory is forced to go there every summer.

Cory has such a great imagination. He tells stories so effortlessly.

I was so worried about those boys when they got lost in the woods. And Cory meeting that pretty girl who is married to such an awful young man. She will not have an easy life unless she finds a way to get away from there.

Yes, Cory's dad is suffering so much. I bet he finally goes to see The Lady.

I think there was dynamite or something like that in the box. Are they planning on blowing up The Lady's home? Guess we'll find out!

On to the next part!

I came to the same conclusion about the boys' flying.

I'm a little confused. The top genre listed on the book's page is Horror. I'm more than half way through, and there is nothing in this book that even comes close.

I think people see that it's written by McCammon and immediately label it as Horror. I think Stephen King suffers from the same stereotyping. Sad. I'll stop now, because I'm in danger of jumping on the soapbox about genre definitions... again. LOL!

Janice wrote: "I came to the same conclusion about the boys' flying.

I'm a little confused. The top genre listed on the book's page is Horror. I'm more than half way through, and there is nothing in this book ..."

Yep, you are right! SK and McCammon both suffer from genre stereotyping. That's why so many people put down SK without even reading him. It infuriates me. So, I'll get off the soapbox, too!

LOL! I'm glad I'm not alone on that soapbox, Debra.

I'm a little further in the book now, and there are a couple of supernatural things happening. Still, it's not enough to call it horror fiction.

I don't know how you do it, Amber. I find the app to be so restrictive that I only use it sporadically. I'll be leaving my laptop at home this weekend as I head to my parents' but I'll be using Safari on my iPad rather than use the app.

Yes, there are some magical moments. The Lady does some pretty fancy things that are certainly supernatural. And there is Old Moses, the phantom car, Rocket choosing to take Cory on certain routes, and others I can't think of at the moment (or shouldn't talk about in this section).

I agree that this book should not be typecast into the Horror genre just because of the author. There is no way this is horror it's fiction at its best through and through. I loved the narrative about the boys and the dogs flying it was such a magical moment although a little confusing at the time!

The barbershop talk brought in a Wild West feel and I am sure we are going to see the Candystick Kid before the book ends. The reverend and his preaching against music concerned me - it made me think about all the music that people have tried to have banned such as Thriller and Relax. These songs are not evil they are just freedom of expression and some would say ahead of their time. I hate any form of censorship and a minister taking such a stance like this just makes religion seem oppressive and controlling.

Poor Nemo his mum sounds like a nightmare. It must be horrible being dragged from place to place and never being able to make friends. I was really lucky as a child as we lived in the same place all the time and I had a good network of friends who I am still in touch with today. I think children need stability or it will affect them in later life.

The camping trip was excellent as I remember similar experiences from when I was a child - everybody trying to scare each other to death. My first thought was that there was an explosive in the box and that the target is going to be the Lady. I think the Klu Klux Klan is a shameful organisation and I get worried when I see how popular similar racist organisations are in this country such as the BNP. I wouldn't ever consider voting for them and think their policies just incite hatred.

Yeah, the Candystick Kid is an interesting character. You'll see if we see more of him.

I remember camping trips, too. All the songs and ghost stories. Such fun.

I also feel nothing but disgust for organizations like the KKK. Sigh...