Stephen King Fans discussion

I just began reading The Bazaar of Bad Dreams this morning, and as I began the Introduction, I came to the realization of why SK is my favorite author and why I love reading his works so much.

I don't read because he is a best-selling author - I would read everything he wrote even if it never appeared on a list. I don't read because I am a huge fan of the horror genre - although I do enjoy a good scare. I don't read because he is familiar - although I've read all the books and stories, some many, many times. I read and will continue to read everything he writes just because I think he writes so well.

Yes, plot development is good - although some of the novels went slightly off the rails - OK, let's be honest...some of them jumped completely off the tracks - but that's not it. Character development is great - I feel he has created some of the most memorable characters in written history - not that I would want to sit down and set a spell with Jack Torrance or Annie Wilkes - but that's not it either.

It is simply the words he selects and the way he strings them together that is so impressive to me. Often random phrases wander around in my head long after I close the book, either because of the way they roll off the tongue or because of the mental images that are so easily created by his words. I mean, what is a "sh*t-weasel" and what would such a creature look like???

The master storyteller is also a first order wordsmith, so I thought it would be fun and interesting to begin a thread to capture words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc. that capture his genius. As I read and re-read his novels and stories, I will add new posts. The thread is open to all Constant Readers, so feel free to post the gems you uncover as well!

I'm starting it off with the paragraph that led to this epiphany...

"I've made some things for you, Constant Reader; you see them laid out before you in the moonlight. But before you look at the little handcrafted treasures I have for sale, let's talk about them for a bit, shall we? It won't take long. Here, sit down beside me. And do come a little closer. I don't bite.
Except...we've known each other for a very long time, and I suspect you know that not entirely true. Is it?"
--from the Introduction to The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

Three of my favorite phrases of his come from Duma Key:
Maybe si. Maybe no.
Libbett's frog wiff teef.
Roses from shells.

Flex
Just that word and the way he used it through out Carrie gave me a visceral reaction every time I read it. I don't know how he did it.

I couldn't agree more!

I get goosebumps every time I think of:

"Go then. There are other worlds than these."

- from The Gunslinger (of course!)

Kerry wrote: "I'm starting it off with the paragraph that led to this epiphany...

"I've made some things for you, Constant Reader; you see them laid out before you in the moonlight. But before you look at the ..."

I really loved the intro. I always enjoy when he is writing directly to the reader.

From Duma Key - "Do the day, and let the day do you." (I think that's right, don't have the book in front of me at the moment!)

Kerry, you're exactly right, and you put it so well. As other people have said many times, reading SK is like coming home.

Shell wrote: "I couldn't agree more!

I get goosebumps every time I think of:

"Go then. There are other worlds than these."

- from The Gunslinger (of course!)"

Love this! yes, chills...

And this is why we're all still a little bit afraid of the dark...

"This voice insisted that things changed in the dark. Things especially changed in the dark, it said, when a person was alone."
--from Gerald's Game

Haven't read The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, but still SK was at his creepiest in Skeleton Crew.

"Longer than you think, Dad! Longer than you think!".

I still have nightmares about The Jaunt.