Horror Aficionados discussion

Hello! We are reading Christine for our Stephen King challenge. Be sure to use spoiler tags, page numbers, chapters, all that fancy stuff :P Enjoy!

When does this begin? I've never joined one of these but I've been looking for an excuse to read Christine for some time.

I've already started reading Christine, so I'll join.

I'm in for it, too. I'm squeezing in a few other buddy reads also, so I may be going at a slower pace though.

Andrew wrote: "When does this begin? I've never joined one of these but I've been looking for an excuse to read Christine for some time."

HI, Andrew. I believe it begins today (11/22).

I'm finishing up another book today, so I'll try to join this buddy read. I haven't read Christine in years!

Jesse wrote: "Andrew wrote: "When does this begin? I've never joined one of these but I've been looking for an excuse to read Christine for some time."

HI, Andrew. I believe it begins today (11/22)."

thank you!

Yay, I'll be able to get another book off the physical shelf this year! (After I finish 3 library books.)

Yeah it starts today but I won't be starting it til this evening or tomorrow. I'm very pleased to see so many people here. Yay!! :)

I'm training this week & next so I'll be getting a late start. I had planned on listening at work but I can't do that & train a new person too. But I'll be here! I promise!

Sounds good. I read the preface while my son was at his after school program. Love the start. One of the only classic King's I haven't read.

Andrew wrote: "Sounds good. I read the preface while my son was at his after school program. Love the start. One of the only classic King's I haven't read."

I agree, Andrew. The prologue immediately draws you in.

I listened to this on audiobook and I loved it. After that I watched the movie. A few months ago, I bought the Christine car model kit. After I read the book and watched the movie, I completed the model kit (I made her all banged up). Someday I plan to build a second model of her in pristine condition.

that's great Jenny!

I love the concept of a horror story set up like a love story.

Hoping to get my last library book read and start on Christine this weekend.

My mind is trying to say I have nothing to read on a holiday weekend...I keep pointing to the shelves of books, the library book and the 700+ books on the kindle. My mind isn't convinced though.

I know what you're saying Myst. I have all these books I want to read, and yet sometimes, can't get started on the next one...

I've gotten started on Christine now and read the first 50 pages or so. Love that typical 70s/80s feel to King's books.

I just reached chapter 18 and I love the 70/80s feel too.

In the middle of ch12, I think it's a really interesting concept that Dennis and LeBay's brother discuss about how with much of the advancement of our society and technology, that it seems sometimes like the ideas come about through a collective intelligence rather than from the individual - multiple people coming up with the same or similar ideas all removed from each other, but at the same time. Almost supernatural, which I guess is not a surprising idea coming from King.

I still haven't even started it yet! agh! I'm lagging behind. XD

I know that feeling Latasha!

i'll catch up soon. I promise.

I'm sure you will pass me in no time :)

I'm not sure how far everyone is yet so....

I will say I love how Dennis tells the story. It really gives it some nostalgia and yet still pretty scary at the same time.

I'm about 25%, and I agree jennybunny, I like Dennis as a narrator. I like that he's telling the story from some future time, and drops little foreshadowing comments every once in a while, also.

I'm listening to the audio book. I just got to the part where we meet the plastic fantastic lady. Omg!! This narrator! Lol XD the voice he read her in sounded just like Mrs. Turnblad from Hairspray!! <3 He's doing a great job with Arnie too.

Is there a place where I can find the full Stephen King Challenge or a list of what you have already read?

Silvia wrote: "Is there a place where I can find the full Stephen King Challenge or a list of what you have already read?"

In the buddy read folder, they're all labelled. Most I think are started by Ken.

So I'm looking at the "Popular Answered Questions" on the Christine book page and I'm absolutely scratching my head at the answer to one of them.

"My son's 6th grade teacher is reading aloud this book. Is this appropriate? I haven't read it and can't find any "parent" reviews about it. Thanks! "

"-- Kevin Yes, absolutely! It has a bit of bad language but, in 700 pages, maybe only 20 times. And it's nothing that he hasn't heard on the streets or indeed in school! I have just finished the book this evening and it is in my top 10 most enjoyable and exciting reads. I wish I had done it in school instead of the brain numbing Great Expectations."

Did this guy not read the book? I'm not even to the end of chapter 6 and I think 'fuck' is used on almost every page, not to mention the various 'shits', racial epitaphs and religious blasphemy.

And what 6th grade teacher would think it's appropriate to read to the class? Even if they were editing out all the inappropriate language. If the language was 'kaka-head' or 'crap' I could see it as *almost* appropriate, but F bombs galore?

I agree, Myst. Can't imagine this as a class read in the sixth grade.

Terry wrote: "I'm about 25%, and I agree jennybunny, I like Dennis as a narrator. I like that he's telling the story from some future time, and drops little foreshadowing comments every once in a while, also."

I agree that Dennis' narration immediately draws you in; he's a great storyteller.

Without getting specific, there will be a twist regarding narrator and I'll be really interested in getting your thoughts on how well you think it works.

Terry wrote: "I've gotten started on Christine now and read the first 50 pages or so. Love that typical 70s/80s feel to King's books."

Yes, I love the feel of early-King. I'm in my mid-forties, so the nostalgia factor is off the charts.

I would tend to lean toward this book was not an appropriate group read for a sixth grade class, but on that note if I had kids in that age range today I would probably allow him/her to read the book.

If I had kids I'd probably wait until 7th grade. Just due to the frequency of the language.

Anyone ever notice that SK often uses the N word? It's never 'black' or 'african american' or some other term. I think he used it in Duma Key (2008) and I know he uses it in his earlier works. I sort of expect it out of older works as that term was more common, but in modern settings (except when used as a clear slur) it feels out of place.

Yes he does use it A LOT! I've noticed that & I do not like it.

I got to listen a lot today. I'm up to the football season part. So far, so good!

I'm on chapter 30. The POV changes a little but definitely still like it. And I also noticed that he uses that word a lot and I don't like it either.

When you look at how many classic books get called out for using that term (despite actually being written in a time when that term *was* common), how is it SK gets away with using it in multiple books when it's considered a foul term?

I can almost excuse it in Christine which was published in 83 and the guy who owned Christine was 70 something, so if we use published year as approx. time frame for the story, the guy who sold Christine was born in the 1910's and that term *was* more common then.

But the repeated usage over almost 40 years of writing makes me wonder if SK is a closet racist.

Robin Cook has been writing books for almost as long and I don't recall such terminology being repeatedly used. Even Patricia Cornwell whose been writing for half the amount of time who *has* a returning pig of a character (Marino, always has been racist and homophobic) doesn't use terminology like that, that often.

ok, here's my story. back in the day, when I was in 7th grade, I loved, loved, loved the movie Christine. so one day I decided to read the book. it took me a year to finish it and I hated it and Stephen king and avoided him like the plague until I joined this group. we read duma key, ok I liked that. then we read the shining, oh I really liked that! and then IT. sold! I was sold and wasn't so against Stephen king. since then, I've joined in for every one of these buddy reads. now, rereading Christine after all this time, I can see how I wouldn't have been sold on it at that young of an age. compared to the movie, there is a lot of talking and not as much action. I don't hate it but it's not as great as it or the shining, in my opinion. maybe it's because I know what's going to happen & there is no surprise to the story? I don't know but I think the 7th grade me over reacted!

I'm a lil over 50%
(view spoiler)[ so is Christine haunted by Ronald LeBay? or is she alive like it appears in the movie? maybe a little of both. what I really like is how it shows we change in relationships. I think Christine is transforming Arnie into Ronald. because he was her first love and vice versa. (hide spoiler)]

Latasha wrote: "ok, here's my story. back in the day, when I was in 7th grade, I loved, loved, loved the movie Christine. so one day I decided to read the book. it took me a year to finish it and I hated it and St..."

When I was in grade 8-12 (I don't remember exactly when), I tried to read The Stand. I didn't enjoy it, I don't even remember if I finished it! I *think* it was the extended version.

And as a teenager I hated basically ever classic forced on me in school. Now that I can pick and choose which ones may interest me, I'm enjoying most of those I pick up and those I don't like I think has to do with the version I have.

So a teenage mind I think can have a huge effect on what you like/dislike.

Glad you guys shared, Latasha and Myst! I'm enjoying this now, but I kinda wish I'd read it earlier (Not just this one, too). Maybe not quite as early as the 7th grade, but a little after that. I think it would have sparked my horror interest earlier.

Latasha wrote: "I'm a lil over 50%
[spoilers removed]"

You read fast. I still haven't passed chapter 30, but from what I've read so far, I think it's the latter.

Latasha wrote: "I'm a lil over 50%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ personally I think Christine is alive. LeBay is an outlet. He is bad too and she uses him. I think the transformation is pretty cool and I like how attached she is becoming to Arnie.

Spoiler: in the beginning I felt like Christine was drawn to Dennis first. Like that is who she originally wanted. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

jennbunny wrote: "Latasha wrote: "I'm a lil over 50%
[spoilers removed]"

personally I think Christine is alive. LeBay is an outlet. He is bad too and she uses him. I think the transformation is pretty cool and I ..."


I haven't watched the movie or read the book, so this is all new to me. (view spoiler)[It seems like a transformation because Arnie is starting to talk like LeBay and has even hurt his back like him (to the point where he had to get a back brace just like the one LeBay wore). His signature also changed. So that's why I thought Christine was changing him. I guess she is alive since she functions without anyone driving her and maybe that's her personality. I don't know, haha. (hide spoiler)]

I'm a little jealous, K.D. I've seen the movie, but I'd rather be reading it without knowing where it's headed.

So would I!! Personally, I like Swan Song wayyyy more than I did the stand. My mom, who I did not think would like it at all, just finished the audiobook and she said she just sat & cried at the end of it! Success!!

Yes, I loved Swan Song! It was definitely an emotional finish. Sadly, I've not read The Stand yet :( . I missed it when it was the challenge read (its the only one I've not read of the challenge so far), and its so big, I've not committed yet to starting. Definitely going to have to remedy that, though.

ok, I finished! it wasn't that bad! silly youngster me! :P but it still wasn't my favorite. I give it 3.5 stars. (view spoiler)[ I really like the LaBay haunting aspect of it. I don't remember that from the movie. (hide spoiler)]