NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER.

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

“Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.

King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.

Theresa and I are starting this one today. Not an arc but we NEED a place to discuss each short story so I hope it's okay we're doing it here! lol

Understandable! lol

1, Two Talented Bastids

What a great story. (view spoiler)[ Two life long friends are at their hunting cabin and they save a "girl". But was it really an alien. They go from being your average artist and writer to amazing and become well known and rich. Too bad the son couldn't get it work for him. (hide spoiler)]

Story 1: Two Talented Bastids

5 stars - would read over 1500 pages of a full novel of this one! lol

I loved it!

(view spoiler)[ Stephen King is like no other with short stories. 60 pages and I feel like I know these 2 men, I know this son. I even know the reporter who couldn't get the answers but was still so nice.

and this small town and this cabin and their trips. I loved the idea that the aliens were there, garage sale hopping (lol!) and only when one of them went down and was saved did they intervene and really visit us. I like the idea they get souvenirs because most of space is a graveyard and we are one of the few lights (for now anyway).

this was Such a fun story (hide spoiler)]

Story 2: The Fifth Step

ha! this one was so fun
short, sweet, and brutal

(view spoiler)[ ahahah! I love that he gave the excuse of the 5th step to not only KILL again, but to make himself feel better
that was just as unhinged as I expected King to be! (hide spoiler)]

#2 The Fifth Step

Very short. A definite twist on the AA program and the 5th step.

Story 3: Willie the Weirdo

OOOOoh this one was so good (view spoiler)[ even though I wondered, once we knew the stories, if this was the route it would go. it's similar to a movie I knew Stephen King loved so it makes sense he'd spook us with the same thing! Loved it! (hide spoiler)]

#3 Willie the Weirdo

Willie is close with his ailing grandpa. Well, seems like grandpa might have taken over Willie's body???

#4 Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream

WOW! I loved this longer short story. (view spoiler)[ Danny has a strange dream and when he goes to see if it's true, he finds it is. A women's body has been buried and a dog is working in uncovering and eating her. YUCK! He tries to do the right thing and he ends up being the ONLY suspect per Frank a senior KBI agent. I love that Danny's second dream saves his life from Frank as he just can't let go of his belief that Danny is the killer, even though someone else has been arrested and confessed. Crazy story. (hide spoiler)]

#5 Finn

Poor Finn and his bad luck. (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure if the latest event was bad luck or good luck or really the end. (hide spoiler)]

#6 On Slide Inn Road

Another good one! (view spoiler)[ The grandpa saves the day. Galen and Pete had no idea who they were dealing with. (hide spoiler)]

#7 Red Screen

An interesting idea. (view spoiler)[ Aliens invade the bodies of women going thru menopause??? Love it. (hide spoiler)]

#8 The Turbulence Expert

I could do that job for sure. (view spoiler)[ People hired to sit on a plane that they know is going to go thru heavy turbulence and they need to be scared to death that they are going to die. Yep I could do that. (hide spoiler)]

#9 Laurie

Animals rule this one. (view spoiler)[ So sister forces a dog on to her brother who is depressed due to the loss of his wife. I loved that the dog ended up being the hero along with his owner. (hide spoiler)]

#10 Rattlesnakes

Well, I think most of us hate snakes but this story definitely solidifies that. (view spoiler)[ I love that this longer short story gives us a look at what happened after Cujo. I loved this story and it scared the heck out of me. (hide spoiler)]

#11 The Dreamers

This story puts a different light on dreams.

#12 The Answer Man

A great story. (view spoiler)[ Would it be nice if there was someone who could/would answer your questions? I don't know. In some regards it would be good but in others, maybe not so much. Would I really want to know when I was going to die? This is an interesting tale that definitely makes me wonder. (hide spoiler)]

Story 4 Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream

wow, this one WAS good
but I kept getting confused, thinking this was Danny from The Shining and I was like (view spoiler)[ why is he confused he has dreams?! (hide spoiler)]

I would have read this as a longer one (view spoiler)[ even if the cop did make me mad.
I loved the build up and how drawn I was to wondering what the cop was going to do next. I really liked the girl cop and that she helped. (hide spoiler)]

Story 5: Finn

jeez, his poor luck (view spoiler)[ I don't think it was good luck - he definitely will have PTSD for life after that! Yikes!
what crappy luck. but it was an interesting question - was he really alive? Did he really make it out? (hide spoiler)]

Story 6 On Slide Inn Road

wow! (view spoiler)[ what a crappy short cut! and the grandpa sending them on it! the beginning had me laughing so hard
but wow, it turned quick.
I was glad the grandpa acted an Billy helped him
Frank just froze (hide spoiler)]

Story 7 Red Screen

ha love it! Taking a conspiracy theory and twisting it just a little (view spoiler)[ I don't think I would have believed the guy either. the red screen though - I wonder what it meant. . .I wonder if this was the start to one of Stephen King's ideas for a story! I wonder if we'll see it again or if he's let it go (hide spoiler)]

Story 8 The Turbulence Expert

absolutely not! lol I would never (view spoiler)[ I already get that level of terror - It's why I take meds! I would never want to fly and have to experience that over and over!

although I guess it makes it worse that I have such horrible motion sickness! (hide spoiler)]

Story 9: Laurie

I loved the keys but ugh, I hated the gators

(view spoiler)[ I can't even imagine that thing and fighting it!
and then backing away. I don't blame him for imagining getting bitten the whole time
(hide spoiler)]

Story 10 Rattlesnakes

WOW! A continuation from the Dad so many years after Cujo

what a treat this was - to know how it turned out for the mom (and dad) but also, OMG what a great spooky story!

(view spoiler)[ this one scared the crap out of me too!
I was really worried he was going to either get saddled with the kids OR with killing the neighbor!
and the snakes *shudders* Yuck (hide spoiler)]

Story 11 The Dreamers

I love how Stephen King always wonders about dreams

(view spoiler)[ I loved this one. so creepy
and to know you'd sleep and see it
I don't know if I'd ever sleep well again (hide spoiler)]

Story 12 Answer Man

this last story was great (view spoiler)[ I agree, would I want to know the answer to some of the question I had. no, I'd rather not. I'd rather it not even be an option (hide spoiler)]