Stephen King 2025 read-along discussion
January 2025 Discussions
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Happy New Year!!
On the Buzzword challenge: is there somewhere to update the list as we read them or…? I’m in another reading group {we have challenges where we update our own lists with dates read, what we thought of book, etc. just wanted to see if I was missing something! Thanks!
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The Outsider was originally published in 2018 by Scribner and the synosis is as follows: An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad. As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.
It was met with very positive reviews, even winning a Goodreads choice award for Readers' Favority Mystery & Thriller for 2018.
A very popular HBO series adaptation aired in 2020 after it was originally optioned to just be a miniseries. It stars Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, and Jason Bateman (who also directed the first two episodes). In November 2020, HBO declined a second season, and production company MRC intended to shop the series to other outlets. King said that scripts for a second season were written, and the cast and crew expressed interest in continuing the series.
We would suggest holding off on reading The Outsider until you have read the entirety of the Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch). I haven't read it yet myself but as it follows the same detective I have heard that it can contain spoilers for that trilogy.
The second option is Fairy Tale. Fairy Tale is a 2022 novel published by Scribner. It follows Charlie Reade - a regular high school kid. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was ten, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself—and his dad. Then, when Charlie is seventeen, he meets Howard Bowditch, a recluse with a big dog in a big house at the top of a big hill. In the backyard is a locked shed from which strange sounds emerge, as if some creature is trying to escape. When Mr. Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie the house, a massive amount of gold, a cassette tape telling a story that is impossible to believe, and a responsibility far too massive for a boy to shoulder.
Because within the shed is a portal to another world—one whose denizens are in peril and whose monstrous leaders may destroy their own world, and ours. In this parallel universe, where two moons race across the sky, and the grand towers of a sprawling palace pierce the clouds, there are exiled princesses and princes who suffer horrific punishments; there are dungeons; there are games in which men and women must fight each other to the death for the amusement of the “Fair One.” And there is a magic sundial that can turn back time.
Fairy Tale was also met with rave reviews, being nominated for a Goodreads choice award for Readers' Favorite Fantasy in 2022.
On September 15, 2022, Deadline Hollywood reported that British filmmaker Paul Greengrass, known for the Jason Bourne film franchise, would adapt, direct, and produce a film adaptation of the novel, with American film producer Gregory Goodman co-producing the film alongside Greengrass. On October 16, 2024, Deadline Hollywood reported that the project was being turned into a ten episode series, with J.H. Wyman as showrunner.
Missy and I are both so happy to have your continued support in this group and can't wait to see what 2025 has in store for each and every one of you as well as our King journey! Let's get reading!