Stephen King Fans discussion

Talk about the Dark Half here..

Yeah, it's not one of my favorites but...

I really liked the idea for this one. I think that won me over for any places where the writing fell flat.

I remember enjoying this one and was thinking of reading it again in the near future (been about ten years now). On a side note I always really wished I could read the novels that the pen name in the book had published. They sounded like my kind of tales. I think King should go ahead and write them and have them issued under the George Stark name. It would be cool.

really reminded me of secret window secret garden from his four past midnight book, not sure which one came first but it held alot of the same ideas and theories, obviously more expanded in dark half, and honestly secret window was one of the better adaptations made from a SK book since children of the corn

Finished it just now. I did get to see through SK when it came to the way the ending would go due to the reference of psychochomps a.k.a harbinger of the living dead, but the twin babies part was wonderful. I was always awaiting the reaction of the twin kids everytime rather than the George Stark/Thadeus twin..haha! Enjoyable read though.
Will check out the movie for sure.
Really want to say how bad the movie is even before seeing the movie!

Kyle wrote: "I read The Dark Half years ago and loved it. It's one of King's better novels because it sticks in my memory.
King fans will notice the inside joke that he's writing about himself and his Bachman..."

Very True Kyle, I think it has a lot to do with the way he paints the entire characters in their details which really makes it memorable.
Bout the Dark Half movie, it did scare me at many places though I knew what was about to happen. Guess Romero has that talent! But missed the scene where Thadeus was driving towards Castle Rock and all the sparrows filled the roads. On the whole a nice movie.

I loved this when it was released and I read it. What a great concept!

Haven't watched the movie. I don't want to because I'm afraid I won't like it and it will change my view of the book, which I actually really enjoyed. This was the book that really got me started reading the rest of King's books, so I'm biased towards this book.

The movie is pretty good, too, although not as good as the book.

I didn't like this book :/. Started off good but eventually just lost interest. Couldn't even finish it. I ~like the concept but eh.

This is the selection for March! I'm so excited that I started it last night.
It's pace is fantastic. I might just be done by tomorrow! Great story so far! Can't wait to finish it so I can know what's going on!!

My favorite King book^_^

You can now start discussing... Please mark ALL spoilers!!

Kyle ~Special K: Rebel Leader~ wrote: "I read The Dark Half years ago and loved it. It's one of King's better novels because it sticks in my memory.
King fans will notice the inside joke that he's writing about himself and his Bachman..."

I read the book years ago too, and look forward to re-reading it for the group read. When I first read it I have to confess that I found the mythology of psychopomps fascinating. And, I think I read in an interview that King did that his experience somewhat mirrored Thad's with regard to someone finding out about his alter ego and "threatening" to expose him. Of course, I don't think his experience was quite as slimy as Thad's was with Clawson...I don't think he was blackmailed..but I could be wrong.

Going to start this book tomorrow. I am currently reading 2 others as well.
Warren

Read this one a long time ago, but really enjoyed it. It's not one of his most popular works, but I think it's one of the cooler ideas he has had. I enjoyed the movie too, in a totally guilty pleasure kind of way

I read it about four years ago and liked it very much. The killings are very gruesome! :) The whole concept about the existence of the "Dark Half" is brilliant. I love George Romero but I think it´s not one of his best movies, although it still is a good movie. I like Timothy Hutton´s acting.

Started to read this (2nd time) about 6 months ago then seemed to misplace it ....whilst cleaning out my car yesterday i found it in the deep dark chasm that is my glove compartment ...the folded page tells me i was about a third of the way through,so i may just start from there ...if that,s aloud?

Reading again now. I last read this one when it was published. Before I was married and before I had a child. Hard to beleive it's been that long ago...and how your perspective changes! I've about 1/4 way through and it is great.

Wendy & William ...hilarious!!

Agreed.

I'm reading this book right now and enjoying it.

Man there are some crazzzzy deaths in this book! Haha

This is one of my favorites!
I'm so glad I read it!
King does it again.

Man, this book is incredible so far! Surprised I haven't read it yet. I couldn't put it down during the scenes near the beginning with Sherrif Alan at Thad's house!

I finished this a few days ago and while it was a good read, in some ways it felt almost too intimate. I really enjoy King's writing and he's talked fairly openly about his own struggles, but TDH felt like part fiction, part memoir and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

I'm entertained by how differently I'm enjoying this novel this time. Being an adult, with numerous responsibilities, obligations and experiences, versus being a hardheaded teenager who genuinely thought I was grown...

I'm more focused on the characters interaction than the gore, even though that's fun too. (^_^)

I've recently realized I get my idea of what a marriage's communication should be like largely from Stephen King's novels. I started devouring anything I could find of his in 6th grade, right after my mom divorced.

SK's married couples communicate at a highly functional level. Reading Thad and Liz discuss something so insane as foxy old George Stark in as constructive a manner as possible is impressive...

Just started it!

Liza wrote: "I'm entertained by how differently I'm enjoying this novel this time. Being an adult, with numerous responsibilities, obligations and experiences, versus being a hardheaded teenager who genuinely ..."

That's a great point, Liza. Thad and Liz did seem to communicate pretty well, as do a lot of characters in his novels.

Jojo wrote: "Just started it! "

I wish my edition had that cover!

So far so good. I'm almost done. This book is a trip but what King book isn't?

I read this book years ago and always remembered it. So good. And the movie was so much better than I thought they could make it.

The part about the twins is creepy to the grotesque nth degree! Not my favorite King book, but not anywhere close to my least favorite. I liked it better than 11/22/63!

11/22/63 is awesome

I didn't read this till years after it was published. I really did judge this book by its cover. Mistake!
I really really loved it immensely!

I'm almost finished reading this book. The birds are so creepy!!
George Stark is scary and I really like the sheriff's character. He's a smart old fashioned lawman.

Pangborn becomes sheriff of Castle Rock after the events of Cujo; he is also the sheriff in Needful Things and he is mentioned in Bag of Bones.

Finished the book. It was good but not the best Stephen king book I ever read.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, one of King's lesser well-knowns I would suggest. Brilliantly macabre death scenes, and Stark really is one nasty piece of work. I particularly enjoyed the finale at the house in the country, it could have gone either way and ultimately I felt the ending was satisfying.
Might well look up the film now, a decaying Stark the main draw!
Cheers,
Jim.

I'm a little late on this but I just finished the book today and I friggin LOVED it -- particularly, I really really enjoyed George Stark; I mean truly what a dark, yet charming and powerful character. I am a huge fan of SK's writing and his humorous style. I also liked the idea of the sparrows, it really gave the story an extra chill factor. Great group pick!

I am pretty excited. I scored this book through my local Little Free Library. These libraries are so fun and you should visit your local one if you haven't before. Here is a link to what it is.. and you can find the map of registered libraries on their website. http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/
I was actually just bringing books to donate when I opened the box there was a King book. Total score!

Now you get to see what my pic was all about.

bought this book the other day use for 50% now i am starting to read it

Angie wrote: "I am pretty excited. I scored this book through my local Little Free Library. These libraries are so fun and you should visit your local one if you haven't before. Here is a link to what it is....."

Angie, that is the friggin cutest thing ever! I love the idea!

Not one of my top favorites but still a great book.

Just finished it & yet another King book which was good but I felt could have been nearly perfect had some parts of it been edited & the ending been stronger. The book initially built up a lot of tension only to destroy it by describing the same situations from two different character's (Thad BeauMont & George Stark) POVs, nevertheless still better than most books in the same genre.

I've just read the Dark Half as I'm raking through older novels I missed years ago. It was good, but it could have been scarier

this was my first SK book, I was 12...since then, I've loved every word come from him.

Lucy wrote: "I've just read the Dark Half as I'm raking through older novels I missed years ago. It was good, but it could have been scarier"

I felt it was more of a supernatural thriller rather than a straight up horror novel maybe that is why it is less scary.