Books Stephen King Recommends discussion

Jonathan Ronnquist made this comment in a Stephen King Fans discussion, that, with his permission, I thought I would share with you here.

"Whenever I ask people if they've read a book by King, one of the more common answers I get is that they aren't big fans of horror. Admittedly horror is one of the more clichéd genres, probably has a lot to do with the fact that horror movies have traditionally been lacklustre and low budget affairs. It's a fact that continues to hold true to this day. My answer is that King is not really a horror writer, and I stick by that. I'll usually mention “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” or “The Green Mile” as examples as these are not remotely horror films and are two of the rare King adaptations that have done the books any justice (think The stand, It or Desperation to mention but three). The usual response is surprise that King had anything to do with either. But this really misses the bigger point. I've never thought of King's stories as horror. If anything, I'd say fantasy was a better word, but that just takes you out of one stereotype and straight into another. In my opinion, “fiction” is as specific as you can get when describing King. Where else can you possibly put the storyteller of “The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon” and “The Dark Tower”?

I say King is the Dickens of our time because to me, his ultimate strength is the quality and depth of his characters. It's hard not to want to know Eddie Dean or Stewart Redman and equally hard to keep your heart rate down when Norman Daniels or Greg Stillson walks into the room. King's characters ARE real people, act like real people and talk like real people. And they are interesting people that move the story out of the realm of chronological events and into a world you can almost reach out and touch. If anyone did that better than Dickens in his day, I haven't found them yet.

When it comes to the subject matter, I'm not usually that bothered. The clear exception is the Dark Tower where the subject is the story, brought to life by the best collection of characters I think he has ever assembled. But if you had tried to sell me on a book about a time traveller who returns to the sixties to stop the Kennedy assassination, I would have smiled, nodded and gotten over it quickly. In the case of 11/22/63, I ordered it before I read the synopsis.

And on the subject of movies. I really hope nobody tries to put the Dark Tower on the big screen. Frankly, I don't think the ten biggest production companies combined could find the cash to do anything but ruin the story in a series of overambitious disasters and I don't think CGI is quite ready to make up the shortfall."

Don't know why I haven't commented on this. Very well said. I have mixed feelings about the Dark Tower movies... they were planned for TV and the theater, but then that was nixed. Ron Howard still wants to do it. Like Jonathan, I'm very worried it will never live up to the books and will turn people off from reading them.

As we all know, it is really hard to make a good book a good movie - it is almost impossible to do. To me books are only made into decent movies. Also, in most cases authors give up their creative ability in the movie and more often then not - do not get a say in how the scenes are played out. I think "hollywood" would only want to do a movie about the Dark Tower series because they know the books are fantastic.

Now looking at King as our "Dickens" I like that idea and Almeta you are so right and hit the nail on the head when you said that King writes about real people - he does indeed - I love it when you are reading passages in his books and you can see the people come alive in your mind.... And for people who say that they don't enjoy reading King's books, I think they don't or can't understand him - he is too deep for them!!!!!

Linda wrote: "... And for people who say that they don't enjoy reading King's books, I think they don't or can't understand him - he is too deep for them!!!!!"

It is so frustrating for me to run into people who say they don't like Stephen King, or won't read him because that an idea in their head that he is a horror writer, and they don't like horror. Heavy sigh! My son doesn't like Stephen King, either, but at least he's read a few of his books. In contrast, however, he said he did like the first Dark Tower books and wants to continue reading the series. My son is a very intelligent young man, but I swear he is just being obstinate when it comes to King! lol

Debra wrote: "Linda wrote: "... And for people who say that they don't enjoy reading King's books, I think they don't or can't understand him - he is too deep for them!!!!!"

It is so frustrating for me to run i..."

Please excuse my not being very PC about this (ya think? haha), but some people are just plain too dumb to spend much time talking to.
I've tried talking to more than a couple of who I will call 'religious fanatics' who have banned the GP series from their homes, and will not allow their kids to read them. Of course they hadn't read that 'garbage'.
Then there's the other fictional guy who DID read Sai King, and decided he doesn't like him (doesn't like any detective stories) based on that one reading of The Colorado Kid.

Debra wrote: "Ron Howard still wants to do it...."

Based on having read Dan Brown's work then seen Ron Howard's exquisite treatment on the screen, I will say that "if" anyone can do DT justice, it would be he. Then again, why would anyone in their right mind attempt such an epic tale in one (or two or three . . .) films? Why not do it as J.K. Rowling's series was done?

Linda wrote: "As we all know, it is really hard to make a good book a good movie - it is almost impossible to do. To me books are only made into decent movies. Also, in most cases authors give up their creative ..."

I had more than one Lit instructor who would Not watch a film based on their cherished Literature. Reasons given were they had a strong sense of who the characters were; how they looked and acted, and did not want to spoil their ideas.

Tom wrote: "Debra wrote: "Ron Howard still wants to do it...."

Based on having read Dan Brown's work then seen Ron Howard's exquisite treatment on the screen, I will say that "if" anyone can do D..."

I agree with what you said about Ron Howard being a good choice for director. I believe the original plan was to have a TV mini-series and 3 theater movies, and I didn't really care for that idea. Handling it like Harry Potter movies would be the best, as you said.

Tom wrote: "Linda wrote: "As we all know, it is really hard to make a good book a good movie - it is almost impossible to do. To me books are only made into decent movies. Also, in most cases authors give up t..."

It is hard when that happens. And on those occasions where I see a movie and haven't read the book, I have the actors in my mind. I saw Water for Elephants in the theater and haven't read the book. Now I'm not sure I want to.

With Harry Potter, I'd read the books, then saw the movies. But then, I re-read all the books and obviously my vision of the characters was revised (and perhaps enhanced) by my having the actors appearances and characteristics in my head. I know I really enjoyed my re-read of the books because of this.

Tom wrote: "Linda wrote: "As we all know, it is really hard to make a good book a good movie - it is almost impossible to do. To me books are only made into decent movies. Also, in most cases authors give up t..."

agreed, I also don't like that I picture someone in my mind - you see the movie and you think - that is not what that person should look like.... maybe they should have the authors pick the actors to play the characters - if anyone has an idea on how a particular person should look - it is the author!!

Debra wrote: "Tom wrote: "Debra wrote: "Ron Howard still wants to do it...."

Based on having read Dan Brown's work then seen Ron Howard's exquisite treatment on the screen, I will say that "if" any..."

I wouldn't mind seeing the movies if Ron Howard was the director - he is an amazing director and I think he will do a really good job.

Linda wrote: "I wouldn't mind seeing the movies if Ron Howard was the director - he is an amazing director and I think he will do a really good job. ..."

I agree. I think that he tries to stay true to the book, or spirit of the author's intent. I don't think I have ever seen a bad Ron Howard film.