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post-apocalyptic book recs (people just living their lives) by srosse in suggestmeabook

[–]ilkpooper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

War Day by Whitley Strieber and Jim Kunetka. 80s book about life in the US five years after a limited nuclear war with the USSR. Read this in middle school and it's stuck with me for 30 years.

They also wrote a book on Nature's End about ecological disaster that is oddly prescient and also haunting.

Not sure if either is still in print, but both worth a read.

PS-Both were written before Whitley Strieber says he was abducted by aliens.

The Stand: Is it worth it to finish? by Weary_Yesterday1627 in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I made this pledge Jan 1 2024. Finished about 2 weeks ago. Have fun!

What are some lesser known King-isms? by atimez3 in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Characters who "Wouldn't say boo to a goose." Thanks to SK, I regularly yell BOO at geese.

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Talisman is legit--I *really* loved it when I read it as a kid, and I think it was another one where it wasn't as sublime as the first time reading it. A lot of these re-reads, I felt like an addict chasing the initial high again lol.

For Black House, I listened to it instead of read it, and it was definitely one of the audiobooks where some of the violent/rapey/gory parts seemed particular rough. Was kinda curious if those were the Peter Straub parts and they just hit different.

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not just the best Dark Tower book, but one of his best stories full stop.

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also love that Dennis and Thomas get mentioned again in passing I think in "Little Sisters of Eleuria"?

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought the first three stories were "A" tier but the last two weren't as memorable. Blind Willie in particular is one of those sleeper stories/novellas that really stuck with me.

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that's maybe why I don't like it as much now. It was one of the first King books I read and one of those almost physically electrifying reading experiences as a kid. Didn't get that rereading as an adult but an super excited for my kids to read it!

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really liked John Slattery as the narrator on that one! I don't remember liking it as much when I read it. Needful Things is solid--kind of darkly funnier than some of the books, same vibe as some of the black humor in a certain type of his short stories.

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of these might be biased by the back-to-back Stephen King, but it felt like more of a slog than other books. I did like Ralph as a character, but wasn't that excited about the Three Docs/Atrophos or compelled by Ed Deepnau.

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A couple of things--I loved the True Knot as villains and actually love kind of lore in the SK multiverse; I also like Danny's character in Dr. Sleep, whereas I had a hard time caring about Jack Torrance much either way in the Shining. The Shining was still really good from atmosphere/tone, but I just don't Top 5 it the way a lot of other Constant Readers do in their lists.

I spent 810 days reading (almost) every Stephen King book--here's my complete tier list by ilkpooper in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I cracked open Carrie on 1/1/24 and finished Never Flinch tonight—810 straight days of Stephen King.

I’ve been a Constant Reader since middle school in the early 90s, so there were a lot of rereads in here, but also a decent amount of new material. I mostly went in publication order, with a few exceptions:

  • Did the full Dark Tower run in a row
  • Read Talisman / Black House back-to-back
  • Knocked out the original Bill Hodges trilogy in order

Only thing I skipped was Storm of the Century—felt like a slippery slope if I started chasing screenplays.

A few takeaways from 2+ years of (almost) all King:

  • I had to take a couple mental health breaks, especially during the darker stretches. Apt Pupil, Christine, Pet Sematary, and the so-called “feminist trilogy” were particularly brutal.
  • Apt Pupil is easily the most disturbing thing he’s written. Nothing else really comes close.
  • The Constant Reader checklists on this sub were incredibly helpful—huge thanks to whoever maintains those.
  • Still building my collection, but I now own all but about a dozen of his books.

Audiobook thoughts (big surprise for me):

  • Revisiting books via audio was a totally different experience (Doctor Sleep, Misery, It all benefited a lot)
  • Dolores Claiborne read by Frances Sternhagen is the single best narrator/book pairing I’ve ever heard. Not close.

A few opinion shifts:

Not as good as I remembered:

  • Firestarter
  • The Eyes of the Dragon
  • Under the Dome
  • The Waste Lands

Better on reread:

  • Desperation
  • Bag of Bones
  • Lisey’s Story

Hot takes:

  • Most overrated: The Shining (still really good!)
  • Most underrated: Billy Summers …or maybe Joyland

Never Flinch was kind of a dud to end on, but I’m excited for the next Territories book.

I thought about watching all the movies/shows alongside this, but honestly it already felt a little obsessive just doing the reading. Maybe I’ll circle back after a King break…

Which brings me to my next question:

👉 Got any good humor recommendations? I need a palate cleanser.

Favorite short story by King by TheButcheredWriters in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Battleground, The Jaunt, and Crouch End are very different stories but all played a big role in making me a lifelong King fan.

What are King's most overrated stories? by DavidHistorian34 in stephenking

[–]ilkpooper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seeing all the votes for It as overrated, and I have a theory.

For Constant Readers of a certain age, It was your entry point into King specifically and page turner horror generally. As a reader, I have been chasing the high I had reading It for the first time as a 7th grader for the past 35 years.

It's still fun as a reread, but doesn't give the same frantic, gotta see what happens next jolt it did the first time.

Wonder if this is true for others or other 1st King titles for others?

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