That is simply untrue. Some writers write for the masses, but most write because they have a desire to express themselves. Many of the great writers of the 19th and 20th centuries were not best selling authors. Only a few like Steinbeck and Hemmingway achieved real notoriety. Even F. Scott Fitzgerald was more well known for his screenplay adaptations than his novels. The mark of a great writer is not his ability to appeal to the masses but rather his or her ability to express something through his/her writing that is universal. Taking time to read any great writer and there are too many to list here will reveal what I mean. King's best written novel was probably The Shining. He is a very serviceable writer but he isn't in the same league as many of the great writers who have come before him. Does that make him a hack and not worth reading? Absolutely not. Great writing and enjoyable reading don't always co-exist, but it doesn't make the writing useless. War and Peace isn't the most fun thing in the world to read, but it sure is great writing. By the same token, King isn't the greatest writer on the planet, but he can be very fun to read. ------------------ Save Our Rockets and Comets SaveOurRockets.com
What are your favorite Stephen King books? I like his non-horror stories over his horror stories. My favorites are Different Seasons and The Green Mile. I have read almost all of King's books except for most of the recent ones (published after 1995). I've read so much of his work simply because we have a lot of King books kicking around the house and, well, I like to read! Anyway, I really enjoyed his Dark Tower series. <U>The Gunslinger</U> was incredible, and <U>The Waste Lands</U> was great, too. <U>Wizard & Glass</U> was so-so, and <U>The Drawing of the Three</U> was boring, though it had its moments. I'm really looking forward to the next in the Dark Tower series. As for his other books, they're okay I guess. I read <u>It</u> twice, so I guess I thought that was pretty good. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel-boy.
Which of King's books would you all consider to be the scariest? None of them ever gave me nightmares or anything, but I admit I got a little creeped out at <u>The Dark Half</u>. I guess the concept of it is just so bizarre that you can't help but feel a little weird, especially if you think about it long enough. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel-boy.
I agree. Many Writers simply want to express themselves. Some choose to focus on the mass. Some do not. That shouldn't be reason to keep Stephen King from being considered a great writer. Having said that, we don't usally choose the books we read, they choose us. "The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century." ~ E. L. Doctorow ~ ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Well said. I think King is a good writer, but not nearly at the top. He has some depth,etc,etc, especially seen in his more masterful works (The Shining, The Shawshank story--cant remember its original name, the stand by me story--same dillema, green mile), but his writing is nonetheless very commercial and often one-dimensional. I would have to pick many many other writers before him. Also, I think there are a lot of writers out there that not many people know about that are nonetheless very interesting, unique, enjoyable, and good. One example is the guy who wrote Trainspotting. He writes very unique stories (long and short) but didnt start gaining much attention until the movie came out. I would recomend a collection of short stories by him called --The Acid House-- if only I could remember his name that would help ------------------ When I die I want to go peacefully like my grandfather. Not screaming like the passengers in the back seat!
