...the Master of Horror....

#21
On Writing

EW grade: A-

Here is an excerpt from the EW review:"....King can often be his own harshest critic. He questions his qualifications to pen a primer on writing, comparing his monstrously successful novels to fast food: ''Colonel Sanders sold a hell of a lot of fried chicken, but I'm not sure anyone wants to know how he made it.'' As he recounts his career and provides insight into his technique, he calls Insomnia and Rose Madder ''stiff, trying-too-hard novels,'' Maximum Overdrive ''a stinker,'' and himself ''a vulgar lowbrow.''
This elegant volume proves that self-characterization wrong. Blissfully brief at 288 pages (''I figured the shorter the book, the less the bulls---''), On Writing opens with ''C.V.,'' a mini-memoir so finely seasoned that it whets your appetite for a full-scale autobiography. Raised by a single mom after his dad abandoned the family, he grew up addicted to B movies: ''Never mind Snow White and the Seven Goddam Dwarfs. At thirteen I wanted monsters that ate whole cities." Full Review

(Quick Note: I have already read 20 or so of the books on this list ...some I look forward to reading a second time and others....well, not so much. This one falls into the first category. I am a big fan of Stephen King..... I was 13 when I first read The Dead Zone and I have been in love ever since...)

I think at first glance, some people have scoffed at the fact that this book is #21 on this list. First off, it's Stephen King, a horror writer for God's sake. Secondly, its about writing.....what could be more boring? Well they couldn't be more wrong. I have always known what a great writer he is - but this book helped to convert the non-believers out there. Nothing about this book is boring, not the autobiographical section nor the "on writing" section. How many writers can make you laugh out loud during a discussion of the passive tense?

I loved it! I would highly recommend!

hmmm...a murder........

#69
The Secret History

EW grade: A
Here is an excerpt from the EW review: "This is actually a good, even profound novel. It's the story of a group of pampered and precocious students at a small New England college who devote themselves to ancient Greek culture and get more than they bargained for-tragedy, fate, Furies. It's as gripping as a murder story should be, even though the murders and murderers are no mystery; as in Greek tragedy, it's mainly a question of retribution. But what is most remarkable about the book is its own classical poise-its sovereign style and moral assurance." Full Review

Yes, this one was good. On the first page, the reader knows who was murdered and who did it…. but the story is intense regardless….you can feel the suffering of each of the characters as you read it. I agree with the review…it is profound…a story about friendship, trust (or lack thereof) and remorse…

I liked it...I would recommend

Two down...

I have conquered 2 of the books on the list in the course of a mere 3 days!

# 60
Nickel and Dimed... (On Not) Getting By in America

EW grade: A
Here is an excerpt from the EW review: “…how do Americans earning $6 to $7 an hour…..make ends meet? Ehrenreich found out by walking in their shoes…working the highest-paid ''unskilled'' jobs she could find -- like diner waitress, cleaning woman, and Wal-Mart ''associate.'' Her account is at once a clear-eyed portrait of how the bottom third lives, and a complacency-shaking expose of the dead-end-job economy.” Full Review

Now this is a book I would not have picked up on my own but…wow…was it good. It had all the characteristics of a good read: funny, sad, thought- provoking and it stayed with me for days. It has forever changed my views on “unskilled” workers.


Loved it! I would highly recommend

---

# 63
Pastoralia

EW grade: A-
Here is an excerpt from the EW review: “…. compellingly strange, funny, and poignant style ''Twin Peaks''-y isn't to date his singular voice but to place it: The six hypnotically absurd stories in Pastoralia are all slices of life from a lumpy apple pie baked with utterly, mutantly American fruit “ Full Review

I was looking forward to this one, the review was provocative and I like odd, unusual storytelling. The first story, Pastoralia, was interesting but I found the rest of the stories bleak and depressing, it was like taking a peek into a person’s psyche and seeing the most neurotic, insecure side of their nature.

Not a fan...

One thing for sure

One thing is for sure, I love to read...and I am quite sure that this love has gotten me pretty far in life....in all aspects of my life.

I have created this blog because as a reader I find I am always looking for book recommendations...asking friends, browsing reviews, looking at book clubs, etc....

As a result I have challenged myself to read Entertainment Weekly's "The New Classics: Books The 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008".

.... personally I am not reading the books in order but I will tackle them all. What I would really like is other people's thoughts on the books I am reading.....