The Dead Zone by Stephen King
1979
The Dead Zone was the first SK novel I ever read. The first book of his that I read, given to me by a neighbor, was a short collection called Night Shift. Lots of good stuff there, my favorite being Gray Matter. It made me double check my beers for a long time.
Continue reading “Writers Read: The Dead Zone by Stephen King”
Re-Reading ‘Lucky Jim’
Note: This review contains spoilers.
I’m a big fan of re-reading, a sovereign cure for Life’s Disappointments. Whenever you injure your foot at the start of a walking holiday, or your team gets relegated, or the school bully turns up again as your new line manager, there’s one guaranteed restorative: re-reading a favourite story. And not just any favourite story: for my money, it’s got to be either a galloping adventure story, or a comic novel. (Notice I don’t say ‘favourite author:’ Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island,’ or ‘Kidnapped,’ definitely fall into the ‘sovereign cure’ category, but don’t ever pick up his ‘St Ives’).
Continue reading “Writers Reading. Review by Mick Bloor”
The Unfortunates by B. S. Johnson
I’ve always enjoyed reading books that challenge the reader, turn the experience on its head a bit, make me do some work in return for the work they’ve done, and just make me think about what’s possible with writing. There are those that do it with such force it makes for some mental heavy lifting and cognitive contortionism from the reader, David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest and Julio Cortazar’s Hopscotch being prime examples (even though I admit to having enjoyed reading both those), but I want to talk about one of my very favourite writers, B. S. Johnson.
Continue reading “Writers Reading. Review by Paul Kimm”
I do love to upset a ‘Woke’
I’d actually like to punch one but you don’t see them, all you do is read their opinions – Cowardly fucks!
I have stated that you need to go with the flow with any of these that I have written as I don’t analyse, look back, do an in-depth synopsis…All I want to do is tell you why the story has stayed with me.
Continue reading “Auld Author – Savage by Richard Laymon – by Hugh Cron”
We often talk about getting lost in a book. It’s a beautiful idea. That someone’s prose is so convincing, so overwhelming that you lose touch with reality. One of my favourite authors of all time, the late great Sir Terry Pratchett, could make you believe. I was in awe of the Great A’Tuin, amused by the Unseen University and disgusted by the sluggish flow of the river Ankh through the capital city. But, much as I loved those books and the sites and sounds of the Discworld – how beautiful is the Rimfall?-I couldn’t honestly say I was lost in them.
Continue reading “Auld Author – The Bamboo Doctor by Stanley S. Pavillard by Diane”
literally stories 