Darlyne, the paperback version came out in ’91 but there are other books identifying the author as “Stephen (Richard Bachman) King” in 1985. With this, now I recall seeing something a long time ago about his having written some books using a pseudonym. The book I was remembering that I thought was written by Richard Bachman was written by Richard Bach.
Candace
When was this book written Candace. I read a couple of Steven King’s books a few years ago also and at the time thought they were pretty good but they got to be the same old. same old. He did also write The Shawshank (sp) Redemption which I thought made a very good movie. It is one I have watched a couple of times.
Maybe it was written before he learned to write.
I looked Richard Bachman up on Amazon. Apparently that is the name Stephen King used for some of his books. I read a couple of King’s books years ago and there was some similarity in a demonic possession but I didn’t have the impression with those of incoherence in presentation The Regulators has. Oddly, there was no description of the book and no reviews.
Candace
I am prepared now to say this is the worst book I’ve ever read/listened to. I’m just starting tape 5 of 6 and need to look up what else Richard Bachman has written. I had the impression that was the name of an author who had written something good years ago. This is the most unintelligible sequence of words and characters ever published, I do believe. It started out identifying way too many characters, goes on with some entity that is named without explanation until tape 4 when it is explained as some non-human power. Several characters have separate unrelated flashbacks then go back to unrelated scenes. Gory and violent for the sake of being a vehicle for writing those words, in my opinion. The only reason to continue is to see if at any point there is any semblance of a coherent conclusion.
Candace
Jerry, I was surprised to see the change in pricing. Until the 2 came out, I didn’t see anything over $9.99. Then prices started ranging close to hardbacks. I’m glad I still have some I had not finished. I am not pleased–the low price was a big point for me.
Candace
Amazon has three book titles listed by Phinn…NONE of them for Kindle. The run all the way from $14 to $30. NONE for $9.99! I love my Kindle but over half of the books I’ve asked for are not on Kindle. Amazon, you’ve got a long way to go to make a believer out of me.
Huggz all,
Jerry
I am glad you are back posting, I need something to read besides the mysteries I am listening to and will pick up the Phinn book. It sounds like one I might like. I did read a Debbie Mac Comber book a while ago and for me one was enough. I am waiting for a couple of books they are saving for me but no copies available yet. One is that Mars book Jerry mentioned and Three Cups of Tea which is going to be the Princeton reads book for the fall. I keep hearing it is good.
You’re back! I’ve wondered how things are with you in Idaho Falls. I have a soft spot for that little town. Now if Jo will just take time from exploring her new digs and catch us up with Colorado…….
Candace
Good to see you here, Garvin, and welcome to Kindle! It is addictive. It’s so easy to download a book you hear about and be reading it in less than a minute. I’m way behind in finishing some of them but will in time. That large font has let me read again and not just skim as is the case with the newspapers.
Candace
So good to hear from you, Jan in Idaho! Hope you’re feeling better now. The return of Spring (and almost summer) is cheerful for all of us, I’m sure!
For light reading — have any of you heard of “The Other Side of the Dale” (or words to that effect) by Gervase Phinn? It is similar to “All Creatures Great and Small” (veterinarian) except that Phinn is a school inspector for the schools scattered about the dales of Yorkshire. Delightful, relaxing reading. Relaxing because you’re glad you don’t have to deal with some of the people he did! But they are surely fun to read about.
On my new Kindle, I’m reading “Little Dorrit” for the first time. I’m 72% through it. I love that feature — instead of numbers of pages read, they give you your percent of progress through the book. Pages would be impossible because there are several sizes of fonts — thus, varying numbers of pages!
I think this was Dickens’ first book — and it shows. Some of the passages are overlong and some sentences confusing. Exactly which character is he talking about? But there are certainly other passages where the Dickens brilliance shines through — and what a collection of characters!
I’ve downloaded quite a bit of a library already. Will I ever read all of it? Life is too short!
I haven’t been on this blog in ever so long. Had a lot of trouble getting a new password. I have had health problems for a couple of months and have hardly used my new computer. What reading I’ve done has been light stuff that I picked up here in our library. Have any of you read Debbie MacComber’s series of books, set in Cedar Cove, Washington? I read several of her “Dakota” books awhile back and enjoyed them, but am getting a little weary of so many of the teenage girls getting pregnant, having misunderstandings with their boy friends, no communication - then in the end love wins out and they finally marry and supposedly live happily ever after (until the next book in the series is published!).
Anyway, it has been fun reading your blogs. I’m glad you are moved and settled, Jo. I hope you like your new home, I am perfectly happy with mine and I believe it is similar to what you are describing. Do you cook or eat in the dining room? I don’t miss cooking one bit, athough I used to and was a pretty good cook.
i picked up The Steep Approach to Garbadale by Iain Banks and am on page 107 and still waiting for it to interest me. It is about a family who made their fortune on a board game and now some of the members want to sell it. It goes back to the history of the family etc,etc. I had nothing to read and it was in the new book section at the library and I thought I would like it. It may be just me. Has anyone read this author.
My library book group is discussing The Tortilla Curtain this morning. I read it when it first came out and liked it but forgot many details so skimmed over it again. If you haven’t read it I think it well worth reading.
This is another book on tape I knew nothing about. It seems to be a kind of Sci-Fi but starting the second tape it is still not clear. So far there is a child who seems to have been taken over by some monster influence–random killings in a quiet suburb by strange figures in iridescent vans with some sort of antennas on top. I can’t say I’m enjoying it but since I listen in the car and don’t have anything else I’ll see where this is going.
Candace
Perfect Storm was a good book—–and a good movie. I believe it is a true story. Jerry I haven’t read sf for many years but will try this one. It sounds good and I have nothing good to read right now,
I’m reading this title on Kindle and enjoying it very much. I can’t think of the author’s name but it’s a Sci Fi about colonizing Mars. Starts with the nearly year long trip for 100 settlers from different counties and the interaction of personalities. Then landing on Mars and setting up a settlement on the nearly airless planet. One of the better Sci Fi books I’ve seen.
Huggz all,
Jerry
I just finished listening to The Perfect Storm on tape. I started out slow but the description of the actual event and the training of the people who go out to rescue people in such situations was riveting. I only got it because it’s getting harder to find books on tape at Half Price Books and I’d heard of this, primarily because George Clooney starred in the movie about it. I recommend it. Side information about the influence of the moon on various types of fish and how the fishing industry works was surprisingly interesting to this landlubber.
Candace
Is nobody reading?
You are so right about blow hards. Jenny often talks about the ones at public meetings who do a lot of complaining but never act on anything. They get to be well known. Jenny acts and I think that is one of the reasons people vote for her. The student also worked very hard. He only lost by about 60 votes and this was a great showing for him. Thats funny about the guy with the generic sign.
How nice that Jenny won! I think more people should get involved in politics instead of just sitting back and complaining.
It is nice in a small town when you do know the candidates and their families. You know who is a blowhard who only runs ‘against’ something and who will get in and really work hard for the school and/or community.
We have one character here in our small town who runs in any election. He never wins any of them. His and his family’s votes are the only ones he ever gets. He even has generic signs… “Vote for _____” with the date written in with a magic marker!
Judith
Jenny did win and we are all very happy. She worked hard. The student didn’t win but came close and I am proud of him also for getting involved. Now back to reading. I am listening to a Garrison Kieler book on tape and enjoying it—more than I do reading him for some reason. I think he is just a good story teller and he does the reading.
That’s wonderful that the community is involved. It takes me back years. In a small community people can really know the candidates–that’s something I miss. We’re having a run-off for city council and I don’t know anyone who really knows either of the candidates. I automatically dismiss the negative flyers from either side and take with a grain of salt the positive ones.
Candace
Our web master Jenny is running for the Princeton Boro council against old guard members and a student who wasn’t going to be much competation. However he got over 400 other students to obtain absentee ballots and vote for him so the race is going to be tight. Usually the students don’t vote because they are home for the summer. You have to admire this young man and Jenny does. I had a telephone bank here last night and early this am neighbors and Jenny were here. They rode around Princeton in a decorated “vote for Jenny” 52 pickup my neighbor owns. It is an exciting time in a small town way. I am glad that I play bridge this afternoon. That will help with the waiting. The voting is over at 8 PM and a party at a pizza joint but some one will let me know the results. I am not going to the party.