cantata wrote:
Indeed it does pay...just ask Tony Blair..

The best 'Crime' writer ever imo? Thomas Harris with his Hannibal Lecter series of books.

diamondgeezer wrote:
Raymond Chandler. Brilliant. To the bone, not a word wasted. (He was an alcoholic insurance salesman and when he'd been sacked from the last available insurance company he could work for and his wife had left him, he wrote a story for a "penny/cent press". Because he needed the money quickly, he made it short, sharp and to the point. Later, an over the hill, alcoholic actor would be given the chance to star as Philip Marlowe... step in Humphrey Bogart).

I also like the Norwegian writer Jo Nesbo. His Harry Hole character is wonderful (although now the American market has found them his last two books have gone very "padded" and "predictable" too).

I am learning much about Writers here

Time to get back to reading in a very big way

Moderationism

I've moved this thread to it's rightful home dawny

dawnbreak wrote:
Yes. Both are decent yarns. Under The Dome has some good, palpable tension in it. Not horror, more like thrillers.

Hearts in Atlantis is fantastic. Very strange in parts, I liked that. I have to say 3 of his recent books I've started reading but stopped because I thought they were awful. The Black House, Full Dark No Stars, and the November 23.1963 book as well.

King is a great writer in his own way; he's the best Stephen King around. It's entertainment, book style.

ronisron wrote:
Yes indeedy, one of his best.

Ronnie Malenfant....everybody knows a Ronnie...

The Master Mariner, by Nicholas Monsarrat.

Such an engaging book.

ronisron wrote:
I LOVE Hearts In Atlantis. I read it several years ago and i found it to be a very mystical book. I am more a fan of King's older work such as It, Rose Madder and Dreamcatcher.

cantata wrote:
It probably sounds a bit cheesy, but my favourite crime writer is Agatha Christie! I've got most of her stuff on audio, and they're my "comfort" listen - I often turn to them when I'm feeling under par or a bit blue!

I also like Peter Robinson and Ruth Rendell.

Mandy

Mandy, I think Aggie is still the Number One best selling ever crime writer there is. So you're far from alone.

"Carry on Screaming" was based on one of her books, I believe.

Snigger.

The Dark Half, The Stand, It, The Green Mile, Pet Cemetry, Misery and Geralds Game are my favourite King books.

George Stark, from the Dark Half is something else!


By far, the scariest books I have ever read are a trilogy by James Herbert;

The Rats
Liar
Domain

Nothing comes close to these three. I actually felt physically sick in parts.

The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker is also a brilliant piece of work which again, is really scarey and fucked up in parts.


@ those who mentioned The Devil Rides Out ... fantastic story!

cantata wrote: She's the bestselling fiction writer of all-time full-stop. You ought to look up how many books she sold, it's outrageous. Put it this way, I wish I was an heir to her estate.

Anyone here read 'Lets go play at the Adams' by Mendal Johnson?

A truly disturbing book.

It was a lovely day, just like today, and I sat out on the patio and read The Devil Rides Out.

My mum and dad were there, doing things in the garden, my sister was there doing annoying things.

Yet I was still looking around, and shivering, what a book!!

ronisron wrote:
I couldn't agree with you more ron

His characters have a deep root in reality, so they always gain your sympathy, or your contempt/hatred, or pity. Sometimes all three at once

I love Christine. Yeah it's got a haunted car in it (suspend your disbelief at the door folks) But the whole story of Arnie Cunningham and his obsession with the car, the bullying at school, the love triangle with his mate and his gf, the change from wimpy nerd type to tough as nails take no shit(ter!) I think it's a brilliant book, more about the transition from boy to man than a haunted car. Although the haunted car is cool.

I haven't explained all that very well, I've just got up, had hardly any sleep, and I'm still sweating like a pig in this heat

Mountain wrote:
I thoroughly enjoyed Rose Madder That Norman guy was actually pretty terrifiying and utterly detestable I found it worked more as a hunter/hunted story. I couldn't really get used to the whole world in the painting thing, although it was very well done and very dream like and surreal. I've only read it once, I'll have to read it again at some point

psketti wrote:
I read that when I was 18 and I loved it! That's the only SK book I've ever read though. I'm currently about 30-something pages into Valis by Philip K. Dick. Well, I've been at that point for several months now. I have dry-spells with reading, I'll get all into a book and really liking it and then bleh, I'll lose all momentum and just plop. But it's a really good read so far!

Horselover Fat!! Gotta love it!!

phemohilia wrote:
If you loved it, then there's a whole world of King adventure out there with your name on it

You'll definiately enjoy some of his other books without a doubt.

When I read the Dark Half, it felt like I was able to get right into the inside workings of this characters brain... and WHAT a character


@jhado... I also read The Devil Rides Out in a short space of time although I was far too young at the time and at my grannys for the weekend. Had two days to get it finished as there's no way mum would've let me read it, so I did. Great stuff. And funnily enough, the old 70's film wasn't too bad either if I recall correctly

diamondgeezer wrote:
Yes.. that's the one who went a bit nuts in Vietnam? Malenfant...that translates to sick child or sick infant. Watch out for the Low Men in Yellow Coats......

Yes a fantastic book. He wrote it after recovering from the hit and run accident.