----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Harney" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 10:59 AM Subject: Re: author review
> > From: "Kevin Tarr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/09/24/dumbing_down_american_readers/ > > > > or > > > > http://makeashorterlink.com/?D2A513796 > > > > Since the article is free, I'm not posting it. The op-ed writer takes the > > literary world to task for awarding bad but popular authors like Stephen > > King. While I can understand his point, what is the list opinion: is it > > better that more people read even if it's not highbrow works? Isn't this > > the same argument used against comic books or rock n roll? > > > > Kevin T. - VRWC > > > > I would say it's about evolution. The shifting of literature towards > popular culture. In my opinion, anything that will encourage kids to read > is a good thing, but I wonder if this trend will actually contribule to a > common mindset. Many Steve King novels and Harry Potter books are turned > into movies. Kids might, like most adults, succumb to the mindset "Why read > the book when I can just watch the movie." > [snip] > > I will have to argue with the author of that article about Steven King's > writing. Admitted, I have only read one of Steven King's books > (_Regulators_ under the pen name Richard Bachman, which I liked until the > last two chapters, which I hated), To be fair, The Regulators makes little sense without reading its companion and superior Desperation. >but if some of the movies based on some > of his books are any indication ("Stand By Me", "The Shawshank Redemption", > and "The Green Mile") his work isn't all bad. I wish I had the time to read > those books, but I have other books to read and I have already seen the > movies :-) . Kings work isn't exactly hit or miss, its actually mostly good. I can only think of a couple that I didn't like very much. The fun thing about King's books is that many of them fit into a larger framework, the most well known of which is the framework that surrounds The Dark Tower series and about a dozen of his other books. > Do a few diamonds in the rough entitle Steven King to such an > award? I really don't know, I would have to read more Steven King books to > make such a judgement. Honestly though, any author that can sell books as > well as he can, despite harsh crticism from so many people, deserves some > kind of award :-) . > I think a lot of authors are envious of Kings success and who can blame them. He is worth millions. His fans are ever loyal. He gets to direct crappy movies based on his work. xponent The Life Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
