A few questions about a few books - (DT SPOILER)

[LittleLune]

I haven't posted on here in a while and I have a few questions for all of you.

Show Spoiler

First - Was it off putting for anyone in Song of Susannah when SK injected himself into the story? I actually put that book down and returned to another book I had been reading and I haven't gone back since. I really want to finish the series but it just kind of irked me.

Second - I picked up two used copies of SK books: Bag of Bones and Hearts in Atlantis - What are your throughts on these two? Which one was your favorite, or whoch one do yousiggest I read first. I realize they probably aren't related at all (other than maybe a few tie ins to other SK books as is his style) but I can't decide which to go for first and they are both so long.

Any suggestions apreciated!

[staropeace]

Yes, I found it somewhat off putting...I could not suspend my disbelief as well when faced with the reality of Stephen entering the story with the fictional characters.

I think I liked Bag of Bones moreso than Hearts.

[doowopgirl]

I have to say I really didn't have a problem with SK putting himself in the story. I mean, why not? The entire series was such an exercise in fantasy it just seemed ok. I am equally fone of Hearts and Bag of Bones. It depends on what you're in the mood for. Bag is a more of a ghost story than Hearts.

[LittleLune]

Yes, I found it somewhat off putting...I could not suspend my disbelief as well when faced with the reality of Stephen entering the story with the fictional characters.

I think this is what I'm going for here - I was so wrapped up in the story that all of the sudden when he's there, its like it was not fantasy anymore but reality - and I understand this is a theme of the books, after all there are other worlds than these.

[Walter Oobleck]

I enjoyed that part of the story, thought it was fascinating...not put-off at all...& readers being put-off by it is as fascinating. And as I recall what I was imagining as I read that scene, the image I had of Roland seemed to take on an...almost cartoon-aspect...w/Roland, I'd always easily imagined a kind of Clint Eastwood (though not completely Clint) character...and that image faded to be replaced w/a kind of Roland as portrayed on the cover The Gunslinger. Roland took on a mirage-like, see-through, cartoon-like character as this very real-seeming King character turned away from him. I loved it when the Stephen-character turns away...this isn't happening...kind of like some readers, hey? And when I looked at Roland again...he began to materialize to his former self...and by scene's end all was well and all manner of things were well.

I don't recall which one I read first, Bones or Hearts...although I believe I read Hearts 1st, then Bones shortly thereafter...and reading the Afterword, or whatever it is called in Bones, I found this place to tell the man thanks for the stories. I've enjoyed them all, multiple times. Bones, I will say, has a shoreline scene or two reminiscent of that scene w/Roland in the other.

[not_nadine]

I thought it was cool at first when they found the books. Then it went on too long. IMO.

What Staro said.

[Tiny]

...NO...OMG ...no.

I loved the idea of

Show Spoiler

king himself in the book.
Reading Kings own O'BITZ, written by King, concerning
a real-life accident .... was the strangest thing Iv ever done

It was genius . Meta Fiction at a new , never done before , level .
(far as I know)

I kindda wished that

Show Spoiler

Eddie and Roland show up on the same
day as King got the call about "Carrie" ($$$), and he collapsed on
the kitchen floor

That would have been very cool

[GNTLGNT]

...I never found the "artist in the machine" to be disturbing, and it actually made me laugh...and the two books you're mulling over are such different 'flavors" it matters not which one you "tatse" first...

[LittleLune]

I enjoyed that part of the story, thought it was fascinating...not put-off at all...& readers being put-off by it is as fascinating. And as I recall what I was imagining as I read that scene, the image I had of Roland seemed to take on an...almost cartoon-aspect...w/Roland, I'd always easily imagined a kind of Clint Eastwood (though not completely Clint) character...and that image faded to be replaced w/a kind of Roland as portrayed on the cover The Gunslinger. Roland took on a mirage-like, see-through, cartoon-like character as this very real-seeming King character turned away from him. I loved it when the Stephen-character turns away...this isn't happening...kind of like some readers, hey? And when I looked at Roland again...he began to materialize to his former self...and by scene's end all was well and all manner of things were well.

I don't recall which one I read first, Bones or Hearts...although I believe I read Hearts 1st, then Bones shortly thereafter...and reading the Afterword, or whatever it is called in Bones, I found this place to tell the man thanks for the stories. I've enjoyed them all, multiple times. Bones, I will say, has a shoreline scene or two reminiscent of that scene w/Roland in the other.

Thank you and when you put it like that, Roland turing from real Clint Eastwood-y person to comic book animated person, THAT is interesting, I never pictured it like that but I totally get what you mean! I think it may be time for me to pick SoS back up and continue my journey for the Dark Tower.

[jchanic]

I liked Bag of Bones more than Hearts, but just by a little bit. I'm a Vietnam veteran, so Hearts hit closer to home, but I loved the story of Bag of Bones.

John