People Don't Know What They Are Missing!

[~Ally~]

Hi guys and gals.:smile2:
Not sure this is news worthy but i just wanted to share my little experience in work today that made me smile.
At the moment i am placed on a hospital ward which i really don't like..obviously the patients are nice but the staff are not so good.:sad:

Well today i had to go on break with this group of nurses who i really have nothing interesting to say to when suddenly one of them mentions about this film she seen but cant remember the name of.
From her description i recognised it straight off as The Shawsank Redemption and told them this was it. Another nurse says ooh thats one of her favourite films also but she can't remember how it ends (strange 'favourite' i know). Anyway so i proceed to tell them the ending, rehash the story and name characters when they ask who was whom. Then when i tell them it was written by Uncle Steve they had the audacity not to believe me :glare:, after all most people think he is simply a horror writer.

So to change the subject one of them mentions another favourite movie..and unbelieveably it was Stand By Me!! Once again i was met with dumbfounded stares when i mentioned this is another of Uncle Steves fabulous stories,ha.
It really does make me wonder how many people his stories reach through movies or tv series' without them even realising he is the creator...some people really don't know what they are missing, does anybody else encounter this also? In fact i find i am quite often informing family or friends that the movies they love are written by Uncle Steve without them realising.

Anyway, i know this story isn't important but it made me smile during a miserable day at work and made my break with these people a little more tolerable.:blush:

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Makes me smile too, Ally, the way people refuse to believe he wrote them, thankee for sharing your story.

Like the little old lady that came up to him in the supermarket in Florida and asked why he doesn't write anything like The Shawshank Redemption and refused to believe Sai King himself about it.

And Shawshank, Green Mile and The Body (Stand By Me) don't seem to me to be uncharacteristic stories.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Stacey B]

Hi
I've had similar conversations on many many occasions and have actually introduced quite a lot of people to the works of SK.

[tracie]

my hubby is the same,he's all football and italian funny films which by the way i can't stand because i cannot understand way everything in italian comical films are all based on sex,nude women.i at times find it very vulgar,anyway when i told him that stand by me was by sk he couldn't believe it.it's so nice to see that in some things he watches he has taste.i think that sk has a gift of writing books for everyone,horror lovers and non

[tillyn]

I've actually had people at work do the same thing! When i tell them to watch a certain movie they'll say he didn't write that. Okay, so i'll bring them the movie and the book and tell them to read then watch. (and return my stuff thankee sai.) :smile2:

[DarkWriter]

They may not admit it...But I will lay odds that at least one or two of those nurses are now re-thinking what they previously thought of Stephen King's works.

Who knows maybe they will even go out and buy one of his books.

Thank you for sharing.






If you have a man eating plant...you better be female.

[danie]

I think it would be cool if you found a copy of Different Seasons at a secondhand store and gave it to one of the nurses. Ask her to read "Shawshank" and see what she thinks. If she likes it, she may read the other short stories, and then you will have made another Stevie fan and maybe a friend...She might pass it around to the other nurses as well.

[rjt65]

Hey Ally funny always always this will happen -- i posted 3 weeks or so ago bout my haircut. 2 woman Hair cutters one other older guy in the shop. some new talk show on where i said the host looks familiar (a woman) hair cutter says oh she played the wife in that green mile movie..

I smile and say you like S King ..of course she says no the other chimes in eww to scary etc..... no to horror etc... than I bring up stand by me, shawshank and say the same guy wrote all 3---SK! yah exactly what u went thru.

Get used to it --it happens all the time! ;-)

thanks for sharing!

[JohnDalglish]

I think it would be cool if you found a copy of Different Seasons at a secondhand store and gave it to one of the nurses. Ask her to read "Shawshank" and see what she thinks. If she likes it, she may read the other short stories, and then you will have made another Stevie fan and maybe a friend...She might pass it around to the other nurses as well.

Hi,

Indeed, what a good idea, Danie!

And the rest of the stories are excellent as well, of course.

Long days and pleasant nights

[youngfibre]

Hapi you got to smile off a miserable day Ally. i had to bring the Green mile to prove the movie came from it. A whole lot of people are SK fans they just dont know it.

[AngelZ]

I appreciated the post. I'm glad you had the opportunity to speak to people about Stephen King. I'm always amazed that Stephen Kings is as prolific as he is.

[jacobtlong]

I've had the same exact thing happen to me on many occasions. It's always funny to let people know that they've liked Sai King's work without even knowing it.

[kingricefan]

I've had the exact same thing happen to me also. Well, not with nurses but with co-workers. I just love to watch their expression change from 'Oh you're just lying to me now!' to 'Well, maybe he isn't lying?' then back to 'Oh, he's lying! That creepy Mr. King just writes about bloody ghosts and vampires and killer cars!' I usually just tell them to go get on the computer, go to IMDB and type in Stephen King. 'Nuff said!!

[smooth operator]

I have turned many people on to the works of SK since I read Carrie back in 1974. If you read and you know me, I have recommended at least 1 or 2 books to you. Regardless of the genre you most enjoy, I can find a SK book you will like.

[Srbo]

Boy, was I ever glad about two years ago that this guy didn`t know that Shaswshank is Steve`s work.
He was that stubborn in denying it that he made a bet...and lost, of course.

300$ on a bet like that made me feel pretty good, actually.


:biggrin2:

[~Ally~]

Hey guys, yup i agree that it is a good feeling to let people know they enjoy Uncle Steves work without even realising.
As for possibly passing my books on all i can say is... NEVER, lol. Those book stay with me, i would probably be permanently agitated until they were returned to me.
I however have no qualms in recommending books to people, i do this quite often. However, i don't feel these nurses would enjoy reading, from what they have said they are more interested in watching soaps on tv...different strokes for different folks and all that.:smile2:

[kisun]

Hi, just the other day I had to convince one of my good friends that the Green Mile was based on Sai King's serial novel, and they didn't believe me. I just don't get why he is always put off as the literary-merit-lacking-horror-writing-hack, when he is quite the opposite.

Ah, ignorance is bliss.
:biggrin2:

[E Blitz]

My incident wasn't over Stephen's stuff, it was over the band Kiss. I had a friend of mine argue with me that they never sang the song Beth. We were on a road trip from Michigan to Sandusky, Ohio and after 3 hours of listening to him berate me for not knowing my 70's music, I stopped at a Meijer, dragged him to their music department, and thrust their Greatest Hits in his face and said "There! Now do you believe me?"

Needless to say he's never questioned me on bands ever again. Of course, now I'm a dj so it's my job to know stuff like that. :)

[pandora]

Hi guys and gals.:smile2:
Not sure this is news worthy but i just wanted to share my little experience in work today that made me smile.
At the moment i am placed on a hospital ward which i really don't like..obviously the patients are nice but the staff are not so good.:sad:

Well today i had to go on break with this group of nurses who i really have nothing interesting to say to when suddenly one of them mentions about this film she seen but cant remember the name of.
From her description i recognised it straight off as The Shawsank Redemption and told them this was it. Another nurse says ooh thats one of her favourite films also but she can't remember how it ends (strange 'favourite' i know). Anyway so i proceed to tell them the ending, rehash the story and name characters when they ask who was whom. Then when i tell them it was written by Uncle Steve they had the audacity not to believe me :glare:, after all most people think he is simply a horror writer.

So to change the subject one of them mentions another favourite movie..and unbelieveably it was Stand By Me!! Once again i was met with dumbfounded stares when i mentioned this is another of Uncle Steves fabulous stories,ha.
It really does make me wonder how many people his stories reach through movies or tv series' without them even realising he is the creator...some people really don't know what they are missing, does anybody else encounter this also? In fact i find i am quite often informing family or friends that the movies they love are written by Uncle Steve without them realising.

Anyway, i know this story isn't important but it made me smile during a miserable day at work and made my break with these people a little more tolerable.:blush:

WAY TO GO GIRL!!! Rub that salt in!

[ladyraven]

pretty funny ...i love how people put someone into a "category" and refuse to believe anything else

[rose key]

I think it would be cool if you found a copy of Different Seasons at a secondhand store and gave it to one of the nurses. Ask her to read "Shawshank" and see what she thinks. If she likes it, she may read the other short stories, and then you will have made another Stevie fan and maybe a friend...She might pass it around to the other nurses as well.

That's a great idea. It would be a great way to introduce them to his books.

[Patricia A]

A couple of months ago I initiated a book display at the store I work in called "Read the Movie!" I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Stephen King wrote that?!"
It never ceases to amaze does it?
Maybe one of the t shirts sold for The Haven Foundation should say, "Ay-yup, Stephen King wrote that too." LOL

[danie]

Ally, I'm with you about loaning books. Loaned 'Salem's Lot two years ago....GONE. But I have bought King books for 2 or 3 dollars, and just given it to someone. Even though you think your co-workers don't read, maybe they might start if presented with the Gift Of Stephen.

[JohnDalglish]

Ally, I'm with you about loaning books. Loaned 'Salem's Lot two years ago....GONE. But I have bought King books for 2 or 3 dollars, and just given it to someone. Even though you think your co-workers don't read, maybe they might start if presented with the Gift Of Stephen.

Hi,

I do the same, Danie. When I'm doing my regular trawl of the many charity bookshops here I always buy everything Kingly, knowing that I'll soon find a good home for them.

Long days and pleasant nights

[finalfantasyVII]

I was pleasantly surprised to find that SK wrote that since I first heard about by seeing the movie before I knew.:oops:

[Dani~]

I do the same when I'm out in a second hand book store. Just doing my part for Uncle Stevie. I feel it's the least I can do after all the pure reading enjoyment he's provided. Plus I don't want people to miss out on something so great. It's also nice to have something in common to discuss.

I watched Shawshank with my 15 yr. old on Sat. and I was thinking he might get bored because there's no cars or explosions or CG superheroes but he was riveted. I was happy!

[Q'smum]

A couple of months ago I initiated a book display at the store I work in called "Read the Movie!" I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Stephen King wrote that?!"
It never ceases to amaze does it?
Maybe one of the t shirts sold for The Haven Foundation should say, "Ay-yup, Stephen King wrote that too." LOL

Great idea for a t-shirt!

[O'Hara]

I've noticed the same thing. My mother does it to me a lot. "Hey, this movie was based on one of Sai King's books?!" Um, yes mom xD I think the most recent was probably the Green Mile. People who don't read make me a bit sad :( I understand some just can't or something or other, but I went and bought Everything's Eventual the other day, and I have at least managed to get my mom to listen to books on tape, and she has these stories on tape. She asked, "Can't you just listen to it?" Nothing against those who listen to books on tape, but I cherish the experience of actually picking up the book, feeling its weight, and I do believe at least some of the book's magic is lost when it is spoken aloud over a recording.

[Sweet One]

One problem with SK movies is that SK is marketed as a horror writer. He always was, ever since Carrie. if I remember correctly, since I was young at the time, when Stand By Me was in theatres, it was not marketed as a King film. KIng was credited, but not mentioned on the commercials. At the time Im didn't know it was a King film either, but happened to see his name. Any movie based on one of his more horror-themed works would announce "from the mind of the master of horror, Stephen King!" But it seems for movies like Stand by Me, KIng himself is downplayed.

[Q'smum]

One problem with SK movies is that SK is marketed as a horror writer. He always was, ever since Carrie. if I remember correctly, since I was young at the time, when Stand By Me was in theatres, it was not marketed as a King film. KIng was credited, but not mentioned on the commercials. At the time Im didn't know it was a King film either, but happened to see his name. Any movie based on one of his more horror-themed works would announce "from the mind of the master of horror, Stephen King!" But it seems for movies like Stand by Me, KIng himself is downplayed.

I think you are absolutely right. Never looked at it like that, but you have hit the nail on the head. Most people that "don't like SK" see him only as the writer of Carrie and Salem's Lot and other scary stuff, having never read his work. Everytime something "scary" of his is made into a movie.. there it is that same quote "from the mind of the master of horror, Stephen King." Wow, those Hollywood guys are geniuses! They recognize great stories, and also the limited minds of many people who will catagorize and reject based on preconceived notions.

[Mahree]

I recently had the same experience. A few friends and I were discussing books and I said that I was reading "The Dark Tower" series. After a lot of yuki looks at me, they shared that "they" did not read that kind of book.

Knowing what was coming, I asked, "Did you see "The Green Mile"? They would not believe me that SK wrote that. One lady kept asking me if I was sure?

[Tombrun]

I was reading a SK book on a plane once and the lady beside me said that she didn't like any of his books. "He only writes crap", she told me. I asked her what she'd read and she told me that she hadn't actually read anything from him...she only knew he sucked. Wow...that's one intelligent woman right there... It didn't occur to me to ask her about Shawshank or Green Mile, but I'm sure she never heard of those either. I don't want to call anyone stupid, but maybe ignorant is a good word? Shame...

[MadamMack]

Hi guys and gals.:smile2:
Not sure this is news worthy but i just wanted to share my little experience in work today that made me smile.
At the moment i am placed on a hospital ward which i really don't like..obviously the patients are nice but the staff are not so good.:sad:

Well today i had to go on break with this group of nurses who i really have nothing interesting to say to when suddenly one of them mentions about this film she seen but cant remember the name of.
From her description i recognised it straight off as The Shawsank Redemption and told them this was it. Another nurse says ooh thats one of her favourite films also but she can't remember how it ends (strange 'favourite' i know). Anyway so i proceed to tell them the ending, rehash the story and name characters when they ask who was whom. Then when i tell them it was written by Uncle Steve they had the audacity not to believe me :glare:, after all most people think he is simply a horror writer.

So to change the subject one of them mentions another favourite movie..and unbelieveably it was Stand By Me!! Once again i was met with dumbfounded stares when i mentioned this is another of Uncle Steves fabulous stories,ha.
It really does make me wonder how many people his stories reach through movies or tv series' without them even realising he is the creator...some people really don't know what they are missing, does anybody else encounter this also? In fact i find i am quite often informing family or friends that the movies they love are written by Uncle Steve without them realising.

Anyway, i know this story isn't important but it made me smile during a miserable day at work and made my break with these people a little more tolerable.:blush:

That's happen to me before . . .their Eyes are Wide Shut.