Stephen King quirks?

[Bad Bear]

Have you noticed a recurring tendency in SK's writing? Something I've noticed in practically everything he's written is his use of "at all", eg:

"She didn't like it.
She didn't like it at all"

And derivatives thereof.

Also, all of his main charcters like classic rock, that is stuff like the Beatles, Dylan, the Stones, Beach Boys et al... basically 'sixties and 'seventies music which I'm assuming is also SK's favourite.

Any others?

[poisonbat]

" Seen anything Green? "

[SusanNorton]

The phrase "ever so much." Is that a Maine expression? Many of his characters, particularly women, use this phrase (e.g. "I'd like it ever so much"), and I've never come across anyone in real life who uses this phrase. It sounds very old-fashioned, kind of Jane Austen-ish.

[sam peebles]

The word: macadam.

[Moderator]

The phrase "ever so much." Is that a Maine expression? Many of his characters, particularly women, use this phrase (e.g. "I'd like it ever so much"), and I've never come across anyone in real life who uses this phrase. It sounds very old-fashioned, kind of Jane Austen-ish.


Can't say that I've ever used it or heard it said by anyone else I know (except Steve :biggrin2:).

[SusanNorton]

Maybe if I get to attend a book signing I'll say, "I'd like it ever so much if you'd sign my frickin' book." :laugh:

[staropeace]

"As a matter of fact".

[Matticus]

It always reminds me of Little Vicky on the Simpson's.

"I'm ever so pissed" :laugh:

[deluxe]

"goose walked over my grave".
"The s--t hit the fan"

[Samantha_]

Can't come up with a particular phrase right now ... but on a broader note the fact that he will "kill his darlings" (characters).

As opposed to reading many author's works reading Stephen King is an adventure as you're never sure who will make it out alive until the end.

[mylife4usk]

He uses, "You bet" or "Will do" quite a bit.

And something else I've noticed over the years he uses that repulsive
"C" word in almost every single book. It's true, if you don't believe me flip thru them.
I can't be the only one that is offended by this word., come out of the woodwork and back me up, people!

Ok, now I sound like Annie when she yells at Paul because of the foul language he uses in Fast Cars. Someone put me out of my misery.... lol

[Bad Bear]

The phrase "ever so much." Is that a Maine expression? Many of his characters, particularly women, use this phrase (e.g. "I'd like it ever so much"), and I've never come across anyone in real life who uses this phrase. It sounds very old-fashioned, kind of Jane Austen-ish.

I've just noticed that recuring in Lisey's Story! Yes, it is reminiscent of English phraseology and you still hear it from people over here who are especially keen to please, or small children. Also in Lisey's Story there are various uses of English slang (some semi-crude which I can't post here) which I don't recall in his writing before; maybe it's New England slang, too, or he's borrowing?



The word: macadam.

Ha ha, I've noticed that. "Turnpike" is another I've noticed quite frequently; that's a leftover from old English which we in the UK stopped using a few centuries ago.

[tillyn]

Get busy livin or get busy dying. S.S.D.D. i like that one the most.

[sam peebles]

I don't know about other places, but we actually use the word turnpike where I'm from quite a bit. One of our biggest highways here in my state is the Massachusetts Turnpike, or just the 'pike if that please you ever so much more.

[staropeace]

Feeder roads

[Anni M]

Maybe if I get to attend a book signing I'll say, "I'd like it ever so much if you'd sign my frickin' book." :laugh:
:rofl:

[Bad Bear]

He uses, "You bet" or "Will do" quite a bit.

And something else I've noticed over the years he uses that repulsive
"C" word in almost every single book. It's true, if you don't believe me flip thru them.
I can't be the only one that is offended by this word., come out of the woodwork and back me up, people!

Ok, now I sound like Annie when she yells at Paul because of the foul language he uses in Fast Cars. Someone put me out of my misery.... lol

I think, maybe, he uses the "c" word for shock value? Or, at least he might have done once. As you say, it is a frequent recurrance, so maybe it is just something we will have to live with. I think that in Lisey's Story he is determined to make "bool" his most frequent idiom!

[spooner9ball]

I remember thinking when I was in my early teens, " what is this 'fruitless' word, and what the hell is 'awry' (I always thought it was pronounced ow-rey, until my mom said, no awry....)

So, fruitless and awry. Watch for 'em!

[vivazebool]

''sh--t fire and save matches.''

He uses that a lot in his books.

[JRLauer]

''sh--t fire and save matches.''

He uses that a lot in his books.

I've read all his books and I don't remember that one. Do you know which stories inparticular?

[bopropadop]

Use of the phrase, "Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back."

Off the top of my head, I think it's in It, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Dreamcatcher, Colorado Kid (just heard it today listening on audiobook), maybe Blaze and Cell...

I smile now when I see (or hear) it.

[natalia101]

about an hour after i first saw this thread, i read in insomnia 'wouldn't put it past you Roberts, wouldn't put it past you at all.' made me chuckle.

[mylife4usk]

I thought he was pretty imaginative with Jesus Christ Bananas! I certainly never heard that before Dreamcatcher....along with the F 'aree's and F 'arow's. :wow:

[vivazebool]

I've read all his books and I don't remember that one. Do you know which stories inparticular?

Off hand, I can think of:
The Sun Dog
The Regulators
It
The Dark Tower series

They're in a lot of his other stuff, but this is what I've read recently.

[Bryan James]

No writer can use the word "apotheosis" (or a derivation) more than once in his career. It's a law.

By my count, King has broken that law 4 times.

It just sticks out, like a chancre sore on a Victoria's Secret model's unretouched photograph.

BJS

[Bad Bear]

about an hour after i first saw this thread, i read in insomnia 'wouldn't put it past you Roberts, wouldn't put it past you at all.' made me chuckle.

Yay! Someone else spotted it.

I don't think I like that expression.
In fact, I don't like it at all. :smile2:

[KeyboardSamurai]

He tends to put "backthoughts" in his books, like this.

Bill strode toward Richie

(He thrusts his fists against the posts)
and put his hands in his pockets.

[Kim L.]

He tends to put "backthoughts" in his books, like this.

Bill strode toward Richie

(He thrusts his fists against the posts)
and put his hands in his pockets.

Thank you! I never knew that's what they were called.

[Wendy Capps]

Get busy livin or get busy dying. S.S.D.D. i like that one the most.
Those are my 2 favs. Long Live The King. Again congrats of the Awards!!!

[Breger3]

Thank you! I never knew that's what they were called.

I didn't either, but I love them!

[michal]

Can't come up with a particular phrase right now ... but on a broader note the fact that he will "kill his darlings" (characters).

As opposed to reading many author's works reading Stephen King is an adventure as you're never sure who will make it out alive until the end.

In fact, if you're an innocent looking child with fair hair and fearful eyes, chances are about 50-50 you won't make it to the 3rd chapter. But that doesn't mean nice loving grownups don't end up... Well, let's just call it "picking the short straw".

[robdraggoo]

I dont know if this is a quirk or not but I always liked
fugedaboutit

and

"she said rather matter of factly"