Alan Pangborn -- Any Thoughts?

[Stillreading]

I'm currently reading this novel, and although, by and large, I am enjoying (not SK's best, but it's got it's moments) it I'm a little miffed at points where the dialogue bwt. Pangborn and Thad is concerned - there's something goofie about it; goofie and maudlin. It's got the depth of a beer commercial attempting a theme of imagined locker room comraderie...I don't know, weird.

Also, having read Needful Things just a few weeks ago, I was motivated to read the Dark Half in part because of the Alan Pangborn character whom I liked quite a bit. I understand that he was in a much different emotional place in Needful Things, and I understand that King was probably in a slightly different emotional/psychological place when he wrote Needful Things, but really, Pangborn seems like a different character who just happens to share the same name and live in the same geographic region in this one. One quick example is how he conducts himself when he arrives at Thad's house to inform him that he is a suspect in the murder of Homer Gamache. He`didn't seem like the wise and wily veteran who controls his emotions and is nonplussed in the face of adversity like he appears In Needful Things, no, instead he comes across like an emotional volcano set to explode. Obviously, Pangborn existed in The Dark Half first, and I'm reading the two books out of chronology, but I prefer the Pangborn from Needful Things.

[wally wonder]

let us know if you edit your take on alan once you've finished the story! :)

[Terry B]

I'm glad I read this. I'm thinking I need to read The Dark Half again. Thanks.

[Stillreading]

Well, I've finished The Dark Half and I have two things to say: 1) If this was a novel by any other offer I'd say that I was impressed by the imagination and creativity; however, given the fact that I've read so many SK books, I think this effort gets a 'C' grade. It was great in parts, but a little long given the finish, which I pretty much had figured by page 300. Again, as alluded to from my previous post i think Needful Things is a superior novel. Ther eis something more focused and taught about the writing and the narrative. I ffelt at times as though this book was more of an exercise for SK. In fact, I think someone vocalized that very idea on this message board. It was something to the effect that sometimes writers just write to purge themselves of an idea, no matter how good or bad. To some degree i feel like that is what was going on here. Moreover, I believe that one of Sk's major tenets for writing, which he talks about in On Writing is that the only way to become a writer is to write; and the only way to become a good writer is to write more. SK is obviously an awesome writer so I excuse this novel in principle. 2) The Alan Pangborn from Needful Things is currently my favorite SK character, and thusly, I was very disappointed with him in this book. He was better from page 300 or so on, but then he dies a little for me when he starts crying at the end. NOT my Pangborn.

Lastly, I'll just say that Thad Beaumont was one of those charcters that I never really cared anything about, and I think that that has a lot to do with my feelings about the book.

[Bob Ross]

Wow, I had almost the exact opposite reaction when reading THE DARK HALF and NEEDFUL THINGS. One thing to keep in mind as far as Pangborn is concerned is that you're dealing with a character who dealt with some really devastating things between the two books. Life altering events that are enough to change any person's view of life (and I'm not even taking into account the events of THE DARK HALF which was enough to change any logically minded person's view of things). The man literally went through hell and back between DARK HALF and NEEDFUL THINGS, which would go a long way towards explaining why he seems so different.

To me, THE DARK HALF was a much more streamlined novel. I should really get around to re-reading NEEDFUL THINGS soon (it's been over 10 years) but from what I recall I had a much easier time getting through THE DARK HALF.

[Tery]

Alan Pangborn is a gunslinger. The way he calls on the White is quite telling.

[Ranger_Strider]

[QUOTE=Stillreading;307287]It's got the depth of a beer commercial attempting a theme of imagined locker room comraderie...I don't know, weird.
QUOTE]

Yeah, you have to wade through some unseemly moments like these as a Sai King fan. It always makes me squirm a bit too. It's hard to be an outsider trying to think like an insider.

[The Outsider]

It's hard to be an outsider trying to think like an insider.

You're telling ME!! Sorry about that. But I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes its tough to think like the crowd when you're such an individual. That's part of the reason its my name, other part is from a certain King novel.....

[Ranger_Strider]

For me the toughest part of the crowd-think to deal with is this idea that we need to use so many devices for unnecessary things. I think it's all way too much. Waste and pollution, and hallelujah-gawd-bomb!
I guess they got a name for me: Luddite. I have hypocrisy-and-the-resident-self-loathing of the Blogging Luddite Self-Flagellant. It sounds like this: Blog...slap...OW!.....Blog....slap..OW! Etc.

[Ranger_Strider]

I cannot accept or believe that nobody got that. I guess its just me in my Azul Siento.

[Mercy Dagger]

I loved this book but considering it was one of my first stpehen king books I have an attachmnet to it, I need to read it again and see if I still think it's awesome or I have critique for it.

[Pucker]

This was another one where my main interest in the story was in watching the bad guy operate.

I felt there was not nearly enough Alexis Machine in this story.

[GNTLGNT]

I'm a car nut(O.K., say true-I'm just a nut-cashew probably), but I just wanted more of that bad old ride of Stark's!:cool2:

[Mookie]

I am beginning to wonder how Alan Pangborn can partially believe that the alter ego of Thad Beaumont could be responsible for everything that has happened? I know he has his doubts about the Beaumont's story but if you related that to most authority figures you'd be in a white coat pretty quick. But I am only halfway through.....will have to see how it plays out.:eek2:

[Mercy Dagger]

I simply agree! I would like to read the Alexis machine stories!

[Dull Dull Boy]

Def not his best book, but The Dark Half is an entertaining read none the less.

[strange]

I've literally just finished the Dark Half, so my memories are obviously extremely fresh but I do find some of the comments slightly unsettling for own taste. I'm not making these comments to argue but I personally see weakness in some of your comments. I think something I found was Pangborn's change of attitude is understandable, at the start he hates Thad then likes him, why? A townsman is dead, probably a friend and guy he knew well, why wouldn't he control his emotions? At the end he hates Thad again why, he see's what the man is and what he's done. Talking about Needful Things and saying there two different characters is right, experiences change characters the same way as they change us in real life, I'm not the same guy I was a two weeks ago because of circumstances let alone a year or so. Then at the end he sums up the situation the best, he see's Thad for what he was his creation.

The talk between them I admired, someone said it was like a beer commercial, but frankly when I talk with a friend I rarely ever talk formally and we talk with inside jokes and off the wall sorts of stuff and its something you don't see too much in many books, dialogue represented as it would be naturally.

This was my fourth King novel after the The Shining, Cell, Insomnia, so might not have experienced the greatest of King yet, but although yes I was never surprised by what happened and I knew what was happening you read for the ending. You watch a film like Indiana Jones or an adventure film, you no everything going to turn up roses and you no what the end result will be, but your there for the ride leading up to it? I enjoyed this novel a lot because as a 'wannabe' writer the inner conflict is something most writers suffer and the struggle between popular and literary which Thad faces if anything jumped out like Stephen's own experiences perhaps. As for a bigger thing than the writer its a conflict we all have, us vs the super ego, the dark side, the guy who wants to tell your boss to screw you I'm coming in when I want. Maybe I'm a bit too loyal to the King and everyone's got an opinion but I thought this book was still great, we got to see the monster's side of the story too with Stark's want for existence like we all want, its pure survival and I really enjoyed Rawlies cameo and there were some many scenes were I felt the blows given by Stark, its not my favorite King book but for what he does its definitely a 4/5.