Finding the funnies

[Ophelia]

Okay, I know Duma Key itself is not a humorous tale. Of course not.

But Mr. King's use of funny cussword combinations? OMG sometimes he has me holding my sides and laughing. That goes for all the books. He just has very unique, sometimes funny ways of saying things.

But in Duma Key I must point out some of the funnies---

the beach chair breaking and dumping its occupant
some of the main character's confused speech. It can be pretty funny, even though it's not funny for someone going through it.
It had TEEF! The funny childlike language.

[Duma D]

I totally agree; the humorous language and twists of plot are one of the main reasons I like to read King. Even some of the scariest images are also rather funny at the same time, which makes it somehow more real even though it is absurdly unrealistic: the heron flying upside down; the red-capped boy statue over the sistern turned upside down; the giant frog. There is a hideous child-like humor that is both terrifying and funny. I think it keeps the read from being too real, although it keeps it real enough. SPOILER ALERT:It was funny how Wiseman gave the property to the family so they wouldn't contest the will....knowing what he knew would happen to Duma Key! A lot of time good overcomes evil with a humorous twist in Kings stories. Makes the victory that much better!

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I agree too, my favourite was 'Better bring a towel, I think that last fart had lumps in it'

Still cracks me up!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Ophelia]

I totally agree; the humorous language and twists of plot are one of the main reasons I like to read King. Even some of the scariest images are also rather funny at the same time, which makes it somehow more real even though it is absurdly unrealistic: the heron flying upside down; the red-capped boy statue over the sistern turned upside down; the giant frog. There is a hideous child-like humor that is both terrifying and funny. I think it keeps the read from being too real, although it keeps it real enough. SPOILER ALERT:It was funny how Wiseman gave the property to the family so they wouldn't contest the will....knowing what he knew would happen to Duma Key! A lot of time good overcomes evil with a humorous twist in Kings stories. Makes the victory that much better!

To me it feels exactly like when you're little and your parents are introducing you to something or someone extremely scary and you're freaking out and your parents are laughing and nudging you toward it because it's not scaring them. "Oh, go on, honey, it's not that scary."

He often gives the sense of something being amiss, out of place, completely wrong without ever explaining it. Uncertainty generates fear. And in the right atmosphere, even the most childishly simple thing out of place can generate true fear. Think of how much it would freak you out if, say, you had a crucifix on the wall, and you turned your back, then looked at the wall again because you heard a noise, and the crucifix is upside-down. It's just a wall decoration and one of the nails has pulled from the wall, turning the thing around because of its own weight. But it freaks you the heck out because of what it signifies. The symbol has been turned upside-down, which usually means extreme disrespect, hatred, perversion of the original symbol.



And JohnDalglish-- That is hilarious!!!! I can just imagine SK sitting at his keyboard snerking and guffawing at himself.

[morefutility]

It has been a while since I have read the book, and I have probably read hundreds since, but I agree that King has a certain flair. His novels are enjoyable for me because they are so personable. He writes real people (which is difficult, I have read some failures) into unreal situations and he does it well.

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

It's not quite the same thing, but one of the things I admire about SK is the way he takes completely random, meaningless things and makes them sound ominous and frightening... like for example the "Itty bitty baby Smitty" jingle in Desperation/Regulators... or the voice on the telephone speaking numbers in the story 1408... or my favorite example...

We all float down here.

[robdraggoo]

in Duma key I was partial to Reba saying "oh you nasty man!"

[Ophelia]

*wiggles pointer finger*
Red rum! Red rum!

[Alonso]

I am not sure how it was but I think it went like


"Busier than a one legged man in a ass kicking contest"

[cjp240573]

Hi,

I agree too, my favourite was 'Better bring a towel, I think that last fart had lumps in it'

Still cracks me up!

Long days and pleasant nights

hehe, ive joked about that too... many times since reading it.

[omm poppa mow mow]

One of the funnier-creepy moments is when the lawn jockey goes zipping back and forth. Anyone remember those vibrating football games? You flick a switch and all these plastic football guys start vibrating across the metal football field? I had this old used copy. Ma picked it up at a rummage sale. The lawn jockey reminded me of that. Doesn't say anything, just goes zipping from point to point.

[katiesparkles]

SIT IN THE BUDDY, SIT IN THE PAL, SIT ON THE GODDAMN CHAR

it's not funny if you're going through something like this (as OP noted) but i.. i don't know. i giggle everytime i think about the above.

[CarrieJo]

I agree it was hard to laugh without a guilty conscience, but I couldn't help it. There were so many more or less 'inappropriate' time where I was laughing tears while reading Duma Key.

The one that got me laughing the hardest was "A plastic rudder knife is what it was, I was half out of my mind, and it'll be your last words on your f***ing beth-dead, 'Eddie staffed me with a plastic fife, goodbye cruel world.' " The "plastic rudder knife" got me started and when I hit "plastic fife" I was rolling!