Duma Key, the fall of an idol

[Victoria73]

Yes, SK is was my idol since a long time ago. I consider myself a fan of The dark tower (my nick at msn used to be Jake Chambers and im a woman btw).
I have all SK books, and i think he s a genious until....the other day i was reading his book Duma Key and suddenly i saw my country, which i love, humiliated .
On this book u can read (im spanish speaking btw) that the character says something like that dolls r made by unhappy children from Camboya or the damned Uruguay.
Yes, im from Uruguay, and here children doesnt work thank to social politics, and Uruguay isnt a damned country, its the best country in the world.
I invite Mr. Stephen King to come to Uruguay to know the country before saying those words, cause them are very offensive.
Stephen King was my idol number one...until he offended me and an entire country.

[jchanic]

Victoria, you cannot believe that, because one of his characters says something, Stephen King feels the same way. Remember, IT'S FICTION!

John

[adrianmarley]

I agree with John. You cannot judge an author by what his characters say. Stephen King's books contain lots of unpleasant characters: bullies, wife-beaters, racists, homophobes, clowns, vampires, etc. It does not mean that SK shares these views. One of SK's strengths is his ability to create realistic characters that come alive on the page but they should in no way be taken as the author himself.

[~Ally~]

Oohh...I am having a serious case of deja vu with this post .
Adrianmarley you have rsponded with exactly what I was going to say.

[Patricia A]

I'm sorry your feelings were hurt Victoria73, but as so many people have already said, I don't think Stephen King is saying that your country is damned. I think it was character dialogue.
I cannot presume to speak for him, but I can say honestly that from what I've read about him that he would never intentionally insult an entire nation. I understand that he is vigilant in his own patriotism and respectful of others in theirs.
I hope you might someday rejoin the ranks of the constant reader.
We'll save a seat for you.

[Charms7]

I'm sorry your feelings were hurt Victoria73, but as so many people have already said, I don't think Stephen King is saying that your country is damned. I think it was character dialogue.
I cannot presume to speak for him, but I can say honestly that from what I've read about him that he would never intentionally insult an entire nation. I understand that he is vigilant in his own patriotism and respectful of others in theirs.
I hope you might someday rejoin the ranks of the constant reader.
We'll save a seat for you.

Beautifully phrased, Patricia!

[michal]

To be insulted by something a fictional character said is like being angry for a fictional character kicking a dog to death (The Dead Zone) or being racist (The Green Mile, It, Bag of Bones, etc).

Mr King has some of the most murderous, craziest characters ever - from cold blooded killers to child molesters, and you can't possibly believe that he is all this things just for writing about them.

It's as if I being Jewish, should be insulted because of the way Stan suffers from antisemitism at It.

I figure it's just a sensitive point for you, but really, I'm sure it says nothing of what Mr. King feels towards your nation, country or way of life.

[MellowLedbetter]

yeah, all of the above posters are right on the money. but in saying that, I too found myself saddened when Stephen King said in an interview that New Zealand was a "god aweful place". But i'm over it nowadays.

[robdraggoo]

I beleive SK was once called a racist for his constant use of the N word in most of his novels. From my underSTANDing hes not, but some of his characters are. And thats whats great about him, he makes belivable characters by taking himself as the writer and everyone else reading out of the comfort zone

[Perse Jr.]

I can understand where you're coming from, and everyone has pretty much said what I'd say, but I want to add that if SK's characters were all politically and morally correct, etc., etc., they would be some pretty boring characters. What would be the point? All people are different and have different ideals, mores, opinions, passions, likes, dislikes; SK characters have to be the same. That's what makes his work so FANTASTIC!