Love King but is it only me that...

[hapijoyo]

Is it only me or has Mr. King gotten a case of health paranoia or obsession? Since his tramatic accident, I've often gotten the feeling that I'm being constantly reminded & reprimanded about health & lifestyle issues, with "Just After Sunset" being a compilation of stories that I now sadly think of as "The Guilt-Trip Book". Yes, they're all good stories, but please, is being healthy darkest thing that lurks in the back of peoples nightmares today? Occasionally, in earlier works, he would make a humorous comment about cancer sticks or someone's weight, but in the last 10 years or so it seems (to me) that at least 1-2 times (in almost all his stories) he has embellished on a minor character's health/lifestyle issue much more than needed, & often where it does nothing to enhance the story. To constantly be reminded or reprimanded about something is what I consider nagging & that's what what I feel is happening, even if that's not his intention. I understand that he's had huge reasons for being concerned about his health & guess I should appreciate that he might be trying to let us know that we all should be concerned for our own, but it's gotten to the point (with me anyway) that it's become somewhat annoying. We're already warned every day by the media, our doctors, family, friends, teachers, drug companies & basic advertising about the risks we take by having unhealthy lifestyles. I read for pleasure & to escape everday issues & when the pleasure is interrupted by the feeling that I'm being nagged & guilt-tripped, well, some of the enjoyment is gone. I guess I'll try his next couple of books, but if I keep getting that guilt-trip, nagging feeling I think I'll just go to the doctor's office & pick up a couple of brochures & re-read Mr. King's old books instead of buying new ones.

[Nero]

QQ

Not to be a douche but... there's a reason he has a website which all of us frequent, and not the other way around. It's cause he knows what he's doing. I think he's earned the right to write about whatever's on his mind. Which probably is health, not only his own, besides the fact that I've taken it as he's just reflecting the health obsession that's been going around the country increasingly for a while now.

If I was you I wouldn't sweat it this much. I'd take my health advice from the doctor or Men's Health (sometimes Maxim). I'd read fiction just for what it is, entertainment. And while some of King's work may have an intended message or moral, it's usually something more significant than trying to be the "Apple slices in the new Happy Meal". I don't think he's doing it to strike a nerve in you or anybody else. I wouldn't take it as him preaching, I just think he's writing about what he knows: the world around him.

[tempest]

Well I did not get that feeling reading Just after Sunset. I always think of the "Live and Learn" motto when I realize I have had self defeating health behaviors.

If Stephen King realized his Mortality because of an accident and is taking better care of himself I am glad. I would not mind a message or two in his stories about consequences.

Thank you for being honest about your reaction-your probably not alone.

[aptpupil]

Hey, Stephen is just growing up and subconsciously addressing the issues of getting older and mortality

I think that almost every mainstream novelist/songwriter could have his or her age fairly accurately estimated by the nature of their writings.

He isn't 25 anymore, but there are plenty of good authors out there who are, if SK doesn't float your boat anymore.

[JRM]

I actually agree, lol. I really his book stop mentioning people dying of cancer. I've noticed it in many of his books. Love the books, though.

[Mr Nobody]

I know what you mean about the ubiquitous nagging via the media, from doctors, Govt, etc. None of them ever think to question whether the way society is set up is actually to blame. After all, we're just trying to bumble along and do the best we can in the time we have. If things fall apart, our lifestyles are unhealthy, our food is junk, our kids are delinquent...there is a personal responsibility factor, but is there really much we can do about it? I mean, I don't ask the food companies to put extra sugar, salt and chemicals in my food; they do that anyway. People with kids are told they are expected to work full-time jobs, and have to to make the ends meet, but then they're criticized for not being there for the kids as much as they should be. That leads to stress and stress leads to stroke and heart-attacks. Simple answer is to remove all the causes of stress and dial it back a decade or so, when things seemed (and maybe were) more relaxed.

But anyway, has SK developed an obsession.
He definitely mentions or draws parallels to his own experience and injuries in a way that goes far beyond the natural musing and contemplation of a man in his 60s, and yes, it can sometimes seem to intrude.
However, putting myself in his shoes, I doubt I'd do anything different. Different people will always react in different ways but when you've come so close to being taken out of the game, it's often a real shock to the senses and your world-view shifts. The 'It'll never happen to me' stuff gets replaced with 'Jesus Christ! It nearly did happen to me!'...and once you've hit that fork in the road, there's no going back.
So, yeah, you have a good point...but (and I think I might have said this before) SK has his reasons for writing what he does. It might or might not add anything crucial to the story, but the event changed the man and the man is the writer. That all means what the writer writes will change, too.
If anything, the 'nagging' in recent books shows exactly how traumatized Stephen was by his close call (and the aftermath), and generally elicit a feeling of sympathy (note: not pity) from me.

[~Ally~]

Ha, welcome to the board, interesting introduction.
I feel you may have unintentionally answered your own question however. I don't believe the "guilt trips" are anything to do with health paranoia or obsession. I feel they are merely a way of representing what is happening within culture and society now. You said yourself you have noticed this within the last ten years, which IMO represents the fact that now we are more aware of how our actions can affect us or society as a whole. Many years ago those "cancer sticks" were considered a hazard to the person who was enjoying them, whereas now we understand their toxins can affect a much wider circle than the individual who is inhaling and exhaling.

I believe the "hidden" messages in the stories are all about moving with the times and recognising the benefits subliminal health promotion may have on a persons health. For example you mentioned "weight". Again many years ago people may have thought being fat meant you were lazy, smelly, and didn't know how to look after yourself (not my opinion, but a very big misconception). Now however, we know there are a lot more negative side effects than purely being considered unattractive, the strain on the heart being the biggest downfall/killer. I don't want to get into an anatomy and physiology lesson here but I'm sure we all get the picture.

The stories and "reprimands" are simply an accurate way of representing the truth of what is happening in the world today. We all need to face up to real life no matter how displeasing that may be.

[Prince of Darkness]

Hi,

Scars add character, not plot.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Srbo]

Ah, people think about that all the time.

On BB Kings latest album, the opener is called " Keep my grave clean"..and he is 83, so yeah, he thinks about it.

But then again, Angus Young was only 20 when he wrote that he is on a " Highway To Hell."


And, besides that, Steve said manny times that he looooovvvveeeessss
to scare people.
With you, he succeeded.

Welcome to the board.

[Cowboy]

Aptpupil said it well. His writing has grown and evolved as he has grown and evolved into who he is today. I personally think he is writing better now than he ever has. With age comes wisdom.