Regulators Re-read- thoughts ***SPOILERS***

[Clairegriff]

Well, having read Desperation last week, I immediately picked up the Regulators so I could do a direct comparison. I'm actually trying to read all SK novels in chronological order but decided to slide this one in as a special case!
Well, while Desperation scared the bejesus out of me in a very spiritual way, The Regulators was mainly just really, really sad. I have 2 children of my own, and some experience with autism and Seth's situation made me feel so much emotion towards him. I just really wanted to hold him tight and make him feel better. I kept imagining him sitting there in his underwear, totally unable to control this thing inside him, watching it hurt his aunt, who he clearly loved so much, and also being unable to communicate to her. Of course, he does eventually find a way to talk to her, but spends so much of the book in silence, it's terrible really.
I am slightly confused about the way he ends things though. I get why he wanted Cammie to shoot him (Seth) but I'm not sure why he made her shoot Audrey? The way Johnny reacts to it, makes it seem like he was being selfish, and when you subsequently read that the two of them are joined together in Audrey's 'special place' it does kind of seem as though Seth had her killed so he wouldn't be alone, which is understandable but unnecessary. Or did he do it because he just didn't want her to suffer anymore, and felt that death would be the only escape for her (which is what I like to think, but Johnny's reaction made me question it). So, selfish or selfless act??
Anyway, fab book, very interesting how the characters were changed/not changed, some fates stayed the same, some differed, wish Steve Ames had been a more prominent character as I really loved him in Desperation. Overall, loved it!!
Claire xx

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Aye, I think reading it after Desperation is the right time, and I think it would make a great (if high budget) movie.

BTW have you read Amanda Rose's Autism thread?

Long days and pleasant nightys

[Clairegriff]

no I haven't, where would I find it? (still getting to grips with navigating the site!!)

[Seb Shaw]

Hi,

Aye, I think reading it after Desperation is the right time, and I think it would make a great (if high budget) movie.

Agreed

I read it the same way ... Desperation ----> Regulators

[costanza]

If you continue on with the chronological read you'll next come to Dark Tower 4 Wizard and Glass. In the prologue/argument you'll get to the famous line, There are other worlds than these, and that one of the doorways to these other worlds is death. Somehow Seth figured this out while he was in his happy place and now he and Aunt Audrie are frolicking in the roses, eating spaghetti-o's, and playing with Moto-Cops. lol

[Doc Wilson]

Yeah, I re-read them in order, too. To me the ending of Regulators was cool, a way to make something good out of what would have been an extremely dark outcome. It also reminds me of the brilliant ending of Joe Hill's Horns.

[MemnochTheDevil]

As I was reading through this one, I found the receipt where I bought this hardback for $3 at Waldenbooks a couple years after it was released. I can't believe it has taken this long to get around to reading it. I guess I bought Desperation at the same time, read it, and never got back to its companion Regulators. Oh well.

After finishing the Regulators, I wish King/Bachman would have written a little commentary or afterword or something. I guess I have become accustomed to these little tidbits at the end of his books and was really looking forward to it. Total bummer.

Enjoyed both of them though. King has kept me well entertained over the years. I wish I could express my appreciation to him. I hope he keeps it up for as long as he can. I read about one article a year saying that he is retiring and not writing any more novels. My heart always skips a beat, then another book comes out and everything is fine.