Stephen King's use of the F-Word

[Zell]

I've read many of King's books to include 11/22/63. He can spin a good yarn that captivates me and keeps me up at night reading, hence I keep buying his books. His writing style is far superior than many of the other popular authors out there. I learn a lot about the craft of writing every time I read one of his books.

The one thing I don't like about his writing, though, is his constant drops of the F-bomb. It seems like about every other page or so he lets loose one or two or three of them and for me it's distracting. I can handle some of them here or there in a book but King lets them drop like a B-52 carpet bombing a swath of enemy land. And it's not like King uses quite a few of the other popular Four Letter Words -- in addition to the mother of all cuss words -- but on many pages of his books it's the only swear word used over and over.

I'd like to hear other's opinions on this as well.

Thanks!

[ConstantReader1973]

You're right, but that's part of what makes the stories come alive for me. I know many people who use that word often in their everyday conversation. My husband was raised in the northeast USA, and if you've ever been there, you know that many people consider that word to be just another colorful adjective, thrown into regular conversations for emphasis.

I'm not offended by it, but I could see how it might offend some people. Have you ever read Lisey's Story? In it, sai King created a rather playful alternative to the word and used it throughout the book.

[Spideyman]

I've read many of King's books to include 11/22/63. He can spin a good yarn that captivates me and keeps me up at night reading, hence I keep buying his books. His writing style is far superior than many of the other popular authors out there. I learn a lot about the craft of writing every time I read one of his books.

The one thing I don't like about his writing, though, is his constant drops of the F-bomb. It seems like about every other page or so he lets loose one or two or three of them and for me it's distracting. I can handle some of them here or there in a book but King lets them drop like a B-52 carpet bombing a swath of enemy land. And it's not like King uses quite a few of the other popular Four Letter Words -- in addition to the mother of all cuss words -- but on many pages of his books it's the only swear word used over and over.

I'd like to hear other's opinions on this as well.

Thanks!

If it is being true to the character's nature to swear and use the F word, then that is how SK writes it.

[Sundrop]

It's funny, I usually become so engrossed with the story, that I've never really noticed how frequently the f-bomb is dropped.
I still don't think it's as often as you suggest.

[fljoe0]

His characters sound like the people I know.

[ghost19]

It's just part of the vernacular where I work, I don't use the word around my 7 year old, but other than that......it just doesn't seem like a big deal to me in speech or in literary works.....course I'm also easily entertained by dirty limericks.....go figure....

[Moderator]

Having lived in the New England area most of my life, I'd concur with that. I was fairly young when we moved from Maine to Massachusetts (around 10) and was amazed to learn that the F bomb didn't seem to be any big deal but if you said "fricken," you would get shocked looks at the vulgar language coming out of your mouth. That has probably changed in the decades since then, but the use of the F bomb certainly hasn't. Have to confess it comes out of my mouth a lot more often than it probably should because it's been such a commonly heard/used word most of my life but I have learned to temper its usage for occasions when I definitely should not.

[blunthead]

Let's face it. Without the "F" word none of us would exist.

[~Ally~]

Fiddlesticks?! No, that can't be it!

Oh you mean THE F~Word? Sure he drops a few fooks in there, but I don't feel it's "constant" or that "every other page or so he lets loose one or two or three of them." I dunno, I just don't notice them as frequently as you do...maybe I's a bad bad reader. Or maybe I just get swept away in the story and appreciate whichever context it's used in is necessary to that particular piece of text?

Either way, I'm sorry the use of the naughty word detracts from your enjoyment of King's stories. Ms Mod, have a word with the big man will ya? Tell him his use of the F~Word is effing unacceptable. Cheers.

[bopropadop]

Having lived in the New England area most of my life, I'd concur with that. I was fairly young when we moved from Maine to Massachusetts (around 10) and was amazed to learn that the F bomb didn't seem to be any big deal but if you said "fricken," you would get shocked looks at the vulgar language coming out of your mouth. That has probably changed in the decades since then, but the use of the F bomb certainly hasn't. Have to confess it comes out of my mouth a lot more often than it probably should because it's been such a commonly heard/used word most of my life but I have learned to temper its usage for occasions when I definitely should not.

F***in'-A, Ms. Mod. Right on.