I was over at the "Rolling Stone" site looking at a reader's list of top-ten Stephen King books (I believe this was a companion piece to the recent interview). It truly amazes me that "Thinner" isn't on the list. "Misery" is -- which is sort of a Bachman book, if I recall correctly -- but not "Thinner."
"Thinner" is one of my favorite books. And it also is a relatively quick read. You would think this would have a big following among the younger set who might want to get into Stephen King. It's an easy entry point, perhaps not as easy as "Carrie," but easy.
Going back to that "Rolling Stone" list, I would have taken out "The Dead Zone" and replaced it with "Thinner." With confidence, and no regrets.
"Thinner," like "Misery," is fun because it focuses on one character trying to get out of a bad situation. Those types of stories are always cool, and I'm not sure if people will know what I mean but this, but they always help to make readers identify with the protagonists because we've all been there in a sense; obviously, we haven't grappled with the supernatural or a crazed fan, but we may have had a bad time paying the bills or dealing with problems at work -- at those times, it almost feels like we're under the gun and have to sit down and construct internal monologues to figure out what we are going to do next to solve the problem (a recent book I read that reminds me of this is Bentley Little's "His Father's Son" -- that was a great book). You sort of don't get the same feeling with a sprawling tome like "The Stand" or "It."
I enjoyed the movie version as well -- haven't seen it in a while, and I haven't read the book in a while, but I believe in both there is a pretty dark killing of someone in a vehicle that was sent to watch the gypsies, and I have to say, I did not expect the movie version's depiction to disturb me, but if I recall correctly, it did surprise me in that regard -- and I'm wondering if we need a remake, or, maybe even better, how about a series? Dark, like "True Detective." Maybe it could even try to insinuate it's all in Billy's head, he's thinning himself out because of a mental illness, guilt, whatever. Who knows, but I think something needs to bring this book to the current generation's attention.
"Thinner" is one of my favorite books. And it also is a relatively quick read. You would think this would have a big following among the younger set who might want to get into Stephen King. It's an easy entry point, perhaps not as easy as "Carrie," but easy.
Going back to that "Rolling Stone" list, I would have taken out "The Dead Zone" and replaced it with "Thinner." With confidence, and no regrets.
"Thinner," like "Misery," is fun because it focuses on one character trying to get out of a bad situation. Those types of stories are always cool, and I'm not sure if people will know what I mean but this, but they always help to make readers identify with the protagonists because we've all been there in a sense; obviously, we haven't grappled with the supernatural or a crazed fan, but we may have had a bad time paying the bills or dealing with problems at work -- at those times, it almost feels like we're under the gun and have to sit down and construct internal monologues to figure out what we are going to do next to solve the problem (a recent book I read that reminds me of this is Bentley Little's "His Father's Son" -- that was a great book). You sort of don't get the same feeling with a sprawling tome like "The Stand" or "It."
I enjoyed the movie version as well -- haven't seen it in a while, and I haven't read the book in a while, but I believe in both there is a pretty dark killing of someone in a vehicle that was sent to watch the gypsies, and I have to say, I did not expect the movie version's depiction to disturb me, but if I recall correctly, it did surprise me in that regard -- and I'm wondering if we need a remake, or, maybe even better, how about a series? Dark, like "True Detective." Maybe it could even try to insinuate it's all in Billy's head, he's thinning himself out because of a mental illness, guilt, whatever. Who knows, but I think something needs to bring this book to the current generation's attention.