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[Blitzgal]

Originally Posted by Junkenstein

Cell has been described that way, but the cellphone thing was mostly a way to start a story about humans battling against a controlled hive of infected people.

Authors put twists on things to try to make it somewhat original, but at its core that was his zombie novel. (I did read it)

In some of his interviews for the book he bragged about not having a cell phone. So I put that book in his alarmist continuum along with stuff like The Stand (germ experimentation gone awry).

I have Under the Dome in my Kindle but haven't read it yet.

[Junkenstein]

Originally Posted by Blitzgal

I have Under the Dome in my Kindle but haven't read it yet.

I think it could be one of his greatest works, if not his masterpiece. Bleak, tense, real. The story of Man's ultimate self destruction.

When you read it. post your toughts. I'm curious to hear what you think.

[DarkKnightJared]

I also read Catcher in the Rye in high school and couldn't get into it. Spoiled, whiney teenager with a Peter Pan complex ranting about all the phonies in the world for 150 pages? Pass.

The reason why it's been in schools so long, I think, is partly because it had the word "fuck" in it--until the Harry Potter books it was the book most often tried to be taken out of libraries--and because teenagers back in the day were able to relate to Holden that, from my experience, most teenagers today just don't.

[Junkenstein]

That makes me think: "What books do the teenagers of today relate to? (If they read)"

Harry Potter? As good as it's written, it's still a fantasy story directed at kids or grown ups with peter pan syndrome

Twilight? It's just an Harmony Romance novel that happens to take place between vampires.

Is there still a writer that changes lives. My was John Fante, but simply because it pushed me towards the desire of writing something of my own. But he's a classic old writer. The best example of modern writer that changed lives i know was David Foster Wallace, but he was very hard to read. But when he hit the right stride he made my heart explode (Some of the Stories in "Oblivion").

[PoorGradStudent]

For those of you that haven't read Catcher in the Rye, this visual may help.
Normal Book.png
Catcher in the Rye.png

[EastTexas]

The thing I always thought funny about Catcher in the Rye was everyone quoting "you sir are a gentleman and a scholar."
Anytime I hear someone say it they use it as a sincere thank you.
In the novel it was sarcasm and meant "You sir are a dick bag and an imbecile".

I can always tell who didn't really read it when they use that.


...and the autograph thing.
Living in Dallas I met quite a few Rangers, Cowboys, Mavs, and a lot NASCAR drivers. Sanchez was being a dick. Most everyone I've met has been really cool about their celeb status and fans saying hi.

[v00deux]

To be fair to King though (and I have read most of his works, if not the most recent) this notion of "ordinary thing > something lurking, not as it seems > DISASTER!" is pretty common in fiction, especially in horror. Doesn't have to be only technology gone awry, and frequently isn't. But our society is technology based and only getting more dependent on it, so writers have to put their boogeymen in the circuitboards.

[i'minu]

i might be wrong, i'm not a good reader or writer. isn't catcher in the rye about a kid who might be/is responable, for his only friend falling from a tree. then slowy hating everything around him, as the guilt overwhelms him. leading him to slowly internali e (the . button doesn't work) life around him in a egocentric way. i think the kid felt like a douche was the point. maybe it was a differnt book. oh it was, it was the "monster at the end of the book " , staring the lovable, huggable, furry old grover

i have always enjoyed vonnegut books. quick reads with a good sense of humor. breakfast of champions, and cat's cradle are 2 good ones.
" the hopes and fears of all the years are with us tonight"

[Grampoo]

That is weird how certain types of enthusiasm makes people dislike things. Many people HATE the Grateful Dead like that. I loved "Catcher in the Rye" when I was a teenager and I'd probably still feel that way now, so I don't like it being just dismissed as pretentious by folks who've never read it, or don't remember it. But yeah, I agree that I'm probably missing out on lots of good stuff for that same reason. I haven't seen "Fight Club" for that reason and I'm pretty sure I'd like it.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by i'minu

i might be wrong, i'm not a good reader or writer. isn't catcher in the rye about a kid who might be/is responable, for his only friend falling from a tree. then slowy hating everything around him, as the guilt overwhelms him. leading him to slowly internali e (the . button doesn't work) life around him in a egocentric way. i think the kid felt like a douche was the point. maybe it was a differnt book. oh it was, it was the "monster at the end of the book " , staring the lovable, huggable, furry old grover"

A Separate Peace. Gave me a thing for charming, mischievous, waspy dudes. hottt.