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Just ordered the book. Should be here by Sunday. Can't wait to get started.

I just finished. You will not be disappointed.

About The Life of Chuck... I really enjoyed it. (view spoiler)[The organization is kind of funky, and the message is a little unsettling. (hide spoiler)] But one thing King does really well is allow his characters (and through them his readers) to have fun. And I think that talent really shines through in this story.

I agree Nick, Act III was so incredible, it's almost a shame that it was first. Would have been one of his best endings. Still loved it though.

Charles wrote: "I agree Nick, Act III was so incredible, it's almost a shame that it was first. Would have been one of his best endings. Still loved it though."


Strange organization... but it does work. More innovations from Mr. King.

Nick wrote: "Strange organization... but it doe..."

King said that it was actually three short stories that he adjusted and strung together, so I think that's where some of the strangeness comes in. He didn't write it beginning to end, or even with the idea of it being ONE story.

Kandice wrote: "Nick wrote: "Strange organization... but it doe..."

King said that it was actually three short stories that he adjusted and strung together, so I think that's where some of the strangeness comes i..."


Makes sense. The genius is how he was able to string them together and have it add up to something.

Just finished the feature novella IF IT BLEEDS. I thought it had a bit of a slow start but (view spoiler)[the climax more than made up for it (hide spoiler)] excellent. Now I'm well into rat, and starting to feel that things may not go as smoothly as I hope. It's also a nice dissertation on the problem of writers who can't write.

Just finished. Four stars. A really good read though I thought the Holly Gibney story was a little too pat. Really liked the three accompanying works... all equally good.

Just reading “Four past midnight�� now. Really better than “If it bleeds�� in terms of content...

Yes!! My copy came in the mail today. Due to a big back up on deliveries by air we have had to wait for books to arrive by ship here in NZ. And our post is completely backed up too. If It Bleeds is still not in bookstores because of this. I am so excited, I am going to start this tonight.

Kellie wrote: "Yes!! My copy came in the mail today. Due to a big back up on deliveries by air we have had to wait for books to arrive by ship here in NZ. And our post is completely backed up too. If It Bleeds is..."


Well worth the wait, I think.

Just finished Mr Harrigan’s Phone. I thought it was a pretty good start. It reminded of the twilight zone. Also gave me a hint of old Stephen King.

Kellie, I agree with you. I enjoyed Mr Harrigan's Phone.

I'd live to hear what you think of THE LIFE OF CHUCK. Please let us know what you think when you finish it.

Nick, I almost gave up on The Life of Chuck, I find the first depressing and bleak, but I stuck with it and enjoyed the rest of it. By the end of the story it made sense to me.

Murray wrote: "Nick, I almost gave up on The Life of Chuck, I find the first depressing and bleak, but I stuck with it and enjoyed the rest of it. By the end of the story it made sense to me."


That's pretty much how I felt. In the end I loved it.

Just finished Life of Chuck. I have to say I loved it. I really enjoyed the way the story was told as each act went further into the past. I was intrigued by the first part and wanted to keep on reading to see how it all connected. I was not disappointed.

I am looking forward to “if it bleeds��, I really liked the Outsider (though it could have had a better ending) and I love Holly as a character.

Kellie wrote: "Just finished Life of Chuck. I have to say I loved it. I really enjoyed the way the story was told as each act went further into the past. I was intrigued by the first part and wanted to keep on re..."


Right, I'm feeling better and better about it, and I especially loved how he wove those very happy moments in with the rest of the story.

Finally got my copy!

Just finished If It Bleeds. I really enjoyed 3 of the 4 stories,it now makes me want to read the Bill Hodges trilogy and the Outsider.

Murray wrote: "Just finished If It Bleeds. I really enjoyed 3 of the 4 stories,it now makes me want to read the Bill Hodges trilogy and the Outsider."

The Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider are all really good.

Murray wrote: "Just finished If It Bleeds. I really enjoyed 3 of the 4 stories,it now makes me want to read the Bill Hodges trilogy and the Outsider."


So, Murray, I'm guessing you liked If It Bleeds and probably Mr. Harrigan's Phone... so the one you didn't like was ????

I think this book qualifies as one of King's weaker in the last years, the only story that was above average was "If it bleeds" the other three was nothing special at all.
King can do so much better than this.

I gave it a three star rating and that was generous.
Also, the cat cover is nice.

Nick, the Life of Chuck, I don't know how to really describe how I feel about that one, I think it was the first of the story I didn't like the rest of the story I liked. I didn't hate the story it wasn't one of my favorite ones.

Derrick wrote: "Murray wrote: "Just finished If It Bleeds. I really enjoyed 3 of the 4 stories,it now makes me want to read the Bill Hodges trilogy and the Outsider."

The Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider are ..."

Thanks Derrick, I'll look into them.

Life of Chuck seems to be one of those polarizing King stories. There is no middle ground. Love it or hate it. I loved it, but I can see why others didn't care for it. There is no immediate payoff.

Michael wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Life of Chuck seems to be one of those polarizing King stories. There is no middle ground. Love it or hate it. I loved it, but I can see why others didn't care for it. There is no i..."


So life of chuck is like liver? Can be delicious but might give you gout? :-)

I just finished If It Bleeds novella, which I thought was good. However, I felt that in the end it was kind of predictable and lacking a little. I did like it but I felt it could have been better.

Michael wrote: "Nick wrote: "Michael wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Life of Chuck seems to be one of those polarizing King stories. There is no middle ground. Love it or hate it. I loved it, but I can see why others didn..."


Liver doesn't actually cause gout, but if you have the condition it can bring on a painful attack that can last for weeks. Happened to me when I was 35. I had fried liver for dinner and an hour later I was in excruciating pain. Took years to get the condition under control. Maybe I should write a short story about that experience.

Yes, Nick, please do!

Kandice wrote: "Life of Chuck seems to be one of those polarizing King stories. There is no middle ground. Love it or hate it. I loved it, but I can see why others didn't care for it. There is no immediate payoff."

I'm reading that story now. Not sure how I feel about it yet.

I Loved The Life Of Chuck. I felt like it was unusual but paid off at the end.

I finished the story, I liked it.

I finished the book. I enjoyed it, as a whole, I did think some stories were better then others.

I have just finished the book. I also thought it was also quite good as a whole. The last story Rat was a good read but I felt that it could have been much more interesting. It just lacked something. But I still enjoyed it.

I generally liked the stories in this book but it seems like Rat and Mr Harrigans Phone were pretty predictable. The Life of Chuck was weird but I liked it. I think overall this was better than The Institute.

Kellie wrote: "I have just finished the book. I also thought it was also quite good as a whole. The last story Rat was a good read but I felt that it could have been much more interesting. It just lacked somethin..."

Yes, I agree. I felt like Rat was the weakest out of all of the stories.

i read this two weeks ago and the first story is the best one. second one has value bcoz of its writing its three act and its in reverse order of events. if it bleeds was a story for holly that i did not know i needed. her character arc has been a strong one. it did spoil the outsider for me.
the last one felt like a story that shows all the fears that writers have. it was a great one.

Sakshi wrote: "i read this two weeks ago and the first story is the best one. second one has value bcoz of its writing its three act and its in reverse order of events. if it bleeds was a story for holly that i d..."


I like your observations, Sakshi. And I agree with all of them, though I do think the second story has more going for it than just the organization and the order.

My birthday is coming up and my super cool grandma sent me gift cards for Amazon and Barnes & Noble! I'm definitely getting If It Bleeds.

GOOD TO HEAR. Look forward to your opinions.

Derrick wrote: "My birthday is coming up and my super cool grandma sent me gift cards for Amazon and Barnes & Noble! I'm definitely getting If It Bleeds."

Nice

So my copy of If It Bleeds was delivered today! Did not expect it to arrive that quickly. I'll be able to start it just as soon as I finish The Troop.

Derrick wrote: "So my copy of If It Bleeds was delivered today! Did not expect it to arrive that quickly. I'll be able to start it just as soon as I finish The Troop."


Great.

Derrick wrote: "So my copy of If It Bleeds was delivered today! Did not expect it to arrive that quickly. I'll be able to start it just as soon as I finish The Troop."

Wow, you got it quick!

Derrick wrote: "So my copy of If It Bleeds was delivered today! Did not expect it to arrive that quickly. I'll be able to start it just as soon as I finish The Troop."

I look forward to seeing which you like best. It seems to say a lot about taste.

Kandice wrote: "Derrick wrote: "So my copy of If It Bleeds was delivered today! Did not expect it to arrive that quickly. I'll be able to start it just as soon as I finish The Troop."

I look forward to seeing whi..."

Now I'm worried you all will think I have poor taste lol

Derrick wrote: "Now I'm worried you all will think I have poor taste lol..."

There are no wrong favorites! I just find it interesting that we all have a different favorite since this group of four is so eclectic.

Kandice wrote: "Derrick wrote: "Now I'm worried you all will think I have poor taste lol..."

There are no wrong favorites! I just find it interesting that we all have a different favorite since this group of four..."

My money's on the Holly story💙