A Review of The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King - My Favorite Selections

Since childhood, Stephen King has propelled my imagination to foreign places, delivering horrors that keep on giving. If you are like me, you have a lifelong relationship with Mr. King...well, at least with his stories. Granted, few can say they actually know him, but I am okay with being one of his constant readers as long as he keeps writing. 

I find it comforting that even with all his accolades, King states that he is an amateur. In his opinion, writing is something all writers can consistently improve on. A story is never truly finished as long as the author is alive and eager to perfect his/her art. I'll try to keep that in mind whenever I'm working on a story that has me on the ropes in a choke-hold.

So he's at it again...

The title alone and accompanying artwork is enough to invite me in and once I'm there, his stories carve into my subconscious, navigating  busy junctures, leading me into a boondocks of endless possibilities. This time he's taking me/us on a bazaar of bad dreams. I have no expectations and yet, I playfully whisper, surprise me. 

Mile 81

For the record, I'm not a fan of driving on the highway, the concrete dividers inspire nightmares in and of itself.  At times, it can be a scary place; even when you're at the wheel. All it takes is one wrong move by you or a distracted driver and anything, everything can go wrong. If the odds are in your favor,  you walk away with minor abrasions or you're carved into by carnivorous metal that somehow graduated with a PhD in Creative Butchery in a matter of a millisecond.

In Mile 81 we're introduced to various characters that vie for our attention. I have a healthy imagination, but the story didn't seize my fear. Christine had teeth; the antagonist in Mile 81... Well, I'll let you decide for yourself. The characters, specifically the teenagers were interesting, but with short stories, it's hard to get to know the characters, much less care about what happens to them.  I started to care when Rachel and Blakey came into the story line.

To his credit, King delivers jokes you can enjoy for years to come. Often, it comes to mind when you’re trying to get a joke or jab in. That's why I read his stories; he keeps me entertained even when I don't particularly like a story.

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Life can become redundant for couples and even more so when they’ve been together for 37 years. Still, I enjoyed the depth of the couple’s interaction in this story. Ray and Mary spend most of their time disagreeing than loving  and appreciating each other until the couple goes for a ride and stop to pick up a treat for their niece in a dilapidated part of town.

Life is strange like that; one minute you’re going toe to toe and the next, you're staring at the mirror wondering if it was all a dream. I like this story the most. It just goes to show you that sometimes getting a good scare is not necessarily the best form of entertainment; being able to sit back, and appreciate the deeper meaning of a story can be equally gratifying.

So, what's the verdict?

This collection did  not inspire bad dreams, but if you are a fan of King's body of work give it a try. 

Either way, I enjoyed the book and I think you will too. 

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"There are times when life is shorter than a waltz, so dance—damn it, dance!" - Mila A. Ballentine

A Review of THE STAND by Stephen King

Rating: 5 Screams

The Stand isn’t for the faint-hearted, the umbrella of political correctness was out to pasture. King is no doubt mischievous and likes to rile readers but it’s for a greater purpose. I think he wants to draw attention to the unfortunate labels that are prevalent in our and many other societies.  It’s not a coincidence that the heroines in many of his books are often individuals that society looks down on. He’s advocating in a subtle, yet clever way. I respect that.

The characters came to life in such a way that it was an intimate affair. I use to think Stephen was all about the scare but he’s a funny guy and it comes through in just about all of his books. My favorite scene was with Stewart and Tom near the Christmas tree. It brought tears to my eyes. By then, I knew them as if they were my neighbors in the free zone. The most terrifying part of the story was when Flagg and Nadine commenced. It was disturbingly delicious in the most diabolical sense. One could only wish to have the skill to describe something so horrific in such a way that makes the reader want to crawl out of themselves to escape the image budding in their minds.

He has a knack for honing in on the things that makes one’s blood crawl, and scrapes terror from the bowls of one’s imagination with the stroke of a pen. And that's why I wouldn't want him to read me a bedtime story.

Until next time, happy reading!

Open Mouth Insert Book!

I have been an avid Stephen King fan for many years. His books have always managed to engage my imagination.  I entered the worlds he created with ease. Despite all his success, there was a time when publishers failed to realize his worth. It’s hard to believe he endured years of rejection letters. Despite the rejection, he kept writing. Stephen invested in his dream until others were willing to. Then, Carrie changed everything for Stephen King. The manuscript made it through the almost impenetrable doors of traditional publishing. Even if you are not a fan of his work, you have to admire his determination.

Now imagine if your favorite author openly bashed self-published authors. It is an unfortunate occurrence. Once an author reaches a certain level of success many people look up to them. Yet, there is ample ‘self-published author bashing’ occurring. It is not wise to offend the people who look up to you. Reach out and give words of encouragement. It is important to remember that self-published authors are consumers who buy, read and recommend traditionally published books.

Many traditionally published authors decide to self publish series when their publishers end them. It’s a smart move and I applaud them for taking the initiative. They realize the value of keeping their readers happy. Books have errors whether they are self published or traditionally published! If you disagree, think back to your education.  Many textbooks meant to educate us had and will continue to have errors. 

“Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones.”- Stephen King.  Keep writing, perfect your craft and do not let anyone kill your passion.  Glory does not always come from the mouth of others, sometimes it comes from knowing you are determined to succeed.