Lilo, do you realize that a lot of those one and two star reviews are solely based upon the price of the e-book? Apparently, the e-book costs more than the hardcover.

These Amazon reviewers (morons) are striking out against the publishers, and the authors are paying the price. In some cases, they're giving out zero star reviews without even having read the book.

I didn't realize that PB. But I was referring to reviews in print media.

Speaking of e-books and King here is a short recent WSJ interview with the man himself in which he discusses e-books and the whole digital wave.

Stephen King has filled HIS share of printed pages: Since "Carrie" was accepted for publication in the spring of 1973, he has written more than 40 books and countless short stories. His latest work, coming Nov. 9, is a collection of four stories titled "Full Dark, No Stars." In an author's afterword, Mr. King notes that he wrote one of them, "A Good Marriage," after reading a piece about Dennis Rader, the "BTK Killer" (for "bind, torture and kill") who murdered 10 people in Kansas between 1974 and 1991. He wondered what would happen if a "wife suddenly found out about her husband's awful hobby."

Mr. King is realistic about where books are headed. In digital publishing, as a writer, he's what might be called an "early adopter." Back in March 2000, Simon & Schuster Inc. issued Mr. King's story "Riding the Bullet" as an e-book that was downloaded from the Web onto hand-held devices or computers.

More recently, Mr. King's novella "Ur" was written exclusively for Amazon's Kindle e-reader when the second generation of that device went on sale in February 2009. In the interview below, Mr. King discusses his thoughts on the future of digital reading and publishing:

The Wall Street Journal: Do we get the same reading experience with e-books?

Stephen King: I don't know. I think it changes the reading experience....
King's thoughts

I saw that King interview, Lilo. Elmore Leonard recently stated that he's glad that e-books hit the market only during the "twilight" of his life. He hates the idea.

From a recent interview:

As for e-books, I'll give the last word to Elmore Leonard, who's still cranking out his customary 3 to 4 pages each day from 10-6, even as he prepares to turn 85. "To me, a book is a book, an electronic device is not, and love of books was the reason I started writing," Leonard told me recently. "I don’t have a word processor, e-mail, any of that stuff. I write in longhand mostly, then put it on my typewriter as I go along. I don’t have any interest in any of that electronic stuff, but I’m going on 85, and won’t have to worry about it too much longer.”

What about the rest of us, Elmore?

Actually I didn't preorder the new book. Amazon is selling it new for $14.51. I know that Kroger was already selling it for 20% off but I can't remember if there were more discounts on top of that. Have to check this evening.

I got the new SK book for $19. Started the first story.

I already finished the first novella, Lilo. Send me a pm me when you catch up .

I have put this on my Christmas list along with 754 other books.......

Has anyone else picked up the new SK book yet? I have just finished the first story. I don't want to do a review here but I can say that King has still got it. In spades. He's just a really really good story teller and he does his research. He's able to describe human nature pretty well. That's what makes him such a great writer.

I got it from the library, but haven't started it yet. I do most of my reading at night, and King's usually too scary. I like to save him for airplane trips...

Well so far there are no clowns...

That's a plus!

SB wouldn't be interested then. She loves those cute little clowns. Right SB?


TIS

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of King, I just saw "The Dark Half" (with Timothy Hutton) a few days ago on CHILL station. It was pretty good. Creepy but good.



TIS

The sparrows are flying again! I loved that book.

Don't read the Langoliers on a plane trip Babe

I finished two more of the stories in his latest book, one more to go.
He's a sick twisted SOB and I mean that as the highest of compliments.

Finished the first two and started the third. King is such a great storyteller that his books are always compelling.

Finished it. I wrote a quick review.

I finished it, albeit reluctantly. I did enjoy the book, although I wouldn't say the stories were his best.

Where is your review, Lilo?

Edit: Never mind! Found it!!!!!!

Speaking of which, that and other movie versions will be on the SyFy channel in a King marathon, January 2nd:
http://www.syfy.com/schedule/index.php?date=2011-01-2

I do like The Stand, with the exception of Molly Ringwald. She's like the Sofia Coppola of the mini-series!

Molly: "(whines) I'm Fran! I'm carrying the savior of the new world. (whines)Stuart! Where are you going?? (whines) Vegas with the boys?? Noooo....(whining)"

UGH! I wanted to smack her. Gary Sinise had to pretend to love her, which makes his acting even more impressive.

I have just started to read "Misery" so far so good..

SB, you're hilarious!

But wasn't Fran the character also that way? Can't believe I've already forgotten what I read, but I thought even in the story she was whiny like that? Regardless, the whole idea of complaining about Stu going to Vegas is ridiculous of her! haha

DeNiro, I enjoyed both the book and the movie - Kathy Bates is wonderful to watch as Annie!

Fran was a bit of a spoiled snob in the beginning, but then grew as a person under the new challenges. Molly? Not so much.

I got an e-mail from Stephen King.com regarding his next book. This one will definitely appeal to some of the board members. The title of the book is 11-22-63, and it's about a man who goes back in time to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. I recall a two or three part episode of "Quantum Leap" that touched on the same fantasy.

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas,
President Kennedy died, and the world changed.

If you had the chance to change history, would you?
Would the consequences be worth it?

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

In stores November 8, 2011.

http://www.stephenking.com/promo/11-22-63/announcement/

Sounds interesting!! I can imagine a "King" touch to the story. I am not a huge book reader, but may check this one out. However, I read its 1,000 pages???

Thanks for the heads up.


TIS

You were the first board member I thought of, Tis. Honest to God.

Even though you don't read .