*~Can't Stop Reading~* discussion

One of two books that tied for our October group read. ENJOY!

I re-read this book last month with my horror group in preparation for the release of Doctor Sleep . I originally read this shortly after it was released and then watched the Nicholson/Duvall movie a few years later. What surprised me during this re-read was how I mixed up memories of the book and movie. This still one of my favorite King books.

I'm up to Closing Day / The Grand Tour. Although I've never read the book, I have seen the Nicholson movie, so I expected to not have any surprises. BUT, I'm really surprised by how much of the Torrance's back story was left out of the movie. Those details are making this read quite scary!

You're right Sunny. You are in for quite a few more surprises. I really prefer the book to the movie although there are quite a few people who come down on the other side of that argument. I think I enjoyed the book more the second time around.

Question: The doctor told Jack and Wendy "And of course you two must understand why Danny's invisible friend is named Tony instead of Mike or Hal or Dutch" and they said yes. But, nothing was elaborated upon. Am I missing something, or is that something that will get explained later?

I'm pretty sure there was no reference to it before this point but it will be explained later.

Soooooo creepy! I have actually never seen the movie but I am so terrified that I am now reading something fluffy so I can sleep tonight. I don't think I can handle reading any more of this at night so I just hope I can finish the lat half when I'm off on Tuesday!

I just read in September. It was great was a great revisit

I. am. terrified. He's in room 217...

Oh.....Sunny. The scene coming up in Dreamland Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[at the Torrance family dinner table is brutal. Jack certainly has family issues (hide spoiler)]

So, last night I finished "Revisiting 217" and got most of the way through "The Bedroom" when I had to stop reading in the middle of the chapter because I was just too creeped out. I'll read some more today while the sun is out. LOL!

(((LAUREN!!! I'm there with you!!!)))

I woke up early on Monday morning just to finish. Now I'm watching the movie for the first time and really wish it were daylight hours.

Lauren, I'll be interested to hear what you think of the differences between the book and the movie.

Sweet. Jesus. That was the scariest thing I've ever read.

Ctgt wrote: "Lauren, I'll be interested to hear what you think of the differences between the book and the movie."

Well both completely scared me. Immediately after watching the movie I thought the book was much scarier but then I closed my eyes and kept seeing the creepy girls in their blue dresses and now I am not sure.

They were VERY different. The book does a much better job of showing and explaining the descent into madness. I felt like in the movie Jack was already crazy and was just barely able to hide it. I hated that the movie lost the positive relationship between Jack and Danny. I also preferred his wife in the book, where I felt like she was a bit stronger.

I understand why the movie left out the hedge animals (special effects back then would have made that an expensive undertaking) but there were other parts I wish would have been in there, specifically the playground and Danny playing in the tunnel. And now come my possible spoilers (I have tried to keep everything else rather general) (view spoiler)[ Halloran was a bad ass in the book. WTF was with letting Jack throw an ax into his chest right away? Why couldn't the black man have lived? Come one hollywood! (hide spoiler)]

Overall both were scary and I am glad I read and watched them but I think it will be a one time experience for me.

Sunny in Wonderland wrote: "Sweet. Jesus. That was the scariest thing I've ever read."

A couple of small things that I found pretty creepy.

Daylight Chapter 41
(view spoiler)[ When Danny rounds the corner and sees the guy dressed in a dog suit on all fours! Wow! (hide spoiler)]


Conersations at the Party Chapter 44

(view spoiler)[That weird clock with the Dad and the boy with the dunce cap on. (hide spoiler)]

Lauren wrote: "They were VERY different."

I definitely prefer the book but the movie has some great moments too.

Movie spoilers

(view spoiler)[For whatever reason I find the idea of the roque mallet much more frightening. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I was very surprised on re-reading that there was no reference in the book to the "all work and no play" part of Jack's writing. One of those moments that I transferred from the movie to the book. (hide spoiler)]

Ctgt wrote: "Lauren wrote: "They were VERY different."

I definitely prefer the book but the movie has some great moments too.

Movie spoilers

[spoilers removed][spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ YES! The roque mallet was soooo much scarier!!! (hide spoiler)]

Lauren wrote: "Ctgt wrote: "Lauren, I'll be interested to hear what you think of the differences between the book and the movie."

Well both completely scared me. Immediately after watching the movie I thought t..."

In regards to your original spoiler
(view spoiler)[ This is just me but I never could get all those Chico and The Man and animated Harlem Globetrotter reruns out of my mind. Guess that's kind of dating me, isn't it? (hide spoiler)]

So. I have Doctor Sleep in my possession. I have 14 13 days until the library will demand that I return it for someone else...

I can't bring myself to read it. There's a bloody REDRUM on the back. I need to take a few days off from scarrrrrry before I dig in, because at this point - the book's COVER is freaking me out. LOL!

Sunny in Wonderland wrote: "So. I have Doctor Sleep in my possession. I have 14 13 days until the library will demand that I return it for someone else...

I can't bring myself to read it. There's a bloody REDRUM on the ba..."

I'm 50% through Doctor Sleep and am really enjoying it. It's not super creepy yet.
I picked up the Kindle copy when they droppped the price to $7 and change.

I still don't quite have it in me to read the sequel - seriously, The Shining scared the crap out of me. It was not pretty. LOL!

"Question: The doctor told Jack and Wendy "And of course you two must understand why Danny's invisible friend is named Tony instead of Mike or Hal or Dutch" and they said yes. But, nothing was elaborated upon. Am I missing something, or is that something that will get explained later?"
I'm reading Doctor Sleep right now & learned that Dan's middle name is Anthony. I figured that might be the reason for "Tony" - a sort of self protection mechanism.

Thank you for following up on that one, Mary Ann!

A great scare! I loved reading this book, and had trouble putting it down once I started. I watched the movie, and was really disappointed in it. It was nowhere near as good as the novel was!