TrivialPursuit said:

Empress said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Not yet. I've been working to finish a quilt (which I did last night), so my reading time has been a bit abbreviated.

I'm at the point where they've left Bucky's, and they just checked into a motel outside Vegas. Billy is plotting, and checking house pics on Google Earth and Zillow.

And yeah, the Overlook stuff is so fun to throw in there. The book is definitely not a horror book. Sometimes, the real horror is just life itself and situations we find ourselves in. The monsters are those people around us who would do us harm for the sake of it.

Let me know when you're finished and what your thoughts are on the ending.

Totally coming back to talk about it when I'm done. Hopefully by this weekend.

I finished Billy Summers last night. I was sorta surprised at how it ended. I was sorta pissed, too. Not a lot, but maybe it was because as a reader, I started to root for Billy to get what he wants. You want to see him get away with it. I wanted to get a bit more from Nick on it all.

It sorta reminds me of I Am Legend, with the guy being sort of a lone wolf, then a girl comes into his life and he teams up with her on their own adventure; him an unwilling teammate, her very willing to escape her life for a new start.

The oft references to the Overlook Hotel were a great addition. I suppose that's the supernatural element. That even in a world of someone like Billy Summers, a hit man, there are evil spirits and ghosts out there, just a stone's throw away.

But the way King did it ending interesting, with the "story" then the real take on it. I liked that. Overall, it's really a classic King novel. He really knows how to just put you in a moment with someone. There doesn't always have to be action going on. Sometimes, it's just a hit man, under an assumed name, playing Monopoly with his neighbor's kids and whooping their ass at it. And that goes on for a couple of pages. And that's okay. That's King.

Also, I do wish there was a bit of a news report about Lockridge on the news, and the neighbors were interviewed or something. He could've laid a bit of a seed about Klerke owning the news stations and only his stations were out there to capture Joel Allen's "moment." That would've rounded out the assumption about all that later. A whole sub-chapter could've been all that. The neighbors, the news anchors, etc. It would've taken everyone out of Billy's timeline for a hot second. Just to break it up.

Also, I sorta wonder who'd play Billy Summers in a movie version. I had an actor in mind, but I can't remember his name for the life of me. He's probably around 50 in real life, thin, lanky, rugged, good looking as all hell. I kept seeing Alice as an Asian girl; Filipino maybe.

Edit: I figured out who the actor was. It's David Strathairn. I think they can "young" him down about 10 years with hair color and makeup. I don't see Billy particularly young, probably in his 40s or so, maybe approaching 50. Bucky is certainly a bit older, too. I kept seeing him in my mind while I was reading. No idea why. I also thought - and stay with me - Paul Rudd. He's a great dramatic actor, and I think he could get "dirty" if he let himself get into this role. Someone like Gerard Butler or Jason Statham seems too obvious. They need someone unexpected in this role. Someone who could blend into things, not stand out. Bryan Cranston would be good, but it could be a bit too close to Walter White sometimes, disguises, crime, etc. Simon Baker is another possibility.

Marge. Fucking Marge!

[Edited 10/12/21 12:14pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

I finished Billy Summers last night. I was sorta surprised at how it ended. I was sorta pissed, too. Not a lot, but maybe it was because as a reader, I started to root for Billy to get what he wants. You want to see him get away with it. I wanted to get a bit more from Nick on it all.

It sorta reminds me of I Am Legend, with the guy being sort of a lone wolf, then a girl comes into his life and he teams up with her on their own adventure; him an unwilling teammate, her very willing to escape her life for a new start.

The oft references to the Overlook Hotel were a great addition. I suppose that's the supernatural element. That even in a world of someone like Billy Summers, a hit man, there are evil spirits and ghosts out there, just a stone's throw away.

But the way King did it ending interesting, with the "story" then the real take on it. I liked that. Overall, it's really a classic King novel. He really knows how to just put you in a moment with someone. There doesn't always have to be action going on. Sometimes, it's just a hit man, under an assumed name, playing Monopoly with his neighbor's kids and whooping their ass at it. And that goes on for a couple of pages. And that's okay. That's King.

Also, I do wish there was a bit of a news report about Lockridge on the news, and the neighbors were interviewed or something. He could've laid a bit of a seed about Klerke owning the news stations and only his stations were out there to capture Joel Allen's "moment." That would've rounded out the assumption about all that later. A whole sub-chapter could've been all that. The neighbors, the news anchors, etc. It would've taken everyone out of Billy's timeline for a hot second. Just to break it up.

Also, I sorta wonder who'd play Billy Summers in a movie version. I had an actor in mind, but I can't remember his name for the life of me. He's probably around 50 in real life, thin, lanky, rugged, good looking as all hell. I kept seeing Alice as an Asian girl; Filipino maybe.

Edit: I figured out who the actor was. It's David Strathairn. I think they can "young" him down about 10 years with hair color and makeup. I don't see Billy particularly young, probably in his 40s or so, maybe approaching 50. Bucky is certainly a bit older, too. I kept seeing him in my mind while I was reading. No idea why. I also thought - and stay with me - Paul Rudd. He's a great dramatic actor, and I think he could get "dirty" if he let himself get into this role. Someone like Gerard Butler or Jason Statham seems too obvious. They need someone unexpected in this role. Someone who could blend into things, not stand out. Bryan Cranston would be good, but it could be a bit too close to Walter White sometimes, disguises, crime, etc. Simon Baker is another possibility.

Marge. Fucking Marge!

[Edited 10/12/21 12:14pm]

Marge. Fucking Marge! LMAO! I felt the same way.

SK is such an amazing writer. I agree that the way he ended it with the story and then the real story was brilliant. I was rooting for Billy all the way. The way he described his time in Iraq was tense and scary and I loved how much he respected Alice and the way he went after those 3 pigs that assaulted her was fantastic. I wish more people would do that in real life.

I'm not a huge fan of SK books made into movies. Some have been very good, but the large majority were not IMO. I have a feeling this one will make it into a movie and IF they do it right, it could be very good. We shall see. Glad you enjoyed it. I can't wait for his next book. Sometimes, I start to think about his age and how much longer he will write, but I have to chase those thoughts away as I don't know what I will do if I don't have a new SK book to look forward to every year. I've been reading him since the 70's. I hope he has a stash waiting to be released (maybe wishful thinking).

This is what I've started next...

Empress said:

Marge. Fucking Marge! LMAO! I felt the same way.

SK is such an amazing writer. I agree that the way he ended it with the story and then the real story was brilliant. I was rooting for Billy all the way. The way he described his time in Iraq was tense and scary and I loved how much he respected Alice and the way he went after those 3 pigs that assaulted her was fantastic. I wish more people would do that in real life.

I think maybe this one could be a six or seven part limited series, like Lisey's Story, which was done so well, I thought.

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to dig the "book" sections that Billy was writing. But it pulled me in. It was a good way of giving him background without having to trudge through it normally. Kinda took the reader out of the current situation for a bit.

King's really good at writing action sequences in this. There's a lot of muscle overall, the book feels very balance, thoughtful, purposeful. The incidentals sell the characters.

I'm glad Billy and Alice never slept together. She's 20 and he's probably twice her age, at least.

TrivialPursuit said:

This is what I've started next...

Another favourite of mine. I love all of Donna's work, although, there is very little of it. The Goldfinch is a wonderful story. Lot's going on and some weird shit too, but it's such a good story.

Empress said:

Another favourite of mine. I love all of Donna's work, although, there is very little of it. The Goldfinch is a wonderful story. Lot's going on and some weird shit too, but it's such a good story.

I don't know her or her work, but when I saw the movie trailer, I thought about reading the book first. It's so fucking long, though!

But I suppose once one reads through a beast like King's Insomnia that anything is possible. (I still haven't tackled The Stand or IT yet. Gotta parse this shit out.)

TrivialPursuit said:

Empress said:

Another favourite of mine. I love all of Donna's work, although, there is very little of it. The Goldfinch is a wonderful story. Lot's going on and some weird shit too, but it's such a good story.

I don't know her or her work, but when I saw the movie trailer, I thought about reading the book first. It's so fucking long, though!

But I suppose once one reads through a beast like King's Insomnia that anything is possible. (I still haven't tackled The Stand or IT yet. Gotta parse this shit out.)

The movie version of The Goldfinch was terrible. I could barely watch the movie. The book (IMO) is far superior and definitely deserved the Pulitzer. Her 2 previous books are excellet too. She is a bit quirky with her writing style, but I think her books are very readable and interesting. Let me know what you think when you're finished.

Empress said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I don't know her or her work, but when I saw the movie trailer, I thought about reading the book first. It's so fucking long, though!

But I suppose once one reads through a beast like King's Insomnia that anything is possible. (I still haven't tackled The Stand or IT yet. Gotta parse this shit out.)

The movie version of The Goldfinch was terrible. I could barely watch the movie. The book (IMO) is far superior and definitely deserved the Pulitzer. Her 2 previous books are excellet too. She is a bit quirky with her writing style, but I think her books are very readable and interesting. Let me know what you think when you're finished.

Since Org threads last 2 months, and we're 12 days away from this one self-locking, it'll be closer to December before I have a final review. haha

By the way, Stephen King said someone like Jake Gyllenhaal would be great to play Billy Summers. So... eh? Has to be someone a bit better in their 40s. (Summer is 44.)

So, thinking about people actually in their 40s, I think of:

Tom Hardy is 44.

Giovanni Ribisi is 46.

James McAvoy is 42.

Ben Foster is 40.

TrivialPursuit said:

Empress said:

TrivialPursuit said:

By the way, Stephen King said someone like Jake Gyllenhaal would be great to play Billy Summers. So... eh? Has to be someone a bit better in their 40s. (Summer is 44.)

So, thinking about people actually in their 40s, I think of:

Tom Hardy is 44.

Giovanni Ribisi is 46.

James McAvoy is 42.

Ben Foster is 40.

Do you know if they are making the movie or just talking about it? Jake could play Summers, but I like your suggestion of Tom Hardy. Someone that looks like they have an edge to them would be good. I think it would make a good movie, for sure.

No. I just watched King's interview on Good Morning America from a few weeks ago. Got me to thinking. I go back & forth with Jake. Is he good, or really bad? Same w/ that sister of his.

Giovanni doesn't look quite rugged or tough enough, like he survived a traffice roundabout, much less time in Afghanistan. HA But Hardy and Foster are good choices, I think.

I do hope it's a movie and they don't fuck it up.