Has anyone read this yet? I'm a big King fan, but Holly is probably one of my least favorite characters to see as the protagonist of any book. I just never really cared for her. Don't necessarily dislike her, she just doesn't move me in any direction at all. I usually pre-order all his books, but this one I haven't even considered buying yet. I have a stack of other books waiting for me first. Anyone?

Pia, I'm definitely on the fence on this one, and from what I've read of reviews so far opinions are very polarising. Lots of spouting off about King bringing his views on Trump into the narrative too.

I kinda liked Holly in Mr Mercedes but I wouldn't say I loved her - at times she could be annoying - not a good trait for a character.
This'll be a library book for me but I'm in no hurry. I'm too busy reading Lehane's latest - Small Mercies. I really love his writing.

I've been a big fan of the series thus far, pre-ordered the audio, but yet to start as I've about two hours left on my current read (listen). I'm cautiously optimistic for this book due to the reviews stating an uptick with politics and that it's narrated by an unknown person. Will Patton (my absolute favorite) narrated the entire series, but they chose(?) differently this time.

I'll probably start this on Monday...stay tuned.

I wish he wouldn't bring up politics in his books. The last person I want to read about is Trump. If anything, I want to get away from politics when I read. I'll wait until I hear what you guys think. I'm currently reading Drowning by T.J. Newman.  

Yeah, we all know what King thinks about Trump. He's been very outspoken on the subject. Just let it die and give us the goods, I say.

I say this being firmly in the Holly camp... I'm a fan of all her previous appearances.

But...

I'm about half way through Holly and I've considered just not finishing it several times. It's definitely one of my least favourite King books, and I say that having read everything he's ever written except for 3 more books.

Anyone who knows anything about King will know he's very much left wing, but this book goes extremely hard on the Trump hating and the vaccine, mask and COVID rhetoric. And, you also get your fair share of white man bad and cops are all terrible thrown in for good measure.

When King focuses on the story it's quit enjoyable, but the politics are so overwhelming in this novel that it makes for a tough read.

Many fans are saying that of course King has set many of his novels in the time that he wrote them, and while that is fair enough, this one is so extremely weighted to one side that it's just too much and it also doesn't make for an interesting story. We all lived COVID, we get it.

It goes so far as to insinuate that if you are married to someone that votes for a certain side it's probably best to just leave them.

It's definitely not a book I would recommend.

The other thing that I find so jarring is that...

POTENTIAL SPOILERS

Holly, in her time, has taken on the likes of Brady Hartsfield, Morris Bellamy, the Outsider, and Ondowsky, all very evil and formidable foes, but in Holly she's so scared of COVID all while smoking 300 cigarettes a day... it's so dumb.

And yes you have the King fans saying that it's well established that Holly in a germaphobe, but I'm sorry this contradiction is laughable.

Anyway, all just my opinion, lot's of people are loving it, but I do think there are some in that camp that just can't admit that sometimes King gets it wrong.

Thanks for that, Warren. Looks like I won't be buying that one. I don't know how it is in other countries, but in the US you can't get away from politics. It's everywhere. When I want to read a book, the last thing I want is more of it. Regardless of the slant.

Many thanks, Warren. I trust your judgement on this, and I just don't need to subject myself to far-wing (right or left) preaching and dribble. I had pre-ordered this but hadn't the time to start listening yet. I was able to return it and get my Audible credit refunded.

SK fans: Which would you suggest?
- 11-22-63
- The Institute
- Needful Things
- Under the Dome
- Bag of Bones
- Everything's Eventual

I like all of those! 11-22-63 might be my super favorite though. But who knows, maybe because I've only read it once. I would definitely not mind rereading it.

Quoted from JEStaats Many thanks, Warren. I trust your judgement on this, and I just don't need to subject myself to far-wing (right or left) preaching and dribble. I had pre-ordered this but hadn't the time to start listening yet. I was able to return it and get my Audible credit refunded. SK fans: Which would you suggest? - 11-22-63 - The Institute - Needful Things - Under the Dome - Bag of Bones - Everything's Eventual

I love all of these, but I'll list them from best to 'worst' in my opinion:

11/22/63
Under the Dome
Needful Things
The Institute
Bag of Bones
Everything's Eventual

But seriously if that's the pile you have to chose from you can't go wrong, great books all round.

I'm listening to Holly on Audible, but I do have a US first edition on it's way to me just to re-complete my first edition collection. It wont be a book I ever revisit.

Random information no one asked for: I actually listened to 11/22/63 and then The Institute back to back on my three-day drive to the Nullarbor Plain to film my short film All That You Love... an adaptation of All That You Love Will Be Carried Away from Everything's Eventual. A random link to three of the six books you mentioned

Quoted from Grandma Bear Thanks for that, Warren. Looks like I won't be buying that one. I don't know how it is in other countries, but in the US you can't get away from politics. It's everywhere. When I want to read a book, the last thing I want is more of it. Regardless of the slant.

If you aren't a collector who just needs the book to complete a collection and you were never a massive Holly fan anyway I would definitely say you should just pass.

Quoted from Warren I love all of these, but I'll list them from best to 'worst' in my opinion: 11/22/63 Under the Dome Needful Things The Institute Bag of Bones Everything's Eventual But seriously if that's the pile you have to choose from you can't go wrong, great books all round.

After scrolling through SK's work, I found that my unread options are getting to a minimum. You both have 11/22/63 on top of the list so my decision has been made.

On a side, I just finished Later last week and absolutely loved it. Surprised that it's not in production yet.

Thanks again, Pia and Warren!

Finished Holly yesterday... it was not good in any way. The preachy stuff was all the way through and while the core story was enjoyable enough, I guess, it was nothing even remotely special. I also think it was completely the wrong choice to replace Will Patton as Holly. Justine Lupe did a great job portraying Holly in the TV show, but she brought absolutely none of what made her Holly stand out into the audiobook narration. Will has always done her justice. I imagine it would have absolutely been a PC choice.

Funnily enough there was an author's note at the end where King kind of acknowledges how preachy the novel is, but assures the reader that he would have treated a protagonist who held differing views to his own just as favourably... which is absurd on it's face. I love King and have for most of my life, but this was a complete piece of shit.

Just write good stories, reading fiction should be an escape not a sermon bashed into you with a mallet.

Oh boy! I guess I should thank you for saving me some money and time not buying and reading it. It's sad I post this here on his 76th birthday too.

So, Happy Birthday Stephen King. May your next book be a better one.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Oh boy! I guess I should thank you for saving me some money and time not buying and reading it. It's sad I post this here on his 76th birthday too. So, Happy Birthday Stephen King. May your next book be a better one.

For sure... well it looks like we have another short story collection coming next year, apparently another Holly book (I'm not excited about this at all), and the final instalment of The Talisman story. Apparently Peter Straub sent an idea for the third book to King before he died. So definitely some things to look forward to