Stephen King's Joyland - It's No Shutter Island

Okay folks it's been, let's see, almost a year since my original Joyland Post, shameful. http://booksnap.blogspot.com/2013/07/joyland-by-stephen-king.html

Hey, this is not Salon folks. I know where I stand with my limited audience who've long taken a hike. It's ok, the only point of this Blog is self-serving, to get things off my chest. Or, to delay my impending doom with one last reason to live before I put a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger at least twice. Heck, if readers want real entertainment they'll go to real blogs and sites like the aforementioned Salon, or who knows where.

But now that I mention it, I stopped logging on to Salon because their pages load up too slow. Hmm, is it their site or just my old Remington, I mean Gateway acting up? (I wish this was a joke).

Don't ask, but yes, I'm still using an old Gateway laptop from the 90's. Hey, it matches my 1991 Chevy Blazer. I just can't part with either of them. (Really?)

Okay, enough nonsense. Let's get to the juicy review I've put off for almost a year. As my dear mom used to say: "If you've got nothing good to say, don't say anything at all." Hmm, come to think of it, that might have been Confucious. I always get them mixed up. (I love you mom.)

All right, let's face it, the only reason I'm posting here is because my life is about to end, once again. At least it feels that way. Suicidal meditations always inspire me to write. I have no where else to turn. How else can I say farewell to this cruel world? I mean, how many times have I picked up that gun?

Here's a tip for the youngsters out there (not that any of them are reading this). Lord forbid they look away from their video games for two minutes. They seriously must know something I don't. My boys are beyond hooked, with no hope in sight.

Youngster tip of the week:

"You'll start to take life seriously only when you're free-falling off a cliff."

That's a gem. Write it down and don't ever forget it.

Again, I digress. Can you blame me? I've got too many issues to deal with and they all seem to take center stage at the worst times. I'm not sure I even want to talk about Joyland anymore. I've got far more interesting things going on.

But let's get to it shall we? It's not even a real review folks. It's a bit of criticism, but first, let me say that I loved Joyland. Especially the first half, despite the odd opening. For the life of me, I still don't know why Stephen King would open a novel this way when he had so many opportunities to really make it more interesting. Oh... almost forgot. He's Stephen King. He can open a novel any way he wants and get away with it.

No worries, Mr.King, I forgive you. In fact,  I re-wrote your opening to Joyland at least three different ways (in my own mind) just to prove to myself I know a little about writing and how to open a story that hooks readers from page one. I kept referring to Les Edgerton's Hooked, over and over just to make sure too. I'm so proud of myself. But don't worry Mr. King, I won't reveal my clever and poignant opening to anyone. I wouldn't want to embarrasss you.

Besides, my own legion of readers would lambaste me for even trying to mess with a master storyteller like Stephen King. I'm sure there's a method there somewhere.

Okay, I loved Joyland right? I sure did and I want to say that up front because I wasn't thrilled with the ending. Aside from the meandering opening, the beginning of this story is quite masterful, as I recall. The funny carny jargon, the spot-on characters. The main character's quirky POV and interesting backstory. Loved all of that. Enjoyed the setting and how all the characters played off each other, and so on. Great first half of the story until the middle started to drag and become predictable. And then... the ending came.

Suspenseful glissen tone here.

I don't know about you, but for me, endings are what I live for. (Thank you Mr. King for nudging me just a little closer to grabbing that gun once again.) Right. After an ending like this, I was not only dissapointed, but depressed beyond all reason. I quickly tried finding another reason to live. That's why this review took so long. I've literally been depressed and ever so close to my breaking point after reading the ending to Joyland that the trauma has taken me many months to recover.

Oh, the horror of it all folks. I'm always trying to find one good ending. One brilliant ending that will put my life in perspective and make life worth living, if only for one more day, or until the next great ending. Stephen King, what have you done to me?!!

Are you kidding me? Joyland ended with a wimper. I hate when stories end that way. You know what I mean? They just end, as in, there's no more to read and you're waiting for that big moment to hit you like a, well, a ton of bricks? (nice cliche) But it never does because you see the bad ending approaching from miles away.

It's almost as if King ran out of good ideas and decided to finish this story in textbook style. No real surprises here. Just a run of the mill formulaic ending. A well-written ending, but not an eye-opening, jaw-dropping, head-spinning moment where you say: "Fucking A, what a twist." That's what I say when a story ends like Dennis Lehane's, Shutter Island.

I know, I know, it's rude to compare authors this way. It's not even fair, but what can you expect? I'll never be the same after Shutter Island. From now on, I expect all good mysteries to end like this. I'm spoiled. Dennis Lehane has ruined my reading life! And I'm not even crazy about Lehane's stories, mind you. And I know he's written a lot of books, but Shutter Island is the only one I know, or I can remember.

Stephen King's Redemption
Not so with Stephen King novels folks. Let's rattle them off: Carrie, his first and most brilliant. Uh, The Green Mile, another masterpiece. How about Misery? One of my favorites! Cujo, Duma Key. C'mon folks, you gotta love Stephen King novels. The list is endless. He's not the King of Mystery for no reason. Or is it the Master of Mystery? I could never keep those straight. I'll have a talk with his publicist.

Okay, okay, this is not a kiss Stephen King's ass discourse. He has enough fame and fortune and doesn't need any help from me. I just hate writing bad reviews. Not that this is a bad review of Joyland. Far from it. It's a mixed review, for sure, but mostly positive, as it should be because like many of King's other novels, Joyland is still a classic. At least half a classic, that is. Or a full-fledged classic with reservations. Hmm, that's not working.

Let's just call it a somewhat classic work, with the hope that Stephen King might someday re-write a satisfying ending to Joyland "a la" Shutter Island, and re-release it. Is that even allowed?

I don't think so.

Hellman-Chang: Stand Back, Shut Up And Listen

I can't think of anything else these two friends from Brooklyn could possibly be thinking in front of an audience of would-be entrepreneurs. These guys, (C'mon, they're from Brooklyn) Daniel Hellman and Eric Chang, a.k.a., h/c, (yes in lower case) mind you, must have a pair of solid walnut balls hanging over the entrance of their Brooklyn workshop. If not, it's probably a safe idea to go for it now guys. Hang away my friends, you deserve it.

Let's face it, it's rarely the time you see a couple of old friends from "the good hood," Bushwick Brooklyn, that is, literally make a name for themselves with as much pinache as Hellman and Chang have. But what should we expect? It's 2014 after all. This is the new age, at least according to Imagine Dragons it is. The days of the Old Yankee Workshop have come and gone. Forget plywood, MDF, and veneers, these guys are from the Owen Wilson school of woodworking. As in, Meet The Parents, that is. We're talking solid wood here. Hand sculpted wood, no less.

Truth be told, I snatched one of their full page ads (this is a cow town, nobody can afford this kind of stuff here anyway.) from a design magazine at the doctor's office. (Excuse me but I forgot to charge my phone.) Tore it right out of the magazine and tucked it into my jacket. Forgive my disbelief, but I just had to see if these guys were any good. I mean, who markets a furniture line covered in sawdust dressed in fancy Canali business suits?

Umm, Hellman and Chang, of course. Who else would have the wooden cojones to do such a thing? Absolutely brilliant. Again, what would you expect from a couple of Northwestern and NYU grads? Take note business majors, these guys have h/c furniture showrooms in dozens of countries. No, they're not your typical week-end woodshop warriors, like some writers I know. Let's face it, my best work is still on paper. Too bad, I'm a tinkerer at heart.

But these guys, they actually have a business plan. They design and make exquisite high-end furniture and market it to celebrities and other rich folk. Of course. Think about it, even cheap furniture is expensive, so make it much better, price it accordingly, and they will come. No problem. It's not rocket science folks, it's just good business.

If nothing else, h/c serves as a great example on how to start-up and launch a luxury furniture line with amazing success. The secret? Quality workmanship, good marketing, and even better publicity. That's the advertising trifecta folks. It works every time, plus it doesn't hurt to be handsome and stylish.

Now ultra modern furniture is not my cup of tea, I'm a shabby chic kind of guy, but I can appreciate great design when I see it, and h/c furniture is inspiring. But let's put things in perspective. This kind of success doesn't happen over night. In fact, this kind of success doesn't happen at all, unless you decide to make it happen. Then again, most folks are not ready for anything like this, in more ways than one. But for those of you who are, take the leap of faith. You just might surprise yourself.

It's apparent that Hellman and Chang have taken that leap, and they've finally arrived. Now staying on top is the hard part, but I'm sure they'll do fine as long as they diversify and keep expanding. In other words, never stop designing, because as you already know, endless selections are the lifeblood of any business. And, as long as you keep your heart and soul in it, you can't go wrong.

C'mon guys, you still gotta love the smell of western cedar in the morning. So roll up those sleeves and keep on cutting.

I really think they're on to something folks. Or, as Donnie Brasco would say: Forget about it.

http://hellman-chang.com/h-c/

JOYLAND by Stephen King



PAPERBACK EDITION

If you like Stephen King, here's a glimpse of his latest novel, JOYLAND. Typical of King's flair for story, King delves into this light-hearted tale with humor. I found the opening chapter hilarious and not sure why none of the reviews mentions how funny this story really is.

As a book collector, I'd get this book just for its nostalgic pulp fiction style cover, but when I read an excerpt, I knew I had to have it for the story too. The setting is North Carolina, 1973 featuring a student, an amusement park carny who discovers a murder mystery. Reminicent of New York's Coney Island for me, which would have also been a great setting, this tale seems to have all the makings of a good read.

What I really like about Stephen King is how he handles or even defies a genre. It's all about feeling for King, and if you read my previous post about mixing genres, King's writing is an excellent example of that. Of all the major writers, King has influenced me the most with his writing style and I think that's apparent in my own novel at just about every turn. Hey, if you're going to learn and emulate a writer, it may as well be Stephen King.

I've always been a fan of King and especially enjoy stories such as: The Green Mile, Carrie, Misery, and Duma Key. If you'd like to see a breakdown on the Book Teaser for Duma Key, click on this link to BookTeasersPub to see this very effective book teaser in action and the reasons (a deconstruction) why it works so well.

These classic Stephen King stories have great drama, substance, and plenty of surprises. If there's one thing you can expect from a King story, is that it will be full of unexpected moments. One of my favorites being the scene in The Green Mile (movie) where a prisoner (Michael Duncan) exhales a swarm of bees in an apparent effort to rid himself of something evil. This is truly an unforgettable story for many reasons.

And when it comes to fascinating stories, "Stephen King" is all you need to know, and that's why his name is always bigger than the book title folks. I think that says it all.

Joyland certainly seems like a fun ride. Available June 4. Can't wait to get it.

Check out the Book Teaser:

LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson

Okay folks, here's a new novel by Kate Atkinson that seems to be taking off into the stratosphere, maybe into the afterlife. Good for Ms. Atkinson. I'm always a sucker for this kind of story, although I'm only commenting on this novel and not reviewing the story. And yes, I realize my comments are a review of sorts, an inadvertant promotion, so to speak.

But who really cares? If you like a story idea, by all means reward its author. We all know how hard it is to come up wth original concepts. So here goes. First things first. The title. Search this title and you'll obviously get many other non fiction books by the same title, relating to the afterlife.

I thought Life After Life was non fiction too, and after reading Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D. several weeks ago, I thought LAF was along those same lines, but it's a novel, and that means the story could be be about anything. And guess what? This book is about maybe too many things, but somehow it still works for me. You'll notice this novel has garnered mostly good reviews (by open-minded readers) on Amazon. That being said, it also has about 45 One-Star reviews from readers who hated it. I think it's safe to clasify these readers as "literary purists".

They're just not having it. All the weird plot structure and unusual back and forth, as in "not moving the story forward" kind of writing, which delivers too much backstory early on and mixing the past and present throughout. Good heavens, a deadly sin. Lord have mercy on you if you ever commit such a literary sin. Shame on you. Okay, you get the picture. You know where I'm going with this, but hang on, there are a few surprises to be had here.

You know I'm not that predictable. The point is, this author took a chance, and more importantly her publisher (Reagan Arthur Books, a Little Brown And Company imprint) took a bigger chance that seems to be paying off. And in case you haven't noticed the recent shift in the publishing world, take note of all the obscure (to me) imprints that noteworthy publishers are touting these days with a great deal of success.

What do all these imprints mean? In a word or two, niche marketing. Publishers know there is a market for just about every kind of book (story) out there. And while these small markets are miniscule compared to their full-blown genre counterparts, sub-genre stories are coming on strong these days. Books have always taken the lead from Hollywood movies, as far as story structure goes, and conversely, Hollywood thrives off bestsellng books.

I truly believe the days of hardcore genres is out though. The same goes for the music industry. Today's hits are a mix of many genres. Virtually nothing is pure Country, pure R&B or pure anything anymore. Novels are going through the same metamorphosis and that's a good thing. Of course, you can't be all things to all people. Genres, hardcore genres, that is, still have their place and always will, but the days of Romantic Historical Tragic Comedies are here to stay. Okay, maybe that's a stretch but you get the picture.

These kind of stories are multi-textured and offer great latitude in the sales department. Yes folks, there's the "S" word. Sales, as in profits. Does everything have to lead to money? Uh, YES! Maybe that's why so many publishers steer away from literay masterpieces flexing for a Pulizer Prize. Awards like these may be good for the author but not so lucrative for publisher's bottom line.

Just ask Paul Harding. Remember him? (2010 Pulizer Prize for Tinkers)

Ian Ruhter Photography

Here's something I caught on Last Call, with Carson Daly. These images by Ian Ruhter, reminiscent of Daguerreotypes are fascinating stuff but Mr. Ruhter doesn't reveal much about his photographic techniques. (Of course, we shouldn't expect him to give away the secrets to his monster camera. Now there's a story!) But we get the idea.

These nostalgic images are simply breathtaking, filled with a sense of longing for the past in the midst of this high tech digital world.

Sure, you can Photoshop images like these and transfer them onto metal plates, but where's the fun in that? Take a look and see for yourself. Ruhter's approach is very raw and rudimentary but that's the point, after all.

***See more amazing images here:

HOPPER: A Journey Into The American Dream

Here's one of my all-time favorite actors, Dennis Hopper. Loved him as art critic in Basquiat and even more as a demented photo journalist in Apocalypse Now.

In this biography by Tom Folsom (click the tiny screen link for B&N and scroll down for the Folsom video) you'll get to know Hopper on another level. A fascinating read.

Browse The Book Here

The Infinite Tides by Christian Kiefer

The Infinite Tides from Christian Kiefer on Vimeo.

Here's a Book Video very reminiscent of that riff from the Thelma and Louise movie, or maybe the dramatic feel of the ending from Full Metal Jacket, as they hunted down a sniper. See the latest FMJ App with an exclusive behind the scenes tour from its star, Matthew Modine (below). Wow, that was a long time ago and the flashbacks are still vivid. Haunting me still folks. That explains a lot.

OK, back to The Infinite Tides book. This book has been out for months now but since I've been so busy I just came across it on Cormac McCarthy's site while looking for new novels by McCarthy. Fortunately I found this new book from a promising writer to tide (excuse the pun) me over until McCarthy releases some of his new work.

These days, I have to shop for books based on my favorite authors (which is a very short list) almost exclusively because I know I won't be disappointed otherwise since I barely have the time to read any more. Although, I think it's safe to say that I can add Kiefer to my short list of authors to read. I thought I'd post his book video here because it really speaks to the tone of his story about an astronaut in despair over the death of his daughter and abandonment from his wife. Nothing like a death in the family to shake marital issues up folks. I can identify with this story for other reasons too.

Kiefer's writing is fresh and crisp and unexpected, as he delves into mathematical equation speak without skipping a literary beat. The book is a meditation on matters of the heart and based on some of the reviews, delivers an upbeat ending. I have a feeling I'll be speed reading through the middle of this story.

Sorry Kiefer, I know that's a travesty to this exquisite literature, but I'll never get to the best part otherwise so I can post my review while your book is still topical. I've fallen behind a handful of books, to include Toni Morrison's, Home. Luckily, that's a novella.

I did manage to finish Steve Jobs Bio since I can skip around a bit, but still have quite a few unfinished books to get to. Some day I hope to really retire in earnest and re-read all my favorite books, savoring every word this time around. Meanwhile, if you want to sample Christian Kiefer's new labor of love, The Infinite Tides, check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Infinite-Tides-ebook/dp/B007N6JD84/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

And stay tuned for my review of this book, hopefully next month or sooner. I've got quite a few observations about Kiefer's approach I'd like to discuss, including some interesting comparisons to other well-known books.

Dig it bro. Peace out. (Does anyone really say that anymore? Well, I just did.)

Full Metal Jacket App

CRUEL HARVEST REVIEW

OK folks, I've been away very busy working and taking care of business, as usual. It seems I'm busier retired than when I worked a 12 hour shift 6 days a week, but no complaints here. I have plenty of down time despite the challenges freelance work can bring.

During my time off I've had the pleasure of reading some fantastic books. Only a handful though, I seem to get more selective about what I read in the spare time I have, which is not much these days. Here's a story that will brighten your life. The trick is, you have to finish it. Let's face it, many books get started but never finished for whatever reasons (usually readers lose interest).

Fran Grubb's book, Cruel Harvest is hard to put down so finishing it is easy and very rewarding, especially since the ending is the best part. I'd previously mentioned another memoir (Tiger, Tiger) with a similar topic of child abuse, however these books couldn't be more different.

Staying away from raw and explicit language, Cruel Harvest manages to grip you with heartbreaking scenes that simply leave you breathless, with a longing to intervene and make things right for these helpless victims who are each courageous in their own way throughout such a horrifying ordeal.

If you like stories that move you and touch your soul in a positive way, there are few stories that have the power to do that. I encourage you to read Cruel Harvest for an experience you won't soon forget.

See my Amazon review below and follow the link for more interesting reviews.

A HEARTBREAKING STORY YOU'LL NEVER FORGET

Some stories hit you like lightning, while others slowly seep into your mind and soul with a permanence that's hard to shake. Cruel Harvest was such a story for me.

Based on some reviews I thought this would be a very graphic story, and while some passages are explicit, Fran Grubb has opted not to sensationalize these very traumatic events in her life. She tells her story straight from the heart from page one and slowly grips you with an ensemble of endearing siblings you'll never forget.

The difficult part is not reading this story, but not being there to stop this very troubled man she calls "Daddy," from perpetrating senseless brutality on women and on his helpless young daughters.

Cruel Harvest is a truly gut-wrenching story that will stay with you long after you've read the last pages but for good reasons, as its ending is positive and uplifting in the most memorable way.

I truly loved this book and highly recommend you read it not for its harrowing details, but for its beautiful and redemptive ending that makes up for its many scenes of misfortune with an amazing example of spirituality, all in the name of forgiveness.

PREVIEW OF "CRUEL HARVEST" BY FRAN GRUBB

 Here's a book that's sure to stir up your emotions. Remember to have tissues nearby for this one. I'll be reviewing Cruel Harvest by Fran Grubb next month, right here, so mark your calendars.

See the website