Monday Coming Attractions #37: The King

The King
Today's article is less of an opinion than a walk down memory lane. I hope you all care to get a little nostalgic with me.

From an early age, perhaps a disturbingly early age, I loved Stephen King. I used to bike on over to the local library, stack my hands full of King (as many as was the limit), stuff my backpack, and pour over the pages. I used to love the horrified look on the librarians' faces. (I need to thank my mother one day for signing a permission slip that let me check whatever I wanted out of the library.) Those library treks have made Stephen King the author I've followed longest (going on 11ish years now).

I even remember that I started with Firestarter. Then quickly I devoured the other big titles: Misery, The Stand, It, Cujo, Salem's Lot, The Shining...

Who hasn't at least heard of at least one of those titles? As Dan Simmons said at the signing I attended in Corte Madera (paraphrased), "There's only one author that every household knows by sight and name: Stephen King." There's a reason for that. No, King may not be the most literary writer of our age, but he really speaks about things that strike a chord with our time, doesn't he? He mentions not only the relevant fears, disgusts, and problems we face, but also mentions all those things we think about daily: Diet Coke, our iPods, everything. He gives the impression--better than any author--that his characters could be anyone.

To this day, The Stand is one of my favorite novels. And I still enjoy King as much as I did back then in my pre-paycheck days.

But most of all? I love his most recent books. Cell, Lisey's Story, Duma Key... In my opinion, King is really coming into his best writing in these. The characters more human than ever and better developed than ever before. The characters of Lisey's Story absolutely seared into my mind. Because Lisey and Scott were distinctive and perfect. Their marriage was a marriage. And, well, the stories of the new books are every bit as creepy as the stories from early King.

That's why I was so very excited to get Under the Dome:


Did I mention I've already read it? But that review doesn't come until a little later this week. (What you thought I'd break down and let out all the secrets early?)

Regardless, let me know:

Are any of you King fans? If so, which is your favorite novel? If not, what author have you followed the longest?

If any author or book review blogger would like to do a guest opinion column for Monday Coming Attractions, please contact me with what your proposed subject and what Monday you can have it ready by.

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Book Love Affair Poll:

Wow, I'm really surprised at how many of you haven't converted to electronic formats of reading? As you all probably know, I've tried the Reader, but I'm firmly back to traditional (non-digital) reading. Glad to know so many of you are with me! The next poll will be up sometime today!


Reviews to Watch For at BLA:
These are reviews (in order of likelihood) that may or may not come to pass this week. Feel free to let me know which you're looking forward to (or not looking forward to).

Liar by Justine Larbalestier Y the Last Man: Unmanned (#1) by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzán, Jr. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins The Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe

Giveaways:
Want a giveaway promoted? Let me know in a comment! Be sure to include the URL where the giveaway is located.

Dakota Banks is giving away a book a week of Dark Time: Mortal Path Book One, her new urban fantasy/supernatural thriller series. Giveaway ends November 30. Also, answer three questions about Maliha Crayne, the main character, to enter a drawing for an iPod Touch 32GB. Drawing held 12/1.

BookReaderTimes has amazing monthly giveaways. The November giveaway includes Haunted by Kelley Armstrong, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, and For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison! Giveaway ends at the end of the month.

Teens Read and Write has a huge giveaway that includes titles such as Shiver by Stiefvater, Tales of Beetle and the Bard by Rowling and Glass Houses by Caine. Giveaway ends 11/15.

Author Appearances:
Are you wanting to see an author, have a book signed? Well, certainly, I advise checking the websites of your favorite authors--especially just before and after they've had a new book announced. Alternately, it's impossibly to keep up with every author... Therefore, I've compiled a small list of people I'd like to go see in the Bay area who I'd like to see myself. If I missed anyone, let me know! Also, be sure to double check any listing before planning to attend an event:

Brandon Sanderson for his book The Gathering Storm @ Bay Book Company in Half Moon Bay, CA On 11/20/2009 7p-10p Brandon Sanderson for his book The Gathering Storm @ Barnes & Noble in San Jose, CA On 11/21/2009 2p-5p Note: BLA will be making one of the Sanderson events. At the moment it appears as if Half Moon Bay will be more convenient. Seanan McGuire for her book Rosemary and Rue @ Other Change of Hobbit in Berkeley, CA On 12/05/2009 2p-4p Note: BLA will be attempting to attend this event.