• Welcome to BookAndReader!

    We LOVE books and hope you'll join us in sharing your favorites and experiences along with your love of reading with our community. Registering for our site is free and easy, just CLICK HERE!

    Already a member and forgot your password? Click here.

Stephen King: 11/22/63

It sounds really, really corny, but I have absolute faith that King can pull it off.

(I still haven't read Under the Dome however.)
 
It reminds me of The Dead Zone and Johnny Smith's obsession with the "would you go back in time and kill Hitler?" question. Seems like King wanted to do another story about that query. I'm not that excited judging by the plot synopsis, but it's King so I'll try the book anyway.
 
I thought this would be the Stephen King book I'd buy, hot off the presses as it were. I had in fact, pre-ordered it from Amazon for an excellent price.
Then I saw an advert from our local independent bookseller for an event featuring Stephen King at Octavia Books, down in New Orleans. We've been to at least one book signing there previously, and it was an all together pleasant experience.

However upon reading the advert, I was most annoyed to see that instead of being guaranteed a signed first edition, it would be the luck of the draw. One pays the price of the book as admission to hear King speak, and also a first edition, of which only a certain number are actually signed.
Octavia Books Presents: An Evening With Stephen King - 11/22/63: A Novel | Octavia Books | New Orleans, Louisiana - Independent Bookstore

Yes. King is on the premises, giving a talk, but refuses to sign more copies as requested.

I phoned Octavia Books, and spoke with a very courteous young lady that told me it was not their book store's rules, this had been set by the publishing company itself. Aren't the publishing houses in enough trouble? Talk about reverse public relations! Gak.

I've also cancelled my copy from Amazon. I might buy one second or third hand from a library sale in the distant future, so as not to hand any profits over to Scribner.

I expect we have enough books in the TBR pile to last till it starts showing up. :)
 
That sounds to me like some pretty fancy foot-steppin' by all concerned. :eek:

An author at a booksigning not signing books? And books at full retail price? Thirty simoleons plus tax and gasoline, just to gain entry to see the author's face and hear his golden voice? On the off possibility of an autograph? Feh.

I'm almost inclined to take the trip down there to watch the reactions of customers who are not used to the arcane rules of gambling casinos and haven't read them closely -- or can't believe their ears. Or maybe there'll be a big approving crowd at this bookstore where I have occasionally shopped and come home with actual signed copies. Who knows?

If there's an Occupy crowd outside I might join it. :D
 
I experienced a similar situation when I wanted to drive a few hours to get my George Martin books signed. I called ahead to make sure the signing hadn't been cancelled and was told that only those who purchased the book at their store would be guaranteed a chance to get their books signed and those already possessing books might be able to at the end, another luck of the draw situation. I didn't even bother to make the drive.

Anyway, back on the subject of King's new book... I put a hold on it through the library. I may be #200 on the queue but that gives me time to read my own books in the meantime.
 
It doesn't seem like a way to make the process attractive to buyers. But maybe if I were a King fan I would feel differently about it.
 
Fantasy Moon said:
.......and was told that only those who purchased the book at their store would be guaranteed a chance to get their books signed and those already possessing books might be able to at the end, another luck of the draw situation. I didn't even bother to make the drive.
Click to expand...

At least that is an ordinary and expected situation. 99% of the time the book must be purchased at the time of the signing. I expect that to be the case. I do think it's pretty high handed of the publisher to not guarantee a signed copy. If they wanted to do a "first come, first serve" sort of set up, I'd find that acceptable. Of course, we don't know if that originated with the publisher or King himself. Either could be the case, and either is pretty unacceptable to me.
 
lenny nero said:
I'm about 200 pages in, so far so good.

Nice to see Bev and Ritchie from It again.
Click to expand...

I am about 200 pages in myself. So far a very good read and I agree with your spoiler comment.

It is nice to be back in Derry in the late Fifties following the Losers club's showdown with the evil beneath.
 
brk_3 said:
I am about 200 pages in myself. So far a very good read and I agree with your spoiler comment.

It is nice to be back in Derry in the late Fifties following the Losers club's showdown with the evil beneath.
Click to expand...

And Christine is there too. Awwww.
 
Enjoyed it a lot. The ending is sublime. :star4:

Spotted references to 3 other King works. Bev and Ritchie from It, Plymouth Fury like Christine, and the Takuro Spirit from The Dark Tower. Anyone spot any others?
 
my rating :star4:

but I am rounding up.
The book lost momentum for me about half way through. Granted, I had to go out of town for over a week and I chose not to lug this with me (yea I know I need to use my nook). I had to put this on hold for a little while. This may be a small reason why I lost a little focus. But the story turned into to much of a love story. Don't get me wrong, overall this was a really good story and a lot better than the last King book (Bag of Bones) I read.
 
In my opinion, King is the best character writer in the world. And once again, he kept me hooked with Jake Epping. The plot was good, the flow was good, but the characters were great.

I agree that the ending was beautiful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top