I’m looking to read far more books than I do now which is next to none I’m ashamed to say. I was asking friends about books to read, and Stephen King came up. I said how I read “The Shining” and “IT” decades ago and how I more than half the movies based on his work (I didn’t care for the ending of the book “IT” book although the journey was great)
The response I got from this friend was that they didn’t care for all his characters, men and women alike. They all came off as written “like 14-year-old boys” or maybe they meant written by a 14-year-old boy’s understanding of adults and women would do, think and speak. Are they off, or is this something that rings true for his early work, and he grew out of it, or does this make no sense at all? I don’t expect to have this post be upvoted, I’ve just been curious thinking about for half a week. I would like an opinion from those who like or dislike his books. Is this a common critique of his writing?
[As for me, I’ve considered reading “Salem’s Lot” or “The Long Walk” for years now which is likely why the conversation ended up on Stephen King in the first place. I would read Gunslinger but that’s a series and I’d rather stick to standalone for now.]
by Tb1969