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Roadwork
Roadwork | Stephen King
42 posts | 56 read | 13 to read
What happens when one good-and-angry man fights back is murder and then some . Bart Dawes is standing in the way of progress. A new highway extension is being built right over the laundry plant where he works and right over his home. The house he has lived in for twenty years where he has made love with his wife played with his son . But before the city paves over that part of Dawes life, he s got one more party to throw and it ll be a blast . With an Introduction by the Author, The Importance of Being Bachman "
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review
Michellesibs
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Pickpick

We meet Bart when everything is about to change, the government are ripping up his house and place of work to accommodate a new highway.

The Roadwork is beginning, Bart isn't moving.

The insight King has into grief I find so powerful. Bart has spent a very long time looking away and I wonder I'd he had sat with the grief, looked the horror of it in the square of the eye, maybe things would have been different.

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Pikathulhu
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Mehso-so

Definitely not my favorite early work by King. The front half is extremely anxiety-inducing as Dawes allows his self-destructive impulses free rein, and the destruction of his personal and professional life reaches its logical conclusion. The second half builds to a predictable finale that leaves an empty sadness in its wake. Ultimately, this is a book that examines the twin marches of time and progress in terms of what they strip away. 3/5

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Twainy
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Pickpick

🎧 This felt familiar. Predictable. I still loved it!!

A character study of a father who loses a son and the madness that he slowly sinks into … focusing his ire on a road that is going to go straight through his house & where he works … he ends up with no wife, no house, no job, no life but not before he goes completely off the deep end!

I‘m shocked by the low rating!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4

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intothehallofbooks
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed Bart Dawes‘ anger over the injustice of eminent domain taking his home and his business. I could feel his mental decline and instability. But I was bored to tears with the way this story was written. Way too much inner dialogue! Could have been better at half the length. The only reason I didn‘t DNF is because of my #readingStephenKing personal challenge.

Next up: Cujo!! (I‘m VERY nervous about this one because I love dogs so much.)

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intothehallofbooks
Roadwork | Stephen King
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My current #readingStephenKing is Road Work and I was DELIGHTED to hear The Mangler featured briefly in this novella. The Mangler is a possessed ironing press that kills people in one of my favorite short stories from the Night Shift collection.

So fun!!

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Gaylagal2
Roadwork | Richard Bachman
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1. This is the first name that came to mind, Richard Bachman or aka: Stephen King.

2. Roadwork. I read this many years ago.

3. It truly doesn't matter to me at all. It's the authors choice and I respect that 🤓

PS: Maggie snuggling on this Sunday morning, refusing to look at the camera 🥰🐾

#sundayfunday
@ozma.of.oz

vonnie862 My dog is the same way. She avoids the camera. It makes me wonder what goes through her mind. 3y
BookmarkTavern Oh so cute! Thank you for posting! 3y
Gaylagal2 @vonnie862 @ozma.of.oz You are so welcome! She's just a goober🤓🥰 3y
19 likes3 comments
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amywithbooks
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Mehso-so

This is not one of my favorite King (Bachman) books. Starts very slowly and while it does pick up, it's just so-so for me. I did enjoy finding a Dark Tower connection. I love how connected most of his books are. 3 ⭐⭐⭐

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amywithbooks
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Next on my #stephenkinglonghaul journey!

14 likes1 stack add
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jackilynn
Roadwork | Richard Bachman
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Mehso-so

This one was rough for me. I really struggled getting though it.

10 likes1 stack add
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Coffeymuse
Roadwork | Richard Bachman
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My #bookspin and #doublespin books this month for #BookBingo. One is a kids book and the other is Stephen King...quite a mishmash!

@TheAromaOfBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
12 likes1 comment
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WellReadCatLady
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Found some time to do another Stephen King book!

16 likes1 stack add
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cherinium
Roadwork | Richard Bachman
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Mehso-so

In some ways, this story feels very dated; however, the plot could easily be ripped from today's headlines. Angry man suffering mental health issues begins amassing guns, ammunition and explosives with a plan to use them--all to prove a point. This was certainly not a great novel, but I did find it incredibly frightening because there are so many incidents like this happening all over the US right now. 😡🖕💣💥🧨 #stephenking #pseudonym #bachman

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DGRachel
Roadwork | Stephen King
This post contains spoilers
show me
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Welcome to the #LosersClub open discussion for #Roadwork!

Please be mindful of spoilers. We have new readers to King who haven‘t read all of his books. When referencing his other work, please keep this in mind for our new-to-King friends. Don‘t forget to tag each other in the comments so your friends can see your reply. Have fun!

13 likes7 comments
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DGRachel
Roadwork | Stephen King
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It‘s official. I suck at #ghosthosting. I‘m so sorry this is so late but open discussion for #Roadwork will be my next post. Discussion starts NOW!
#LosersClub

Open discussion is in the FOLLOWING POST marked as a SPOILER. Find the post for #Roadwork & tap "show me" on the spoiler tag to join in the discussion. Join in whenever you can! The post will always be up so just tag any of us & we‘ll jump in to discuss with you. See you there!

See All 8 Comments
Eggbeater You are forgiven.😉 I completely forgot to read the book! Blame it on holiday winter fuzz brain. 5y
DGRachel @Eggbeater Thank you! 😘😘 5y
BookwormAHN @Eggbeater You didn't miss anything. This was my least favorite so far. 5y
SconsinBookyBadger No worries over you posting a few days late. With The Stand taking me a couple months to finish I‘m soooo behind on the losers club schedule. 😱 (edited) 5y
DGRachel @AnansiGirl At least this year‘s schedule includes several that are shorter (both the Bachmans are under 350 pages and a couple of the Kings are right around 400 pages), so it should give you some wiggle room to catch up. Of course, IT in November is a monster...😱 5y
58 likes8 comments
review
BookwormOfTheDamned
Roadwork | Stephen King
Mehso-so

The book was okay. Had a decent build up and a fast paced end. Still, the book is nothing more than the chronicals of one man's poor luck. Besides "The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold, this is one of the most depressing books I have ever read.

From a political stance, one sees how this book is nothing more than a big plea for gun control.

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BookwormOfTheDamned
Roadwork | Stephen King

As he stays incognito of his crimes, his wife leaves him. Since he has nothing left to lose, he makes his final stand fully armed.

*Spoiler* Bart goes down in a blaze of glory. However, not long after his death the road workers receive a change of plans and they don't build through the area.

Don't read this book if you are already depressed.

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BookwormOfTheDamned
Roadwork | Stephen King

For the entirity of this book, not a single good thing happens to the lead character, Bart. Perhaps his only break was his one night stand, but that was the high point of positive events. Otherwise, Bart has suffered the loss of a misscarriage, has lost a son to a brain tumor, & has discovered he is soon to lose his house & job due to a road crew needing to build through the area. Determained to make a stand, he sabotages the roadwork. CONTINUED

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BookwormOfTheDamned
Roadwork | Stephen King

I have no side. That's why I'm doing this.

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BookwormOfTheDamned
Roadwork | Stephen King

All places are the same, unless your mind changes.

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ReadingsByTheC
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Trying to catch up but with my #losersclub reading, but this main character is grating my nerves. 🙄

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BookwormOfTheDamned
Roadwork | Stephen King

Halfway through and although it's not my favorite by King, it is still engaging. I love the references that have been made regarding Carrie's prom and how the lead character, Bart, works at the Blue Ribbon Laundry and references the mangler.

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LauraJ
Roadwork | Stephen King
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I read this years ago, so am listening this time for #losersclub. Cecil and I are not impressed.
#catsoflitsy

62 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookwormAHN
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Panpan

Okay so this is definitely not my favorite Richard Bachman novel. The story is about a guy going crazy because a highway is being built where his house and work are by imminent domain. I wanted to feel some sympathy for him but I just couldn't. His reaction was pathetic and his downward spiral really ridiculous. 👎🏻
#losersclub

dariazeoli I don‘t like this one, either. 5y
LauraJ Wondering if this story didn‘t age well. I had a hard time caring about what happened. 5y
BookwormAHN @LauraJ That maybe the case. It definitely reflected the 70s and since I wasn't born until 79 that is definitely not an era I can really relate to. 5y
79 likes3 comments
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DGRachel
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Gah! I‘m super late #losersclub. Please forgive me. The next book in a #bachmanbook: #Roadwork starts today! Grab your copy and check back Dec. 18th for open discussion!
#Roadwork #LosersClub #StephenKing #StephenKingInOrder #KingFromTheBeginning #ConstantReader #ReadAlong #BuddyRead #BookDiscussion #RichardBachman #BachmanBooks

43 likes3 comments
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DGRachel
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Just a reminder that November‘s #losersclub read is the next #Bachman! Buy, borrow, or beg your copy and check back in next month for #Roadwork.

47 likes7 comments
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NatalieR
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Mehso-so

Poor Bart is losing it over the construction of a highway that will run where his home and his house and place of employment exist. The story started off strong with his crazy behavior and scary decisions, but I kind of lost interest after awhile. 😏

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KrystleTheBookSlayer
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Mehso-so

Bart Dawes is your ordinary Joe Schmoe middle class man, except he's having a complete mental breakdown & about to lose everything. You know that this can only end in destruction, but first you have to watch Bart spiral & listen to his constant internal monologue. At a point, I started getting bored & just wanted the destruction & that wasn't even really satisfying. Overall, this was just an ok read.

PS: Happy Bday SK, I still ❤ you 😂

Guildedearlobe This isn‘t my favorite SK, but I was interested how he said that he specifically changed some aspects of his characters crime so people couldn‘t copy it successfully. 6y
Bookish_AF Agreed- this one was not my favorite one. But The Long Walk!? That Bachman is one of my favorites. 6y
KrystleTheBookSlayer @whippoorwill815 I loved The Long Walk too, I think that will be my favorite for the Bachman Books. 6y
32 likes3 comments
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KrystleTheBookSlayer
Roadwork | Stephen King
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My work shift was canceled and it's been raining all day! Perfect opportunity to drink hot coffee and read. I've been feeling under the weather lately and haven't had the energy to do much, so this break is much appreciated.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I love that table. 6y
LiteraryinLawrence Feel better! Reading is medicinal for sure. 6y
Reviewsbylola Sounds perfect. 😍 6y
41 likes3 comments
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KrystleTheBookSlayer
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Hoping to get a bit of a start on this one tonight!

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Addison_Reads
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Pickpick

At first I wasn't enjoying Roadwork, but as the story progressed into more and more sadness and madness, I caught myself caring about Bart's fate. This story follows a man's mental breakdown as he loses all he cares about. It definitely isn't King's best writing, but it is intense and emotional. There are sections that don't really add to the story, but I'm glad I stuck it out to the end.

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GoldenGirl
Roadwork | Stephen King

Starting #22 as I journey through the Stephen King universe in order! Easier than I thought it would be since he is so readable! Just finished Pet Sematary and only gave it a So/So....I didn't like Louis and I couldn't stand Rachel. #booksarebetter #readmore

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dariazeoli
Roadwork | Stephen King
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#KingAtoZ

R is for Roadwork. I first listened to this book during my ongoing #chronologicalkingread. I didn‘t like it - it may be my least favorite of King‘s books. Fortunately, that‘s an exception!

GarthRanzz This is my least favourite of all the Bachman books and the one I usually skim or skip over on my re-reads. Just never clicked with me. 6y
52 likes1 comment
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JacintaMCarter
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Panpan
TheNextBook Hahahahaha! His Bachman novels are interesting to say the least! I never disliked any of them but interesting is the best way to describe them! 6y
JacintaMCarter @TheNextBook I liked Rage and The Long Walk, but this one just didn't do it for me. 6y
CherryPie I've forgotten everything about it. A bad sign. 😲 6y
54 likes3 comments
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Josie
Roadwork | Stephen King
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Panpan

Alright, ladies and gents, I did it. I finished Roadwork. Now, I didn't sit down and read every word because it was too painful. But I skimmed and grabbed the main points. Definitely not my favorite King, not even by a long shot. It was just meh for me. #epicstephenkingreread #book10 #1981

Gayan Most people don't like this one. I read it so long ago I don't remember a thing about it. 7y
Reagan I just bought a copy of The Bachman Books, Rage, The Long Walk, and Running Man have stayed with me since reading them for the first time 20+years ago. I remember nothing about Roadwork. 7y
Josie @Reagan-reads I love the other three Bachman books! 7y
See All 7 Comments
IamIamIam I'm trudging through The Stand over here, all jealous of you!!!! 😂😂😂 7y
Josie @IamIamIam hahaha is it getting any better for you? I was reading it around this time last year. 7y
IamIamIam You know how it is, @Josie... you go on these tears where you can read a hundred pages at a clip and then you just don't care for a while. LOL 7y
Josie @IamIamIam hahaha so true!! You will get to a point where you are close enough to the end to just power through!!! 7y
66 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Josie
Roadwork | Stephen King
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UGHHHHHHHH. You guys, I'm currently reading Roadwork for #epicstephenkingreread. I absolutely hate it. It's horrible. It makes no sense. I hate all the characters, and not in the good way. I really didn't want to have any DNF books in this reread. I want to conquer them all. But I really don't know if I can. Help?

monkeygirlsmama Oh no. Hope it improves for you. I haven't read this one. 7y
ohyeahthatgirl Roadwork is my least favorite SK. I didn't DNF it, but feel like I should have. 7y
Josie @ohyeahthatgirl I think I'm just going to skim it. I can manage that I think lol I hope!! 🙏🏻 7y
See All 6 Comments
quirkyreader It's not too long of a story, but it is a bit dated. And sometimes that makes the narrative move a bit slow. To make it more palatable only read about two chapters a day. When I read it over thirty years ago it was still kind of current so it was a fast read. 7y
dariazeoli I didn't like it either. First King book I remember hating 👎 7y
Robothugs I'll be your personal cheerleader? YOU CAN DO IT! YOU, YOU CAN DO IT!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎊 7y
52 likes6 comments
review
twohectobooks
Roadwork | Stephen King
Mehso-so

I don't know which of the Bachman books ended up outing Stephen King but this one has King at his worst written all over it. I've seldom been so bored by a King novel. Biggest problem was that unlike most other King novels, the characters in this one are either boring or hard to relate to. Sorry your house is getting bulldozed, dude, but worse shit happens every day. Including to you!

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twohectobooks
Roadwork | Stephen King
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#aprilbookshowers day 1: #apriltbr

This overambitious (and precarious) stack brought to you by me giving myself a lot of options and not necessarily planning to read them all. A couple are currently in progress.

10 likes1 stack add
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dariazeoli
Roadwork | Stephen King
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#LRC12 #litsyreadingchallenge #setinthe70s

I wish I loved this book, but I don't. I have minutes left in the audiobook and I just want it to be over already.

This is a first read as I make my way through King's bibliography chronologically. The main character, Dawes, doesn't warrant my sympathy. The narrator of this audio, G. Valmont Thomas, grates.

Danse Macabre is next.

This also counts as an unplanned #LetterR for #LitsyAtoZ

@jessica

MrBook 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
dariazeoli I hate that I said "I wish I loved this book" on BOTH of my boxes for this challenge so far. I need new material ? 7y
26 likes2 comments
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dariazeoli
Roadwork | Stephen King
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It's been a minute since I finished Firestarter, but Roadwork just became available, though both libraries I subscribe to are missing the ebook.

Will be listening to this on the commute to/from work this week!

#chronologicalKingread

15 likes1 stack add
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TheNextBook
Roadwork | Stephen King
Pickpick

This is the book for anyone who has ever been angry and wanted to take a stand! The depth of the mc and the reasons for his anger were so clearly laid out that you have no choice but to root for him! Quick easy read with fun pacing

Josie I forgot all about this one! Worth a reread, or no? I really can't remember! 8y
TheNextBook @josie I think I need to do a re-read. This was intense! 8y
5 likes1 stack add2 comments