Stephen King's Danse Macabre | 
pickI was not excited about picking up King's 1981 nonfiction book about the horror genre, but his engaging style of writing made this read super enjoyable. I would have given it 5 stars, but for the fact that is is really outdated. Which is, of course, not the book's fault. Most of the writers/filmmakers discussed are white men. There are a couple of white women. Zero creators of color (again, 1981). But overall an enjoyable book.
Salutations, fellow book lovers! As an author passionate about storytelling, I'm thrilled to join this community. Let's explore literary realms together!
So sad that Stephen King Hates me!! 😭😈. Still, I can not help myself so I will carry the Goblin Reader tag with pride.
so-soThe biggest thing hurting this book is its dated references. It's always a pleasure to read King's personable ramblings, but when he's discussing esoterica from an era that has largely been surpassed and supplanted, the ability of his charming rhetoric to engage attention eventually runs out of steam. Fortunately, the meatiest portion of this book, a discussion of ten horror novels significant to the genre, is a delight to read. 3/5
I have set up a horror discussion and promotion forum at my podcast‘s domain: authors, publishers, movies, television, literature, conventions…it even has its own map! Please come play with me away from the annoyances and privacy concerns of social media apps. Come check it out and sign up and give me suggestions for additions. http://theremightbecupcakes.com/horror
Let‘s get this little engine that could off the ground and have some fun.
I'm set up in front of the fire, and I may not move for several days.
so-soWhile parts were interesting it wasn't really my cup of tea. At least now I can check it off of my list of unread Stephen King books so I guess that is something.
pickIf I read this again, I‘ll read the copy I have on my shelf. It‘s nice that this edition was updated to cover some horror from the 1990s and 2000s; the original covered the 50s - the 70s and was first published in 1981. I still like the book but found the narrator to be a bit overly dramatic in some places and snarky & condescending in others. We went to the beach & I walked 2.13 miles at one time! First time since I was sick in July. #audiowalk
We went to the beach today. The boardwalk I like to walk on was closed because of hurricane damage. Actually most of the Gulf Island National Seashore was closed except the very front. It was a beautiful day though. I wish the top right picture wasn‘t so blurry so you could see how lovely the water was. Only two more chapters left. #audiowalk
Still making my way through (and mostly enjoying) Stephen King‘s take on the horror genre. I‘m going to have to push myself on my walks though, or I may never finish. I have over 10 hours left. With the Fire on High is this evening‘s reading. #audiowalk
I‘m on the fence about this narrator. In some places, he‘s perfect; in others, he‘s way too snarky, adding a level of condescension to Stephen King‘s words that I just don‘t think is there. Anyway, I‘ll continue to listen to it, and I did so today while walking. #audiowalk
@britt_brooke is reading this, and that made me want to read it again — it‘s been many years. I‘m listening to it, and it‘s been updated! My husband and I went out and about to various area parks where we sat and read. I also walked and listened. 3.15 miles today, y‘all! I‘m thrilled because it‘s been a long time since I could walk more than 1 mile. It wasn‘t all at once, but still. My sit and read book is Grady Hendrix‘s Horrorstor. #audiowalk
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A history of the horror genre; well, at least up until the year I was born. This edition has a fairly updated intro, so that‘s cool. A fully updated version would be awesome! I‘m not big on horror, but I‘m fascinated by those who love to be scared. King is funny, illuminating, and passionate. He talks a lot about the Apollonian and Dionysian literary concepts, something I was unfamiliar with. Gonna give his horror fiction a try (finally).
Book 3️⃣ of 3️⃣
Danse Macabre, Stephen King's book of the origin of horror with some biography of him into the mix; I gave this a 3/5 rating. It was good, not great, felt slightly dated... but...cool cover! 🤷♂️💫
Thoughts on this one?
#stephenking
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️ A history of horror from the 1950s - 1980s. I loved the beginning, I must admit he lost me a bit during the Movie section, but brought me back with his discussion of ten iconic books of the time. I‘ve got some Peter Straub and Ray Bradbury on my TBR now. King finishes with why we write and read horror. A good read for a classic horror fan.
Also started Danse Macabre. This book is one of Stephen King's most underrated novels, in my honest opinion!
pickDespite owning 2 copies of this book, I listened to it on audio. I‘m rating this a pick for the quality of the work and not my difficulty to stay engaged at times. It‘s a super in depth book on horror books, movies and TV. He definitely exposed me to movies I‘ve missed and authors I want to read. I especially enjoyed his personal antidotes and mentions of his son, Joe. Perfect time of year to read this one! 👻🎃👽#MountTBR
so-soThis wasn‘t my favorite King—though that might be because the topic (exploration of horror from the 1950s-1980s) was before my time. I haven‘t read or watched much horror from that genre, so while I always love hearing King talk about horror and why we are so pulled to it, I could appreciate his analysis as much as a contemporary audience did. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am an introvert and it turns out that when you get married, you don‘t get much alone time. My hubby goes to work after me and is home before me. And I love him so so much, but your girl needs some quiet. So I‘m trying a new habit: early morning reading time. The 5 am wake up call isn‘t great, but I think starting my day like this will make a difference.
Introverts—how do you get your quiet time in?
Last month I read 13 books. This House is Haunted & Cappuccinos, Cupcakes & a Corpse were my favorites.
For #monthofBoyne I read A Ladder to the Sky & This House is Haunted. Both were good. For #subjectofthemonth which was historical fiction I meant to read Hunting Prince Dracula (which I haven't finished yet) but This House is Haunted works for that. Also I didn't get around to Crippen by Boyne which I still mean to.
A good month though 😺
"We fall from womb to tomb, from one blackness toward another, remembering little of one, and knowing nothing of the other."
Welcome to the #LosersClub open discussion for #DanseMacabre!
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!
#ghosthostpost
It‘s late, but I‘m still on the right day! Woohoo! Discussion starts NOW!
#LosersClub
Open discussion is in the FOLLOWING POST marked as a SPOILER. Find the post for #DanseMacabre & tap "show me" on the spoiler tag to join in the discussion. Join in whenever you can! Today. Tomorrow. Next month! The post will always be up so just tag any of us & we‘ll jump in to discuss with you. See you there!
pickThis is Stephen King's guide to horror from the 50s to the 80s. It is quite informative and entertaining 🖤
#losersclub
Hopefully you fabulous committed #constantreaders haven‘t been waiting on me to start the next #losersclub read and if you were, I‘m so very, very sorry for being a terrible #ghosthost. I will try to do better in 2019. That being said, the December read-January discussion book is tagged. See you January 18th-ish for open discussion!
Once I finish my exams this month I am going to get started on this one for my creative writing class which focuses on horror writing. I guess I shall see what I can come up with :) #stephenking #nonfiction #mustread #bibliophile #bookworm #booknerd
Just a reminder that December‘s #losersclub read is #DanseMacabre! Buy, borrow, or beg your copy and check back in next month when we begin reading this one. I‘ll be #ghosthosting this one, but everyone is welcome to join in!
panMost of the references to TV and Movies were lost on me. I suppose that is a product of my age. I was 5 when this book was originally published. I knew slightly more about the books mentioned. There was a Forward that was written in 2010 which referenced Horror with which I was more familiar. Well written and an interesting topic, but reading was a chore due to my limited knowledge. #completecatalogue #stephenking #nonfiction
How many of you peak to see how a book ends? 🧐 Don't tell Stephen King! Your secret is safe with me...🤫 I have to admit this made me chuckle. And for the record, I am not a peaker!
#stephenking #completecatalogue #nonfiction
"...disbelief is not like a balloon, which may be suspended in air with a minimum of effort; it is like a lead weight, which has to be hoisted with a clean and a jerk and held up by main force. Disbelief isn't light; it's heavy."
This passage on what it takes for a reader (or viewer) of fantasy/horror to suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy the story spoke to me. ???
Q is for Quotes. Here are a few of my favorites.
#Kingatoz @GarthRanzz
Q is for Quiet, as in A Quiet Place. King recently tweeted about this film, and his tweet has since been all over social media. John Krasinski, writer, director and actor in the film, mentioned in an interview he was "blown away" by King's praise. I'm sure I'm not the only one who watched the film because of Stephen King's recommendation either. ?
This is just one of many examples where King has influenced pop culture.
#KingAtoZ @GarthRanzz
D is for Danse Macabre (French for Dance of Death).
Danse Macabre is a 1981 non-fiction book by Stephen King, about horror fiction in print, radio, film and comics.
“Horror in real life is an emotion that one grapples with ... all alone. It is a combat waged in the secret recesses of the heart.”
I just picked up this copy 😄 However, I feel like I may need to work my way up to this one.
#KingAtoZ #stephenking
King's face on this cover makes me think of Charles Manson, which creeps me out. So I flipped it over only to discover the exact same picture on the back.
#quotsyjan18 #Macabre
"We fall from womb to tomb, from one blackness toward another, remembering little of the one, and knowing nothing of the other." -Stephen King
@TK-421
Reading Stephen King‘s reflections on the genre of horror while watching my laundry do a dance of its own. This is a great follow-up to Dracula (and a precursor to King‘s homage to Dracula - ‘Salem‘s Lot). King suggests, “...we make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones. With the endless inventiveness of humankind, we grasp the very elements which are so divisive and destructive and try to turn them into tools - to dismantle themselves.”
In Chapter IX-Horror Fiction, SKing makes his case for the
"...horror story as both literature and entertainment, a living part of twentieth-century literature... They are books and stories which seem to me to fulfill the primary duty of literature—to tell us the truth about ourselves by telling us lies about people who never existed.
bailed
