I've heard that very often, I'll definitely read it

I will!

Sounds interesting, thanks

Give Cannery Row or East of Eden a try, two of my favs..

I think it's one of the greatest examples of good first person narration. You really get into Holdens head in Catcher in the Rye. The story basically doesn't have a plot, let's be honest, why people like it is because the main character is interesting.

Yeah that's exactly how I felt too!

[deleted]

I think his writings tighter when he has a word limit.

After reading The Count of Monte Cristo, I now fully embrace spine cracking. I'll do it on a novella if you give me the chance.

I can see this one either way.

I don't think people should be made fun of if they need to read aloud; it's the only way that poetry has any effect on me.

That said, while I agree that people have the right to read anywhere, and the right to read aloud, they don't necessarily have the right to read aloud anywhere.

> Does horror lit work better when it's a novella/short-story? Or do you disagree?

IMHO: Many horror stories depend on building up and then delivering a "big reveal", and maintaining that buildup without ruining the reveal is easier if you don't have to do it for very long. A Twilight Zone or Shyamalan ending would feel frustrating at the end of a much longer work, and you risk the audience getting bored or figuring out what ending you have planned (or, worse, an even better ending you didn't write.)

Many people say that the movie Jaws was better than it would have been if the animatronic shark hadn't broken, because fear and suspense are not heightened by seeing the scary thing but instead by not seeing the scary thing.

It's hard to have a very long story while hinting at but avoiding showing a scary thing. I'm sure it's possible, and perhaps House of Leaves is an example, or The Shining, or cetera, but I think it's noteworthy that Lovecraft, who firmly believed that showing the scary thing was inferior to either not showing a scary thing or having the scary thing not be a thing, or both, had only short stories and a few novellas.

I'm not a big horror fan, though I've read a fair bit of it because it was there, but if you haven't read it, I suggest Different Seasons, not so much for horror, but just as some of King's best work. IMHO. Odds are you already know two of the stories.

In public, once my ear zeros in on a stray conversation, I am done for.

I've also read some of S.King's novels and short stories and I'm just like you, I love his shorter stories a lot more

Haven't read King for years, mostly because I had the feeling "skip the first 30% and then it gets interesting". I liked his Bachmann books though - they were more condensed and manageable. But then that's 25 years ago and I will probably try some of his newer books - heard a lot of praises.

" I can still tend the rabbits, George?"

I'd recommend The Pearl by Steinbeck. It's the same length as Of Mice and Men but a different style. It's almost like a story being told and passed down, like a legend or a fable.

They’re correct though. I can’t think of any rights that a government guarantees and/or can’t overrule. We don’t, as a species, have any inherent universal rights. They’re man made ideas, which evolve with time and are changeable as morals change

Yep! I've got pretty good habits for avoiding spoilers "in the wild", my biggest source of spoilers come from people casually mentioning the big twist. My least favorite is when I try to stop people, and they insist on finishing their thought anyways because it's "not a spoiler" in their opinion.

It's hard to convey tone over the internet, but this isn't that big of a deal to me. Even if my friends spoil me, I don't hold on to a grudge or anything, it's more of a funny "how could you" moment.

When you're ready, read Grapes of Wrath. I'm just some random guy, but it's the best book I've ever read. I was like you after Grapes of Wrath about 18 months ago, not wanting to read another Steinbeck in fear of it not living up to GoW, but just finished Of Mice and Men earlier this month and it was absolutely worth it. The man knows how to write a compelling story.

I’m confused by # 6 actually. Even though I logically know that Jaws is a work of fiction, it changed my world view as if it had really happened and I was scared to go in the ocean for a while. I got over it, but there is still some memory-like sense I have that sharks are dangerous. I would love to hear what others think this means.

I really enjoyed the kids part parts and the history. I never finished it, I find the adult parts really boring and hard to get through. Even in the movies I'm glad the newer ones split the perspectives into two so I can just watch the kids movie lol

[deleted]

I agree that 90% of kings books are too long but I absolutely loved IT and think the length was part of the charm. The first time I read IT was over the course of a summer when I was 14 and I've reread it twice since (I'm in my 30s now) and nothing else brings me back to those long hazy neverending summer days like that book.

Although I also highly recommend 11/22/63 if you loved IT it's such a treat

I am already part of the club. Thanks

So wait, are you just talking about having one-on-one convos about The Age of Innocence (or whatever) and having the person you're talking to be the one to go, "Boy wait until you get to the part where..."?

Because if so then yeah, that's a pretty shitty move. I thought you were just broadly complaining about the general statute of limitations for spoiling classic literature.