tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629896210066218248.post8487727626869914233..comments2023-05-11T04:20:31.601-04:00Comments on Steven E. Belanger: <br>Writing It Down: Notes from A Stephen King Interview, Part 2Steven E. Belangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11029874769975843685noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629896210066218248.post-89858889203088844002015-05-05T10:22:03.749-04:002015-05-05T10:22:03.749-04:00Well, it was indicated that the other friend was a...Well, it was indicated that the other friend was abused early on. I suppose the real issue is not so much how the woman behind the wheel came to be that way, but how she chose to deal with it. <br /><br />As much as I disliked Fifty Shades of Gray, I would rather talk to someone who has read the book than someone who plays video games all day. At least the trashy book reader is trying to use their imagination (even if in a perverse way).Diane Barretohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01443175243624951706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629896210066218248.post-25353130577356810692015-04-30T17:16:44.066-04:002015-04-30T17:16:44.066-04:00Whoa--lots to respond to here, Diane. Thanks for ...Whoa--lots to respond to here, Diane. Thanks for commenting! I hope other readers answer some of your questions with a comment, but my two cents to some of them:<br /><br />--there's an unfortunate "white-trash" tinge to those women, which dilutes the message of the story, if there is one. Any person from any socio-economic status commit suicide and take loved-ones with them. Certainly very rich people have killed others and themselves.<br /><br />--I felt while reading the story that alcohol and depression (or mental health illnesses in general) had more to do with their problems than the dead-beat dads did. It's never pointed out, but these women couldn't have been easy to live with, either.<br /><br />--the poets made very bad decisions, too, especially with drugs, which could be similar to the ladies' drinking. The difference might come down to learning from your mistakes, and mental illness (again).<br /><br />--short stories are alive and well. And it is indeed awesome that people are reading, no matter what it is. Harold Bloom would say that reading garbage would give you a garbage-literate culture. That may be so, but I'd argue that even a garbage-literate culture is better than no culture at all. (Though it's unfortunate that those two things do seem to be the only choices at this point.)Steven E. Belangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11029874769975843685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629896210066218248.post-20441189245821653902015-04-30T13:07:57.685-04:002015-04-30T13:07:57.685-04:00I finallly got around to reading "Herman Wouk...I finallly got around to reading "Herman Wouk Is Still Alive". The title alone peaked my curiosity, but I'm not exactly sure how I feel about the story. I've known some negative people in my life (myself included), but those two women in the van brought hoplessness to a new low. Being overweight, poor, with no means of support, and a whole litter of kids will do that to you. Plus they're both feeding into each other's misery. Was it poor decision making? Bad upbringing? Early abuse? Lousy choice in men? Why do some go down such a bleak life while others (like the poets) make all the wise choices and are blessed enough to see all the good in life?<br /><br />Anyway--I also agree short stories are still very much popular today. In fact, I'm looking forward to King's next anthology of short tales coming out later this year. I also agree people do still enjoying reading a quality book. Not all popular books these days are fast food for readers. But isn't it great for people just read at all? Sure those vampire/dsytopian love stories are not very nourishing, but the end result is the same. Kids are reading. They are buying books, downloading stories, buying Kindles, etc. <br /><br />It amazes me how King can think of a story (a good one, too) just from looking at a flyer. I suppose that's what sets writers apart from the rest of us. That capability to see beyond what's there. What you do with that gift is the real challenge. Diane Barretohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01443175243624951706noreply@blogger.com