ITalong - I CAVED!

I've caved to ITalong pressure ---hey, who can resist a horror-fest and a few nightmares as a result?  After years (25+) since reading Stephen King, IT will be my 5th SKing book in (12) months --I'm hooked once again. (This is one I never read for some reason so although I'm behind most of you, hope to download the eBook this weekend and get reading.

Here are some details about the ITalong, I copied from another post: 

• Tweet IT -  #ITalong readalong of Stephen King’s novel, IT, about a bad town with an evil clown.

• You can join us! As Softdrink says, “Safety in numbers.”CLICK HERE to join and keep scrolling through all of the FizzyThoughts posts for your entertainment.

• CLICK HERE to get in line for a clown nose and/or read some FUN FACTS! courtesy of Reading Thru the Night.

Won't you join in?

UR; Stephen King

Title: UR

Author:  Stephen King

Publication Year: 2010

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 

Edition: audiobook 

Reader: Holter Graham 

Source: Library 

Date Completed: 5/2012

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend: yes

I've been on a Stephen King kick in this past year, ever since I feel in love with 11/22/63 at the end of 2011. I then listened to The Gingerbread Girl on audio (a short novella, and next up was an audio book (another novella) called UR.  The story is about an English teacher in his 30's, named Wesley Smith. He and his girlfriend Ellen have just broken up. She couldn't understand his obsession with books and why he had so many in his house.  He decides to purchase an eReader (yes a Kindle) to spite her.

When Wesley's Kindle arrives, "it's pink", and he is puzzled. He clearly must have received some other person's purchase. From the minute he first powers on the device, he is amazed at all the books he now has access to at his fingertips, but before long it's pretty clear that this is no ordinary eReader. There's a function on this pink Kindle marked UR and when used the UR takes Wesley to parallel universes, where never heard of before literary titles by folks like Hemingway are available for this Kindle.

While the entire audio book is only (2) cds, the later portion of the story got a little weird I thought. I still enjoyed it, and while this book definite works as a promotion for the Amazon Kindle, it was still  a fun audio book. I think most book lovers feel this way as well.  The reader Holter Graham did a great job.

Taking the "The Stand...along" this summer!

Trish of Love Laughter and Insanity is hosting a (2) month read-a-long of Stephen King's "The Stand". Have you read this massive tome?  If not, how about joining in?

Here are the details that Trish posted on her blog:

The Stand...along Basics:

What: Readalong of The Stand by Stephen King. I'm calling it the Standalong. :)

When: June 1st through July 27th.

Where: Sign up on this post. Midway post will go up July 1st. Wrap-up post will go up July 27th. If you are reading the original version, you should be at Chapter 38 for the midway check-in. If you are reading the "uncut" version, you should be at Chapter 48 for the midway check-in. I know, confuses me, too.

How: However you want. Original (shorter) version, Uncut version, Audio version. Post on your blog or don't. You don't have to have a blog (but it does make it fun). Chitchat on Twitter. Think I'll be using #standalong or maybe #thestand. Input?

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Trish asks participants the following questions:

1. What makes you want to read The Stand?

It's been on my TBR list forever!
2. Describe your preconceived notions of The Stand.

Scary, nail biting moments
3. What was the last scary(ish) book you read or movie you saw?

Watched Stephen King's MISERY (it's a favorite - that Kathy Bates is scary.
4. Which version of the book will you be reading from?

Kindle's eBook
5. What are you previous experiences with Stephen King?

Loved his books in the 80's, then stopped reading him until 2011/12. 

Loved he latest book, 11/22/63

6. Anything else you'd like to add (bonus points for being extra random).

Hope I can stay focused and finish this one. 

To all who join in - Have fun everyone

The Stephen King Project ~ 2012

Somehow I overlooked signing up for this challenge for January 1st, but my 2012 plans definitely include reading more Stephen King novels.  I finished 2011 reading his latest novel, 11/22/63 (which I loved) so he is once again on my "must read more author's list".

The Stephen King Project is being hosted by:  Natalie at Coffee and a Book Chick and Kathleen at Boarding In My Forties.  It runs from January 2012 thru December 2012, and there are different levels of participation.  You can sign up HERE. 

My Goal  (3) Books - A Lil Bit of King
(tentative list subject to change)

1. Gingerbread Girl (audio - 4/5)
2. The Stand  - 4.5/5 (eBook) 
3. UR (4/5)  (audio)
4. In the Tall Grass; Stephen King and Joe Hill - 3.5/5 (audio)