The Dark Half

Title: The Dark Half
Author: Stephen King
Pages: 496

A Book Club Discussion: (SPOILERS)
Bookworm:
First, what did you think of the book over all? I know that you've read King before, but what did you think about his writing style? Also, King referred to the duality that exists within writers. What is your opinion in regard to that?

Me:
I really liked it over all. EXCEPT....I felt like I had a better ending in my own head than the book had. (P.S. This is one of my main King complaints...he never gets the ending quite right for me) But I love the way King writes his characters. That's something he excels in. And I usually fall in love with the people that live between his pages. Writers ARE two people. At least I think I am. There's the world you really live in and the world you create in your head. While I come up with some questions it's your turn to answer.

Me:
As a first time King reader, what did you think? Would you read anything by him again? Was it too scary? Or too gory?

Bookworm:
I liked the book very much with the exception of the ending. I would have liked a bit more follow through on that. But I was happy that everyone made it out alive (the exception being Stark and his victims of course) because I did fall in love with his characters. In this regard, he reminds me very much of Dean Koontz. I agree with the duality of a writer, though I have trouble sometimes trying to keep myself out of my characters. As for his writing style, I don't like the amount of cussing but even that I could deal with. He is crass at times and that really turns me off. He definitely isn't too gory for me, and this book wasn't scary at all so yes, I would read another book of his.

Me:
How would you have ended the book? Before William and Wendy were born, Liz was pregnant with and lost a set of twins, does this mean that the cycle could continue? Does each twin have it's own ghost twin?

Bookworm:
For an ending I like something very tidy. I would have liked to see Alan, Thad and Liz 3 months later enjoying coffee together, watching the twins play. I really wanted to know that Alan got over blaming Thad. As for having a ghost twin, I don't quite know. I think Thad's situation was different from other similar situations in that he was a writer. I think the duality of a writer's personality actually had more to do with the creation of Stark than the fact that Thad was his twin. What do you think? And did you have a favorite quote or part of the book? I did. My favorite quote: "...writers INVITE ghosts, maybe; along with actors and artists, they are the only totally accepted mediums of our society. They make worlds that never were, populate them with people who never existed, and then invite us to join them in their fantasies. And we do, don't we? Yes. We PAY to do it."

Me:
My ending would have been Thad using his writing to vanquish Stark. And then fast forward to Thad having a best selling book on his own and living happily with Liz and Wendy and William. Sadly I read online that in King's book "Bag of Bones", it is revealed that Thad committed suicide. Knowing that, does it change your perception of Thad or the book?I think King is saying being a writer is almost the same as a ghost twin. Two people in one body. The duality of man. Favorite Quotes: I wrote down a couple. But I will only list my top two."When you put a bunch of English teachers together with an almost unlimited supply of booze, you could burn down a weekend." (Pg 88-24)"Thad closed the eyes God had put in his face and opened the one God had put in his mind, the eye which persisted in seeing even the things he didn't want to look at." Pg. 157

Me:
Many of Stephen King's characters are writers including: Thad (The Dark Half), Ben Mears (Salem's Lot), Paul Sheldon (Misery), Mike Noonan (Bag of Bones), Scott Landon (Lisey's Story), William Denbrough (It), Jack Torrance (The Shining), and Roberta (Bobbi) Anderson (Tommyknockers). Why is that?

Bookworm:
I'm so sad to hear about Thad killing himself!!!!!!!! Hell yes it changes my perception of the book though it shouldn't since it doesn't actually occur in this novel. I have to say I like the story a little less. What about you? Does it change your perception of Thad or the book? To answer your question about so many characters being writer's I'm guessing that it has to do with writing what you know. I know I find myself writing characters who are writers or in some way related to writing (editor, literary agent). I also find that I write many of my female characters as I am. What's your take on that?

Me:
Poor Thad! I feel so bad for him. And it opens up so many questions. Why did he do what he did? Was it because of a failing relationship with Liz? Was he afraid of himself? Did he feel George returning? I think King writes about writers mostly because it's a subject he knows well. But I also think that he chooses writers because of a writers mind. A writer would much more easily believe the weird things happening (ghosts, monsters, witches, etc), because they have the kind of mind that is more open to possibility and uses more imagination.

Bookworm:
Have you read bag of bones? I kind of want to now just to follow up with Thad.

Me:
Yes, I have read Bag of Bones. And I remember not caring for it very much. Probably not worth reading it just for follow up on Thad. Especially since it's probably just a passing sentence and we already know what it says. If you read another King, please read The Green Mile.

Final Thoughts:
This was not my most favorite King novel. Not by a long shot. But it was decent and entertaining. And I loved Thad and George. I have to give this one 2 and a half stars.