My personal opinion is that here King, has actually described the human life. We all are walking the long walk and inevitably we will stop at the end. Hoping for The big prize, our dreams, everything u can imagine. That's why the 'prize' wasn't described at all, that's why there was no particular reason to join the competition. You are in as soon as u get your first breath. That are my 2 cents. I thought that this is obvious, but listening to that review made me write this.

@rameo89

6 жыл бұрын

penio ivanov well said

@Moondust0000

5 жыл бұрын

I think you are right on. One of the better observations I've read.

@TamiL2713

2 жыл бұрын

Wow thank you for share that. I recently finish that novel and liked so much but now whit that vision yours i certainly Can i say that loved

The ending feels abrupt, but I think that was the right decision. What happened before the Long Walk, why the United States is apparently a police state, or what happens afterwards is irrelevant. I think any more exposition would have just diluted how harrowing the novel is.

@barsam2a

Жыл бұрын

Also it ends abrupt, bc apparently Ray dies at the end too. He is walking towards a figure is one of the last sentences.

It completely made sense for the prize to be whatever the winning walker wanted simply to show that whatever he asked for, it would never buy back what he saw and felt on the walk :)

@ambehak4758

5 жыл бұрын

Would be good for someone to win and when asked what they would like and the winner turns around and says: "i want the long walk permanently ended and from hereon afterwards never to happen again."

Estimated body count of The Long Walk over the years: 1,683

Some book you don't just read, you survive, and every so often you have to revisit that survival. This is one such book.

imo, the best way of experiencing this book, is listening to the audiobook version...can also be found here on KZread. I have listened to it now at least 20 times, and get new insights every time.

@patcoston

5 жыл бұрын

Amazing. I didn't think anyone listened to the Audible more than me. I've listened to it 14 times and read the book twice ... all in a row. And I took extensive notes, which I'm converting into a web page. patcoston.com/StephenKing/TheLongWalk.aspx when it's nearly done, I'll start making some videos. BTW, I'm working on some Long Walk fan-fiction that will explain why Barkovitch tore out his throat, Stebbins collapses suddenly, Olson was a zombie, Curly got his cramp, Scramm got pneumonia, Tubbins went insane, Parker thought the other walkers would join him attacking the halftrack, and so on. Hint: It's McVries fault! McVries should have won it, but he falls in love with Garraty and lets him win. Stebbins has muscle-implants from The Shop, so he would have won if he wasn't poisoned by McVries. And there's more! I'm keeping that page hidden for now, but I do have some fan-fiction with my Spectator Guide which has the history of the Long Walk, plus the Walker's Rule Book and the Mental Test they to take. I list the names of all 100 walkers so you get to find out that Stebbins first name is Bart!

@aliciacap7206

4 жыл бұрын

@@patcoston I know this is late, but I looked at your random thoughts on that page (really well done by the way) and I saw that you don't understand why they need the coffin once. They need it once because you will only die once, death which is infinite. You'll never need another coffin since you'll be kept in the same one forever.

@patcoston

4 жыл бұрын

@@aliciacap7206 Thanks for explaining it. I'm not sure what my confusion was then. It makes sense now. I have deleted that from my page. I haven't looked at that page since Nov 28, 2018. I never finished that page. It's where I dumped random thoughts that had no other place to live. I had this long commute where I'd listen to The Long Walk in my car every day, and record my every thought to my iPhone. I've listened to it 15 times, and read it 7 times now for a total of 22 times. I keep learning something new every time. It's amazing how much stuff is packed in there. I contacted the publisher and sent them a link to my mistakes page to see if they're interested in fixing the mistakes before the movie comes out. They replied and said they're looking into it. There are only 97 tickets but should be 99, but I figured how to fix it by changing 3 words. I also contacted NewLine cinemas to see if they'd hire me as a consultant on the movie. I was told it was too early in the process. Movies have 5 phases and they're in phase 1. I'll contact them again when they move into phase 2.

@aliciacap7206

4 жыл бұрын

@@patcoston Well even if you didn't finish it, I really enjoyed reading the thoughts and interpretations. Really cool that the people making the movie contacted you back too. I really hope the movie lives up to the book.

@patcoston

4 жыл бұрын

​@@aliciacap7206 The Long Walk happens about 1978. People say it's the near future as a way of explaining why it exists, but it's actually an Alternate Reality. When is the last time you saw a movie set in Alternate Reality 1970s? It's never happened! It would confuse most people in the audience. I fear their going set it like 20 years into our future like the year 2040. I actually updated The Long Walk to the year 2020 in my fan fiction section with killer-drones, iPhones, iPads, Apple watches, GPS trackers, vlogging, Google Maps, etc. It changes the whole feel from being the tech-free 70s to the tech-absorbed now. Do you think the movie will be set in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s, 30s, or beyond?

This is my FAVORITE BOOK!!!!And I must say this is an AWESOME review of it!!You should try to get a copy of the Bachman Books because it has Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man. And reading that would count as 3 books ;) and Rage is pretty good!!

At first the ending threw me off but after I re-read it I could pick up the visual and it was bold and touching and I wish I could just really discuss it with someone lol

The Long Walk is one of my favourite novels and partly inspired me to write myself. Loved the ending myself, especially in comparison to most of King's efforts. I liked The Running Man as well but not quite as much. I'm nearly half way through a dystopian horror novel right now, hopefully you'll be reviewing it someday (and not castigating it!)

@gatheringleaves

9 жыл бұрын

You're writing a dystopian horror novel or reading it?

@possessedslig

9 жыл бұрын

Writing, about 35,000 words in atm.

@gatheringleaves

9 жыл бұрын

I'm writing a novel too. It's not dystopian, but it is a blend of gothic horror and post-apocalyptic fiction.

@possessedslig

9 жыл бұрын

Yeah sounds a bit like mine, how are you finding it? I have some days where I feel inspired and others when I think I'm writing absolute rubbish. I think I'm doing okay considering this is my first real try at writing a novel. It's a tough process, I'm lucky a friend of mine is reading it and offering advice as I go along, she assures me it's worth finishing so I'm determined not to give up. I find the hardest part is sorting through the continuity errors, they really start piling up the further you get.

@gatheringleaves

9 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've been working on mine for about a year and a half, and am only on the 14th chapter as of now. I've had to rewrite and revise so much it's almost like a different novel from when it started! I hope to get it self published before 2015 though, and there should be about twenty chapters when it's done. It was hard to stay focused and keep writing the first several months but now the book is almost writing itself!

The Long Walk is just a damn good book. I am on my 4th read of it.

This is one of my favorite books! It is my favorite Stephen King book, and I really recommend reading the other Richard Bachman novels, I think they are all very intresting.

@ThirstyEye

7 жыл бұрын

Roadwork!

I first read this book many years ago, while richard bachman was still the only associated name for the book, epic amazing, thought provoking book back then, Now I am 40, and still try to encourage people to read this book, it was published in a set of 4 short stories, all were amazing, the fact was, stephen king was already renowned and everything he published at that time was already picked up by his "big fan base" so he wanted to print his work and see how it would fare without his real name attached to it, therefore, we got the richard bachman books, still amazing and I do thnk after 20 yeaRS THS BOOK HAS BEEN AROUND, THEY WOULD have to have an extremely skilled director and actors, to portray it as we read in the book ( ugh forgive my cpas lock there ) :P

Yes, sweet, intense and funny book. First read many many years ago, recently revisited and was all "yeahhhhh!". I, too, was initially bummed by abrupt ending. But now I'm not sure how else it could have ended. I loved the joy of them sharing the watermelon, the horror of those whose shoes failed, the sad humor of that dopey flu-suffering guy declaring his son(paraphrase) "will do as much college as he wants." I even recently had a "long walk" dream, tho not with any of the characters; must be the nighttime supplements... Running Man good, should also consume Roadwork (tho by now you probably have).

You had a cool cover of the book for the thumbnail. I just finished it.

I read the book a long time ago, and I remember that I loved it! Maybe I'll have to read it a second time... :)

2:05 if you want to skip the waffling

Have you read Intensity by Dean Koontz? I think you would really love it. Plus, the main character is a psych major!

@angelagraham3911

5 жыл бұрын

Yes!!!! Great book!!!

Love your book reviews, please do more! :)

good review! 🙂 The Long Walk is def one of my favourite books ever. I love it and I am currently reading it for the third time.

The ending of the book was rushed. King could have done much more with the ending but he didn't. That is why I am hoping if the Long Walk is made into a movie, then more will be done with the ending.

@rameo89

6 жыл бұрын

Austin Johnston I agree 100 %

@mcmk9661

5 жыл бұрын

@@rameo89 it was rushed on purpose to demonstrate the insanity in Ray's character. Rather than go into a long, detaled ending, King had a quick, disturbing ending in the fact that it was fast and that in Garraty's point of view, the detales didn't matter, what mattered was walking and walking and walking and walknig.

@ambehak4758

5 жыл бұрын

I disagree. Halfway into part 2 i was beginning to get bored and was losing the will to read on. So many things were added which did not need to be added.

Nice review, I have to try more Stephen King. I read Salem's Lot years ago and I didn't like it so I never went back to King. But after seeing the movie Carrie I tried the book and I like that one. :)

Is the Long Walk and the Running Man, in a tied continuity?

Stebbins had a really interesting prize request.

Try reading James herbert :)

Well King didn't just end the book with Ray winning.... You don't know really know what happens at the end. He left it up to interpretation.... Remember there was an image chasing him and eventually touched his shoulder before the book ended? That could have been the crowd running to him in celebration, his girlfriend trying to get a hug, his mom, or even the major trying to tell him he can stop walking now because he won..... OR it could have been Stebbins, who maybe didn't die after all...... OR it could have been Garrity losing his mind like the Olson kid did and thinking he outlasted Stebbins, when in reality he is the one who died or his brain was shutting down..... There are many ways to look at the ending (which is the reason I hated the ending by the way)..... It's not cut and dry.... but what else can you expect from a Bachman book? Thinner was like that, Rage was like that, etc.... The Running Man had closure, but it still ended abrupt.... Although the whole plane incident seemed a tad too far fetched and the middle finger being somewhat cliché..... Anyway... The Long Walk is a descent book, but you cannot compare any Bachman book to quality King publishings.

@mcmk9661

5 жыл бұрын

it was the major.

have you read misery! the movie is really good too

Hey! The funny thing is I was reading the long walk when you posted this video, and I waited until I finished the book to come watch ur review! Pretty good by the way! I just dont agree with what u said about the prize being uncreative and all, because to me King had no intent to show u the aftermath afterall, the book is all about the suffering and the losing ur mind and the struggling to get to the end, and when I finished reading it it felt like I could breath again, just like Ray could in a way. Dont u think?

@SMARTskank

10 жыл бұрын

I absolutely agree with you. I did however agree with what she said about the ending being abrupt. Stephen King has been so specific throughout the entire story, only to end it like that. Still beautiful though! No regrets. But I wonder.. is it the evil entity, randall flagg, he brings into so many books? (real thing) Is it death, collecting Ray? Or is it just a big fat hallucination?! :P The way I understood it is that one isn't glad to win this contest, after seeing your friends die like that. (Baker and McVries most heartbreaking if you ask me.) To my personal experience, this entity was just a phantom of his former self. What do you think?

@RebeccaRiga

10 жыл бұрын

Yeah I agree with you on that, the ending is too abrupt and u feel like there's more to it because of what u've been through with all the boys, but I guess u have to take what u get right...I thought about the entity being Death also, but the thing you said about it being just an hallucination makes it so much sad and real, he was suffering in levels we cant understand and that was like his redemption. All in all I supose King really just wants us to wonder what really happened.

@SMARTskank

10 жыл бұрын

Rebeca Riga Yeah. I suppose he just wants us to suffer in a way. I've read most of his books.. (most.. i'd say more than 80%) But I really want to know what this ending meant. Are you aware of this entity he makes appear in more of his novels? Randall Flagg?

I highly recommend Watches by Dean Koontz if you haven't read it already. its so good. Also Angelfall by Susan Ee is a fantastic novel and the film rights have been sold to Sam Raimi the producer of The Evil Dead (the original three/remake) and The Grudge.

Im using this book for a project

Can you review Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk? Its not technically horror, but it is disturbing satire.

Great review

Read "Haunted" by Chuck Palahniuk. Seriously, crazy good book. Emphasis on the crazy.

House of Leaves is by far the scariest book I've ever read.

I really want it to be a movie 😣😣😣

This would be my worst nightmare.

Agreed with you about the prize. Too flat. Should have been a def fixed prize, not chosen by the winner. Great book, a stand out. Do you like the Peter Jackson movie Heavenly Creatures? It's good. Thanks for your review.

I really enjoyed your book review and Stephen King is one of the best writers in horror.

I think getting whatever you want is a great prize idea. It helps to convey how controlling and powerful the dictatorship running the country is. It also lets the reader dream about what they would choose.

You should read Jack Ketchum, he writes amazing and very disturbing horror.

I think Garrety died. I don’t think he was the winner.

Great book. Terrible unsatisfying ending. Like a quarter to a half a star off bad ending.

so, i dont understand why people adore this book so much. I honestly think its a pretty shitty book and it is definetly obvious that its the first book he's ever written. You can read the first couple of chapters and then you basically have read the whole book, because everything after that is so fucking predictable. The book is so drawn out... he builds up so much stuff that just doesnt go anywhere. We get information and hits about the outside world, but he could have just left it out because it didnt matter at the end.. nothing mattered, this book is just a waste of time honestly. We had to read it in english class and i honestly had high hopes... and dont get me started on the ending. King obviously got tired of the book and just wanted it to end. It is well written sometimes, but then other times its streight up badly written, and the plot itself is so dull.. there was no way he could have gone in an interesting way with it because ofcourse the MC isnt gonna fuckin die.. Sorry but i am so triggered by this book lmao. A big fuckin let down imo

@gayleoverly7613

3 жыл бұрын

The dialogue and the internal dialogue is spot on though

@dustinneely

3 ай бұрын

Yes...this book sucks. Stephen King fans are a cult. They think everything he writes is AMAZING! I feel his bad and mediocre books far outnumber his good books.

If you like Horror you have to check out Ryu Murakami's books they amazing !!! X

Boring book. A short story concept padded out to 300 pages.