i hate when recent books address the pandemic, I want my escapism not my current anxieties amplified

I watched an interview with Stephen King during the pandemic where he says no one would be interested in a book about covid once the outbreak was over. Then he writes a book about covid.

Thank you. Was wondering where to start for this one. Will most likely dive into this after finishing Fairy Tale.

Thanks Anda for making this video. You brought up great aspects to Holly Gibney and her character arch, proving that she is a great addition to the King Canon. Having read all the books in the series as well; I agree on your #1 being Mr. Mercedes. I remember being excited after hearing that Sai King was writing a straight-forward detective procedural and he really delivered with Mercedes. It was a great introduction to classic King tropes: The unlikely hero in Bill Hodges to the deviant villain Brady Hartsfield. Per the norm, I'm looking forward to your next post!

I just discovered your channel, and it's just my cup of tea... I now have 344 videos to watch, so yeah, thanks for that 😄

Thx you for this ❤❤❤

actually I would love to see your reading vlog, that's really amazing and gets more involved and your immediate reaction to things that's happening and your first reaction to it. love it. and thanks for the heads up, I am yet to catchup on many of SK novellas, so Holly sits aside for me. Thank you, as always, you rock !

i just reading ''Salem's Lot '' right now ,but ''Mr Mercedes'' is in my list that's why im here,great video! 👻

I love that you have The Great and Secret Show and Everville behind you. In mass market paperback. My favorite. 🙌🏼😍

Thank you for creating this! I was very confused too because I wanted to pick it up but I haven’t read any of the other books she’s in. Will probably be picking up The Mr. Mercedes series first, thank you 😊 I also realized I have yet to read a book taken place during C O VID so I don’t know how to feel about it lol 😂

I loved Mr. Mercedes! I have not completed the series, only made it about halfway through Finders Keepers! This video gave me motivation to go back and finish it😂

Many thanks for this video!!, was looking for a straight forward recommendation which books to read before Holly, and also wanted to get opinions on Holly as a book and not meddling with the politics so much but rather provide a reader’s view of it

Totally agree about the incomplete feeling and something’s missing, that’s why I do the google search about the series and find your video. Thank you for the tip! And to answer your question, I actually enjoy seeing how the reality mashed up with fiction.

Looking like I might have to go back to the start of the series again thanks for that

Thanks for the video! I’ve never read The Outsider but I enjoyed the HBO series based on the book. I wanted to check out Holly but I don’t think I’m willing to do ALL the other books. This video helped- Mr. Mercedes sounds interesting and then I’ll just go straight to Holly 😅

Hey Anda gotta request. I loved when you went over some extreme horror, more would be awesome. You're the best! Thanx for all the great videos

I loved Finders Keepers!

Do you have any other book KZreadrs that you would recommend that would have similar taste to you? Finding it so hard to find book KZreadrs that I like, love the video thank you! I'm always gonna buy a Stephen king's book regardless of the reviews anyway 😂

I just read the Outsider so I’m kind of confused on where I should go next. It sort of spoiled the ending of the Mr Mercedes trilogy so I’m not sure if I should read those? The first one sounds interesting though. And I like his short stories so maybe i’ll do If it bleeds next

I fully agree that not enough time has passed to casually read about COVID.

I was disappointed in The Outsider because after hundreds of pages of the mystery and investigations, it gets resolved in a split second in a very simplistic and silly way (no spoilers). I was left thinking That's IT???

Now it has 4.13 on Goodreads.

I've heard the cover glows in the dark.

I wouldn't mind the whole Covid aspect if it adds to the plot in some way. I haven't read the book yet, so I don't know how it affects the events of the story.

@donventura2116

8 ай бұрын

Yeah, I think the Covid setting could add a lot of flavor and subtext. Just the setting of empty streets allowing for characters to be isolated and helpless in an otherwise safe and public areas. Masks allowing threats to get closer, hide identity, or allow protagonists to make a clever escape. They could also encounter characters who suffer from the isolation, or those that benefit, or workers for whom not much has changed for them, or workers, like nurses, barely holding onto their sanity. Even a detective getting knocked on their butt by covid and being unable to smell or taste would be cool if it affects important clues and events. So many cool characters, scenarios, and commentaries are available through the setting.

Debating if I want to try these books. Even Stephen king fans are complaining how hard some of the series are to get through, and that’s the positive reviews.

Stephen King is my favorite author but I thought "The Outsider" was just ok and I never finished "Mr. Mercedes" so I think I'll skip "Holly" (especially with the Covid refrences, yuck!)

I liked Holly and I didn't mind all the covid talk, but I see how it would bug people. I don't know if anyone watches Supernatural, the series, but I find King stole from two episodes for The Outsider and Holly as well. IYKYK. I don't want to spoil anything here. I totally agree with your ranking of all the Holly books - I absolutely HATED The Outsider (and it was so good for the first half). The supernatural cop-out bugs me too. I loved Mr. Mercedes as well. TFS!

"The only end of writing is to enable readers to enjoy life or to better endure it." - Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

I’ve read ‘The Outsider’ without even realising it was part of a series 😅

Ahhh! Perfect timing. I was wondering if/what I may need to read first. I dislike covid being mentioned in books. I also disliked shows that used covid in their storylines. I probably wont pick up Holly for a long while.

Actually, it is the Bill Hodges series not the Mr. Mercedes series, following the tradition of naming the series after the hero and not the villain. Likely because it would probably be difficult for most readers to identify or empathize with a racist, homophobic, baby killing, mother fucker (in the most literal sense).

i heard the other books of holly was boring

So I just purchased this book and now I’m figuring out that I have to get the other ones dammit.

I was so hyped for HOLLY . Oh my, it was blah, kinda boring, not thrilling or scary...

@angiemason7021

9 ай бұрын

Agreed

@elainetankersley712

6 ай бұрын

Getting pretty sick of King and his political crap. Was trying to read about Hollie and I'm sorry I just can't do King anymore..

You're like Holly Gibney. Slim. But you're a million times wordier than she is. You both have the same clothing preferences. I imagine Holly having a puckered face from being cynical and from smoking too much. You have a piercing on your lip prolly because you like Clive Barker. I love the Mr. Mercedes Trilogy. I didn't like The Outsider too much, it reminded me of masked WWE wrestlers that are unpleasant to watch. I don't remember much of If It Bleeds. I'm loving Holly the book. Thank you.

Finally finished this. Was waiting to come back and watch this. Last time I ever buy a king book just cus of his name. The amount of Covid and anti vax was suffocating. And he absolutely ruined Holly’s character for me. Dude needs to hang it up. And it’s a shame cus he’s what got me into horror.

i dislike all pandemic books ive not enjoyed any real pans or made up ones

I didn't like that covid was so politicized. I HATE politics. I stay away

This book has way to much anti vax and anti mask shaming and pro Trump bashing... King just needs to go back and start writing books with a good story again and keep his politics to himself

@richardmccart7426

9 ай бұрын

Perfectly said and I agree 100%!

@xxshrimptacoxx5720

9 ай бұрын

To be fair isn’t that everything now

@JohnSaxon-vw5vi

9 ай бұрын

How much anti vax and trump bashing are we talking about please

@richardmccart7426

9 ай бұрын

@@JohnSaxon-vw5vi To get a really good answer to your question, go to Edward Lorn's KZread channel and watch his review of Holly. It is only a few minutes long. Edward Lorn is a book reviewer and a massive Stephen King fan. He has reviewed every King book there is along with many, many other horror/thriller books. He is also a published author of horror/thriller novels himself! Finally, he is also very much a liberal and totally sides with Stephen King politically. With all this in mind, I urge you to watch his review on KZread! Once again, it's Edward Lorn. He will perfectly answer how much Covid talk and Trump bashing there is. Especially how much Covid talk. Even he says it's really bad, really excessive.

@garyschwenk9654

9 ай бұрын

@@JohnSaxon-vw5vi it gets to the point everyone Holly meets, they have to exchange vax info and ask to put masks on

Ah, thank you for this! Honestly, I'm kind of disappointed but not surprised that King has inserted his pro-Vax politics into his recent novel. There's too much fighting and othering of people irl. You're right: we don't need it in our escapism fic, Anda! I love Holly as a character but I've found it a slog getting through all the materials to see her evolve in the present. P. S. I would strongly recommend the Mr. Mercedes tv show (s1) which just dropped on Disney+/ Hulu: it very much focuses on Brady's inner mechanisms, and his volatile reactions to his own trauma: Harry Treadaway is jaw-dropping as Brady! I kind of love him. 🥲