What a great post! This is one of King's best short stories. The tension rises early on and rapidly. The tale has such gruesome possibility and yet, in the end, all's well that ends well. Dick even has an improved relationship with his son! I love when king writes about secret clubs/scenes/self-help methods unavailable to everyday society, accessible only to the very wealthy (or super desperate). Another short about smokers and their unique struggle is "The Ten O'clock People", though that one works a different angle. Thanks again Shaina, really enjoying these.
I remember the first time I read that story. Someone had left a copy of the book on the job I was working on at the mill. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I think it was because I could relate so well to the idea behind the story. Certainly was what I'd call an eye opener.
I'm fascinated by the metaphor here. I find it totally believable that the wife is willing to suffer a bit; I'd be even more willing to buy it if it were an addiction to something even more disruptive, but my husband used to smoke and I just wanted him to stop. I like how it illustrates that while addiction has a cost, quitting does, too, and that addiction affects more than just the addict.
Your intro to your audio commentary crystallized my own vision of a book club feel. There is something cozy about hearing someone nerd out about a book and just riff on it. It’s akin to a literature professor dropping references across the canon without a second thought. You can sense how much the individual likes the subject and sharing it. I also liked the commentary of “two weeks” at the end of the written essay. How many ladders of escape do we miss from delaying our decisions?
What a great post! This is one of King's best short stories. The tension rises early on and rapidly. The tale has such gruesome possibility and yet, in the end, all's well that ends well. Dick even has an improved relationship with his son! I love when king writes about secret clubs/scenes/self-help methods unavailable to everyday society, accessible only to the very wealthy (or super desperate). Another short about smokers and their unique struggle is "The Ten O'clock People", though that one works a different angle. Thanks again Shaina, really enjoying these.
I remember the first time I read that story. Someone had left a copy of the book on the job I was working on at the mill. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I think it was because I could relate so well to the idea behind the story. Certainly was what I'd call an eye opener.
I'm fascinated by the metaphor here. I find it totally believable that the wife is willing to suffer a bit; I'd be even more willing to buy it if it were an addiction to something even more disruptive, but my husband used to smoke and I just wanted him to stop. I like how it illustrates that while addiction has a cost, quitting does, too, and that addiction affects more than just the addict.
Your intro to your audio commentary crystallized my own vision of a book club feel. There is something cozy about hearing someone nerd out about a book and just riff on it. It’s akin to a literature professor dropping references across the canon without a second thought. You can sense how much the individual likes the subject and sharing it. I also liked the commentary of “two weeks” at the end of the written essay. How many ladders of escape do we miss from delaying our decisions?