Revival

[Dan Hocker]

Funny, but also a bit of a shame. The surface pro 3 is actually a fantastic product (even with Windows 8).

[Tommy]

that's pretty funny

[subie09lega]

Product placement is everywhere but it doesn't always flow with the context. For me (my opinion), it didn't flow with the story, it looked like "I need to figure out how to include this." But I guess in this instance he also included a plug for Microsoft because in the next sentence he incorporated bing into the narrative. So he must like both. It's not like Oprah and her favorite things.
This is one of my favorite instances of product placement:
http://microsoft-news.com/microsofts...arketing-fail/

[Dan Hocker]

I think it's probably only natural to use the product that you use in your writing. So like for myself if I was writing I probably wouldn't use Apple as an example at all, as I really don't care for their products. As for the TV show that's probably more Microsoft sponsoring the show, which is something that happens all the time. It's how these types of shows get more funding and higher production values.

[Tommy]

Kind of interesting that Microsoft is so thoroughly plugged throughout every episode of Under The Dome but I guess maybe King didn't have anything to do with that decision

[jhanic]

King has consistently used brand names in all his work. I just consider his use of Apple to be in that category.

John

[subie09lega]

Yeah, it's obviously personal preference coming through in the writing. It's probably because I'd seen somewhere him using an Apple that made me feel like it's a pitch. Nothing wrong with putting things in that he likes. "Nothing wrong here!"

From the SK boards:
Does King still write on a typewriter? Or did he upgrade to a PC?
Moderator
July 1st, 2013, 10:27 AM
The progression was typewriter to Wang word processor to Macintosh computers. Occasionally he starts writing by hand but that's usually only if he doesn't have either his laptop or desktop handy. When he's working from home, it most often is on the iMac and on the road, it's his MacBook laptop.
http://stephenking.com/community/arc...p?t-29706.html

[TJCams]

subie: I don't really get the feeling of plugging a product, etc. I think personal opinion on certain things are probably there, but that's the case with a lot of writers (esp sci-fi at times - see Arthur C Clarke).

[subie09lega]

I'm about 2/3 through Revival. It's funny that I read the book as if told by the fictional main character, Jamie, but there are times when I feel like King is the one narrating the story, like he's making a pitch for Apple's goods. Has anyone else felt this way? Same thing when reading Joyland and he said something about Dick Cheyne. It just distracts me for a second as I think that's King throwing a personal opinion jab or plug into the narrative.

[coderedx]

I finished it last night and gotta say I was quite disappointed.

I was also not that impressed.

Like I said on the Dark Tower forums, the book might have the best opening Stephen King has ever written. I was enamored for the first 50-60 pages. I felt like the book had a lot of potential. But things fell off quickly, and the story rambled at numerous points. The end was billed as "the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written," but that isn't even close to true. I found the ending absurd, not terrifying. At the risk of giving away a spoiler (avert your eyes!), the explanation for why Jamie Morton had to be at mountaintop was unsatisfying. And King's "Lovecraftian" ending mixed with his homage to Mary Shelley just didn't do it for me. It felt rushed, underdeveloped, and very B-horror movie. It seemed like the sort of crap Dan Brown puts (a name that was even mentioned in the story).

The middle of the book did have some interesting commentary on getting old. And, like I said, the beginning was excellent. But the ending just didn't do it for me.

[bookworm 1]

Yes this just gets better.At least for me. A great book.Hope it continues that way.

[TJCams]

I am about 2/3 of the way through it. I am really enjoying it so far. Nothing too "out there" yet. I am laughing kind of at certain happenings, but I don't really want to post what, as I don't want to have any spoilers for anyone not as far as me.

[zimmer]

Has anyone besides me finished reading Revival?? Do you think it lived up to the description as being "on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written"?

I finished it last night and gotta say I was quite disappointed.

[pennynutter]

Has anyone besides me finished reading Revival?? Do you think it lived up to the description as being "on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written"?

[jhanic]

Double post.

John