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Ken F

Ken F

I love a well written horror novel with a lot of "scares". But I'm also perfectly content to read literary fiction. Some of my favorite authors are Dan Simmons, Stephen King, Wallace Stegner, Tim Winton, Dennis LeHane and Bentley Little. The Magic Closet where I keep most of my books is overflowing, but I still buy more books. Can never get... more »
  • Mukwonago, WI, USA
  • member since December 11 2008

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  • Scarlett, Tara and Friends Discussion Group

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Ken F’s last login was 5 days ago. show recent activity »

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Public Notes

  • BenLarken

    BenLarken says

    Wow, Ken! That sounds great - thanks for checking out the book!

    As far as Carrion Comfort goes, I liked the book but didn't love it quite as much as The Terror or Summer of Night. Carrion is just a massive book, and I'm not sure it needed to be. Simmons was trying to make a complete psychological chess game out of his characters, which made for an interesting premise. But it was so epic it became a little exhausting for me. Of course, the action scenes are just as good as any other Simmons work, but the set-ups to get to the action took a little longer than necessary.

    I'm looking forward to Horns also. I enjoyed Heart Shaped Box. That was kind of the opposite of Carrion Comfort in that the story was light and quick on its feet and a very fun thrill ride.

    Happy reading to you too!

    Ben

    posted 5 days ago. ( send a note )
  • Bil

    Bil says

    How did you get a copy of the Alice novel? I have to wait until next year. I am very jealous.

    posted 6 days ago. ( send a note )
  • Susan G

    Susan G says

    Hey, Ken! It is so good to hear from you. I owe you a very detailed email, I realize. I'm finally done working 2 jobs, so the 50+ hour weeks have come to a blessed end. I can't even tell you how relieved I am. Maybe I'll have time to read now.

    Yes, our reading group pretty much unanimously loved THE BOOK THIEF. Karen (of the famed Karen & Pauline duo) said it was the best book she'd read in years. Dave thought it was good, but couldn't possibly live up to it's hype by this time. He said he thought it was very aptly marketed as a teen book here in the US. Our group discussed this at length. We had 17 people present, so we're still going strong at the Elm Grove Library. We've changed the meeting date to the 4th Wednesday of each month. You should come sometime. People always ask about you, and I always tell them where they can find you. We picked books for March and April at our last meeting. (No December book -- we're all bringing a copy of a best-loved book to swap and just chatting and eating treats.) You'll be so happy to hear that for March the group chose THANK YOU FOR ALL THINGS. Do you think Sandra Kring might be willing to do a phone conference? For April we picked THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO which I have been wanting to read forever. On a less positive note, someone in the group told me that Karen & Pauline are rumbling about quitting the group b/c people digress too much. I think that isn't as big a problem as it used to be; however, they are also in about 2-3 other reading groups. One of our group's members, Suzanne, also attends the Boswell reading group. She always has interesting things to report about the goings-on there.

    I was in Shorewood yesterday and peeked into the window of Open Book. I didn't go in -- that just felt too weird. I was telling Lanora that the window displays were kind of low on stock and overall the space had the feel of an Amish hardware store. Functional, utilitarian, but not a place to browse in interest and elegance.

    I'm so glad to hear you have Kathy on board!! Please send her my very best wishes and tell her I hope all is well. I will email her also. I miss you guys tremendously. In some ways, the Mequon crew is fantastic, but not the same as our unique Brookfield staff. For instance, the recs have about 2.5 lines and are very generic and hidden in a low-traffic spot. Bleck. Lanora hired a guy named Martin who is like a bookselling rock star. He previously managed a B&N in Racine. He's young and attractive and has an utterly charming British accent as well as the requisite dry wit. He reads books like someone who is a cross between you & Matt F. Very good for Next Chapter!

    UNDER THE DOME's getting quite good reviews. John Hastie just sent around Janet Maslin's top 10 list and there was Uncle Stevie! Finally some overdue recognition. I hate when people dismiss SK out of hand b/c they think horror is an inferior genre. Kind of a "horror is ghetto" effect, a psychologist might call it. And there are even some at Mequon who do this! SK is one of the greatest storytellers ever, hands down. I think I'm going to attempt to read DOME over Christmas as an antidote to the holidays. I love your idea of a t-shirt saying I SURVIVED THE DOME. I think you could set up internet orders and get rich. Steve would probably even license you, seeing how you've dedicated your life to books and bookselling.

    Can you believe I've never read ANGLE OF REPOSE? It's true, I'm ashamed to say. I think I will buy it. Too many people have mentioned how great it is to ignore it any longer. I also just bought ENDERS GAME in case I feel like sci fi any time soon. That's another one people rave about -- even Stephenie Meyers talks about how life changing that book was for her (on the Book Lust podcast w/ Nancy Pearl).

    That's quite a coup to host Jodi. Way to go! She will draw them in like moths to a flame.

    Did you check out the acknowledgments in the new J Chiav. book? One word: CREEPY.

    Okay, I've gone on long enough. I need to do something besides sit around in PJ's doing laundry and being on the computer. This is my first day off in awhile, and Mark just flew out today to start his new job in Wichita, Kansas. That's a whole other email which I promise to write. Until then, here's hoping bookselling is hopping this time through the holiday juggernaut. Thanks for taking the time to write. I miss you!

    posted 6 days ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Ken, read that such a long time ago, but looking back I gave it a 4 star review.
    What I remember most about it was that it was very disturbing in the way these "vampires" not your typical bloodsuckers here, control thoughts, emotions and actions of certain humans at will and made a game of it.
    The general theme is humans are cattle.

    Hope I didn't spoil anything, I would say if you are a fan of Simmons,you should read this early work.

    Tell me what you think, have a great Holiday !
    Robert

    posted 11 days ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Ken,
    Thanks for asking about he film version of THE KEEP,somehow I doubted he would be impressed with the film,the novel is just fantastic,and he was so right in saying the director really missed the big picture. no pun intended...well maybe just a little one.
    Take care,
    Robert

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Ken,
    I have just completed "Under the Dome", without a doubt this will go down as one of his best works.
    Having yet to fully recover from the story all I can say is I will never look at an ant farm in the same way again,there were at times too many characters to follow but he tied them all together neatly.The story itself was so disturbing on many different levels,the way the younger characters fell into line and embraced all the violence reminded me of "the Lord of the Flies".
    Overall this is one story that will be hard to forget, much like "The Stand" I'm sure this book will stay with me a very long time.
    Many lessons to be learned here,lets hope those who read this learn the right ones.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Ken,
    I just finished reading the NY Times book review, and all can say is ???????
    To be honest there was so much jibberish I really had no idea what he thought of the novel either.
    I'm only a couple hundred pages in so far,everytime I sit down to read, something comes up,guess I need hide away for a while....

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    just got my copy of the Dome ,already hooked just 3 chapters in !

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    As luck would have it....I'm on vacation all this week,my plan is to finish burning leaves, a good bottle of Brandy and Stephen King.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    My copy of "Under the Dome" will be here tomorrow,Can't wait, will let you know what I think.
    I hope you Enjoy meeting F Paul Wilson, if you think about it, ask him if he was involved in the film version of THE KEEP. I'm just curious.
    Thanks,
    Robert

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Sounds like fun, I did find an old copy of both "The Touch" and "The Tomb" at my local used bookstore,that really is sad that so many people will not have a chance to read such a great series.
    Pre-ordered the King novel....can't wait !
    well, gotta go to work, take care.
    Robert

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    " The Keep" was one of my favorites by Wilson, not a big fan of the movie version, really left so much out.
    The follow up books are just as good.
    Take care,
    Robert

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Judy J

    Judy J says

    Dear Brother,

    Ohhh, I'd love to be at your OLIVE KITTERIDGE discussion. It's actually a book I'd like to reread right away as I didn't get into the flow and structure of the book until halfway through but once I did, I simply loved it. I spent too much time thinking about the other characters and how they fit into the story and looking for them to reappear, rather than taking each of them, including the hubby, as an individual short story that dipped into Olive's life here and there. Also, I saw a lot of myself in Olive -- none of the bad qualities, mind you! Similar teacher lives, similar bulldozer approach, similar body structure, etc.

    Another reason I should be in that discussion group is I loved GIANTS OF THE EARTH. I am still in my Fond du Lac book club and do make it back for many discussions. We just did THE HELP, a very popular selection with everyone. I got to share my civil rights march stories -- I'm getting old!

    I've seen Jerry a lot lately as we are packing and moving our dad to a senior apartment. He and Jeannie are delightful hosts.

    Read on, Bro!

    Judy

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Ken, thanks for the info, if I have time this weekend I'll try and rent it.
    let you know what I think.....
    Take care,
    Robert

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Heard they were making the film, glad to here they stayed close to the novel, both the books were pretty disturbing.
    Has the dvd been released ?

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • JUDY R

    JUDY R says

    Did not know SK's new book was out yet!! Shocked to see you read it 12 days ago! Sounds like you give it another thumbs up?! Also curious about Deaver's The Bodies Left Behind! I just got some (new to me) books at a new bookstore here in my area - (buys, sells, trade, etc,) I got Deaver's Roadside Crosses and I just finished The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson which i really enjoyed. I understand he died right before these manuscripts were released and I am now ready for the next one! Good to hear from you again! Judy

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Ken,
    Really looking forward to reading UNDER THE DOME, sounds pretty cool.heading out to the book store this morning, in the mood for a good horror novel, been reading a lot of thrillers and Detective novels lately, time for a change of pace.
    Let me know if you ever pick up Bentley Littles new novel, like I said really wasn't what I had hoped for,let me know what you think.
    Have a god one,
    Robert

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Christine M

    Christine M says

    Thank you for recommending The Book Thief. I'll be sure to check it out)

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Hey was gonna tell you I started reading Sutter Island by Dennis LeHane, this is the first book by him I've picked up, gotta say it's pretty good so far.

    Robert

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Robert N

    Robert N says

    Ken, finished reading His Fathers Son, really was not one of my favorites, it was long and drawn out in parts and never seemed to make an impact with me, it tends to jump from the story to dreams and then stories the character is writing....
    The characters didn't seem to have any substance and plot was pretty thin, if you read it, maybe you will get a better take on it.
    Have a good one,
    Robert

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )


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