Skeleton Crew (by Stephen King)
This is my second reading of Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew, which serves as the June selection for our Constant Reader book club meetup. First published in 1985, this collection of short stories has stood the test of time. It boasts a diverse range of stories, varying in length, intensity, and horror gore. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, just as much as I did during my first reading. While not every story in the collection resonated with me, I found myself savoring most of them. Some of my favorites include “The Mist,” “The Monkey,” “Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut,” “Nona,” and “The Reach.”
I particularly enjoyed how the stories were sandwiched with King’s insightful words of wisdom in the forward and afterward. The forward shed light on the limited earning potential of writers after deducting fees to agents and taxes, among other expenses. While I acknowledge King’s immense wealth from his writing, I believe the anecdote he shared offers valuable insights into the actual earnings of an author from a single short story and the corresponding hourly rate. The afterward section was intriguing as King delved into the origin of many of the stories. Skeleton Crew is an exceptional short story collection that is a must-read for any King enthusiast.
Several stories have been adapted for television shows, such as Tales from the Darkside, The Twilight Zone, and Creepshow. “The Mist” and “The Monkey” have also been adapted into movies. Below, you’ll find the trailers for your viewing pleasure.
I generally enjoyed the movie “The Mist.” It appeared to closely follow the story until the very end, which I loathed.
I haven’t seen “The Monkey” movie yet. Perhaps I’ll watch it someday, but it doesn’t pique my interest. Some members of the Constant Reader book club enjoyed it when it was released.
Feel free to explore my reviews of other Stephen King books below.
Different Seasons The Institute
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