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Roadwork
Barton Dawes’ unremarkable but comfortable existence suddenly takes a turn for the worst. Highway construction puts him out of work and simultaneously forces him out of his home. Dawes isn’t the sort of man who will take an insult of this magnitude lying down. His single-minded determination to fight the inevitable course of progress drives his wife and friends away while he tries to face down the uncaring bureaucracy that has destroyed his once comfortable life.
--stephenking.com
--stephenking.com
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1981
About the author
Richard Bachman
42 books4,328 followersThis is a Stephen King pseudonym.
At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was that an author was limited to one book per year, since publishing more would be unacceptable to the public. King therefore wanted to write under another name, in order to increase his publication without over-saturating the market for the King "brand". He convinced his publisher, Signet Books, to print these novels under a pseudonym.
In his introduction to The Bachman Books, King states that adopting the nom de plume Bachman was also an attempt to make sense out of his career and try to answer the question of whether his success was due to talent or luck. He says he deliberately released the Bachman novels with as little marketing presence as possible and did his best to "load the dice against" Bachman. King concludes that he has yet to find an answer to the "talent versus luck" question, as he felt he was outed as Bachman too early to know. The Bachman book Thinner (1984) sold 28,000 copies during its initial run—and then ten times as many when it was revealed that Bachman was, in fact, King.
The pseudonym King originally selected (Gus Pillsbury) is King's maternal grandfather's name, but at the last moment King changed it to Richard Bachman. Richard is a tribute to crime author Donald E. Westlake's long-running pseudonym Richard Stark. (The surname Stark was later used in King's novel The Dark Half, in which an author's malevolent pseudonym, "George Stark", comes to life.) Bachman was inspired by Bachman–Turner Overdrive, a rock and roll band King was listening to at the time his publisher asked him to choose a pseudonym on the spot.
King provided biographical details for Bachman, initially in the "about the author" blurbs in the early novels. Known "facts" about Bachman were that he was born in New York, served a four-year stint in the Coast Guard, which he then followed with ten years in the merchant marine. Bachman finally settled down in rural central New Hampshire, where he ran a medium-sized dairy farm, writing at night. His fifth novel was dedicated to his wife, Claudia Inez Bachman, who also received credit for the bogus author photo on the book jacket. Other "facts" about the author were revealed in publicity dispatches from Bachman's publishers: the Bachmans had one child, a boy, who died in an unfortunate, Stephen King-ish type accident at the age of six, when he fell through a well and drowned. In 1982, a brain tumour was discovered near the base of Bachman's brain; tricky surgery removed it. After Bachman's true identity was revealed, later publicity dispatches (and about the author blurbs) revealed that Bachman died suddenly in late 1985 of "cancer of the pseudonym, a rare form of schizonomia".
King dedicated Bachman's early books—Rage (1977), The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), and The Running Man (1982)—to people close to him. The link between King and his shadow writer was exposed after a Washington, D.C. bookstore clerk, Steve Brown, noted similarities between the writing styles of King and Bachman. Brown located publisher's records at the Library of Congress which included a document naming King as the author of one of Bachman's novels. Brown wrote to King's publishers with a copy of the documents he had uncovered, and asked them what to do. Two weeks later, King telephoned Brown personally and suggested he write an article about how he discovered the truth, allowing himself to be interviewed. King has taken full ownership of the Bachman name on numerous occasions, as with the republication of the first four Bachman titles as The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King in 1985. The introduction, titled "Why I Was Bachman," details the whole Bachman/King story.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard...
At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was that an author was limited to one book per year, since publishing more would be unacceptable to the public. King therefore wanted to write under another name, in order to increase his publication without over-saturating the market for the King "brand". He convinced his publisher, Signet Books, to print these novels under a pseudonym.
In his introduction to The Bachman Books, King states that adopting the nom de plume Bachman was also an attempt to make sense out of his career and try to answer the question of whether his success was due to talent or luck. He says he deliberately released the Bachman novels with as little marketing presence as possible and did his best to "load the dice against" Bachman. King concludes that he has yet to find an answer to the "talent versus luck" question, as he felt he was outed as Bachman too early to know. The Bachman book Thinner (1984) sold 28,000 copies during its initial run—and then ten times as many when it was revealed that Bachman was, in fact, King.
The pseudonym King originally selected (Gus Pillsbury) is King's maternal grandfather's name, but at the last moment King changed it to Richard Bachman. Richard is a tribute to crime author Donald E. Westlake's long-running pseudonym Richard Stark. (The surname Stark was later used in King's novel The Dark Half, in which an author's malevolent pseudonym, "George Stark", comes to life.) Bachman was inspired by Bachman–Turner Overdrive, a rock and roll band King was listening to at the time his publisher asked him to choose a pseudonym on the spot.
King provided biographical details for Bachman, initially in the "about the author" blurbs in the early novels. Known "facts" about Bachman were that he was born in New York, served a four-year stint in the Coast Guard, which he then followed with ten years in the merchant marine. Bachman finally settled down in rural central New Hampshire, where he ran a medium-sized dairy farm, writing at night. His fifth novel was dedicated to his wife, Claudia Inez Bachman, who also received credit for the bogus author photo on the book jacket. Other "facts" about the author were revealed in publicity dispatches from Bachman's publishers: the Bachmans had one child, a boy, who died in an unfortunate, Stephen King-ish type accident at the age of six, when he fell through a well and drowned. In 1982, a brain tumour was discovered near the base of Bachman's brain; tricky surgery removed it. After Bachman's true identity was revealed, later publicity dispatches (and about the author blurbs) revealed that Bachman died suddenly in late 1985 of "cancer of the pseudonym, a rare form of schizonomia".
King dedicated Bachman's early books—Rage (1977), The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), and The Running Man (1982)—to people close to him. The link between King and his shadow writer was exposed after a Washington, D.C. bookstore clerk, Steve Brown, noted similarities between the writing styles of King and Bachman. Brown located publisher's records at the Library of Congress which included a document naming King as the author of one of Bachman's novels. Brown wrote to King's publishers with a copy of the documents he had uncovered, and asked them what to do. Two weeks later, King telephoned Brown personally and suggested he write an article about how he discovered the truth, allowing himself to be interviewed. King has taken full ownership of the Bachman name on numerous occasions, as with the republication of the first four Bachman titles as The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King in 1985. The introduction, titled "Why I Was Bachman," details the whole Bachman/King story.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,958 reviews
August 25, 2019
Update - 8/25/2019 - Re-read
First read: 2 stars
Second read: 3.5 stars
This is probably the shortest time between reads for a King book I have ever done. Also, it is the first time I have Re-read a book where the first time I read it was also tracked on Goodreads.
I tried to give this one an extra special chance this time. King had been quoted as saying this was his favorite of the Bachman Books. I really wanted to go into it and discover that my first experience was completely wrong. Unfortunately, while it was a little better, it still kind of drug on a bit and lots of why I originally didn't care for it remained true (see my original review below)
So, after a second shot, even though many sing this book's praises, it looks like it is going to remain "just okay" for me.
ORIGINAL REVIEW - March 2014
I expected more from this but it was just “meh”. I think maybe if I had lived in the early seventies and experienced the energy crisis first hand, this book would have had more meaning for me. I have owned this book for at least 25 years and I am just now finally reading it, but it is very far off from the story than I thought it would be.
This is not one I would recommend unless you need it to complete your reading of all of Stephen King’s works.
First read: 2 stars
Second read: 3.5 stars
This is probably the shortest time between reads for a King book I have ever done. Also, it is the first time I have Re-read a book where the first time I read it was also tracked on Goodreads.
I tried to give this one an extra special chance this time. King had been quoted as saying this was his favorite of the Bachman Books. I really wanted to go into it and discover that my first experience was completely wrong. Unfortunately, while it was a little better, it still kind of drug on a bit and lots of why I originally didn't care for it remained true (see my original review below)
So, after a second shot, even though many sing this book's praises, it looks like it is going to remain "just okay" for me.
ORIGINAL REVIEW - March 2014
I expected more from this but it was just “meh”. I think maybe if I had lived in the early seventies and experienced the energy crisis first hand, this book would have had more meaning for me. I have owned this book for at least 25 years and I am just now finally reading it, but it is very far off from the story than I thought it would be.
This is not one I would recommend unless you need it to complete your reading of all of Stephen King’s works.
December 15, 2013
A new stretch of interstate is being build and Bart Dawes' house is right in its path. He has until January 20th to find a new place for he and his wife to live and also a new location for the Blue Ribbon, the industrial laundry where he has been employed for twenty years. What will happen if he doesn't?
I wasn't very old when the original four Bachman books were released but I can't imagine this one did very well before King outted himself. It doesn't really have a lot going on. Bart Dawes is cracking as progress threatens to take his house and place of employment. For 320 pages.
Normally, my complaint with a lot of Stephen King books is that they're a lot of unnecessary crap and they could easily lose 300 pages. Roadwork is no different. This thing could easily be condensed into a 20 page short story. Your house and work are having to be relocated and the city is paying for it. I get it. Now use that Weatherby and plastique and start blowing things up if you can't handle it!
Even Rage was better than this. At least all the talking and stalling before the climax in Rage was somewhat interesting. Dawes started out mildly interesting and then just seemed pathetic and sad. By the end, I was ready to run the wrecking ball and destroy his house myself.
The fourth of the original four Bachman books is now closed. Now I can move on to a book I actually care about. 2 out of 5 stars.
I wasn't very old when the original four Bachman books were released but I can't imagine this one did very well before King outted himself. It doesn't really have a lot going on. Bart Dawes is cracking as progress threatens to take his house and place of employment. For 320 pages.
Normally, my complaint with a lot of Stephen King books is that they're a lot of unnecessary crap and they could easily lose 300 pages. Roadwork is no different. This thing could easily be condensed into a 20 page short story. Your house and work are having to be relocated and the city is paying for it. I get it. Now use that Weatherby and plastique and start blowing things up if you can't handle it!
Even Rage was better than this. At least all the talking and stalling before the climax in Rage was somewhat interesting. Dawes started out mildly interesting and then just seemed pathetic and sad. By the end, I was ready to run the wrecking ball and destroy his house myself.
The fourth of the original four Bachman books is now closed. Now I can move on to a book I actually care about. 2 out of 5 stars.
June 4, 2019
Another classic Bachman/King. The protagonist slowly is loosing his mind since bureaucracy and felt harassment get him out of job and family. A very realistic read. I still remember clearly The Rolling Stone record 'Let it Bleed' that was constantly played by Barton Dawes on his way to madness. You feel for this character as you have him very lively before your mental eye. One of the strongest character studies Bachman/King ever did. Very strong book. Absolutely recommended!
December 21, 2021
La historia sigue a Barton Dawes, un hombre dedicado a su trabajo y a Mary, su esposa. De repente, su existencia se ve trastornada por la construcción de la autopista 784 que pondrá la vida del protagonista de cabeza. Aunque este, no dejará que se le arrebate lo que más quiere así de fácil.
Empezando por los personajes, lo único rescatable es el principal: Bart Dawes. Este es alguien que desde un comienzo se nota lo mucho que está dañado psicológicamente y, no es para menos con lo que le ha pasado. Me ha gustado lo mucho que se trabajó este personaje. Es un mentiroso desequilibrado que a veces ni sabe lo que hace, pero a medida que la obra va avanzando se nota con más profundidad lo que quiere llevar a cabo y por qué razón. Tiene una psicología de lo más interesante.
Mary, su esposa, es un personaje recurrente que solo aporta a desarrollar un poco la historia de esta pareja. El resto de personajes quedan en un segundo plano y no sentí que tuvieran mucha relevancia en la historia. Así que sí, seguimos la trama del prota y cómo está tan mal de la cabeza para hacer ciertas cositas bastante idas de olla.
Ahora, he leído algunas reseñas (no solo aquí) de esta obra donde se recalca diciendo que es de lo peor de King. Y puedo entender eso. A mí la sinopsis me atrajo porque sonaba interesante pero lastimosamente en la medida que iba leyendo sentí todo muy lento, demasiado. Habían párrafos que me parecían relleno y descripciones que sencillamente no venían a cuento con la historia.
Aunque el personaje principal estuvo bien trabajado y se mostró a la perfección los lazos que tenía con su trabajo y hogar, además de su delicado estado mental... No fue suficiente para mí. En última estancia se demostró lo que era capaz de hacer y el final era de esperarse. Es más, desde el principio sabía cómo terminaría y unas páginas atrás habían pistas regadas. La historia deja mucho que desear en cuanto al manejo de la trama y lo digo porque creo el problema central es que resulta muy aburrido leer y a medida que vas pasando letra por letra, párrafo por párrafo, solo piensas en dejarlo a un lado y hacer otra cosa. Le faltó saber mantener al lector atrapado. Tal vez más suspenso y/o más acción en vez de párrafos largos describiendo y pocos diálogos entre los personajes.
Lo bueno: Bart Dawes como protagonista.
Lo malo: la narración muy aburrida y con descripciones abrumadoras.
Empezando por los personajes, lo único rescatable es el principal: Bart Dawes. Este es alguien que desde un comienzo se nota lo mucho que está dañado psicológicamente y, no es para menos con lo que le ha pasado. Me ha gustado lo mucho que se trabajó este personaje. Es un mentiroso desequilibrado que a veces ni sabe lo que hace, pero a medida que la obra va avanzando se nota con más profundidad lo que quiere llevar a cabo y por qué razón. Tiene una psicología de lo más interesante.
Mary, su esposa, es un personaje recurrente que solo aporta a desarrollar un poco la historia de esta pareja. El resto de personajes quedan en un segundo plano y no sentí que tuvieran mucha relevancia en la historia. Así que sí, seguimos la trama del prota y cómo está tan mal de la cabeza para hacer ciertas cositas bastante idas de olla.
Ahora, he leído algunas reseñas (no solo aquí) de esta obra donde se recalca diciendo que es de lo peor de King. Y puedo entender eso. A mí la sinopsis me atrajo porque sonaba interesante pero lastimosamente en la medida que iba leyendo sentí todo muy lento, demasiado. Habían párrafos que me parecían relleno y descripciones que sencillamente no venían a cuento con la historia.
Aunque el personaje principal estuvo bien trabajado y se mostró a la perfección los lazos que tenía con su trabajo y hogar, además de su delicado estado mental... No fue suficiente para mí. En última estancia se demostró lo que era capaz de hacer y el final era de esperarse. Es más, desde el principio sabía cómo terminaría y unas páginas atrás habían pistas regadas. La historia deja mucho que desear en cuanto al manejo de la trama y lo digo porque creo el problema central es que resulta muy aburrido leer y a medida que vas pasando letra por letra, párrafo por párrafo, solo piensas en dejarlo a un lado y hacer otra cosa. Le faltó saber mantener al lector atrapado. Tal vez más suspenso y/o más acción en vez de párrafos largos describiendo y pocos diálogos entre los personajes.
Lo bueno: Bart Dawes como protagonista.
Lo malo: la narración muy aburrida y con descripciones abrumadoras.
September 6, 2024
Something about this book scared the shit out of me when I first read it. I was a shy teenager and I sympathized with the predicament of the Dawes character. In the older American Westerns, the brave horse riding hero puts his neck on the line, standing up against authority, protecting his land or guarding the weak. In the more atomized second half of the 20th century, the enemy does not really have a face and self destruction might ultimately be a brave act. This might sound funny, but the laundry where Dawes works and neighborhood might be similar to the land of a frontier man in the old West. Dawes loses it when the highway project threatens the existence of both. Roadwork is sort of a really dark second half of the 20th century Western. It is easy and lazy to see Dawes as a pathetic man who is a victim of American capitalism. There is nothing an ordinary man can really do to guard himself against change. Wasn't Dawes not channeling some of the individuality of his ancestors when he did what he did?
The flashback in the novel where Dawes and his wife Mary collect cans (or was it bottles?) to make money to buy a TV was romantic and heartbreaking when you consider what happens to their relationship and the novels ending. King is a master of the sub plot, the tall tale and memorable flashback. Remember the pie eating story in Stand by Me? The young couple starting their life together, collecting cans to buy a TV, making it against all odds and then it all falls apart. American Beauty and Falling Down have nothing on what King did here.
Anyway, Roadwork is one dark novel. Some Harry Crews level stuff here. I wonder whether King is a fan of Crews. It is terrible what the Dawes character does with his life. Or what happens to him and Mary. How can an ordinary man in the greatest country in the world, at the zenith of its powers, let himself go like this? Maybe it sucks to be just ordinary in the greatest nation of the world. Dawes might have lived a happy life in India or something. Who knows? I could be wrong.
The flashback in the novel where Dawes and his wife Mary collect cans (or was it bottles?) to make money to buy a TV was romantic and heartbreaking when you consider what happens to their relationship and the novels ending. King is a master of the sub plot, the tall tale and memorable flashback. Remember the pie eating story in Stand by Me? The young couple starting their life together, collecting cans to buy a TV, making it against all odds and then it all falls apart. American Beauty and Falling Down have nothing on what King did here.
Anyway, Roadwork is one dark novel. Some Harry Crews level stuff here. I wonder whether King is a fan of Crews. It is terrible what the Dawes character does with his life. Or what happens to him and Mary. How can an ordinary man in the greatest country in the world, at the zenith of its powers, let himself go like this? Maybe it sucks to be just ordinary in the greatest nation of the world. Dawes might have lived a happy life in India or something. Who knows? I could be wrong.
December 19, 2021
My feelings are really smack dab in the middle on this book. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. I thought some parts were interesting but for the most part, I found it quite pointless if I'm being completely honest. It seemed like something that should have been a short story but was stretched needlessly into a full length novel. Dawes has to be one of my least favourite characters that I've encountered in a King story. He's just so unlikable and his thought process was totally ridiculous to me. That being said, I did quite enjoy the ending. It was pretty epic and a spectacular final showdown! And I wasn't sure Dawes had the balls to actually do anything so I was quite pleased with the bang of an ending. But I'm still left feeling a bit disappointed, it feels like there was a heck of a lot of nothing leading up to it!
February 5, 2019
Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman reminds me of Philip K Dick’s mainstream, non- SF stories. The style and tone of Confessions of a Crap Artist and Humpty Dumpty in Oakland with some scare the freaky deaky out of you is how this comes across.
Actually, I also thought about the 1993 Joel Schumacher film Falling Down, starring Michael Douglas. Both stories center around a good protagonist who has had enough. They thought they were living the American Dream but that dream has a dark underside and as Jim Morrison said in Roadhouse Blues “the future’s uncertain and the end is always near.”
King, in an introduction, stated that Bachman had become like an alter ego for him, not just a pseudonym to sell more books; but rather a means to write what he could not as the scary but likable SK. Bachman was for the rainy days. Bachman was to King like a fake Twitter account created to allow him a chance to leave behind conventional inhibitions and get DARK. That’s like HP Lovecraft saying, “you think I’M weird? Check this cat out.”
Bart Dawes is a man on the edge. Family issues, loss of loved ones, drinking problems, job insecurities, and then THEN, if it’s not already bad enough, he gets word that his city is condemning his house for a road extension. King does not just describe the snap, but he shows us the inevitable slippery slope; we see the boat drive past the point of no return and then speed up.
Not one of his best (though interestingly King said this was his favorite Bachman book) this is one of his more thoughtful and introspective.
Actually, I also thought about the 1993 Joel Schumacher film Falling Down, starring Michael Douglas. Both stories center around a good protagonist who has had enough. They thought they were living the American Dream but that dream has a dark underside and as Jim Morrison said in Roadhouse Blues “the future’s uncertain and the end is always near.”
King, in an introduction, stated that Bachman had become like an alter ego for him, not just a pseudonym to sell more books; but rather a means to write what he could not as the scary but likable SK. Bachman was for the rainy days. Bachman was to King like a fake Twitter account created to allow him a chance to leave behind conventional inhibitions and get DARK. That’s like HP Lovecraft saying, “you think I’M weird? Check this cat out.”
Bart Dawes is a man on the edge. Family issues, loss of loved ones, drinking problems, job insecurities, and then THEN, if it’s not already bad enough, he gets word that his city is condemning his house for a road extension. King does not just describe the snap, but he shows us the inevitable slippery slope; we see the boat drive past the point of no return and then speed up.
Not one of his best (though interestingly King said this was his favorite Bachman book) this is one of his more thoughtful and introspective.
June 5, 2017
"I know something else as well: there's a place in most of us where the rain is pretty much constant, the shadows are always long, and the woods are full of monsters."
Roadwork tells the story of Bart Dawes, a man suffering from grief following the death of his young son. To add to his woes, he is to lose both his workplace and home as a consequence of the extension of a nearby interstate highway.
Let me give you a little background into my history with the Bachman books... before Roadwork, I had read The Running Man and Thinner. I thought The Running Man was okay, I liked the idea and I enjoyed the ending, however it felt like it dragged a bit in the middle. I had a better experience with Thinner, it felt more like a King book to be honest and that's probably why. The Bachman books seem to have a pretty bleak outlook with dark endings, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, I like that sometimes. It just feels a bit depressing at times and I much prefer reading King when he is actually King - I prefer his general writing style and the types of stories we get. So I went into Roadwork feeling a bit apprehensive and not really looking forward to it.
However, I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. I didn't love it, but it was a quick, addictive read. Some people on bookstagram had said they had struggled to plow their way through it, but I didn't find that to be a problem. The character of Dawes was very easy to sympathise with. Initially my thoughts were, "This guy is annoying, just get over it", but this swiftly turned into feeling a lot of sympathy for the character once you learned more about him and his history, as well as the reasoning behind his actions. The loss of a child can very easily send you into a downward spiral, especially when combined with the knowledge that you're going to lose your house. It's very understandable that you'd want to hold onto whatever is left in your life.
When reading more about Roadwork, I found out that King wrote this book as a way of dealing with the grief after losing his mother to cancer. Once I knew that, it really did make me view it differently and you can see the pain and heartache entrenched in the pages, and the inability to let go. This is clearly King trying to work through the pain and try to make sense of it all. I believe that over time it has become one of King's favourites of the earlier Bachman books.
Usually I don't rate books using half stars, but I was so stuck deliberating between 3 and 4 stars for this one, that I've had to introduce half stars! So I give this one 3 and a half stars out of 5. An enjoyable Bachman book for me personally, but I can understand why others may not have enjoyed it as much.
Roadwork tells the story of Bart Dawes, a man suffering from grief following the death of his young son. To add to his woes, he is to lose both his workplace and home as a consequence of the extension of a nearby interstate highway.
Let me give you a little background into my history with the Bachman books... before Roadwork, I had read The Running Man and Thinner. I thought The Running Man was okay, I liked the idea and I enjoyed the ending, however it felt like it dragged a bit in the middle. I had a better experience with Thinner, it felt more like a King book to be honest and that's probably why. The Bachman books seem to have a pretty bleak outlook with dark endings, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, I like that sometimes. It just feels a bit depressing at times and I much prefer reading King when he is actually King - I prefer his general writing style and the types of stories we get. So I went into Roadwork feeling a bit apprehensive and not really looking forward to it.
However, I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. I didn't love it, but it was a quick, addictive read. Some people on bookstagram had said they had struggled to plow their way through it, but I didn't find that to be a problem. The character of Dawes was very easy to sympathise with. Initially my thoughts were, "This guy is annoying, just get over it", but this swiftly turned into feeling a lot of sympathy for the character once you learned more about him and his history, as well as the reasoning behind his actions. The loss of a child can very easily send you into a downward spiral, especially when combined with the knowledge that you're going to lose your house. It's very understandable that you'd want to hold onto whatever is left in your life.
When reading more about Roadwork, I found out that King wrote this book as a way of dealing with the grief after losing his mother to cancer. Once I knew that, it really did make me view it differently and you can see the pain and heartache entrenched in the pages, and the inability to let go. This is clearly King trying to work through the pain and try to make sense of it all. I believe that over time it has become one of King's favourites of the earlier Bachman books.
Usually I don't rate books using half stars, but I was so stuck deliberating between 3 and 4 stars for this one, that I've had to introduce half stars! So I give this one 3 and a half stars out of 5. An enjoyable Bachman book for me personally, but I can understand why others may not have enjoyed it as much.
July 23, 2024
Continuing my journey reading all of Stephen Kings books in publication or and next on the list was Roadwork. Not a bad book honestly but it’s too long even though it’s not that long. This could’ve been a really good short story - 200 pages would’ve been plenty.
I understand that Stephen King was creating a atmosphere with the build up and it did work but it didn’t need to be so long. This shows the reader what happens when you really let life get you down (really, really, really down). It shows us what happens when you cant see the flowers between the weeds. A story that is so believable and wouldn’t be that shocking to read in the news.
The reality of this book is why I think Stephen King says this as his favourite Bachman story. Reading this opens your eyes to how quickly your life can be turned upside down. Our main character is slowly beaten down and he can’t pick himself back up.
I understand that Stephen King was creating a atmosphere with the build up and it did work but it didn’t need to be so long. This shows the reader what happens when you really let life get you down (really, really, really down). It shows us what happens when you cant see the flowers between the weeds. A story that is so believable and wouldn’t be that shocking to read in the news.
The reality of this book is why I think Stephen King says this as his favourite Bachman story. Reading this opens your eyes to how quickly your life can be turned upside down. Our main character is slowly beaten down and he can’t pick himself back up.
October 14, 2017
Stephen King, considered "roadwork" one of his not so good novels. I want to disagree with His majesty . Lots of readers thought that it would have been a fine short story, but it failed as a novel. I object to that. For me, "it" and "the stand" would be better if they were "less" ,but "roadwork" is exactly the right size.Because it is real life. In 300 or so pages, it holds the full extension of human vulnerability and despair, in front of painfull fate ,grievous blows of life and the system's cruelty. For me, a masterpiece!
May 9, 2012
Well then. As much as it pains me to do this, I calls 'em like I sees 'em, and this was an effort in futility on just about all fronts.
Now I know, I know, the Bachman books are depressing and dark and bleak and grim. I know all that. I expected it, and was even looking forward to it. But this... This was almost painfully tedious to get through. It was so pointless. So futile.
I've read all of the Bachman books, and they've all been dark and grim and whatnot... but they've all had a point. I didn't feel like the same could be said about Roadwork. Maybe I missed it, but it seems to me that this is a story about a man who stubbornly, stupidly, and blindly refuses change, and determines to stick it out to the bloody end. He gives not a single thought to anyone else he might hurt, like his wife, or his employees, or innocent bystanders, or police officers simply doing their jobs.
No. Why think about them? Fuck them. He ain't leaving his house. He don't wanna. They ain't gonna make him. Right, Fred? Right, George.
So there.
Excuse me while I go bash my face into a brick wall so I can better empathize with Bart Dawes.
One last thing. The audio reader for this book was... just... really bad. Dawes was OK, but every other character sounded like they should have been a cartoon. Mr. Ordner, the boss, would have been one of those big burly bulldogs in a 3 piece suit with a smoldering cigar in one hand and a drink in the other. Mr. Magliore would be a fatcat Get It Man, whose right hand man would be a lanky tomcat with big ears, sharp claws, and showing ribs. Mary Dawes would be a whiny, foofy poodle.
This is how I saw these characters while listening to this guy read.
It did not help my enjoyment of the story.
Now I know, I know, the Bachman books are depressing and dark and bleak and grim. I know all that. I expected it, and was even looking forward to it. But this... This was almost painfully tedious to get through. It was so pointless. So futile.
I've read all of the Bachman books, and they've all been dark and grim and whatnot... but they've all had a point. I didn't feel like the same could be said about Roadwork. Maybe I missed it, but it seems to me that this is a story about a man who stubbornly, stupidly, and blindly refuses change, and determines to stick it out to the bloody end. He gives not a single thought to anyone else he might hurt, like his wife, or his employees, or innocent bystanders, or police officers simply doing their jobs.
No. Why think about them? Fuck them. He ain't leaving his house. He don't wanna. They ain't gonna make him. Right, Fred? Right, George.
So there.
Excuse me while I go bash my face into a brick wall so I can better empathize with Bart Dawes.
One last thing. The audio reader for this book was... just... really bad. Dawes was OK, but every other character sounded like they should have been a cartoon. Mr. Ordner, the boss, would have been one of those big burly bulldogs in a 3 piece suit with a smoldering cigar in one hand and a drink in the other. Mr. Magliore would be a fatcat Get It Man, whose right hand man would be a lanky tomcat with big ears, sharp claws, and showing ribs. Mary Dawes would be a whiny, foofy poodle.
This is how I saw these characters while listening to this guy read.
It did not help my enjoyment of the story.
October 5, 2019
3,5
Posiblemente de lo más flojito del buen King. No creo que sea recomendable para quienes estén iniciando con el autor, realmente tiene libros más interesantes y consistentes. En Carretera Maldita nos encontramos con un señor el cual se niega a permitir el avance de la construcción de una carretera nueva que atravesaría su terreno. No quiere saber nada con mudarse, prefiere aferrarse fuerte a los recuerdos, olvidando por completo su presente. Como siempre, en tanto al aspecto dramático de la novela, es muy bueno. Pero a veces es algo lento ya que puede resultar redundante, o entrar en detalles poco trascendentales en la novela.
Hice una videoreseña en mi canal, por si gustan ver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LodSg...
Posiblemente de lo más flojito del buen King. No creo que sea recomendable para quienes estén iniciando con el autor, realmente tiene libros más interesantes y consistentes. En Carretera Maldita nos encontramos con un señor el cual se niega a permitir el avance de la construcción de una carretera nueva que atravesaría su terreno. No quiere saber nada con mudarse, prefiere aferrarse fuerte a los recuerdos, olvidando por completo su presente. Como siempre, en tanto al aspecto dramático de la novela, es muy bueno. Pero a veces es algo lento ya que puede resultar redundante, o entrar en detalles poco trascendentales en la novela.
Hice una videoreseña en mi canal, por si gustan ver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LodSg...
September 10, 2022
Още една книга, с която Стивън Кинг показва колко разнообразен автор е и колко всъщност богато е творчеството му. „Пътна мрежа“ е книга, която се различава от всичко останало, което съм прочел от автора до момента.
Като сюжет за книга на Кинг ми се стори доста бездействена, той по принцип има далеч по-динамични и бързи откъм развитие книги. Тук не е така. Обаче пък в тази история има много психология и точно това е силната й страна. То цялата книга направо си е един дълъг и подробно разгърнат психологически казус.
Историята на Барт Доус е за един мъж, който постепенно губи всичко и бавно достига до собственото си саморазрушение, което за него се явява единствения възможен изход. Началото на това саморазрушение започва още преди години, когато Барт губи сина си, една загуба, която той не успява да преодолее и тя остава все така силна, тлее и се разгаря вътре в него. И когато от общината решават да построят нов пътен участък от магистралата, която ще минава през квартала на Барт, това води до пълен крах в и без това крехкото равновесие в живота му. И така почти за един миг животът му лавинообразно започва да се срива – губи работата си, съпругата му го напуска, а предстои да съборят и къщата му.
Всичко от досегашния малък свят на Барт се разпада и се оказва изгубено безвъзвратно, а той не може да направи нищо, за да запази дори частично нещо от него. А мотивация да приеме ставащите промени и да продължи напред у него няма, надежда за по-добро бъдеще някъде напред също. И това е пътят на Барт. Къщата, която също му предстои да загуби, е и неговият последен пристан. Потъващ кораб, който той няма намерение да напусне. Но къщата е само поводът, причината се крие в онази по-ранна загуба, която така и не е превъзмогната.
Бунтът на Барт е самотен и отчаян акт, обречен още от самото си начало. Тръгвайки срещу дъ��жавната машина, няма начин тя да не задейства всички свои ресурси и небързичко да те „изяде“. Тези, които отказват да се адаптират и нагодят към системата – системата ги изхвърля. Историята тук е поредният нагледен пример за това. Действията на Барт са един вик. Кратък вик. Минал за малко в новините, отминал и забравен. Животът за другите продължава, а общината все пак достроява магистралата си, а за читателя остава надеждата, че Барт е намерил това, от което се нуждае.
Цитати:
На места книгата си беше доста тежка и тегава, та тогава превключвах на „Били Съмърс“ за малко разведряване на атмосферата. Не е от онези бързо сюжетни книги на Кинг, които винаги ме завладяват, но пък е от онези четива, които дават много храна за размисъл.
P.S. „Пътна мрежа“ е още една от книгите, препоръчани ми от книжния приятел Metodi Markov в подходящ момент. И му благодаря и за това чудесно предложение 👍
Като сюжет за книга на Кинг ми се стори доста бездействена, той по принцип има далеч по-динамични и бързи откъм развитие книги. Тук не е така. Обаче пък в тази история има много психология и точно това е силната й страна. То цялата книга направо си е един дълъг и подробно разгърнат психологически казус.
Историята на Барт Доус е за един мъж, който постепенно губи всичко и бавно достига до собственото си саморазрушение, което за него се явява единствения възможен изход. Началото на това саморазрушение започва още преди години, когато Барт губи сина си, една загуба, която той не успява да преодолее и тя остава все така силна, тлее и се разгаря вътре в него. И когато от общината решават да построят нов пътен участък от магистралата, която ще минава през квартала на Барт, това води до пълен крах в и без това крехкото равновесие в живота му. И така почти за един миг животът му лавинообразно започва да се срива – губи работата си, съпругата му го напуска, а предстои да съборят и къщата му.
Всичко от досегашния малък свят на Барт се разпада и се оказва изгубено безвъзвратно, а той не може да направи нищо, за да запази дори частично нещо от него. А мотивация да приеме ставащите промени и да продължи напред у него няма, надежда за по-добро бъдеще някъде напред също. И това е пътят на Барт. Къщата, която също му предстои да загуби, е и неговият последен пристан. Потъващ кораб, който той няма намерение да напусне. Но къщата е само поводът, причината се крие в онази по-ранна загуба, която така и не е превъзмогната.
Бунтът на Барт е самотен и отчаян акт, обречен още от самото си начало. Тръгвайки срещу дъ��жавната машина, няма начин тя да не задейства всички свои ресурси и небързичко да те „изяде“. Тези, които отказват да се адаптират и нагодят към системата – системата ги изхвърля. Историята тук е поредният нагледен пример за това. Действията на Барт са един вик. Кратък вик. Минал за малко в новините, отминал и забравен. Животът за другите продължава, а общината все пак достроява магистралата си, а за читателя остава надеждата, че Барт е намерил това, от което се нуждае.
Цитати:
На места книгата си беше доста тежка и тегава, та тогава превключвах на „Били Съмърс“ за малко разведряване на атмосферата. Не е от онези бързо сюжетни книги на Кинг, които винаги ме завладяват, но пък е от онези четива, които дават много храна за размисъл.
P.S. „Пътна мрежа“ е още една от книгите, препоръчани ми от книжния приятел Metodi Markov в подходящ момент. И му благодаря и за това чудесно предложение 👍
February 10, 2023
We meet Bart when everything is about to change, the government are ripping up his house and place of work to accommodate a new highway.
The Roadwork is beginning, Bart isn't moving.
The insight King has into grief I find so powerful. There's no right or wrong way to grieve but you do have to look it in the eye. Bart has spent a very long time looking away and I wonder I'd he had sat with the grief, looked the horror of it in the square of the eye, maybe things would have been different.
I love Stephen King but there's something special about the Bachman books. They are gritty, the characters are dirty raw. It's like zooming into the everyday Joe and facing all the warts of everyday life. The drudgery of getting by and how the establishment can drive you up the wall, literally.
Four stars.
The Roadwork is beginning, Bart isn't moving.
The insight King has into grief I find so powerful. There's no right or wrong way to grieve but you do have to look it in the eye. Bart has spent a very long time looking away and I wonder I'd he had sat with the grief, looked the horror of it in the square of the eye, maybe things would have been different.
I love Stephen King but there's something special about the Bachman books. They are gritty, the characters are dirty raw. It's like zooming into the everyday Joe and facing all the warts of everyday life. The drudgery of getting by and how the establishment can drive you up the wall, literally.
Four stars.
November 1, 2019
"It came to him that one of the surest signs of insanity was a man all alone, laughing in the middle of silence, on an empty street filled with empty houses."
I think that sentence pretty much sums up this book very well..it's about a man who never healed properly from the death of his young son and he is slowly falling apart. Then when other outside stresses are put on him, like the city wanting to tear down his house for the extension of a highway, he slowly sinks into madness.. reading this book was like watching a car accident happen in slow motion. You know the big wreck is coming and there's nothing you can do about it. It's going to happen..
This story is also sad in a way. The stuff George (or Fred as he seems to call himself) goes through. He's spiraling down into dark feelings and he just let's it happen. He's very self destructive. The things he should do, he just puts off until it's too late. Half the time I don't think he actually knows what he's doing or even why. It's very sad..I kinda had a feeling how it was going to end.
The story is not so much about the road construction but about George's life, about how it is falling apart. It's very well written and the pages just flew by as I read it. I'm actually surprised I enjoyed this book so much. It's been years since I read a full length novel from Stephen King (although I do really enjoy his short stories and novellas).
I would read this one again.
I think that sentence pretty much sums up this book very well..it's about a man who never healed properly from the death of his young son and he is slowly falling apart. Then when other outside stresses are put on him, like the city wanting to tear down his house for the extension of a highway, he slowly sinks into madness.. reading this book was like watching a car accident happen in slow motion. You know the big wreck is coming and there's nothing you can do about it. It's going to happen..
This story is also sad in a way. The stuff George (or Fred as he seems to call himself) goes through. He's spiraling down into dark feelings and he just let's it happen. He's very self destructive. The things he should do, he just puts off until it's too late. Half the time I don't think he actually knows what he's doing or even why. It's very sad..I kinda had a feeling how it was going to end.
The story is not so much about the road construction but about George's life, about how it is falling apart. It's very well written and the pages just flew by as I read it. I'm actually surprised I enjoyed this book so much. It's been years since I read a full length novel from Stephen King (although I do really enjoy his short stories and novellas).
I would read this one again.
April 28, 2024
I really didn't like this. I found the main protagonist just sad and selfish. I really wasn't invested and couldn't help thinking this would have worked better as a short story rather than a 350 page book
September 20, 2022
This is a good nervous breakdown book, for when you really want to stew in it. Can I call this book refreshingly suicidal? It’s one man’s long self-destructive monologue and there’s real pathos here, real grief and anger. It’s a book about the connection between aging and cynicism, about when the world you were promised slips away and you can’t adapt. Its about loss and the conscious decision not to move on. It’s a bleak book, bleak as hell, but funny. Mean spirited gallows humor drips off the page. It’s a descent into alcoholism and misery, it’s a man trying to tell his truth to anybody who will listen in what he knows in his heart are his last days. It’s a heavy, depressing, fucked up book and not a whole lot really happens until the very end. Part of it is a cutting satire of the 70s white suburban male, raised on cowboy movies and post-war gumption. And part of it is the story of a grieving father unable to let go, knowing it will be the end of him but incapable of change. It’s a bummer, but fully realized and well-written, a good rock bottom read, the perfect page turner for a proper mid-life crisis wallow.
June 26, 2024
Страхотен психотрилър от ранното творчество на Кинг, написан под псевдонима Бакман!
Бартън Доус и съпругата му са принудени да напуснат своето жилище, а и той губи работното си място, заради предстоящото разширяване на магистрала. Техният син е починал преди години, след което Барт дълго време е натрупвал болка и гняв в себе си, както и е започнал да има психични проблеми. Вместо да се примири със ситуацията и да потърси ново жилище, той решава на всяка цена да се противопостави на бюрократичната машина и да си отмъщава...
„На четирийсет, Фреди, младостта е отминала. Всъщност тя е отминала още на трийсет, но на четирийсет, вече не си правиш илюзии.Не желая да остарявам на непознато м��сто.“
„Остаряването е като да караш през сняг, който става все по-дълбок и по-дълбок. Ако пък случайно излезеш на равно, оказва се заледено и започваш да се въртиш. Това е животът. Няма снегорини, които да дойдат и да те изровят. Спасителният ти кораб просто няма да дойде, малката. Няма и лодки, за никого. Никога няма да спечелиш в тази надпревара.“
„— Ще сложа всичките си карти на масата, г-н Доус.
— Знаете ли, от опит зная, че когато някой каже нещо такова, значи е решил да спре да си играе с малките лъжи и е на път да пусне някоя — като слънце.“
Бартън Доус и съпругата му са принудени да напуснат своето жилище, а и той губи работното си място, заради предстоящото разширяване на магистрала. Техният син е починал преди години, след което Барт дълго време е натрупвал болка и гняв в себе си, както и е започнал да има психични проблеми. Вместо да се примири със ситуацията и да потърси ново жилище, той решава на всяка цена да се противопостави на бюрократичната машина и да си отмъщава...
„На четирийсет, Фреди, младостта е отминала. Всъщност тя е отминала още на трийсет, но на четирийсет, вече не си правиш илюзии.Не желая да остарявам на непознато м��сто.“
„Остаряването е като да караш през сняг, който става все по-дълбок и по-дълбок. Ако пък случайно излезеш на равно, оказва се заледено и започваш да се въртиш. Това е животът. Няма снегорини, които да дойдат и да те изровят. Спасителният ти кораб просто няма да дойде, малката. Няма и лодки, за никого. Никога няма да спечелиш в тази надпревара.“
„— Ще сложа всичките си карти на масата, г-н Доус.
— Знаете ли, от опит зная, че когато някой каже нещо такова, значи е решил да спре да си играе с малките лъжи и е на път да пусне някоя — като слънце.“
November 24, 2018
So sad.
Creo que estoy a punto de ponerme a gritar. Por las cosas perdidas. Por tu sonrisa, Mary. Perdóname si echo la cabeza hacia atrás y me pongo a gritar por la sonrisa que ya nunca aparece en tu rostro. ¿De acuerdo?
Hacerte viejo es como conducir el coche a través de una capa de nieve que cada vez se hace más y más espesa. A partir de determinado momento uno no hace otra cosa que girar y girar las ruedas, que no cesan de patinar. Eso es la vida. Ningún tractor vendrá a sacarte del atasco. Tu barco no llegará para salvarte, muchacha. Y no hay botes salvavidas para nadie. Nunca ganarás una disputa. Ninguna cámara seguirá tus pasos y no habrá nadie contemplando tu lucha. Todo es así.
Creo que estoy a punto de ponerme a gritar. Por las cosas perdidas. Por tu sonrisa, Mary. Perdóname si echo la cabeza hacia atrás y me pongo a gritar por la sonrisa que ya nunca aparece en tu rostro. ¿De acuerdo?
Hacerte viejo es como conducir el coche a través de una capa de nieve que cada vez se hace más y más espesa. A partir de determinado momento uno no hace otra cosa que girar y girar las ruedas, que no cesan de patinar. Eso es la vida. Ningún tractor vendrá a sacarte del atasco. Tu barco no llegará para salvarte, muchacha. Y no hay botes salvavidas para nadie. Nunca ganarás una disputa. Ninguna cámara seguirá tus pasos y no habrá nadie contemplando tu lucha. Todo es así.
October 7, 2016
Roadwork - Stephen King, Richard Bachman
It's amazing what a difference a few years can make. When I was first getting into Stephen King's work, I had no idea where to start. I will never forget finding myself in a small used bookstore in Decatur, Alabama, perusing a bookshelf filled with worn King paperbacks and being shocked that a man could write so much. I picked titles at random, trying to remember what books my friend (a huge King fan at the time) had recommended to me days before this trip to the bookstore, and . . . I really couldn't. I bought, at random, several paperbacks that day -- Different Seasons, IT, Dreamcatcher, Misery, The Running Man.
There was another one I bought, too. That book was Roadwork.
It took me a long time after that day to finally fall in love with the works of Stephen King. I started with The Running Man and got maybe twenty pages in. Ditto with IT. I started Misery before a trip to the gulf and finished it while sitting beach-side. I didn't love it -- I wouldn't read another King novel, Christine, for over a year -- but it planted the seed that soon grew into Constant Reader-dom (is that a word? does that metaphor make sense? ah, well).
In all that time, I never touched Roadwork. I seem to recall reading the brief synopsis on the back of the copy I had and not being too intrigued -- it was something about a man making his "last stand" against a construction company building a highway. Or something. Totally boring, right? At that time, I wanted what everyone wants from King when starting out -- adrenaline-escalating terror! Ghosts! Zombies! Monsters! It wasn't until reading Christine that I finally got what I wanted in that regard and was, thus, sold.
A few months after becoming a full-fledged King fanatic, I took a stab at Roadwork. By that time I had joined the Stephen King Message Board and knew from discussing this book with some folks there that it was pretty different from everything else King has published.
And . . . It was. I got past the first chapter and couldn't take any more; it was dull and plodding, and the main character seemed totally unsympathetic.
Fast-forward four years. Like everyone else, I change from year to year. What I look for in books -- while remaining essentially the same, as in I am just as picky when it comes to good writing -- at twenty is not what I looked for in books at sixteen. My outlook on life has changed, my friends have changed, and I've changed. I'll take strong character development over anything else these days, and Roadwork has that in spades. Bart Dawes -- Roadwork's protagonist -- is up there with Johnny Smith from The Dead Zone as far as fascinating lead characters go. A case could also be made that The Dead Zone and Roadwork are among King's most melancholy works; I wouldn't disagree with that at all. I'd probably throw Christine in that list, too. This period of Stephen King's career is interesting because of how downbeat so much of the output is, but it is in that misery that some of his finest creations come to life.
On the surface, not a whole lot happens in Roadwork. It's about a man who is in charge of finding a new plant for the Blue Ribbon Laundry (readers familiar with Carrie or "The Mangler" probably remember that name), the laundromat he runs. As well, he has to look for a new house for him and his wife -- a new highway is being constructed, and both Dawes's home and work are in the path of the wrecking ball. At the start of the novel he has two months to get this done, but he doesn't do it. He does not feel it's right to be forced to lose his home to the whims of the government -- the house in which he has lived with his wife for twenty years, the house where his son (who died of a brain tumor three years prior to the actions of the novel, putting more strain on Dawes's mental state from the start) took his first steps. The house is full of memories, every nook and cranny -- and Bart Dawes has to find a new place to go. No choice.
And . . . that is really all that happens. Bart eventually loses his job, and his wife leaves him after finding out he never even tried looking for a new house despite telling her otherwise. The point of this story isn't what happens or what doesn't; it's about the tragic figure at the center of it all, and how he's fundamentally changed by forces in his life he cannot control. He begins buying guns and explosives and spending a lot of time in his own thoughts (as narrated by two voices in his head -- Freddy and George, i.e. what he and his son used to call each other). This is a quiet novel, one that doesn't have a lot of action, and I think that is what puts a lot of readers off. A lot of this novel is an excruciatingly detailed look at Bart Dawes's gradual descent into madness by way of all-pervading depression and a sense of self-loathing, so in that way it isn't totally unlike Jack Torrance's situation in The Shining (which King apparently wrote right after completing this novel). However, unlike in The Shining, there are no ghosts or streams of blood here. This one is just about one man standing up for what he thinks is right, no matter the price . . . and sometimes that's the scariest thing a person can do.
In conclusion: this is literary Stephen King with a capital L. I'm amazed that such a nuanced, chilling book came from such a young author (he wrote it in his mid-20s). This is a quiet and sublime study of one of the most tragic figures in all of King's oeuvre. It's a fascinating tale that is, sadly, very overlooked. . . . so overlooked that even I had never read it before now, which is something I deeply regret. This one belongs on the shelf with the best of King's non-genre novels.
King connections: Roadwork is a special case among the original Richard Bachman novels because this one actually has a few connections to the Stephen King universe!
A lot of the action in the novel's first half takes place at the Blue Ribbon Laundry, employer of Margaret White from Carrie and home of the infamous mangler from the story of the same name, as found in Night Shift.
At one point Bart tells his wife, Mary, he's "getting back on the beam." Now, I realize this story was written in the mid-70s, before the Dark Tower was such a luminous figure in King's fiction . . . but the story of the Tower had been started by that point (in fact, King started it in 1970), and so I'm counting it as a connection.
And, finally, Bart meets a mysterious man at a party who describes himself as a traveling, unsettled man. The man calls himself Phil Drake, and mentions a past in the priesthood. He is now a street priest who has renounced his ordination and has a scarred, misshapen hand. He later says he has to pay penance for something -- something he never tells, saying it's between him and God -- and Bart finds in him a kindred spirit. King heavily implies this is Father Callahan from 'Salem's Lot, though it doesn't make much sense as SL takes place in autumn of '75 and Roadwork is set against the backdrop of the First Energy Crisis of 1973. Still, King has said many times over the years that Roadwork was written between 'Salem's Lot and The Shining, so Father Callahan was most definitely on his mind at the time . . . so who knows? Maybe it's Father Callahan's twinner or something.
Up next: A terror that cannot be shaken comes to Castle Rock, Maine, and King can't shake his addictions. It's Cujo.
It's amazing what a difference a few years can make. When I was first getting into Stephen King's work, I had no idea where to start. I will never forget finding myself in a small used bookstore in Decatur, Alabama, perusing a bookshelf filled with worn King paperbacks and being shocked that a man could write so much. I picked titles at random, trying to remember what books my friend (a huge King fan at the time) had recommended to me days before this trip to the bookstore, and . . . I really couldn't. I bought, at random, several paperbacks that day -- Different Seasons, IT, Dreamcatcher, Misery, The Running Man.
There was another one I bought, too. That book was Roadwork.
It took me a long time after that day to finally fall in love with the works of Stephen King. I started with The Running Man and got maybe twenty pages in. Ditto with IT. I started Misery before a trip to the gulf and finished it while sitting beach-side. I didn't love it -- I wouldn't read another King novel, Christine, for over a year -- but it planted the seed that soon grew into Constant Reader-dom (is that a word? does that metaphor make sense? ah, well).
In all that time, I never touched Roadwork. I seem to recall reading the brief synopsis on the back of the copy I had and not being too intrigued -- it was something about a man making his "last stand" against a construction company building a highway. Or something. Totally boring, right? At that time, I wanted what everyone wants from King when starting out -- adrenaline-escalating terror! Ghosts! Zombies! Monsters! It wasn't until reading Christine that I finally got what I wanted in that regard and was, thus, sold.
A few months after becoming a full-fledged King fanatic, I took a stab at Roadwork. By that time I had joined the Stephen King Message Board and knew from discussing this book with some folks there that it was pretty different from everything else King has published.
And . . . It was. I got past the first chapter and couldn't take any more; it was dull and plodding, and the main character seemed totally unsympathetic.
Fast-forward four years. Like everyone else, I change from year to year. What I look for in books -- while remaining essentially the same, as in I am just as picky when it comes to good writing -- at twenty is not what I looked for in books at sixteen. My outlook on life has changed, my friends have changed, and I've changed. I'll take strong character development over anything else these days, and Roadwork has that in spades. Bart Dawes -- Roadwork's protagonist -- is up there with Johnny Smith from The Dead Zone as far as fascinating lead characters go. A case could also be made that The Dead Zone and Roadwork are among King's most melancholy works; I wouldn't disagree with that at all. I'd probably throw Christine in that list, too. This period of Stephen King's career is interesting because of how downbeat so much of the output is, but it is in that misery that some of his finest creations come to life.
On the surface, not a whole lot happens in Roadwork. It's about a man who is in charge of finding a new plant for the Blue Ribbon Laundry (readers familiar with Carrie or "The Mangler" probably remember that name), the laundromat he runs. As well, he has to look for a new house for him and his wife -- a new highway is being constructed, and both Dawes's home and work are in the path of the wrecking ball. At the start of the novel he has two months to get this done, but he doesn't do it. He does not feel it's right to be forced to lose his home to the whims of the government -- the house in which he has lived with his wife for twenty years, the house where his son (who died of a brain tumor three years prior to the actions of the novel, putting more strain on Dawes's mental state from the start) took his first steps. The house is full of memories, every nook and cranny -- and Bart Dawes has to find a new place to go. No choice.
And . . . that is really all that happens. Bart eventually loses his job, and his wife leaves him after finding out he never even tried looking for a new house despite telling her otherwise. The point of this story isn't what happens or what doesn't; it's about the tragic figure at the center of it all, and how he's fundamentally changed by forces in his life he cannot control. He begins buying guns and explosives and spending a lot of time in his own thoughts (as narrated by two voices in his head -- Freddy and George, i.e. what he and his son used to call each other). This is a quiet novel, one that doesn't have a lot of action, and I think that is what puts a lot of readers off. A lot of this novel is an excruciatingly detailed look at Bart Dawes's gradual descent into madness by way of all-pervading depression and a sense of self-loathing, so in that way it isn't totally unlike Jack Torrance's situation in The Shining (which King apparently wrote right after completing this novel). However, unlike in The Shining, there are no ghosts or streams of blood here. This one is just about one man standing up for what he thinks is right, no matter the price . . . and sometimes that's the scariest thing a person can do.
In conclusion: this is literary Stephen King with a capital L. I'm amazed that such a nuanced, chilling book came from such a young author (he wrote it in his mid-20s). This is a quiet and sublime study of one of the most tragic figures in all of King's oeuvre. It's a fascinating tale that is, sadly, very overlooked. . . . so overlooked that even I had never read it before now, which is something I deeply regret. This one belongs on the shelf with the best of King's non-genre novels.
King connections: Roadwork is a special case among the original Richard Bachman novels because this one actually has a few connections to the Stephen King universe!
A lot of the action in the novel's first half takes place at the Blue Ribbon Laundry, employer of Margaret White from Carrie and home of the infamous mangler from the story of the same name, as found in Night Shift.
At one point Bart tells his wife, Mary, he's "getting back on the beam." Now, I realize this story was written in the mid-70s, before the Dark Tower was such a luminous figure in King's fiction . . . but the story of the Tower had been started by that point (in fact, King started it in 1970), and so I'm counting it as a connection.
And, finally, Bart meets a mysterious man at a party who describes himself as a traveling, unsettled man. The man calls himself Phil Drake, and mentions a past in the priesthood. He is now a street priest who has renounced his ordination and has a scarred, misshapen hand. He later says he has to pay penance for something -- something he never tells, saying it's between him and God -- and Bart finds in him a kindred spirit. King heavily implies this is Father Callahan from 'Salem's Lot, though it doesn't make much sense as SL takes place in autumn of '75 and Roadwork is set against the backdrop of the First Energy Crisis of 1973. Still, King has said many times over the years that Roadwork was written between 'Salem's Lot and The Shining, so Father Callahan was most definitely on his mind at the time . . . so who knows? Maybe it's Father Callahan's twinner or something.
Up next: A terror that cannot be shaken comes to Castle Rock, Maine, and King can't shake his addictions. It's Cujo.
April 27, 2024
This was a reread, but it has been a few decades at least. Roadwork, pardon the pun, is like 30 miles of bad road. Our main protagonist (Bart) is a middle aged guy that basically starts to mentally break down; middle age crisis or more likely, some bad chemicals in the brain (as Kurt Vonnegut might say). Yet, Bart is not insane, not really. He just has had enough and thinks life has become pointless.
Bart's house and workplace (the Blue Ribbon Laundry for King fans!) are set to be demolished to make way for a new highway; the city has provided funds for relocation, but Bart resists this for no apparent reason. He refuses to close on a new site for the Laundry (he is in charge of the factory) and the owning corporation shuts it down, costing him his job and his wife. Throughout the text, Bart is flashing back to earlier days, thinking about his dead son (brain tumor) and relationship with this wife, all the while continuing down the bad road, with no stated rationale.
This has to be one of the bleakest novels I have read by King. I kept thinking of the Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" while reading it, you know the lyrics "no future, no future, no future for you..." Beyond this, King's almost trademark character building shines through here, populating the book with some diverse and (at times hilarious) characters. This also evoked lots of 'nostalgia' for the early 70s energy crisis, but you really had to be around for that. I remember cruising around in my mom's tank of a station wagon looking for a station with gas (I think we were allowed to by gas on Mondays). Jimmy Carter's speech's later on about conservation... Gah! 4.5 bleak stars!!
Bart's house and workplace (the Blue Ribbon Laundry for King fans!) are set to be demolished to make way for a new highway; the city has provided funds for relocation, but Bart resists this for no apparent reason. He refuses to close on a new site for the Laundry (he is in charge of the factory) and the owning corporation shuts it down, costing him his job and his wife. Throughout the text, Bart is flashing back to earlier days, thinking about his dead son (brain tumor) and relationship with this wife, all the while continuing down the bad road, with no stated rationale.
This has to be one of the bleakest novels I have read by King. I kept thinking of the Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" while reading it, you know the lyrics "no future, no future, no future for you..." Beyond this, King's almost trademark character building shines through here, populating the book with some diverse and (at times hilarious) characters. This also evoked lots of 'nostalgia' for the early 70s energy crisis, but you really had to be around for that. I remember cruising around in my mom's tank of a station wagon looking for a station with gas (I think we were allowed to by gas on Mondays). Jimmy Carter's speech's later on about conservation... Gah! 4.5 bleak stars!!
September 12, 2021
A veces se me olvida que Stephen King no solo escribe terror si no que también incursiona en otros géneros. Cuando vi este libro y quien era su autor me imaginé algo totalmente distinto xd y luego cuando ya lo empecé a leer y vi ese resumen en las primeras páginas dije en serio hizo un libro con ese tema? Como justificó tantas páginas con algo tan "simple" y tan codiano, pero al ir avanzando y ya terminado me gustó bastante el libro y como se fue desarrollando todo.
La historia se trata de la construcción de una carretera que necesitará la expropiación de una buena parte de la ciudad; uno de los afectados es nuestro protagonista, Barton Daves, un hombre de unos 40 años que vive con su esposa y trabaja en una lavandería que tiene igual futuro que su casa. Desde el principio, vamos viendo que este hombre no está mentalmente estable y ya tiene como enemiga a esta carretera.
De aquí en adelante contiene algunos spoiler.
Como mencioné antes me gustó mucho como se fue construyendo la situación, como de apoco fui conociendo todos los detalles y a Barton, me gustó el transfondo de este personaje y que al final del libro no lo pude culpar solo a él.
George, se trata de algo más que la autopista, más que un traslado. Sé lo que te ocurre, George.
Cállate, Fred, te lo advierto.
Pero Fred no se callaría, y eso no era bueno. Si ya no controlaba a Fred, ¿cómo lograría alcanzar la paz alguna vez?
Se trata de Charlie, ¿verdad, George? No quieres enterrarle por segunda vez.
—Sí, se trata de Charlie —dijo en voz alta, una voz ronca y extraña llena de sollozos—. Y de mí. No puedo. Realmente, no puedo…
Si no que también a su esposa por solo abandonarlo cuando era más que obvio que necesitaba ayuda, no es que ella debía ofrecersela porque no estaba capacitada para ello, pero si debió obligarlo a ir a una cita con algún psicólogo o psiquiatra no sólo decirle oye es que deberías ir a ver a un psiquiatra. Pienso que les faltó comunicación, así que al final mejor que se hayan separado. Pero principalmente culpo al gobierno y esa facilidad que existe allá para conseguir tantas armas de forma legal, por eso pasan tantas desgracias al menos este tipo, a pesar de sus problemas, no tenía instintos homicidas que si no... Uff.
Por último, no sé cómo funcione el tema de las expropiaciones en otros lugares pero por lo que se de acá, no les pagan lo suficiente a la gente para poder comprar una nueva casa y aunque lo fuera es inevitable que le tengas cariño a un lugar en donde viviste tantos años. Sobre todo en el caso de Barton que perdió a un hijo en el proceso. El otro día una persona comentaba sobre su casa, que era grande, fría y estaba alejada, por tanto gastaba más para calentarla trasladarse y le costaba más limpiarla pero no se iría porque se la había hecho su padre por lo cual tenía un lazo emocional tan grande que ni siquiera pensaba en irse.
En fin, para terminar, la ironía de la vida.
El documental fue titulado Carretera maldita y examinaba la necesidad, o inutilidad, de la ampliación de la 784. Se señalaba que una de las razones por las que se construía aquella carretera nada tenía que ver con el tráfico, ni con ningún aspecto práctico. El ayuntamiento tenía que construir determinado número de kilómetros de carretera al año para no perder la ayuda económica estatal a la construcción interestatal de carreteras. De modo que el ayuntamiento había decidido seguir construyendo. También se señalaba que el ayuntamiento estaba dispuesto a iniciar un litigio contra la viuda de Barton George Dawes para recuperar todo el dinero posible.
A pesar de todo, las obras de ampliación de la carretera continuaron y quedaron terminadas dieciocho meses más tarde, antes de lo previsto. Para entonces, la mayoría de los habitantes de la ciudad había olvidado el documental Carretera maldita, y las fuerzas vivas, incluyendo a David Albert, ganador del Pulitzer, se habían enfrascado en otras historias y cruzadas. Pero pocas de las personas que vieron las imágenes originales del reportaje en el telediario de la noche las olvidaron; las siguieron recordando incluso después de haber olvidado los hechos que las provocaron.
Finalmente, las noticias se centraron, una vez más y con plena seguridad, en los asuntos humanos cotidianos.
Pd: para ser un libro con el tema que tiene igual me sorprendió que me gustara xd
La historia se trata de la construcción de una carretera que necesitará la expropiación de una buena parte de la ciudad; uno de los afectados es nuestro protagonista, Barton Daves, un hombre de unos 40 años que vive con su esposa y trabaja en una lavandería que tiene igual futuro que su casa. Desde el principio, vamos viendo que este hombre no está mentalmente estable y ya tiene como enemiga a esta carretera.
De aquí en adelante contiene algunos spoiler.
Como mencioné antes me gustó mucho como se fue construyendo la situación, como de apoco fui conociendo todos los detalles y a Barton, me gustó el transfondo de este personaje y que al final del libro no lo pude culpar solo a él.
George, se trata de algo más que la autopista, más que un traslado. Sé lo que te ocurre, George.
Cállate, Fred, te lo advierto.
Pero Fred no se callaría, y eso no era bueno. Si ya no controlaba a Fred, ¿cómo lograría alcanzar la paz alguna vez?
Se trata de Charlie, ¿verdad, George? No quieres enterrarle por segunda vez.
—Sí, se trata de Charlie —dijo en voz alta, una voz ronca y extraña llena de sollozos—. Y de mí. No puedo. Realmente, no puedo…
Si no que también a su esposa por solo abandonarlo cuando era más que obvio que necesitaba ayuda, no es que ella debía ofrecersela porque no estaba capacitada para ello, pero si debió obligarlo a ir a una cita con algún psicólogo o psiquiatra no sólo decirle oye es que deberías ir a ver a un psiquiatra. Pienso que les faltó comunicación, así que al final mejor que se hayan separado. Pero principalmente culpo al gobierno y esa facilidad que existe allá para conseguir tantas armas de forma legal, por eso pasan tantas desgracias al menos este tipo, a pesar de sus problemas, no tenía instintos homicidas que si no... Uff.
Por último, no sé cómo funcione el tema de las expropiaciones en otros lugares pero por lo que se de acá, no les pagan lo suficiente a la gente para poder comprar una nueva casa y aunque lo fuera es inevitable que le tengas cariño a un lugar en donde viviste tantos años. Sobre todo en el caso de Barton que perdió a un hijo en el proceso. El otro día una persona comentaba sobre su casa, que era grande, fría y estaba alejada, por tanto gastaba más para calentarla trasladarse y le costaba más limpiarla pero no se iría porque se la había hecho su padre por lo cual tenía un lazo emocional tan grande que ni siquiera pensaba en irse.
En fin, para terminar, la ironía de la vida.
El documental fue titulado Carretera maldita y examinaba la necesidad, o inutilidad, de la ampliación de la 784. Se señalaba que una de las razones por las que se construía aquella carretera nada tenía que ver con el tráfico, ni con ningún aspecto práctico. El ayuntamiento tenía que construir determinado número de kilómetros de carretera al año para no perder la ayuda económica estatal a la construcción interestatal de carreteras. De modo que el ayuntamiento había decidido seguir construyendo. También se señalaba que el ayuntamiento estaba dispuesto a iniciar un litigio contra la viuda de Barton George Dawes para recuperar todo el dinero posible.
A pesar de todo, las obras de ampliación de la carretera continuaron y quedaron terminadas dieciocho meses más tarde, antes de lo previsto. Para entonces, la mayoría de los habitantes de la ciudad había olvidado el documental Carretera maldita, y las fuerzas vivas, incluyendo a David Albert, ganador del Pulitzer, se habían enfrascado en otras historias y cruzadas. Pero pocas de las personas que vieron las imágenes originales del reportaje en el telediario de la noche las olvidaron; las siguieron recordando incluso después de haber olvidado los hechos que las provocaron.
Finalmente, las noticias se centraron, una vez más y con plena seguridad, en los asuntos humanos cotidianos.
Pd: para ser un libro con el tema que tiene igual me sorprendió que me gustara xd
May 22, 2019
Όταν μέχρι τα τριάντα σου έχεις ήδη δημοσιεύσει τρία από τα πιο συγκλονιστικά βιβλία τρόμου που γράφτηκαν ποτέ (‘Carrie’, ‘Salem’s Lot’, ‘The Shining’), το μόνο βέβαιο είναι ότι δεν υπάρχει ταβάνι για σένα. Ολοένα δοκιμάζεις και δοκιμάζεσαι. Θέλεις να αποδείξεις πως δεν είναι το όνομά σου αυτό που ‘πουλάει’, αλλά οι ιστορίες που αφηγείσαι. Και συστήνεσαι εκ νέου στο κοινό ως Richard Backman.
Ως Richard Backman, λοιπόν, ανάμεσα στα έτη 1977 και 1984 δημοσιεύεις πέντε συνολικά νουβέλες (‘Rage’, ‘The long walk’, ‘Roadwork’, ‘The running man’, ‘Thinner’). Κι όταν χρειαστεί να εξηγήσεις γιατί το έκανες, γιατί ένας τόσο ορθολογιστής συγγραφέας (σαν και σένα) αποφάσισε να δώσει πνοή σ’ ένα άσημο alter ego του, αποφαίνεσαι, με τον πιο απλό και πειστικό τρόπο, ότι: «Νομίζω ότι όλοι οι μυθιστοριογράφοι επιθυμούν διακαώς να υποδυθούν διάφορους ρόλους, να κρυφτούν πίσω από ποικίλα προσωπεία και είχε γούστο για κάποιο χρονικό διάστημα να είμαι κάποιος άλλος, στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση ο Richard Backman». Μέχρι που βαρέθηκες να αλλάζεις ρόλους κι αποφασίζεις να απαλλαγείς από τον Backman. Το γιατί δεν έχει και τόσο σημασία, έστω, κι αν κάνοντας πλάκα σε όλους αποφάνθηκες ότι ο Backman πέθανε από «κακοήθη όγκο του … ψευδωνύμου του».
Αυτός είναι ο King, κυρίες και κύριοι. Πολυλογάς; Οπωσδήποτε! Ευφυής; Το δίχως άλλο! Παρανοϊκός; Ίσως όχι περισσότερο από τον καθένα μας. Αλλά η οξυδέρκεια του πνεύματός του δεν έχει προηγούμενο. Γράφει ακατάπαυστα, καταπιάνεται με τα πάντα και, εν τέλει, δημιουργεί ιστορίες αν μη τι άλλο αξιομνημόνευτες. Όπως αυτή, του Μπάρτον Ντό��υς, που, μόλις αντιλαμβάνεται ότι, εξαιτίας της προέκτασης του αυτοκινητόδρομου 748, τόσο το σπίτι του, όσο και η επιχείρηση που διευθύνει θα κατεδαφιστούν, αρχίζει βαθμιαία να ενεργεί αλλόκοτα και βίαια. Άλλοτε σπασμωδικά κι άλλοτε κατόπιν σχεδίου. Ο τρόπος δε που ο King/Backman καταγράφει την ταραχή, την ανασφάλεια και τον τρόμο που βιώνει ο ήρωάς του, βλέποντας κόπους, όνειρα κι αγώνες μιας ζωής να γίνονται σκόνη, είναι, νομίζω, υποδειγματικός.
Ως Richard Backman, λοιπόν, ανάμεσα στα έτη 1977 και 1984 δημοσιεύεις πέντε συνολικά νουβέλες (‘Rage’, ‘The long walk’, ‘Roadwork’, ‘The running man’, ‘Thinner’). Κι όταν χρειαστεί να εξηγήσεις γιατί το έκανες, γιατί ένας τόσο ορθολογιστής συγγραφέας (σαν και σένα) αποφάσισε να δώσει πνοή σ’ ένα άσημο alter ego του, αποφαίνεσαι, με τον πιο απλό και πειστικό τρόπο, ότι: «Νομίζω ότι όλοι οι μυθιστοριογράφοι επιθυμούν διακαώς να υποδυθούν διάφορους ρόλους, να κρυφτούν πίσω από ποικίλα προσωπεία και είχε γούστο για κάποιο χρονικό διάστημα να είμαι κάποιος άλλος, στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση ο Richard Backman». Μέχρι που βαρέθηκες να αλλάζεις ρόλους κι αποφασίζεις να απαλλαγείς από τον Backman. Το γιατί δεν έχει και τόσο σημασία, έστω, κι αν κάνοντας πλάκα σε όλους αποφάνθηκες ότι ο Backman πέθανε από «κακοήθη όγκο του … ψευδωνύμου του».
Αυτός είναι ο King, κυρίες και κύριοι. Πολυλογάς; Οπωσδήποτε! Ευφυής; Το δίχως άλλο! Παρανοϊκός; Ίσως όχι περισσότερο από τον καθένα μας. Αλλά η οξυδέρκεια του πνεύματός του δεν έχει προηγούμενο. Γράφει ακατάπαυστα, καταπιάνεται με τα πάντα και, εν τέλει, δημιουργεί ιστορίες αν μη τι άλλο αξιομνημόνευτες. Όπως αυτή, του Μπάρτον Ντό��υς, που, μόλις αντιλαμβάνεται ότι, εξαιτίας της προέκτασης του αυτοκινητόδρομου 748, τόσο το σπίτι του, όσο και η επιχείρηση που διευθύνει θα κατεδαφιστούν, αρχίζει βαθμιαία να ενεργεί αλλόκοτα και βίαια. Άλλοτε σπασμωδικά κι άλλοτε κατόπιν σχεδίου. Ο τρόπος δε που ο King/Backman καταγράφει την ταραχή, την ανασφάλεια και τον τρόμο που βιώνει ο ήρωάς του, βλέποντας κόπους, όνειρα κι αγώνες μιας ζωής να γίνονται σκόνη, είναι, νομίζω, υποδειγματικός.
August 13, 2021
Otra novela que leo de Stephen King, esta la escribió bajo el seudónimo de Richard Bachman, en esta novela se sale de sus géneros habituales, no es ni ciencia ficción, ni fantasía, ni paranormal ni terror ni thriller aunque si tiene algo de intriga.
En esta novela nos cuenta la historia de Barton Dawes, un hombre de 40 años que trabaja en la lavandería y vive con su mujer Mary, en una época de crisis económica, y que el ayuntamiento le va a quitar su casa y su lugar de trabajo a causa de la ley de expropiación forzosa porque van a construir una ampliación de una carretera, que va a atravesar ambos lugares, esta novela hace una crítica a esos hechos.
Barton Dawes ya desde el inicio de la novela, me parecido un personaje con un claro desequilibrio mental a consecuencia de hechos de su pasado personal que no ha logrado superar, la novela nos irá narrando estos hechos de su pasado, así lograremos entender mejor al protagonista.
La novela consta de 3 partes, divididas en diversos capítulos cortos y un epílogo, lo que hace que se lea de manera rápida, tiene una narrativa sencilla que enseguida te engancha a la historia, aunque en algunos momentos se me ha hecho algo lenta y monótona, quizá le sobren algunas páginas y el final, aunque lo veía venir me ha gustado mucho.....es la BOMBA.
En esta novela nos cuenta la historia de Barton Dawes, un hombre de 40 años que trabaja en la lavandería y vive con su mujer Mary, en una época de crisis económica, y que el ayuntamiento le va a quitar su casa y su lugar de trabajo a causa de la ley de expropiación forzosa porque van a construir una ampliación de una carretera, que va a atravesar ambos lugares, esta novela hace una crítica a esos hechos.
Barton Dawes ya desde el inicio de la novela, me parecido un personaje con un claro desequilibrio mental a consecuencia de hechos de su pasado personal que no ha logrado superar, la novela nos irá narrando estos hechos de su pasado, así lograremos entender mejor al protagonista.
La novela consta de 3 partes, divididas en diversos capítulos cortos y un epílogo, lo que hace que se lea de manera rápida, tiene una narrativa sencilla que enseguida te engancha a la historia, aunque en algunos momentos se me ha hecho algo lenta y monótona, quizá le sobren algunas páginas y el final, aunque lo veía venir me ha gustado mucho.....es la BOMBA.
February 5, 2021
1.5 stars
DNF @ 22%
Sorry to say, but this just didn't do it for me. We follow a man called Barton Dawes who slowly slips into madness as he fights the bureaucracy that is trying to destroy his house and beloved workplace in order to make a road. This was boring as hell.
Honestly, I don't really want to talk about this so here are all the things that I didn't enjoy:
- the narration was confusing af
- I don't care about the characters at all
- The writing felt as if it was suffocating me... don't know exactly why this is, but for the first time when reading a book I felt like I couldn't breathe
- failed to intrigue me and keep me interested
I must say that the slow corruption ark that we get to see from his inner monologue was quite fun, so this book does earn some extra points for this.
After I read King's The Dead Zone, I've been reluctant to pick up more of his works, but I gave this one a try and it absolutely sucks that I really don't like it. Which sucks! I loved The Stand, after all, but no recent book that I picked up from him really catches my interest.
DNF @ 22%
Sorry to say, but this just didn't do it for me. We follow a man called Barton Dawes who slowly slips into madness as he fights the bureaucracy that is trying to destroy his house and beloved workplace in order to make a road. This was boring as hell.
Honestly, I don't really want to talk about this so here are all the things that I didn't enjoy:
- the narration was confusing af
- I don't care about the characters at all
- The writing felt as if it was suffocating me... don't know exactly why this is, but for the first time when reading a book I felt like I couldn't breathe
- failed to intrigue me and keep me interested
I must say that the slow corruption ark that we get to see from his inner monologue was quite fun, so this book does earn some extra points for this.
After I read King's The Dead Zone, I've been reluctant to pick up more of his works, but I gave this one a try and it absolutely sucks that I really don't like it. Which sucks! I loved The Stand, after all, but no recent book that I picked up from him really catches my interest.
August 20, 2007
I read this after reading The Long Walk and couldn't get into it at all to begin with. I found it a little bit dull and difficult to relate to. But as the story progressed I became absolutely engrossed in it, it really becomes difficult to put down. It's incredibly sad at times, but can often be humorous and very suspenseful.
This is a straight novel, no supernatural elements a la' king. In short, its a tale of one man standing in the way of progress, clutching onto the remains of the past with whatever it takes, slowly losing everything and descending into madness.
Stephen King has gone on record as to say that this is the book he wrote at the time of his mother's death and the feelings he was experiencing at the time. Honestly, I think its a very underrated novel, King now claims this as his favourite of the Bachman books where once he said it was his weakest.
This is a straight novel, no supernatural elements a la' king. In short, its a tale of one man standing in the way of progress, clutching onto the remains of the past with whatever it takes, slowly losing everything and descending into madness.
Stephen King has gone on record as to say that this is the book he wrote at the time of his mother's death and the feelings he was experiencing at the time. Honestly, I think its a very underrated novel, King now claims this as his favourite of the Bachman books where once he said it was his weakest.
August 21, 2021
Una historia que se va fraguando poco a poco, una idea que la ves germinar en la cabeza del protagonista. No es una novela de terror, es más bien dramática por lo que vive el protagonista de la historia (no voy a revelar nada). No tiene muchos personajes esta novela, pero si los suficientes para contar lo que nos quiere contar. Fallecimientos, hastío, desamor, todo se junta en esta historia hasta llegar a su desenlace, no es una novela de las típicas de King, pero no por ello ha dejado de gustarme.
June 10, 2017
Yπάρχουν κάποια βιβλία που,πραγματικά,δεν θα συνιστούσαν καμία απώλεια για τη λογοτεχνία,αν δεν είχαν γραφτεί ποτέ. Το "Έργα οδοποιίας" είναι ένα τέτοιο βιβλίο. Ο ίδιος ο King έχει πει πως το θεωρεί το χειρότερο -ίσως- βιβλίο του Bachman και απλά θα έρθω να συμφωνήσω. Πέστε να με φάτε!
Αν επρόκειτο για διήγημα 80 σελίδων μάξιμουμ θα έλεγα ίσως άλλα πράγματα τώρα,αλλά για μυθιστόρημα 300+ σελίδων ούτε για αστείο! Σκυλοβαρέθηκα,και ο μόνος λόγος που το έφτασα μέχρι τέλους είναι γιατί σιχαίνομαι να αφήνω βιβλία στη μέση. Το οποίο τέλος του έδωσε κι αυτά τα έρμα τα 2 αστεράκια. Όλο το υπόλοιπο για μένα ήταν ένα ανούσιο παραλήρημα ανευ ουσίας. Ξαναπέστε να με φάτε!
Αν επρόκειτο για διήγημα 80 σελίδων μάξιμουμ θα έλεγα ίσως άλλα πράγματα τώρα,αλλά για μυθιστόρημα 300+ σελίδων ούτε για αστείο! Σκυλοβαρέθηκα,και ο μόνος λόγος που το έφτασα μέχρι τέλους είναι γιατί σιχαίνομαι να αφήνω βιβλία στη μέση. Το οποίο τέλος του έδωσε κι αυτά τα έρμα τα 2 αστεράκια. Όλο το υπόλοιπο για μένα ήταν ένα ανούσιο παραλήρημα ανευ ουσίας. Ξαναπέστε να με φάτε!
April 20, 2024
Me resulta difícil calificar este libro. Por el lado negativo, diría que es muy lento y por tanto se hace denso, siendo que tiene una extensión considerable. Por el lado positivo, mantiene la tensión de manera constante, uno sigue leyendo queriendo saber que va a pasar, queriendo comprender al personaje.
Si bien hay personajes secundarios, el libro lo constituye en su mayoría el protagonista. Es excelente, al principio el lector no lo comprende pero posteriormente sí. La profundidad y el realismo en cuanto a sus emociones es impresionante. Uno siente la impotencia en la piel y te contagia esa desesperación silenciosa que lo posee.
Les dejo un video sobre el decálogo de King (por si les interesa): https://bit.ly/48YnNaa
Si bien hay personajes secundarios, el libro lo constituye en su mayoría el protagonista. Es excelente, al principio el lector no lo comprende pero posteriormente sí. La profundidad y el realismo en cuanto a sus emociones es impresionante. Uno siente la impotencia en la piel y te contagia esa desesperación silenciosa que lo posee.
Les dejo un video sobre el decálogo de King (por si les interesa): https://bit.ly/48YnNaa
July 1, 2020
Richard Bachman AKA as Stephen King's tale of the white suburban male finally having one First World problem too many and going out with a bang! Possibly my least liked of all King's work. 4 out of 12.
Image from www.thedarktower.org
Image from www.thedarktower.org
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