would have been better if king had narrated.

Though I enjoyed the depth of the book, I found the narration most annoying. Kings voice was present in the words, but the narrator kept missing the mark.

26 people found this helpful

Why didn’t King narrate this?

The book is written as if Stephen King was talking to you. Why wouldn’t he narrate this title?

14 people found this helpful

Not what I expected.

1. This would be tons better if King himself were the narrator.
2. I guess I expected something different, but it strikes me as King fanboying over the horror genre in general. I don't know what I expected anymore, but it wasn't this.
There are many reviewers who enjoyed his take on his experience with the genre. I am just not one of them, sorry.

9 people found this helpful

NON-FICTION but still fun!

Any additional comments?

Think of this as more of a guide to horror, rather than a story. After listening to it in Audible form I bought the Kindle version as well so I could take notes. This is Stephen King trying to define the genre of horror through selected works in literature and film. It's a fun conversation about the things that make scaring the pants off ourselves fun. It contains some history and a lot of insight. It will probably not be everyone's cup of tea, but if nothing else, it's a good source for new stories to check out.

8 people found this helpful

This isn’t supposed to read like a piece for Saturday morning NPR.

Why is William Dufris’ delivery come across like a Stand-Up schlock on Siririus XM? We’re talking about classic horror, not Calvin and Hobbs. As an audio producer, I would not have allowed you to make it past the first paragraph of your galley.

7 people found this helpful

Great book, irritating narrator

Everything this narrator says is read with a dopey tone that makes me want to shut the book off. Kings content is too interesting even for this guy to ruin but he is ANNOYING. Here's a hint, not every line needs a snarky or mocking tone.

7 people found this helpful

A Class with King

This is by far the most interesting book I read all year! Exploring the horror genre through the eyes of Stephen King - what's not to love? Sometimes the book is written as if the two of us are sitting down and having a cup of coffee and discussing horror films and books. Other times the narrative feels like I am attending a lecture course in college - a good one - the kind that everyone fights to sign up for and actually attends. Either way, King gives great insight into the world of horror.

I purchased the revised book version with the essay "What's Scary" as a forenote and I really loved what had to say 30 years later.

7 people found this helpful

Stay Away! You Have Been Warned...

Let me start by saying that I am a diehard fan of Stephen King's work. I own every first edition/1st printing he has ever released, plus some limited edition works. Of course, there have been novels that I liked more than others, or in which I was downright disappointed. But THIS one...
Danse Macabre is one of the most boring, surgically pedantic, and frankly, self indulgent books I have ever muscled my way through.
It reads as a textbook and made me feel as if I was back in college sitting in a literature class constantly catching myself daydreaming. "Why finish," you may ask? This was literally one of the remaining three novels of King's I have yet to read. My mild touch of OCD would simply not allow me to read every single one of King's books except one. Simply put, I did this for the sake of closure. I typically read books rather than listen to them, but with this one would have been an impossibility. The narrator was a bit grandiose and over the top, although palatable most of the time. Heed my warning, or go with God. Good luck with this one! Oh, and if you DO plan on soldiering on and getting into this book, if aren't already familiar with the terms Apollonian and Dionysian, take a peak at that first. This book is largely conservative vs. liberal under the shroud of Apollonian vs. Dionysian. Sounds exciting, right?

5 people found this helpful

Too Much Information

The main fault of this book is that it's messy. King doesn't seem to be able to maintain a consistant theme. The book shoots from point to point, anecdote to anecdote, seemingly as they occur to the author.
Fortunately, much of what King has to say is interesting. Some of it, sadly, is the kind of grad-school BS he decries.

5 people found this helpful

Tricked for good!!!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I thought I was buying a real Steven King novel. Not. I never was so bored. I am a child of the 50's- 60"s and have been there, seen that, done that! So much for my good ole Steven King Horror movie, which I sorley wanted. I had to speed (hear) read and each chapter I did this faster. Sure wasted my money here. I listened to Under the Dome and 11-22-63 and was greatly impressed. I was going to read the rest of his 70 some books a little at a time. Not anymore.

Would you ever listen to anything by Stephen King again?

Not sure.

How could the performance have been better?

a real book, plot and candle.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not for me!

Any additional comments?

I smell rebate.

3 people found this helpful