This is only my third(ish) King book. I read Pet Cemetary when I was like 15 and I read On Writing in my late twenties. I also know that I read the story/novella “The Mist.” Other than that I can’t really compare this to his other work. My main problem is that this one is so redundant. I get what he’s doing with the harmonizing of past and all that, but it doesn’t make it interesting or fun to read.

I don’t know if the diminishing of impact has to do with the lack of chemical influencers or that by the time some people clean up they’re just out of interesting stories to tell/sing about, what have you. I know authors, who as far as I know don’t suffer from addiction, whose later work can’t hold a candle to their early work. (Think John Irving, Toni Morrison)

11/22/63 is not King’s best effort. Still it held my attention. I enjoyed DUMA KEY as his recent most favorite. THE DEAD ZONE still stands as number one. Ever since he sobered up and put away the nose candy, King’s material doesn’t have the edge it once held.

Do you think writers, musicians or any other artist, for that matter, has diminished impact he/she puts down the pipe, bottle or whatever?