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The Long Walk
by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman) | Biographies & Memoirs
Registered by phantomreader42 of Warner Robins, Georgia USA on Sunday, March 16, 2003
Average 7 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by Crankydragon): travelling


This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!

15 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by phantomreader42 from Warner Robins, Georgia USA on Sunday, March 16, 2003

8 out of 10

A book about a competition known as The Long Walk. 100 teenage boys, including Maine native Ray Garraty, begin walking in Maine, and continue until there is only one, sometimes across several states. If one of them stops, falls, or slows down too much, he gets a warning. If he has three warnings, the next mistake will get him shot. The last one alive wins The Prize, and gets everything he wants for the rest of his life. A frightening book, set in a future where America is ruled by a tyrranical Major, who oversees the Long Walk personally and gives the Prize to the winner. The Walkers are not the same people at the finish line as they were at the starting line.
I when I read this book, I thought of the current "Reality TV" phenomenon. People go on TV and make spectacles of themselves, and the viewers watch mindlessly, hoping to see humiliation and figurative blood. In this case, the blood is real.
This book was written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. It includes an introduction called "The Importance of Being Bachman," in which King mourns the loss of his alter-ego, whom he describes as "not a very nice guy." Bachman inspired King's "The Dark Half," in which a writer's pseudonym comes to life with horrific consequences.
I got this book from the Auburn University bookstore. It was in the "employee favorites" section, recommended by Susan.

Books by Stephen King:
The Gunslinger
Wizard And Glass
Needful Things
Carrie
The Plant
The Long Walk (as Richard Bachman)
Gerald's Game
Dreamcatcher
Night Shift
Pet Sematary
Magicats! edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
Introduction to The Far Side Gallery 2 by Gary Larson

Authors recommended by Stephen King:
Robert A. Heinlein
John D. MacDonald
Dave Barry
Mercedes Lackey 

Journal Entry 2 by phantomreader42 from Warner Robins, Georgia USA on Saturday, April 05, 2003

This book has not been rated.

F&Sf's competition 46 (December 1988) asked people to use the title of an sf story as an acronym of a phrase summarizing the plot. Second prize went to William G. Raley of Mission Viejo, CA, who submitted the following, among others:

DUNE: Death undulates 'neath 'em.
DEAD ZONE: Don't elect a doomsday zealous oracle, not ever.
THE LONG WALK: Thirty hours? Eternity? Lead on, native Garraty. Warning! Another lies killed.
MAD MAX: Many a driver meets angry xenophobes.


F&SF Competitions:
Competition 10: Froomb/Zotz
Competition 19: Limericks Ending With SF Titles
Competition 29: Burma Shave
Competition 31: "Strange Whine"
Competition 33: SF Redefinitions
Competition 35: Capsule Reviews
Competition 43: "Call Him Lard"
Competition 44: Asimov Cocktail
Competition 46: Titles As Acronyms
Competition 47: Alien Personals
Competition 51: Anagrams
Competition 53: Cover Copy
Competition 56: Musical SF
 

Journal Entry 3 by phantomreader42 from Warner Robins, Georgia USA on Monday, April 07, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I'm offering this for a bookray, starting in Maine.

The following people have asked to join the ray:
cmystery (of Maine)
lucycat (of England)
LeighBCD (of England)
Hawkette (of Australia)
ladyofunicorns (of New Mexico)
WickedWordz (of Florida)
phillycarol (of Pennsylvania)
tabby90 (of North Carolina)
(plenty of space left at the end)

The picture was taken from mrsordonez 

Journal Entry 4 by phantomreader42 from Warner Robins, Georgia USA on Saturday, April 12, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Mailed to cmystery Friday (4-11-2003). It should be there in a week.  

Journal Entry 5 by cmystery from South Portland, Maine USA on Wednesday, April 23, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I received this book from phantomreader42 ,this book is to be part of a bookray, soon to be on it's next trip to England. cmystery 

Journal Entry 6 by cmystery from South Portland, Maine USA on Sunday, April 27, 2003

9 out of 10

Just finished this book.Thought it was good, as Stephen King usually is. I am sending this book to lucycat as part of a bookray.  

Journal Entry 7 by lucycat from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 07, 2003

7 out of 10

Thanks Cmystery for passing this one on so quickly. Will read it this week and journal again, and then it's but a comparatively short walk down the country to LeighBCD. Hurrah!

Update 8/05/03

A long walk, but a quick read...I started this over breakfast, and finished it mid-afternoon. :O)

I'd better have a go at a 'hidden spoiler' section, as I don't want to give anything away...bear with me, as this is the first time I've done this...;O)


I liked this as well as I've liked all the other Bachman books I've read (I seem to find them marginally less enjoyable than the books King has published under his own name), and it's written in a similarly down-beat style...with an ending that's definitely left open to interpretation.

I think I'd have enjoyed a little more back-plot - events were hinted at that were never really explained, and perhaps more about 'The Major', although if he hasn't popped up already in another Stephen King book, he possibly will in the future...and we like our little cameos, don't we? ;O)

So is this the future? Who knows. It's not beyond the realms of possibility, and with reality TV shows constantly upping the ante, it might only be a matter of time...as the quote from Chuck Barris used as the header for Chapter 4 says: "The ultimate game show would be one where the losing contestant was killed."

It's all about the ratings, boys and girls... 

Journal Entry 8 by lucycat at == by post or by hand == in London , Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, May 10, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Released on Saturday, May 10, 2003 at http://leighbcd.bookcrossing.com in London, England United Kingdom.

Headed out to LeighBCD in today's post. Safe journey! 

Journal Entry 9 by LeighBCD on Wednesday, May 14, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Thanks Lucycat! Seeing this book this morning on my arrival at work was a good surprise - I hate Mondays! - and the book arrived so quickly as well! I really like the beads too... Anyway, I finished reading a book last night and was wondering what to tackle next... I will read this since it is in a bookray and the book should keep moving. I will journal again once I have finished the novel.

PS - I love the beads bookmark. I know I should pass this on to the next Bxer in the list but it is really tempting to keep it. Let me know what I should do! 

Journal Entry 10 by LeighBCD on Monday, May 19, 2003

6 out of 10

This was an interesting book, a very intriguing idea, a group of boys going on a non-stop walk across America, walking to their deaths until the last one is left standing and is declared the winner. I was unsurprised by the ending, I have to say, I spent a lot of time while reading the book trying to figure out how it would end. While I thought the author did an amazing job in making a novel out of this plot, I do think it might have worked better as a short story. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book and I am glad to be part of this bookray - thanks so much to phantomreader42! Let's hope the book continues to go on more long walks of its own! 

Journal Entry 11 by LeighBCD at Sent to a fellow Bookcrosser in -- By post or by hand --, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, May 19, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Released on Monday, May 19, 2003 at Sent to a bookcrosser in Royal Mail, City of London, England United Kingdom.

Sent to hawkette 

Journal Entry 12 by Hawkette from Ballarat, Victoria Australia on Monday, May 26, 2003

This book has not been rated.

The Long Walk has journey-ed itself to my doorstep. Look forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 13 by Hawkette from Ballarat, Victoria Australia on Monday, June 09, 2003

8 out of 10

Finished this book yesterday on our long weekend for the Queen's Birthday (it's wasn't even her birthday, but we will certainly take the day off while she's still in charge of us Aussies!!), and was in a cosy little cafe. I enjoyed it, although found it disturbing that the deaths along the way didn't have much of an impact, just seemed so common place!! Finished the book with the impression that the Winner would be walking with his co-Walkers for a long time, in that his experiences and the closeness to the others will impact him for a very long time. Held my breath every time Garrety was on his third warning!
Will be sending this on, back to the US, tonight. 

Journal Entry 14 by ladyofunicorns from Santa Fe, New Mexico USA on Sunday, June 22, 2003

This book has not been rated.

just received this book and will be reading it as soon as I have finished my other ring/ray books sitting here! A couple weeks at most! 

Journal Entry 15 by ladyofunicorns from Santa Fe, New Mexico USA on Sunday, July 13, 2003

8 out of 10

A very interesting read. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down...Unfortunately since I had plans already, it took me a couple days to read it instead of one night (which is all I think it would have taken). I do like Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman...

This book will be journeying soon to the next stop on the bookray.... 

Journal Entry 16 by ladyofunicorns at on Saturday, July 19, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Released on Saturday, July 19, 2003 at to fellow bookcrosser in postal release, postal release USA.

onto the next on the list! 

Journal Entry 17 by WickedWordz from Miami, Florida USA on Tuesday, August 05, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Recieved today in the mail, and can't wait to start reading. I'm a HUGE fan of Stephen King, so, you can see how I'm sweating here! :) I'll put it in my To Be Read pile, and get to it as soon as possible. Thanks phantomreader! :) 

Journal Entry 18 by WickedWordz from Miami, Florida USA on Monday, November 08, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Did not get a chance to read, but maybe sometime in the future, I will. 

Journal Entry 19 by WickedWordz at Mailed to another bookcrosser in Miami, Florida USA on Monday, November 08, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Released on Friday, November 12, 2004 at about 2:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Mailed to another bookcrosser in Miami, Florida USA.

RELEASE NOTES:

Included in a box of rings that I'm mailing to my friend kz4ufo, who, with the help of other extremely kind bookcrossers, will disperse them for me. Thank you so much for helping me my friend, you can't begin to understand how much I appreciate your help and kindness. 

Journal Entry 20 by kz4ufo from Panama City Beach, Florida USA on Tuesday, November 16, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I received this in the mail today from WickedWordz. There are several BookCrossers who have volunteered to help re-distribute some Book Rings and Rays in her possession.

It will be on its way to the next in line - phillycarol - in a few days. I will PM phillycarol and make sure the book is still wanted. If not, it will be sent to the next in line to keep this Ray moving.
 

Journal Entry 21 by phillycarol from King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, November 30, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Received yesterday. Thanks! Will get right on it. 

Journal Entry 22 by phillycarol from King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, December 05, 2004

6 out of 10

Interesting book and well written, as Stephen King's books usually are. But I found myself wondering about the motivation of the Walkers. Why did they join? King touched upon it but I never really understood it. Who really was the Major and how were the Squads formed and what do they enforce? I feel like there are a lot of unanswered questions in this book. Maybe that was intentional so the reader would use their imagination to fill in the blanks.

I'll send this book to the next person as soon as I get their address. 

Journal Entry 23 by tabby90 from High Point, North Carolina USA on Tuesday, December 14, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Got in the mail, thanks!! 

Journal Entry 24 by tabby90 from High Point, North Carolina USA on Thursday, December 23, 2004

8 out of 10

ugh, what a brutal, bone-chilling book. I'm not kidding, my legs cramped up twice just reading it. King/Bachman still has that insight to the human pysche though. What always makes his books so fascinating and so scary is that he understands and can portray how minds work. His characters in this book are believable enough to be heartbreaking and his stories are never really so impossible. It Could happen. It is reality just barely bent.

And I'm the last person on the list. I didn't notice that when I made the first journal entry. That's never happened before and I was quite surprised to see it. I'll come up with something good to do with this book. 

Journal Entry 25 by tabby90 from High Point, North Carolina USA on Tuesday, December 28, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Will be mailed tomorrow as a RABCK to Sunshinedreem
Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 26 by sunshinedreem from Frederick, Maryland USA on Monday, January 03, 2005

This book has not been rated.

received in the mail today, thanks again! 

Journal Entry 27 by sunshinedreem from Frederick, Maryland USA on Monday, April 11, 2005

This book has not been rated.

I just finished this today and it really is a great book. I'd never read any of King's writtings under the name Richard Bachman before this, but I will probably look to see if there are any others after finishing this!

I don't want to say too much and spoil this for anyone else who may read it, but it really is a very disturbing book. King has a way of creating characters that come alive, and are very realistic in every situation that they encounter, and this book is no different. The way these boys almost became immune to the killing of their fellow walkers after awhile was the most shocking part to me.

I'm going to do a drawing to pass this book on to another bookcrossing member. The winner will be announced tomorrow, 4/12/05! 

Journal Entry 28 by sunshinedreem from Frederick, Maryland USA on Thursday, April 14, 2005

This book has not been rated.

This books is being sent to buggz in Kentucky, congrats on winning the drawing! 

Journal Entry 29 by buggz from Bowling Green, Kentucky USA on Wednesday, April 27, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Sunshinedreem thx. I got this book in the mail today. Thx for having the drawing. I will admit, I am a slow reader, but I like reading.

buggz 

Journal Entry 30 by book-spy from Arlington, Alabama USA on Thursday, August 23, 2007

This book has not been rated.

This was a long distance reading book with a friend of mine. We both enjoyed reading it and thanks for all those before us that share so much to make the books go round.

turn the page . . .

book-spy

Reserved for the "Bookend Friends" Book Box! 

Journal Entry 31 by book-spy at USPS in Bowling Green, Kentucky USA on Saturday, September 08, 2007

This book has not been rated.

Released 4 yrs ago (9/8/2007 UTC) at USPS in Bowling Green, Kentucky USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

BOOK END FRIENDS book box #1.

turn the page,

book-spy 

Journal Entry 32 by mississippimom from Olive Branch, Mississippi USA on Thursday, October 04, 2007

This book has not been rated.

Arrived at Olive Branch MS safe and sound in the Book End Friends Book Box!

Many thanks to book-spy for this fun book box!

 

Journal Entry 33 by Crankydragon from Southaven, Mississippi USA on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

10 out of 10

Loved this story when I first read it years ago. It's been sitting at the house a while now, so it's ready to move on. I didn't realize this book had been through so many hands! It's getting ready for its first wild release, so everyone hold on! 

Journal Entry 34 by Crankydragon at Eagle Coin-Op Laundry in Horn Lake, Mississippi USA on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (9/23/2008 UTC) at Eagle Coin-Op Laundry in Horn Lake, Mississippi USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

On the table by all the old magazines and kids books. 



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