Quite a few years ago now, I decided to see what all the hullabaloo was about Stephen King and his novels. I read quite a few of them. “The Green Mile” and “Lisey’s Story” stand out in my mind. And then I read “The Tommyknockers.”

Okay, so I’d seen “Carrie” but always figured all that grossness was cinema. But “The Tommyknockers” taught me otherwise.

So I swore off Stephen King for … well, a really long time. When you are 73 years old, a really long time takes on more meaning than, say, when you are six years old and two months can seem like forever.

Instead, I focused on Dean Koontz. He could be creepy. Sometimes really creeper. But he was rarely downright grossly disgusting. I am not a fan of body horror. Nope.

Then earlier this year, I got curious about Stephan King again. There has been so much about him online regarding this movie adaptation, or that television show. So I read “Under the Dome” and really liked it. But it was long. I mean really long. I borrowed it online from our local library (Libby) and it took me I don’t know how many holds to get the whole thing read. Nice thing is that their program remembers where you left off. But there were times when I was seventh in line for it. I read a lot of other books while waiting for “Under the Dome” to be available to me again … and again.

So a month and a half ago or so, I was looking through the list of Stephen King books available on Libby and ran across one titled “Later.” There was at least one digital copy available and I borrowed it on the spot. Most of his novels were being read and required I place a hold if I wanted to read them.

I was relieved to see that it wasn’t long. I figured I could probably finish it in the two weeks. I don’t find a lot of time to read these days. Maybe about an hour a day busted up into two or three bits.

I knew I was going to like it after the first couple of paragraphs. And after the first couple chapters, I told my husband he should put a hold on it and that I thought he would like it. Turned out there was another copy available and he read it right away. He loved it too. He said he was going to have to read it again. That’s high praise from a guy who devours books like a starving man who also wants a lot of variety in his diet. Beggars and choosers.

Stephen King is a helluva writer. There’s no doubt about that. But it will be a while before I re-read “Later.” I remember it too well right now. But I can recommend it very highly.

Right after that, I read “Joyland,” also by Stephen King and published in the same genre as “Later.” It was really good too. But I did not like it quite as much as I liked “Later.” Still I can also recommend it.

I’ve begun reading “The Stand.” It is one of his few books on Libby that doesn’t require a hold. Possibly because it is so dang long.

I wonder how many renewals it will take me to finish it.

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