I really liked this one. It starts out reading like a Dashiell Hammett hard boiled detective story.
I will not pick it apart like Lorendiac. I accept the little things without all the what ifs.
I like the character and may read more of his "adventures." This book did strike me as a better done version of World of Your Dreams like Bowers pointed out.
In the third story, "Who am I?" King really pulls out all the stops to help his patient recover her memory and free her of her mistaken guilt concerning Frank (The Weasel) Gruber. Almost thought the doc was going to clobber him.
Obviously, in the real world, Doctor King would probably have lost his license or, at the very least, been censured by a board of his peers for his actions in this book. But who cares? It makes for a pretty good read! Cheers, Bowers
In the second story, he trampled on doctor- patient confidentiality by telling her husband about her issues and then enlisting him to help administer what the doc referred to as "shock treatment". Nowhere in the story did she confide in her husband or give the doc permission to tell him anything. I'm sure this would raise an eyebrow or two. Cheers, Bowers
Lorendiac I enjoyed your nitpicking so my statement was not a criticism of your criticism.
Winter and Spring is a good wee read and althought there are flaws - the Shakespeare bit and Dave's acceptance of her telling him in 1 panel - the story flowed quite well.
The 2nd. story with the dream was rather tasty and, another tv comparison here, could have formed the basis of an episode of The Human Jungle (if anyoneremembers that Herbert Lom show)
Given the title I expected Dr King to be a romance advisor rather than a psychiatrist. Others have pointed out that he plays fast and loose with his ethics. Forcing the eloping couple off the road is bad enough, but the "experimental shock treatment" in which the husband pretends to be broke is preposterous. King didn't know if the woman would dump the guy, find herself, or pop her cork and jump out a window.
Anyway, something about "Winter and Spring" bugs me. I think it's how everyone instantly assumes Worthington is taking advantage of Paula before any evidence is presented that he's not genuinely in love with her. If Worthington was known already as a "self-centered, scheming old fox" it would have made sense to present that information up front. Then we'd know why everyone is so upset. I mean, Worthington could have been the one living the fantasy--an elderly man imagining himself young again be cause of the attention of a beautiful young woman. Not that this situation is any healthier than the other. It's just the way Worthington is presumed guilty simply because he's an old man that irks me. Once in a blue moon May-December romances work out (admittedly it's usually when the old guy has lots of money). Maybe this seems significant to me because I'm an old has-been myself.
Winter And Spring - Am I the only one who expected the young actress to be a golddigger after the old geezer's money?
Who Am I? - She's Myron Fass, it says so on the mirror. ;) Not bad. A number of annoying typos. Man, Fred really deserves to be hit by trucks, doesn't he?
Slightly Perfect - The primary message is "Be yourself", but other messages jumped out at me. 1. "You'll scare off a man if you buy expensive outfits!" 2. "Don't actually bother getting to know the person you plan to marry, save it for when you're locked into a marriage until death do you part." ;)
... Fass ... ended up becoming one of the country's most prolific second-rate magazine publishers. ...
...Man, Fred really deserves to be hit by trucks, doesn't he? ...
...Slightly Perfect - The primary message is "Be yourself", but other messages jumped out at me. 1. "You'll scare off a man if you buy expensive outfits!" 2. "Don't actually bother getting to know the person you plan to marry, save it for when you're locked into a marriage until death do you part." ;) ...
...The Redhead And Formula X - Ugh! As TV Tropes would say, Stalker With A Crush.
Winter And Spring - Am I the only one who expected the young actress to be a golddigger after the old geezer's money?
You may have been!
...Slightly Perfect - The primary message is "Be yourself", but other messages jumped out at me. 1. "You'll scare off a man if you buy expensive outfits!" 2. "Don't actually bother getting to know the person you plan to marry, save it for when you're locked into a marriage until death do you part." ;) ...
Hee, hee! Yeah, I forgot to comment on that text piece... good observations. ;)
...The Redhead And Formula X - Ugh! As TV Tropes would say, Stalker With A Crush.
Funny how some of these old stories come off to modern readers, it's the same with some movies... ever see "An American in Paris" with Gene Kelly? Cute and romantic in its day I suppose, but today?
"After she met Bill she realized that a girl couldn't dress for comfort if she wanted to impress a man. And she tried so hard to please him. She wanted to be absolutely perfect."
Then, only that morning, Dottie thought that she knew what was wrong. She has always worn small, plain hats that sat on her head almost as an afterthought. She decided to buy a new one an extra special picture hat with a huge brim. And of course, she had needed an entire new outfit to go with the hat!
"What're you standing there for? Why haven't you washed up yet?"