Hi cj47 We really like our EL wahser/dryer and have had zero problems. On the washer we usually add extra water to the cycles just to get a better wash and rinse. To tell the truth we haven't tried it without the extra water but we've heard people complain about other front loaders and that they wish they had the option to add more water. We leave the washer door open when we're not using it so the door gasket dries out. Also we'll occasionally wipe the gasket and glass in the door with used towels as we put them in the washer and we haven't had any strange smells from the door gasket. The washer uses very little detergent. I suggest you use less than recommended by Electrolux. The dryer has been great too. I've used the steam freshen cycle to take the wrinkles out of clothes I want to wear but are not yet dirty (or not too dirty to wear!). This worked well. Our contractor and plumber scratched their heads at why we needed a water supply for the dryer... The programming is super easy. My wife usually doesn't like programmable controls but after the first couple of tries she has not had any problem with them, or with the electronic wave touch controls on the Electrolux Icon double ovens. Good luck! Billy

I've read many of his books and short stories, and love many of them too. I'm not normally a big horror fan, with the exception of King, and so plenty of his stories are not horror at all. I particularly love the film adaptations of "(Rita Hayworth and the) Shawshank Redemption" and The Body, re-titled "Stand by Me." I don't feel compelled to read all of his books yet, though, 'cause I want to have lots to look forward to. I have read 20 or so: Carrie Salem's Lot The Shining Night Shift The Stand The Dead Zone Firestarter Pet Sematary Skeleton Crew The Bachman Books It Misery The Tommyknockers Four Past Midnight Needful Things Dolores Claiborne The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft Lisey's Story That leaves twice as many for me to read in the future: Rage The Regulators Blaze Duma Key Cujo Danse Macabre Roadwork Creepshow (comic book) The Dark Tower series I-VII Christine Cycle of the Werewolf The Talisman (written with Peter Straub) The Eyes of the Dragon Nightmares in the Sky (Photo book with text by King) Dark Visions The Dark Half Dolan's Cadillac My Pretty Pony Gerald's Game Nightmares & Dreamscapes (stories) Insomnia Rose Madder Umney's Last Case The Green Mile Desperation Six Stories Bag of Bones Storm of the Century The New Lieutenant's Rap Hearts in Atlantis Blood and Smoke (audio book) Riding the Bullet (e-novella) The Plant (e-novel) Secret Windows Dreamcatcher Black House (collaboration with Peter Straub) From a Buick 8 Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season The Colorado Kid Cell

Casey, I had been part of a discussion of this book when it first came out. I had a different reaction than most. I loved Lisey's Story. Yes, the beginning was slow, but after a certain point I got so wrapped up in what was happening to Lisey that I read chapters in the morning before I went to work and rushed home to read more after I finished work. You will see that many people have differing opinions, but that book hit home with me, for what it's worth. Bigack -- I saw the new book of short stories and plan to buy it. I'm glad to hear it's getting good reviews. Duane -- I'm happy you mentioned that book, which is titled Different Seasons. Those two stories ("The Body" and "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption") and their film adaptations ("Stand By Me" and "The Shawshank Redemption") are two of my all-time favorites. (I'm afraid I didn't like the other two stories in that volume.)

I HATE when books end the way this one did. Really, its like you wait the entire book to see what's going to happen... they get to that point, press call..... AND THE BOOK ENDS?!?!?!?! Seriously I started flipping around like a mad woman looking for more pages to read. I was convinced someone tore out the last few pages or something. But no... Stephen King decided to leave us hanging... not divulging if the plan worked or failed. I don't like when movies or books leave us to decide the ending. I just want to know how it ends... I don't want to guess! But I'm forced to guess. So what do I think happened? Well I think Clay presses send and this time the pulse turns Johnny into a complete phoner and he ends up killing his dad and himself. Of course, the plan could have worked and Johnny could be saved, but then what happened to Dan, Jordan, Tom and Denise? What about all the other phoners throughout the world that were still around? What about all the other flocks? Do they all get infected w/the worm and just die? See!? See! I'm left guessing and I hate that. I can run about 5 different endings through my head, but what I really want to know is what Stephen King thinks happened! AAAACK!!! What does everyong else think happens at the end?