Any King fans?

[Chickenshavenolips]

Yes, I know, not as highbrow as some authors, but MY GOD he can spin a yarn! I'm about half way through 'Under The Dome', and my nerves are stretched to breaking point already Definitely his best since 'The Stand'.

[Iklboo]

Ah yes - Mr King is a terrific author of 'suck you in, f*ck you up and spot you out' fiction. I love his short story collections so I can ration myself out. I've been waiting for reviews on Under The Dome before rquesting it as an Xmas pressie from DH

[JaneiteMightBite]

Don't say any more about the new one - I'm hoping that dp will buy it me for Christmas. I love Mr King - especially The Dark Tower Series and The Stand.

[Chickenshavenolips]

I've never got into the 'Dark Tower' series, although I loved 'The Talisman' and 'Black House'.

[teameric]

I loved Blackhouse too and his earlier stuff is brilliant, I haven't really liked his latest offerings though ie Dreamcatcher and Cell so I was a bit put off buying "Under The Dome"

[Chickenshavenolips]

See, I loved 'Cell', but wasn't keen on 'Dreamcatcher'. He does do 'impending apocolypse' with marvellous finesse. My favourite book has to be 'The Green Mile'. Wonderful story.

[JaneiteMightBite]

I didn't like Cell. I couldn't see what it was trying to do other than copy The Stand and The Road a bit. V disappointing.

The Talisman is great - totally seamless, so you wouldn't know it was co-written at all. Weird as Peter Straub is an absolutely useless writer by himself.

[teameric]

The Green Mile is the only book that has made me cry! Love his short stories too, like The Mist, great film too.

[Chickenshavenolips]

Oh, some of his short stories are excellent. Oh, can't think of the one now about the long walk (might have even been called that) where as they slowed down they were shot. Very disturbing.

[Sidge]

I'm a big SK fan. Love his short story collections (Nightmares and Dreamscapes is fab) and The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption are fantastic.

Chicken I agree about The Long Walk - it was so wonderfully written I felt like I was walking with them and despaired as they were picked off.

[JaneiteMightBite]

I've said it on here before and I will say it again - the best story is Survivor Type.

[ravenAK]

Finished Under the Dome the other night.



The Shining's still my favourite! I use extracts in year 8 lessons & scare them silly. Oh & On Writing to teach descriptive writing at GCSE.

Bit harsh to call Peter Straub useless! Ghost Story's seriously creepy...

[JaneiteMightBite]

Sorry Raven. I thought Ghost Story was terrible.

Love On Writing though.

[teameric]

I really enjoyed Ghost Story too raven, although that is the only book of his I've read.

[mumtoblaire]

Ohh I love Stephen King. Love The stand and It, scared me silly when I read that.

[CheerfulYank]

I love Stephen King with my heart and soul. He was just here (in Minnesota) doing a reading and I couldn't get tickets. It broke my heart, seriously.

Survivor Type is great, janeite. "Ladyfingers, they taste just like ladyfingers!"

I hate when people (ahem DH ahem) are literary snobs and can't admit that he's a great storyteller. His dialogue is usally spot on, his characters are more than believable and the storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat. What more do you want?

I'm really excited for Under the Dome as it's supposedly more in the vein of his earlier work. The Stand is probably my favorite, but I love the Talisman and It as well. One that's really great, that I think is a bit underrated, is Firestarter. FABULOUS book IMO.

[JaneiteMightBite]

Totally agree. Dp is a horrible snob about King too. The man can spin a yarn, has characters that you care about, writes lovely introductions for his constant readers and can make you guffaw one minute and cry the next. Much more than can be said for people like Ian McEwan - imho anyway.

Personally I think The Stand is a work of genius and would put it up there with the best (am an English graduate and English teacher, so like some of 'the best' stuff too).

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Different Seasons was just genius - and spawned two good movies.

[Chickenshavenolips]

I wasn't so keen on his Bachman efforts. Those novels always seemed less well rounded, and a bit...cheap. I adore the way he ties the stories in together, with characters from different novels popping up all over the place. The Castle Rock police department certainly get around!